Roadie

Roadie

Year: 1980

Runtime: 106 mins

Language: English

Director: Alan Rudolph

MusicComedy

Bands make it rock… roadies make it roll. A good‑ol’ Texas youngster with a natural talent for electronic gear lands a gig as a roadie for a raucous, traveling rock‑and‑roll show. He spends the tour hauling amps, wiring stages, and keeping the high‑octane performances humming while navigating the wild, on‑the‑road lifestyle.

Roadie (1980) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Roadie (1980) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In the heat‑blazed backroads of Texas, a tinkering soul finds his rhythm amid beer crates and salvage trucks. Travis W. Redfish splits his days between hauling Shiner bottles for his dad’s salvage business and coaxing life back into stubborn pieces of electronic gear. His knack for making anything work, paired with a swagger that blends bar‑room bravado and small‑town loyalty, sets the stage for a chance that could take him far beyond the lone‑star horizon.

When a chance encounter on a dusty highway pulls him into the world of touring rock‑and‑roll, Travis trades the familiar hum of a workshop for the roar of amplifiers and the glow of stage lights. Alongside his steadfast sidekick B.B. Muldoon and the spirited Alice Poo Redfish, his sister whose own dreams echo his own, he steps onto a convoy of musicians, roadies, and endless miles. The tour is a living, breathing machine—half chaos, half camaraderie—where every knot of cable and weight of speaker becomes a test of grit and quick‑thinking.

Among the eclectic crowd, a wide‑eyed fan named Lola Bouilliabase arrives, her star‑struck enthusiasm for the roadshow’s larger‑than‑life personalities sparking both mischief and opportunity. The troupe’s charismatic leader, Mohammed Johnson, and the no‑nonsense crew chief known only as Ace keep the pace relentless, pushing Travis to prove that his down‑home ingenuity can survive the high‑octane demands of stadium‑size spectacles. The tone crackles with humor, sweat, and the electric buzz of possibility, leaving the road as much a character as any person on board.

As the convoy barrels toward bigger stages and stranger horizons, the film teases a balance between ordinary toil and the surreal moments that only life on the road can deliver. Travis’s journey becomes a study in loyalty, improvisation, and the restless yearning to see how far a true roadie’s talent can roll.

Last Updated: December 04, 2025 at 17:49

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Raucous backstage road adventures like in Roadie

Wild journeys through the chaotic, eccentric world of touring musicians and crew.If you liked the behind-the-scenes chaos of Roadie, you'll enjoy these movies about the wild world of touring. Discover films like Roadie that explore the music industry's eccentric crew, chaotic travel, and the found family bonds formed on the road.

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Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread typically follow a linear journey, moving the characters from one gig or location to the next. The plot is driven by the logistical challenges and interpersonal dynamics of life on tour, with a focus on problem-solving and adapting to ever-changing, often ridiculous, circumstances.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared setting and energetic tone. They all celebrate the chaotic, fun-loving spirit of the music industry's backstage world, featuring rambunctious characters, fast-paced adventures, and a strong sense of camaraderie.

Eccentric outsider finds their tribe like in Roadie

Quirky protagonists stumble into a new world and prove their worth through unique talents.Fans of Roadie's story about a good-natured Texan finding his place will love these movies. Explore films similar to Roadie featuring unlikely heroes who use their unique skills to win over a group and find a sense of belonging on a journey of self-discovery.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a straightforward, feel-good arc where an unconventional protagonist enters an unfamiliar environment. Through a series of challenges, they use their specific, often underestimated, talents to solve problems, ultimately gaining acceptance and forging deep bonds with a new 'found family'.

Why These Movies?

This thread connects movies through a shared character journey and emotional core. They feature light-hearted tones, medium intensity, and happy endings focused on the triumph of individuality and the joy of finding where you belong.

Unlock the Full Story of Roadie

Don't stop at just watching — explore Roadie in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Roadie is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Roadie Summary

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Roadie Summary

Roadie Timeline

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Roadie Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Roadie

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Roadie

More About Roadie

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