Shubhabrata Dutta
Hollywood has produced some great biker movies over the years. Some of those are about outlaw bikers who are completely rebellious towards the law and stand up for each other as gangs of brotherhood, like ‘Wild Hogs’ starring John Travolta. Then there are others that are all about the solo adventures of a rider who rides across countries and experiences something he/she has never felt before. Several documentaries are about real-life bikers who compete in the Moto GP or as badass Freestyle Motorcross stuntmen.
When you are a hardcore biker, it does not matter which one of these you watch. Anything remotely related to biking would be enough to get you all fired up to take your beast out for a ride on a long, long stretch of a lonely road. Netflix presents a mix of movies, shows, and documentaries in the genre that deliver that exhilarating feeling.
7. MaveriX (2022- )
Created by Rachel Clements, Sam Meikle, and Isaac Elliott, this Australian teen sports drama is based on motocross. It follows a group of six junior riders who train together at the Maverix training academy to qualify for the MX National Championships. We get to see how the youngsters overcome their differences and conflicts to become a team and qualify for the nationals in this series. The cast includes Darcy Tadich, Tatiana Goode, Sam Winspear-Schillings, Tjiirdm McGuire, Sebastian Tang, Charlotte Maggi, and Rohan Nichol. You can stream ‘MaveriX’ here.
6. All the Places (2023)
Directed by Pedro Pablo Ibarra, ‘All the Places’ is a Mexican drama about two estranged siblings who get along after 15 years and decide to reconnect. Gabriela and Fernando meet at their father’s funeral and, despite getting off on the wrong foot, decide to fulfill their childhood promise from 20 years ago: going on a motorcycle trip through beautiful Mexico. Their journey brings them many fruitful realizations while proving how deeply connected they are to each other. ‘All the Places’ stars Ana Serradilla as Gabriela and Mauricio Ochmann as Fernando. You can watch this lovely film right here.
5. The Hungry and the Hairy (2021-)
This buddy travel docuseries follows celebrities/long-time friends, Rain, aka Jung Ji-hoon, and Ro Hong-chul, who set off on their motorbikes to explore Korea and all the fun it has to offer. Created by Kim Tae-ho, Chang Woo-sung, and Lee Joo-won, this 10-episode series takes the two guys on an adventurous ride garnished with gourmet food, biker fashion trends, and Korean scenic terrain. Rain is the ‘Hungry’ while A fun-filled Ro Hong-chul is the ‘Hairy.’ To join them on their fun-filled ride, you can stream ‘The Hungry and the Hairy’ here.
4. Centauro (2022)
Directed by Daniel Calparsoro, this is a French remake of the 2017 film ‘Burn Out’ that itself is based on the 2012 novel “Balancé dans les cordes” by Jérémie Guez. ‘Centauro’ follows bike racer Tony Rodrigues (François Civil), who gets involved in drug trafficking and has to serve as a drug courier for two months to pay off his ex-wife Leyla’s (Manon Azem) debt to druglord Miguel (Olivier Rabourdin). The drugs she was hiding were stolen. Now, if Tony wants to keep Leyla and their son Sofiane safe, he will have to risk his life by delivering drugs. But when Jordan (Samuel Jouy), one of Miguel’s subordinates, changes the terms of the deal on the last day of Tony’s job and tells him that he has to work all his life for them, things get rough between Tony and Jordan. Tony ends up killing him, thereby making himself a target in Miguel’s eyes. Will Tony be able to save himself and his family? To find out, you can watch this fast-paced thriller right here.
3. Dhak Dhak (2023)
An Indian Hindi-language drama directed by Tarun Dudeja, ‘Dhak Dhak’ (a Hindi phrase used to denote heartbeat) follows four women belonging to different age groups and from different walks of life who set off on a bike trip to the highest mountain pass (accessible by a motor vehicle) in the world; Ladakh, India. For them, it is not just a trip; it is a way to prove to themselves and others that they are capable of achieving what many think is impossible. An inspiring tale executed with conviction, ‘Dhak Dhak’ stars Ratna Pathak Shah, Dia Mirza, Fatima Sana Shaikh, and Sanjana Sanghi. You can watch it here.
2. Deuces (2017)
‘Deuces’ revolves around two main characters – one is an undercover agent named Jason Foster, who keeps high hopes and ambitions for his future, and the other is his boss, Stephen ”Deuces” Brooks. Things get complicated between the two when both of them start identifying themselves with a mutual link who is close to Jason Foster. The movie has a great star cast, including Megan Good, Larenz Tate, and Rick Gonzalez. Larenz Tate and Rick Gonzalez have great onscreen chemistry, and the romantic relationship between the characters of Larenz Tate and Megan Good comes out very naturally, and their conversations seem very genuine.
The film also offers a surprisingly good climax and a story filled with suspense and thrill. However, it leaves it to the viewers to identify who the actual antagonist or the protagonist in the movie is, which will keep you at the edge of your seat all along. And for all the bikers out there, the movie has a fair share of some cool bikes that may serve as eye candy for the riders and may even add some value to the film overall. You can stream ‘Deuces’ here.
1. The World’s Fastest Indian (2005)
Anthony Hopkins stars as New Zealand speed bike racer Burt Munro in Roger Donaldson’s biographical sports drama ‘The World’s Fastest Indian.’ The film shows Munro’s journey to the Bonneville Speedway in Utah, a popular venue for land speed records, and the new record he set there. From the struggles he undertook to the people he met, ‘The World’s Fastest Indian’ explores it all in an authentic manner powered by Hopkins’ endearing performance. Perfect for those wanting to know about bikers’ history, the film can be streamed right here.
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