‘The Last Rodeo’ Isn’t Really Based on a True Story

The competitive world of sports has always been an effective backdrop for cinematic narratives. From Rocky to The Mighty Ducks, we all love rallying behind an underdog in their pursuit of victory. Though these stories sometimes become formulaic and predictable, they appeal to our love of watching someone triumph over adversity. The Last Rodeo is the newest movie about an underdog overcoming competitive odds, this one taking place in the world of professional bull riding. The movie, which is currently on Apple TV+, stars Neal McDonough and is inspired by true events. Saddle up, partner, we’re going to find out the true story that inspired The Last Rodeo.

Big Time Competition in Small-Town America

The Last Rodeo is the story of Joe Wainwright (Neal McDonough), a retired professional bull rider who finds himself returning to his profession in the wake of unforeseen circumstances. When his grandson, Cody (Graham Harvey), develops a brain tumor, Joe decides to participate in a bull-riding competition for a cash prize to pay for his life-saving surgery. The story of the former champion coming out of retirement has been done before with varying degrees of success. The right person behind the camera can certainly make all the difference.

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Writer and director Joe Avnet is no stranger to crafting narratives that incorporate personal struggles into the scenery of Middle America. Avent has yielded success with this combination before with Fried Green Tomatoes and The War. Juxtaposing the classic sports underdog formula with Middle America and incorporating themes of faith and determination makes for a film that engages audiences seeking uplifting entertainment. It might be an old formula, but an unfamiliar setting and a cast who deliver remarkable performances certainly make The Last Rodeo stand out among other sports-centric films of recent years.

The Inspiration for ‘The Last Rodeo’

There’s a natural inclination to be skeptical when a film claims to be inspired by actual events. It’s only natural that creative liberties are taken to provide audiences with an entertaining narrative or to condense factual events for the sake of running time. The Last Rodeo, which Neal McDonough has described as “Rocky on a bull,” may have taken inspiration from real life, but it is very much not based on a true story.

According to a segment published in The Direct, McDonough’s vision for The Last Rodeo is deeply rooted in his faith:

“I’m fairly certain that God planted the idea in my head: Rocky on a bull, a retired rodeo legend, has to go back for a certain reason and ride again. I’ve never been to a rodeo. I’d never seen the rodeo. I’ve been riding horses since I was a little kid, but never anything on a bull. And within 24 hours, I had voice dictated basically the outline of the whole film. It just spewed out of me, and then I called my writing partner, Derek Presley, and then we started on a draft. And within a week, we had our first draft, and within a week after that, we had the financing. This was God’s divine intervention all over the place…”

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Professional bull-riding has something of a polarizing reputation among many. To some, it’s an adrenaline-pumping competition that pits man against animal, a sport where people put their health at risk, and injuries and fatalities are always a possibility. To others, it’s a trite exercise in animal cruelty, not so far removed from the professional bullfights that occur in Spain and Mexico. Whatever one might think of the sport, there’s no denying the risks involved for those who participate.

The makers of The Last Rodeo made considerable effort to give audiences a heightened sense of realism when depicting the world of professional bull-riding. Shot on location where real bull-riding events occur, the film delivers the frenetic action that the sport includes. While not based on any single individual directly involved with bull-riding, the sport’s realism is on full display.

Where Can I Watch ‘The Last Rodeo’?

The Last Rodeo, or “Rocky on a bull,” is currently streaming on Apple TV+.