The Electric Horseman

The Electric Horseman

Year: 1979

Runtime: 121 min

Language: English

Director: Sydney Pollack

DramaComedyRomanceWestern

A celebrated rodeo star, now performing in a commercial cereal show, finds his life unfulfilling. He uncovers a disturbing secret: a valuable horse is being medicated to enhance its performance. Defying his current situation, he escapes into the desert atop the magnificent animal. A tenacious journalist sets out to follow their journey, hoping to expose the story behind their flight.

The Electric Horseman (1979) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at The Electric Horseman (1979) 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 world where the flash of neon signs and the roar of a crowd can mask deeper truths, the story opens amidst the glittering spectacle of a national cereal campaign. The setting shifts from the polished stages of Las Vegas to the stark, sun‑baked expanses of the American desert, hinting at a clash between manufactured glamour and untamed wilderness. The atmosphere hums with the restless energy of a society that celebrates surface‑level triumphs while quietly overlooking the costs behind them.

Sonny Steele is a former rodeo champion whose once‑raucous life has been reshaped into a polished advertising persona. Though he dazzles audiences with a jewel‑encrusted wardrobe and effortless charm, an undercurrent of dissatisfaction drives him to question the price of his fame. Central to his unrest is a prized racehorse, Rising Star, whose hidden treatment becomes a catalyst for an inner rebellion. The bond between rider and animal is presented as a fragile, almost sacred connection yearning for authenticity beyond the corporate spotlight.

Enter Hallie Martin, a sharp‑witted television journalist whose curiosity is piqued by the glossy veneer surrounding the celebrated cowboy. She arrives with a professional instinct to uncover the story beneath the spectacle, yet as she observes Sonny and his mount, her investigation begins to feel personal. Their interaction is charged with a blend of professional respect and an unspoken challenge, each recognizing in the other a different kind of freedom.

The tone balances light‑hearted showmanship with a somber undercurrent, inviting the audience to wonder whether escape is possible when one is tethered to both fame and responsibility. With the desert’s endless horizon promising both danger and redemption, the film teases a journey that will test convictions, reveal hidden motives, and explore what it truly means to break away from a life crafted for others.

Last Updated: August 10, 2025 at 14:13

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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.

Redemptive Journeys Like in The Electric Horseman

Characters seeking personal redemption on a hopeful, cross-country adventure.Find movies like The Electric Horseman where characters find redemption and freedom on the open road. These films feature scenic adventures, hopeful tones, and stories of individuals reclaiming their integrity against a cynical world.

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Narrative Summary

These stories typically follow a character escaping a corrupt or unfulfilling system, often corporate or urban. Their flight into a vast landscape—deserts, mountains, plains—forces a confrontation with their true self. The journey is both literal and metaphorical, leading to a principled stand and a hopeful resolution.

Why These Movies?

They share a steady pacing that allows for character reflection, a dominant hopeful tone despite serious themes, and a focus on the transformative power of nature and solitude. The emotional journey from cynicism to authenticity is central.

Movies with Adversarial Duos Like The Electric Horseman

An unlikely pair teams up to expose corruption and escape corporate pursuers.If you liked the dynamic between Sonny and Hallie in The Electric Horseman, explore these movies about unlikely pairs defying the system. These stories combine a chase narrative, corporate critique, and a relationship that grows from conflict into camaraderie.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative is a chase, driven by a principled act of defiance. A journalist or outsider often pursues the fugitive protagonist, their relationship evolving from suspicion to alliance. The central conflict is not just escape, but exposing the truth, with the duo's bond strengthening under pressure.

Why These Movies?

They are grouped by the specific character dynamic of a principled rebel and a tenacious outsider, a steady-paced chase structure, and themes of integrity versus corporate greed. The mix of rebellion, pursuit, and budding respect creates a distinct, engaging vibe.

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The Electric Horseman Summary

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The Electric Horseman Summary

The Electric Horseman Timeline

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The Electric Horseman Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in The Electric Horseman

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape The Electric Horseman. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in The Electric Horseman

More About The Electric Horseman

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