Joyride

Joyride

Year: 1977

Runtime: 92 mins

Language: English

Director: Joseph Ruben

AdventureComedyCrimeDramaRomance

What begins as an exhilarating escape quickly turns grim. After quitting their stagnant jobs, Scott, John and Suzie leave L.A. for Alaska to launch a salmon‑fishing venture. The harsh Alaskan reality forces them to abandon their plans, confronting desperate choices simply to stay alive.

Joyride (1977) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Joyride (1977) 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 a restless bid to escape the monotony of their dead‑end jobs, Scott, John and Suzie trade the neon glow of Los Angeles for the rugged, wind‑blown expanses of Alaska. Their plan is simple and romantic‑in‑its‑own‑way: launch a salmon‑fishing venture that promises freedom, profit, and the kind of fresh start that city life rarely offers. The opening scenes set a tone of exhilarating possibility, underscored by the stark beauty of the frontier and the raw, untamed promise it holds for anyone daring enough to chase it.

Scott arrives with a restless energy, the kind of optimism that often fuels bold schemes but can clash with harsh reality. John brings a more measured, pragmatic outlook, his steady demeanor a counterbalance to Scott’s impulsiveness. Suzie blends determination with a pragmatic grit, her resilience quietly anchoring the trio as they navigate unfamiliar terrain. Their interactions reveal a friendship forged by shared dissatisfaction, each person projecting their own hopes onto the collective dream while grappling with the inevitable doubts that arise when ambition meets the unknown.

The Alaskan setting serves as both a breathtaking backdrop and an unforgiving test of character. Vast, unforgiving wilderness, isolated towns, and a local economy that runs on a different clock all conspire to challenge the trio’s naive expectations. The film’s mood is a gritty blend of road‑movie wanderlust and survivalist tension, flavored with dark humor that underscores how quickly the line between adventure and desperation can blur. As the characters confront the stark differences between their imagined future and the reality of life on the edge, the story invites viewers to wonder just how far they’ll go to hold onto the dream—or to reinvent themselves when the dream slips away.

Last Updated: December 04, 2025 at 18:06

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Desperate road trip crime movies like Joyride

Friends on the run, where economic desperation leads to escalating criminal choices.This section features movies like 'Joyride' where characters are driven to crime by economic hardship on a doomed road trip. If you liked the frantic energy and escalating bad decisions in 'Joyride', you'll find similar stories of survival, tense friendships, and bleak journeys here.

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Narrative Summary

These narratives typically follow a group of friends or partners whose hopeful journey rapidly derails. What begins as an escape or a dream quickly turns into a survival scenario, forcing the characters into a downward spiral of crime, paranoia, and moral compromise. The story is linear and fast-moving, focusing on the immediate consequences of each poor decision.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread are united by their focus on economic desperation as a catalyst for crime, the intense pressure it places on relationships, and a fast-paced, gritty tone. They share a high-intensity viewing experience with heavy emotional weight and a generally pessimistic outlook.

Gritty 70s survival movies with a vibe like Joyride

Raw, character-driven stories from the 1970s where harsh environments test human limits.If you liked the harsh realism and survivalist tone of 'Joyride', explore this collection of gritty 1970s films. These movies share a similar raw aesthetic, focus on economic hardship, and tense character studies set against unforgiving environments, capturing the unique vibe of 70s indie cinema.

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Narrative Summary

The narratives are typically straightforward but emotionally layered, following characters as they confront a harsh world—be it urban decay or a brutal natural landscape. The plot is less about intricate twists and more about the visceral experience of struggle, often leaving the characters' futures uncertain. The focus is on authenticity and emotional toll over glamour.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their distinct era-specific aesthetic—naturalistic lighting, authentic dialogue, and a generally pessimistic mood. They share a high intensity stemming from raw subject matter, a tense or bleak tone, and a heavy emotional weight centered on survival and moral ambiguity.

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Joyride Summary

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Joyride Summary

Joyride Timeline

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Joyride Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Joyride

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Joyride

More About Joyride

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