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She Rides Shotgun

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She Rides Shotgun
Theatrical release poster
Directed byNick Rowland
Screenplay byJordan Harper
Ben Collins
Luke Piotrowski
Based onShe Rides Shotgun
by Jordan Harper
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyWyatt Garfield
Edited byJulie Monroe
Music byBlanck Mass
Production
companies
Distributed by
Release date
  • August 1, 2025 (2025-08-01)
Running time
120 minutes[2]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

She Rides Shotgun is a 2025 American crime thriller film directed by Nick Rowland, written by Jordan Harper, Ben Collins and Luke Piotrowski, and starring Taron Egerton. It is based on Harper's 2017 novel of the same name.[3]

It was released on August 1, 2025, by Lionsgate.

Plot

The film opens with a narration about a man who sees himself as a god made up of other men, tied to the violent white supremacist gang Aryan Steel. A young girl named Polly waits for her mother outside a kindergarten. Her estranged father Nate, newly released from prison, arrives in a car and persuades her to come with him. Although Polly hesitates and asks about her mother, Nate insists everything is fine. She notices unsettling details, such as stolen belongings from her home.

At a motel, Nate cuts and dyes her hair and teaches her how to use a bat. While he is sleeping, she sees a news broadcast revealing that her mother and stepfather have been murdered and that she is listed in an Amber alert, while Nate is the main suspect linked to Aryan Steel. Polly calls Detective John Park, reporting that gang members with blue lightning tattoos were responsible. When Nate learns of her call, he admits his lie and confesses that Aryan Steel killed her mother because of his past actions. He warns Polly that the same gang is after her as well, and Polly chooses to stay with him.

Nate brings Polly to Charlotte, an old acquaintance connected to his brother Nick. Charlotte's friend Felix, who is a member of Aryan Steel, arrives and gets into a fight with Nate, forcing Nate and Polly to leave. Lacking money, Nate decides to rob a store but gets shot in the leg. They escape an ensuing police chase and find refuge in an empty roadside trucker chapel where Nate lets Polly tend to his bullet wound. When Polly goes out alone, a corrupt police officer affiliated with Aryan Steel attempts to shoot her but Nate saves her in time. They trade their car for the officer's cruiser. Detective Park calls dispatch and traces the stolen cruiser's location to Nate and Polly, who are attempting to escape to Mexico.

Detective Park apprehends Nate, but decides not to turn him in. Suspecting Sheriff Houser of being the leader of Aryan Steel, Park convinces Nate to help him infiltrate the gang to stop Houser and the meth operation that he operates out of a trailer park named Slabtown. Nate departs for the trailer park, saying goodbye to Polly, who goes with Park. At a motel, an upset Polly storms into the bathroom and slams the door while Park's detective partner Jimmy arrives, whom Park correctly suspects of being a member of Aryan Steel. Jimmy gives away that Houser is expecting Nate's arrival. A firefight ensues and Park wins, taking Polly along through the desert.

Nate attempts to sneak around the premises of the Slabtown trailer park, but is seen, beaten, and taken to Houser, who hangs him up by the wrists and interrogates him. Detective Park arrives with police backup, surrounding Slabtown. After a large firefight, Polly runs in to look for Nate. She frees him, but the two are confronted by Houser who beats Nate. Houser walks outside, holding Polly hostage at gunpoint and demanding that the police lower their weapons. Nate collects his strength to stab Houser, allowing Polly to get away, and tells Polly to look away before the police gun down both him and Houser.

Later Polly is seen speaking to a counselor at the police station and is then taken by Park to a foster family. She is apprehensive and quiet, still shaken by the recent events, but warms up a bit as her foster sisters invite her to play Just Dance with them. The last scene is of her dancing, fulfilling her dream she discussed with her dad, and her expression is hopeful but sad at the same time, with tears in her eyes.

Cast

Production

In June 2023, Taron Egerton was attached to star in the film with Nick Rowland directing. Rowland revised the screenplay by Ben Collins and Luke Piotrowski, based on the novel by Jordan Harper.[4] In October 2023, it was announced that Fifth Season would fully finance the film with Brad Weston and Collin Creighton producing for Makeready and Hiro Murai and Nate Matteson for Superfrog. Taron Egerton is set to star and serve as executive producer.[5]

Principal photography took place in January and February 2024. The supporting cast includes Ana Sophia Heger, Rob Yang, John Carroll Lynch, Odessa A'zion and David Lyons.[6]

Release

In June 2025, Lionsgate acquired U.S. distribution rights to the film, and has released it in a limited theatrical release on August 1, 2025.[7]

The soundtrack album, composed by Blanck Mass, was released on Invada Records.[8]

Reception

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 86% of 61 critics' reviews are positive. The website's consensus reads: "A gritty thriller grounded in powerful emotional stakes, She Rides Shotgun is harrowing but enlivened by Taron Egerton and Ana Sophia Heger's superb performances."[9][10] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 73 out of 100, based on 11 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[11][12] Movie Review wrote, "Nick Rowland's She Rides Shotgun is a gritty, emotionally charged thriller."[13]

References

  1. ^ Grobar, Matt (November 4, 2024). "Fifth Season & Makeready Reteaming With 'She Rides Shotgun's Nick Rowland On Crime Thriller 'Final Score' Based On Hot Will Hettinger Spec". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  2. ^ Scheck, Frank (July 30, 2025). "'She Rides Shotgun' Review: A Fierce Taron Egerton Anchors an Overly Familiar but Ultimately Moving Crime Drama". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  3. ^ Yossman, K.J. (October 26, 2023). "Taron Egerton to Star in Feature Adaptation of Jordan Harper Crime Thriller 'She Rides Shotgun'". Variety. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  4. ^ Lavallée, Eric (June 15, 2023). "Bounty Hunted: Nick Rowland Sets "She Rides Shotgun" with Taron Egerton". Ioncinema.com. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  5. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (October 26, 2023). "Taron Egerton To Star As Ex-Con Who Goes Off-Grid With Estranged Daughter In 'She Rides Shotgun', Black Bear Launches Sales For AFM". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  6. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (February 8, 2024). "Taron Egerton Crime-Thriller 'She Rides Shotgun' Underway For Fifth Season With Ana Sophia Heger, Rob Yang, John Carroll Lynch, Odessa A'zion & David Lyons Joining Cast". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  7. ^ Stephen, Katcy (June 6, 2025). "Lionsgate Acquires Taron Egerton-Led 'She Rides Shotgun' From Fifth Season, Sets August Limited Theatrical Release (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
  8. ^ "'She Rides Shotgun' Soundtrack Released | Film Music Reporter". Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  9. ^ "She Rides Shotgun". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
  10. ^ "She Rides Shotgun". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
  11. ^ "She Rides Shotgun". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  12. ^ "She Rides Shotgun Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  13. ^ Review, Movie (August 3, 2025). "She Rides Shotgun Review: A Raw, Relentless Father-Daughter Crime Odyssey – Movie Review". Retrieved August 3, 2025.
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