20 Biker Movies To Watch If You Like Sons Of Anarchy

Summary Biker movies past & present offer thrilling action, outlaw tales & deep character exploration akin to the iconic Sons of Anarchy.

A closer look at top biker films like Easy Rider, Beyond The Law & The Wild Angels reveals grit, loyalty, and the thrill of the open road.

Whether it's a gritty crime thriller like Hell Ride or an inspiring true story like The World's Fastest Indian, biker films offer a range of stories.

The FX series Sons of Anarchy ended in 2014 and set the template for what the best biker movies should look like. Those who love motorcycles as a whole might also be yearning for feature films that portray the love for bikes or the madness surrounding them. Some of the best biker movies have been made over the past few years, shooting up in popularity due to Sons of Anarchy. From movies that share the love of motorcycles to those that add the criminal aspects, there are plenty to choose from.

Even though Sons of Anarchy has been off the air for years, it continues to be iconic as people discover the show on streaming services like Hulu and fans watch and re-watch the series. Although the most popular movies about bikers – and films that heavily featured motorcycles – were released in the 1960s and have a different feeling than the modern Sons of Anarchy, they're still popular today and are just as engaging as the series with their action-filled sequences, beautiful landscapes, and bikes. Often, the characters drift into violent criminal activity too.

Related 15 Best Shows Like Mayans M.C. Mayans M.C. is a gritty motorcycle crime drama about family and revenge. What similar shows would fans of the Sons of Anarchy spinoff enjoy?

20 Biker Boyz (2003)

A Power Struggle Emerges In An Underground Biker Gang

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Biker Boyz is a 2003 sports movie set in the world of underground motorcycle racing. In many ways, the movie simply feels like an attempt for the studio to cash in on the success of The Fast and the Furious from a couple of years prior. However, even if it doesn't feel very original, it is a fun ride with a stellar cast. The movie tells the story of underground biker drag racers and the rivalry between an iconic racer and a young prodigy who started his own biker club.

Much like Sons of Anarchy, this movie takes the bikes as seriously as the cast itself. However, it is a different type of motorcycle being used with the movie focusing on the flashy and fast racing bikes that make for some exciting race sequences. The cast is top-notch, with Laurence Fishburne, Derek Luke, Orlando Jones, Djimon Honsou, Lisa Bonet, Meagan Good, Terrence Howard, and even Kid Rock.

19 Beyond The Law (1993)

Charlie Sheen Goes Undercover In A Biker Gang

Fans of Sons of Anarchy who wondered what it would look like if Charlie Sheen was a biker should watch the 1993 movie Beyond the Law. Sheen stars as an undercover cop named Dan Saxon who joins a group of outlaw bikers to stop a drug-smuggling and arms-dealing operation. However, to get as deep as possible, he has to commit more dangerous crimes, pushing him to the edge and almost resulting in no way back.

While the movie might sound like another ripoff of Point Break, it is actually an interesting thriller about the moral complexity of being an undercover agent, not wanting to have his cover blown but also wondering how far from the law he is able to stray. The biker culture in the movie is also interesting as they are seen as rather ruthless criminals but a world in which Sheen's Dan finds himself fitting in.

18 Torque (2004)

A Biker Is Framed For Murdering A Rival's Brother

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In 2004, Ice Cube starred in his own biker movie with Torque, a film directed by long-time music video director Joseph Kahn. In the movie, Martin Henderson is Cary Ford, a biker who finds some motorcycles filled with crystal meth, so he stows them away. However, a gangster (played by Matt Schulze) wants them back so he frames Cary for the murder of the brother of a biker game leader named Trey (Ice Cube), who sets out to get revenge.

The movie shares a lot in common with the stories told in Sons of Anarchy, especially the criminal elements and the movement into the illegal drug trade. Interestingly, this is another movie that seems to have been released in the hopes of making the next Fast & Furious franchise, but that was not what Kahn had in mind. He insists his original edit was a lot more satirical which makes for a somewhat awkward tone yet an interesting movie nonetheless.

17 The Wild Angels (1966)

A Gang Is Out For Revenge Over A Stolen Bike

Peter Fonda is one of the quintessential actors of the biker movie genre, and while this is not his best entry, it predated the classic Easy Rider. The Wild Angels has a close-knit motorcycle gang called Heavenly Blues at its center that comes together when one of their own has his motorcycle stolen. Fonda stars as the gang leader who gets everyone to go on a mission to find the bike and get revenge on the thieves.

The movie is directed by Roger Corman but is elevated beyond the typical low-budget action movie. There are several fights between motorcycle gangs and run-ins with the police on motorcycles that are a lot of fun. The Wild Angels shares something in common with Sons of Anarchy, as both had real members of Hells Angels involved in the cast while it is also a tale about the brotherhood and loyalty among these gangs.

16 Run, Angel, Run! (1969)

A Man Goes On The Run After Leaving His Violent Biker Gang

Run, Angel, Run! follows an outlaw biker (William Smith) who tries to leave his biker gang with his partner (Valerie Starrett) but the gang decides to chase after them and try to force him back into their ranks instead of letting them go freely. It turns into a cat-and-mouse chase as the ex-outlaw biker and his partner try to outrun the motorcycle gang members who were once his closest brothers.

Coming out the same year as Easy Rider, Run, Angel, Run! had much less of a cultural impact, though it was a success, with a budget of only $96,000 but a box office take of $13 million. The movie is also a much different take on the genre, going for a pulpy and fun ride. Like Sons of Anarchy, it is a project that shows how both good guys and bad guys exist in the biker world.

15 Road To Paloma (2014)

Jason Momoa Goes On The Run After Taking Bloody Revenge

Although Road to Paloma isn't about motorcycle gangs, it does feature a lone biker on a mission and on the run from the law. Jason Momoa stars as Robert Wolf who gets revenge by killing the man who raped and murdered his mother. Wolf goes on the run after and flees the law hoping to be able to spread his mother's ashes. He goes on a long bike ride searching for his sister's property to spread the ashes while also avoiding the law.

The movie is clearly a passion project for Momoa who not only stars in it but also co-wrote it and makes his directorial debut​​​​​. He is an actor who seems to fit very well into the biker genre and it makes for a violent revenge movie. It also feels reminiscent of Sons of Anarchy's many violent missions of revenge while Momoa's lone rider feels similar to Jax's final ride in Sons of Anarchy.

14 Angel Unchained (1970)

An Ex-Biker Protects A Hippie Commune Against Hostile Locals

Angel Unchained has a somewhat similar plot to Run, Angel, Run! where the main character decides he wants to leave his biker gang. In Angel Unchained the main character, Angel, joins a commune to live a simpler and more peaceful life other than the gang. Though the gang doesn't hunt him, a new group of cowboys decides to harass the commune and Angel has to fight back.

The film might not be as well known as Easy Rider and The Wild Angels, but the idea of a man wanting to escape his past is one that Sons of Anarchy fans should enjoy. The movie has an interesting approach as it feels like a Western movie, similar to Shane or The Magnificent Seven, adapted for the biker movie genre. It makes for a fun action flick that shows the bikers as more heroic.

13 Hell's Belles (1969)

A Man Goes On A Mission To Retrieve His Stolen Bike

Hell's Belles is another movie that centers on a revenge plot after a bike is stolen, like The Wild Angels. Dan (Jeremy Slate) wins a new motorcycle and plans to sell it so he can have enough money to buy a ranch, but it's stolen by a man. Dan decides to hunt down the new owner of the bike, Tampa (Adam Roarke), and his partner Cathy (Jocelyn Lane) joins him in the violent revenge story.

This is more of an exploitation movie than a tale like Sons of Anarchy but the idea of a man fighting a biker gang plays well with the popular TV show. It is a simple story that brings audiences along on this road trip revenge movie with some fun characters. As a bonus for Sons of Anarchy fans, William Lucking who played Piney on the series, appears in Hell's Belles in his feature film debut.

12 Easy Rider (1969)

Two Bikers Go On A Drug-Fuel Ride Across America

Easy Rider follows two bikers named Billy (Dennis Hopper) and Wyatt (Peter Fonda) as they ride from Los Angeles to New Orleans to find clients and discover more of America. Dennis Hopper also directed the film and brought Jack Nicholson on board as he plays a free-spirited attorney whom the bikers bond with along the way. This is a role that is also credited for changing Jack Nicholson's career trajectory, plucking him from B-list status into the A-list. He received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

Aside from Nicholson's standout performance, Easy Rider is one of the most influential movies of all time. It was seen as a subversive and eye-opening look at a new filmmaking culture that gave way to the New Hollywood movement and the rise of auteur directors. The indie ended up being a surprise box office hit, making it one of the most profitable movies of all time.

11 Ghost Rider (2007)

A Stunt Rider Becomes A Supernatural Hero

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There is also a biker movie in the realm of superhero entertainment. Before getting the rights to Ghost Rider back, Marvel licensed out the property to Sony and the company released two Ghost Rider movies, with the first gaining more appreciation than the sequel. In the movie, Nicolas Cage starred as Johnny Blaze, a motorcycle stuntman who learns his mentor is dying and makes a deal with the devil to save his life. This devil, Mephisto, delivers his promise but with a twist, and soon Blaze has to repay the debt when he becomes the Spirit of Vengeance, Ghost Rider.

While a more forgettable superhero movie than some of the genre's other entries at the time, it's still an entertaining time and it is a lot of fun to see the character brought to the big screen with Cage's wild performance. There is also a fun bit of biker movie casting with Peter Fonda as Mephisto. The character remains popular with many fans hoping Johnny Blaze aka Ghost Rider appears in the MCU before long.

10 Harley Davidson And The Marlboro Man (1991)

Two Bikers Are Drawn Into A Drug Conspiracy

A movie with a character named after an actual motorcycle brand will certainly grab the attention of fans of the biker movie genre. The movie follows two childhood friends, Harley Davidson (Mickey Rourke) and Marlboro (Don Jonhson) who give themselves the mission to save their once-favorite hangout joint when they become aware that it's facing closure over unpaid loans to a bank. When they try to rob the armored truck with the bank's money, they find that they have stumbled upon a drug trade operation.

Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man has a reputation of being a huge critical and financial flop which caused Rourke to temporarily leave the acting business. However, looking back on it years later, the movie is an entertaining buddy action comedy with a 90s vibe as well as a strong supporting cast. While it may not be the best in the genre, it shows that biker movies can be funny and have a sense of goofy fun.

9 Hells Angels On Wheels (1967)

Jack Nicholson Questions His New Biker Friends And Their Crimes

Before Easy Rider, Jack Nicholson also starred in this biker film that is most similar to Sons of Anarchy. Nicholson plays a gas station attendant named Poet who impresses the Hells Angels biker gang and ends up being absorbed into their circle. Since Poet has spent most of his life in solitude, he is initially glad to be part of a group of tough guys. However, his conscience soon kicks in when he witnesses the gang's brutal crimes, including robbery and murder.

The morality of the biker culture is also a big part of Sons of Anarchy and it is interesting to see it explored in this early exploitation movie. Nicholson makes for a great lead, playing against his typical wild image as the stalwart hero of the story. Hells Angels on Wheels also features Adam Roarke, a veteran of the biker movie genre.

8 The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)

Young Che Guevera Embarks On A Motorcycle Trip

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Directed by popular Brazilian director Walter Salles, The Motorcycle Diaries is a movie about Che Guevera, but it isn't about revolution. Based on the revolutionary leader's own memoirs, the movie is about his experiences traveling through South America in the 1950s as a medical student. Gael García Bernal steps into the role of Che, bringing a new perspective on the iconic historical figure to the screen, focusing on a different time of his life.

The adrenaline of most biker films is lacking here, but the movie slowly takes the audience through the little events that shaped the iconic leader's mind. When his bike breaks down, he interacts with people, thus realizing how much they are suffering from poverty and political oppression. It manages to show that biker movies can be thoughtful dramas as well as fun action romps.

7 The Wild One (1953)

Marlon Brandon Plays The Rebellious Leader Of A Biker Gang

Marlon Brando continued to establish himself as one of the most alluring actors on screen with his role in The Wild One. Brando plays Johnny Strabler, the cop-hating leader of the Black Rebels biker gang. The movie follows Johnny as he falls for the daughter of the local sheriff while a war with a rival gang erupts. The British Board of Film Classification banned the movie for its glorification of crime and violence.

Brando was already seen as one of the coolest actors of all time and The Wild One upped the cool factor by adding a motorcycle. His charisma is all over the movie, elevating it with his engrossing performance. This biker film is often credited for popularizing the idea of motorcycle gangs in Hollywood movies. Soon after it came out, many more followed, changing the landscape going forward.

6 Eye Of The Tiger (1986)

A War Veteran Battles A Biker Gang To Save His Town

Imagine Rambo: First Blood with biker gang members substituting the cops and fans can get an idea of what this movie is about. Eye Of The Tiger stars Gary Busey as Buck, a military veteran who comes back home from Vietnam to find that his town is being colonized by a biker gang. Buck decides the only way to save his peaceful town is by driving these reckless bikers out by force.

There's no shortage of action, with fistfights and motorcycle chases happening every few minutes. The movie marks the first action movie for Busey, and while he would go on to play the villain in many movies in the genre, it is a lot of fun seeing him bring his unique screen presence to a rare heroic role. It is also a lot of fun seeing the biker gang painted as vicious villains which is not far off from some of the villainous bikers of Sons of Anarchy.

5 Akira (1988)

A Member Of A Biker Gnag Becomes A Powerful Telekinetic Weapon

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Akira is often regarded as one of the best anime movies of all time. It is a bold and genre-bending story that is hard to fit into one category. However, with the central characters all part of a motorcycle gang, it makes for a very rare animated biker movie that also shares interesting similarities with Sons of Anarchy. The story follows Shōtarō Kaneda, the leader of a biker gang whose best friend gains telekinetic abilities after an accident. This soon threatens the dystopian world in which they live, the metropolis known as Neo-Tokyo.

The film has a massive cult following and is widely considered one of the greatest animes ever made. Like Sons of Anarchy, the movie shows the reckless side of the biker life but also the immense loyalty these characters have to each other. It is filled with incredible action and violence, but there is a touching story at its center of a young man trying to save his friend. Hollywood has struggled to make a live-action Akira for years, but it is perhaps left alone.

4 Hell Ride (2008)

Three Bikers Set Out To Avenge Their Friend

Hell Ride was directed by Larry Bishop, who also stars as Prez, the leader of a South California gang known as the Victors. The plot revolves around the gang's efforts to avenge the killing of a fellow gang member. Michael Madsen and Eric Balfour play the other two members of the gang with a supporting cast that includes Dennis Hopper, Vinnie Jones, and David Carradine.

Seeing how motorcycle gang members stand up for each other and take revenge is something that Sons of Anarchy fans are very familiar with. This movie also picked up a good person to promote it as it was listed under a "Quentin Tarantino Presents" banner and it is an homage to the best biker movies of the 1960s and 70s. It captures that vibe well while the cast seems to be having a lot of fun with their wild characters.

3 Stone Cold (1991)

A Cop Goes Undercover In A Biker Gang

Stone Cold is a film packed with 90s action movie tropes about a cop from Alabama who takes an undercover mission for the FBI. The job involves infiltrating a murderous biker gang in the south of Mississippi. The gang is not only involved in drugs but also plans to murder the District Attorney and free a member who has been arrested. William Forsythe plays Ice, the most deranged member of the gang while Lance Henriksen plays Chains Cooper, the gang’s leader.

Stone Cold also marked the film debut of NFL star Brian Bosworth in the lead role though many find him to be the weak link of the movie. However, for fans of the 90s action movie movement, it is a fun throwback ride that has a lot of fun bringing some dastardly and evil biker movie villains to life. The action is solid and entertaining even if the overall movie cannot be considered a classic.

2 The Loveless (1981)

A Biker Gang Runs Across Hostile Locals In A Roadside Diner

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The biker movie genre has been known for kickstarting the careers of many great actors who went on to have acclaimed careers. The Loveless is one such example as it features an early starring role from Oscar-nominated actor Willem Dafoe. The movie sees a group of bikers congregating in a roadside diner on their way to the Daytona race. The diner's management starts getting nervous, and a customer even becomes hostile towards them. The hostility soon leads to an endless string of violence.

The movie was filmed on a tight budget and when it came out, it quickly became a cult favorite, becoming one of the highest-rated biker films of all time among critics. The Loveless is effective in showing the community of the bikers, similar to the Sons of Anarchy gang, with Dafoe giving a charismatic performance in the lead role. It also marks the directorial debut of Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow.

1 The World's Fastest Indian (2001)

Anthony Hopkins Attempts To Build The World's Fastest Motorcycle

The World's Fastest Indian is another film that shows the kind of versatile stories that can be told within the biker movie genre. Based on a true story, the movie revolves around bike racer Burt Munro (Anthony Hopkins) and his obsession with making his old Indian Scout motorcycle, the fastest bike in the world. He spends a lot of time modifying the bike, chasing the seemingly impossible record at any cost.

This is a very different biker movie and certainly doesn't share the grittiness of Sons of Anarchy. However, it is a film that shows the love people can have for their motorcycles and the way in which Burt continues to improve his little bike is a lot of fun to watch. It is a funny, charming, and inspiring movie with a terrific central performance from Hopkins in one of his most underrated roles.