The Bikeriders

What’s it about?

In the late 1960s Kathy falls in love with Benny who is in a motorcycle club. Kathy struggles with their relationship as times change and the club becomes more violent.

The facts

• Directed by Jeff Nichols (Mud, Take Shelter)
• English language
• Runtime: 116 minutes
• Starring Jodie Comer, Austin Butler, and Tom Hardy
• Inspired by a photobook by Danny Lyon of the same name

Why did it get this rating?

This film was classified by Te Mana Whakaatu, Classification Office. You can find out more about classification process and ratings here.

Violence

The men in the motorcycle gang get into brawls, fighting with fists and occasionally knives. While the punches are heavy, the impact is not often shown and there is very little wound detail beyond cuts. There is a brief scene of a car accident where a head hits a windscreen and we see the resulting blood. In another scene a man accidentally punches a window and we see glass in the wound and the glass being removed.

The stronger violence contains cruelty:

• A man beats his wife with a belt. A young man beats his father with the belt in retaliation. He then chokes him with the belt. This scene is disturbing.
• A man brakes a man’s ankle with a spade. We see the ankle snap through clothing.

Sexual violence and sexual material

The threat of sexual violence from men in the motorcycle club is present in a couple of scenes. A woman is dragged towards a bedroom against her will but is saved before anything can happen. She tells a friend that if she had been raped she would be suicidal.

There are occasional jokes about sex and one fleeting sex scene, where a topless woman has sex with a clothed man on a picnic table. This is in the background, and not the focus of the scene.

Offensive language

There is frequent offensive language, used both aggressively and casually. Words include, motherf***er, f*ck, b**tard, c**ksucker, b*tch and shit.

Drug use

• A Vietnam veteran injects heroin. We see this from a distance and it is not shown to be a good thing.
• There are references to cannabis use.
• All of the characters smoke cigarettes throughout the film.

Helplines:

The scene of sexual threat could be upsetting for some viewers, especially for those who have gone through similar experiences. If you are struggling with what you have seen on-screen please reach out for help. If you or someone you know needs to talk:

• 1737
• Safe to talk
• Lifeline
• Youthline

Further information

• Why are ratings and content warnings important for me and my whānau?