Overview
Two women embark on a life-changing road trip that spirals into a desperate escape from the law.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- witty
- liberating
- tense
- road movie marathon
- feminist film night
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as an iconic, emotionally compelling female-led road movie, praising its performances, script, and sympathetic treatment of its protagonists despite debate over its depiction of men and its tragic resolution.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Thelma and Louise's friendship becomes the emotional and practical foundation of their flight after the assault threat and killing.
The planned drive to break from routine develops into a cross-country fugitive journey toward Mexico.
The film places two working-class women in the roles typically occupied by male road-movie rebels and interrogates the double standard surrounding their actions.
The highway and Southwest landscapes provide a visual counterpoint to the diner, kitchen, marriage, and police pursuit.
Films like Thelma & Louise, and why
Bonnie and Clyde
shares a female-led road movie structure, outlaw trajectory, and charged themes of freedom and rebellion
Badlands
shares fugitive road-movie momentum, crime drama elements, and a sympathetic partnership under pressure
Easy Rider
shares working-class protagonists, escape-from-conformity themes, and a darkly comic American road journey
Boys on the Side
shares female friendship, comic drama, and characters resisting restrictive social expectations
Movie Details
- Director
- Ridley Scott
- Release Date
- 1991-05-24
- Runtime
- 130 min
- Rating
- 7.6 / 10 (4013)
Cast
- Susan Sarandon
- Geena Davis
- Harvey Keitel
- Michael Madsen
- Christopher McDonald
- Stephen Tobolowsky
- Brad Pitt
- Timothy Carhart
- Lucinda Jenney
- Jason Beghe
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Hulu, fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Thelma & Louise about?
- Two Arkansas friends flee across the American Southwest after a violent encounter turns their liberating road trip into a desperate outlaw odyssey.
- What is Thelma & Louise like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Thelma & Louise as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Thelma & Louise violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Thelma & Louise as moderate.
- What did critics think of Thelma & Louise?
- Critics broadly regard the film as an iconic, emotionally compelling female-led road movie, praising its performances, script, and sympathetic treatment of its protagonists despite debate over its depiction of men and its tragic resolution.
- Which films are like Thelma & Louise?
- Films with a similar feel include Bonnie and Clyde, Badlands, Easy Rider, and Boys on the Side.
- How long is Thelma & Louise?
- Thelma & Louise runs 130 minutes.
- Where can I watch Thelma & Louise?
- In United States, Thelma & Louise streams on Hulu, fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus.
