The Last Rodeo is a 2025 American drama film written and directed by Jon Avnet. It stars Neal McDonough (who is also a co-writer and producer), Mykelti Williamson, Christopher McDonald, Sarah Jones, and Daylon Swearingen.
Contents
Plot
Joe Wainwright is a former bull riding world champion who risks it all to save his grandson who needs an expensive invasive surgery on a brain tumor that Joe's military veteran benefits and the family's insurance do not cover. Facing his own painful past in which he had broken his neck riding a bull while drunk, he enters a high-stakes bull riding competition organized by the Professional Bull Riders that is open to former legends with $750,000 prize for the first prize, as the oldest contestant ever, and has to sign an insurance waiver. Along the way, he reconciles old wounds with his estranged daughter, who had to take care of him after his injury and given up on her own professional pursuits, and proves that true courage is found in the fight for family.
Cast
Neal McDonough as Joe Wainright
Ruvé McDonough as Rose Wainright
Mykelti Williamson as Charlie Williams
Christopher McDonald as Jimmy Mack
Sarah Jones as Sally Wainright
Daylon Swearingen as Billy Hamilton
Irene Bedard as Agisa Williams
Production
Filming took place in Owasso and Collinsville, Oklahoma, from March to April 2024.
Release
The Last Rodeo was released in the United States on May 23, 2025.
Reception
Box office
In the United States and Canada, The Last Rodeo opened alongside Lilo & Stitch, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, and Friendship, and grossed $5.4 million during the weekend of May 23–26 and $6.9 million over the four-day Memorial Day weekend, finishing sixth at the box office.
Critical response
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 70% of 40 critics' reviews are positive. The website's consensus reads: "The Last Rodeo is a predictable yet heartfelt family drama elevated by earnest performances and old-fashioned charm, though its overly safe storytelling keeps it from breaking new ground." Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 61 out of 100, based on 6 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews. Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale.
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