Red Rocket (film)
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film industry |
| Founded | 2021 |
| Founder | Sean Baker, Chris Bergoch |
| Products | Black comedy-drama film |
Red Rocket is a 2021 American black comedy-drama helmed by director Sean Baker, with a screenplay co-written by Baker and Chris Bergoch. The film features performances by Simon Rex, Bree Elrod, and newcomer Suzanna Son. Rex portrays Mikey "Saber" Davies, a former adult film star in his middle age who returns to his Texas hometown, aiming to revive his former lifestyle while embarking on a relationship with a 17-year-old girl.
The film debuted at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival on July 14, 2021, competing for the Palme d'Or. It later received a limited theatrical release in the United States on December 10, 2021, distributed by A24. Critics praised both Baker’s direction and Rex’s portrayal, leading to numerous accolades and nominations. The National Board of Review recognized it as one of the top ten films of the year. Rex earned Best Actor awards from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association and at the 37th Independent Spirit Awards.
Plot
After spending 17 years away, former Los Angeles adult film actor Mikey "Saber" Davies returns to Texas City with only $22, hoping to rebuild his life. He moves in with his estranged wife Lexi—also an ex-porn performer—and her mother Lil, who allow him to stay provided he finds employment and contributes around the home. Mikey faces difficulty securing work because of his pornographic past and employment gaps.
In desperation, he reconnects with Leondria, a local marijuana dealer and mother of an old acquaintance, resuming cannabis sales. Although Leondria doubts his dependability, their partnership persists as Mikey sells weed to construction laborers.
Without access to a vehicle, Mikey relies on Lexi's outdated bicycle for transport. He rekindles intimacy with Lexi and pays rent upfront. At a donut shop where he encounters Raylee—nicknamed Strawberry—a 17-year-old employee, he convinces her to allow him to distribute marijuana to customers there. They initiate a sexual relationship; Strawberry later performs an NSYNC piano cover of "Bye Bye Bye" for him.
Mikey befriends Lonnie, Lexi’s neighbor, but uncovers that Lonnie falsely claims military veteran status. After persuading Strawberry to end her relationship with her boyfriend Nash, Mikey suffers a violent assault by Nash and his parents.
Mikey encourages Strawberry to relocate with him to Los Angeles to pursue a porn career he intends to manage. Their deepening bond causes tension with Lexi. Following a near-fatal car crash caused while boasting about his achievements, Mikey convinces Strawberry to quit her job and join him.
Lexi and Lil orchestrate a scheme involving Leondria’s children seizing Mikey’s $3,000 drug profits as retribution for selling marijuana to union workers. Naked and humiliated, Mikey flees and begs Leondria for money; she gives him $200 and orders him away. With few possessions, he departs overnight for Strawberry’s home, envisioning her waiting as tears stream down his face.
Production
With a budget of just $1.1 million, director Sean Baker shifted focus from a larger-scale project to concentrate fully on Red Rocket. The characters were conceived by Baker and Bergoch during their research into the adult film industry for their 2012 movie Starlet, drawing inspiration from men fitting the "suitcase pimp" stereotype—men who financially exploit female performers in adult entertainment.
Baker had Simon Rex in mind for the lead role five years prior but only reached out in October 2020, arranging a last-minute audition conducted via iPhone. To avoid COVID-19 quarantine restrictions, Rex traveled to Texas just days before filming commenced. His casting was significant due to his history in gay pornography, adding an ironic dimension to the role. Rex kept involvement confidential from his agent until filming concluded. Suzanna Son was initially approached in 2018 but was cast two years later. Ethan Darbone and Brittney Rodriguez were local discoveries who contributed authenticity to the Texan setting.
Principal photography took place across Texas from late October through mid-November 2020 under strict pandemic safety measures. The production utilized 16 mm film captured on an Arriflex 16SR3 camera equipped with Panavision lenses to achieve a naturalistic look. The compact crew of ten worked without rehearsals and primarily featured non-professional actors.
Filming locations included eateries in Texas City and Nederland; a donut shop in Groves; plus scenes shot at Kemah Boardwalk and Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier. The Donut Hole location remained open during evening shoots.
Obtaining rights for NSYNC’s "Bye Bye Bye" required consent from all five band members—a cost not accounted for in the original budget. Suzanna Son recorded a cover version featured on the official soundtrack.
Creative influences
Throughout his career, Baker has committed himself to crafting narratives that challenge stigma and normalize the experiences of sex workers in his films. With Red Rocket, he paid tribute to the "Italian eroticism" and the 1970s sexploitation genre, drawing inspiration from filmmakers such as Fernando Di Leo and Umberto Lenzi. Additionally, the outdoor sequences were influenced by Steven Spielberg's The Sugarland Express.
Release
In February 2021, A24 secured the distribution rights for both the United States and Canada. Internationally, FilmNation Entertainment handled sales, partnering with Le Pacte for France, Roadshow Entertainment for Australia and New Zealand, Lev Cinemas for Israel, and collaborating with Focus Features alongside Universal Pictures International for territories outside North America.
Red Rocket made its debut in competition at the 74th Cannes Film Festival on July 14, 2021, where it was honored with a standing ovation lasting five minutes. The film also featured in prominent festivals such as Deauville, Hamburg, London, Mill Valley, Miskolc, New York, Telluride, Rome, Nagpur, San Sebastián, and Vancouver.
A scheduled drive-in screening during Travis Scott's Astroworld Festival, which was to include appearances by Baker and members of the cast, was cancelled following a tragic mass casualty incident at Scott's concert shortly before.
The movie saw a limited theatrical release beginning December 10, 2021, in New York and Los Angeles. Later, Lionsgate Films distributed it via VOD on February 8, 2022, followed by DVD and Blu-Ray releases on March 15, 2022.
Box office
Red Rocket earned $1 million across the United States and Canada and generated $1.3 million from international markets, bringing its global total to $2.3 million. Home video sales added $477,304 to its revenue against a production budget of $1.1 million.
During its opening weekend, the film brought in $88,195 from six theaters, averaging $14,699 per screen. Ultimately, it amassed $1 million domestically and approximately $1.2 million abroad.
Critical response
Todd McCarthy of Deadline Hollywood commended Baker and Rex for their "tremendous energy" and praised the film's vivid sense of place, describing it as "creatively pure." Matt Zoller Seitz from RogerEbert.com characterized the film as somewhat "rambling," noting a "one-note and repetitious" middle portion. David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter acknowledged certain "prolix stretches" but found the overall experience rewarding. Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian referred to it as an "adult American pastoral," examining marginalized lives reminiscent of Baker's previous work Tangerine. Richard Lawson in Vanity Fair emphasized Rex's agile and nuanced performance.
The film ignited discussions about sexual ethics in a post-MeToo context; Seitz questioned its approach to the protagonist’s borderline pedophilic fixation. Conversely, Brianna Zigler from Gawker defended this depiction as an authentic exploration of flawed human nature.
Clayton Davis of Variety recognized the provocative themes but encouraged award recognition for Rex, Baker, and Bergoch. John Waters included it among his Top Ten films of 2021. Filmmaker Bette Gordon lauded Baker’s naturalistic storytelling style and his focus on community.
By June 2025, IndieWire placed Red Rocket at number 68 on its compilation of "The 100 Best Movies of the 2020s (So Far)."
Accolades
| Award | Ceremony Date | Category | Recipient(s) | Outcome |
|---|
|- | Alliance of Women Film Journalists | Most Egregious Lovers' Age Difference | Simon Rex and Suzanna Son | Nominated | |- | Los Angeles Film Critics Association | December 18, 2021 | Best Actor | Simon Rex | Won | |- | National Society of Film Critics | January 8, 2022 | Best Actor | Simon Rex | Runner-up | |- | Houston Film Critics Society | January 19, 2022 | Texas Independent Film Award | Red Rocket | Won | |- | Santa Barbara International Film Festival | March 5, 2022 | Virtuoso Award | Simon Rex | Awarded | |- |
rowspan="2" |Independent Spirit Awards
|
rowspan="2" |March 6, 2022
| Best Male Lead | Simon Rex | Won | |- | Best Supporting Female | Suzanna Son | Nominated | |} Red Rocket did not qualify for nominations at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
External links
- Articles with short description
- 2021 films
- 2021 black comedy films
- 2021 comedy-drama films
- 2021 independent films
- 2020s American films
- 2020s English-language films
- A24 (company) films
- American black comedy films
- American comedy-drama films
- American independent films
- American sex comedy films
- English-language black comedy films
- English-language independent films
- FilmNation Entertainment films
- Films directed by Sean Baker
- Films affected by the COVID-19 pandemic
- Films set in 2016
- Films set in Texas
- Films shot on 16 mm film
- Films filmed in Texas
- Focus Features films
- Le Pacte films
- Roadshow Entertainment films
- Texas City, Texas
- Universal Pictures films