Common Sense Media Review
By Tara McNamara
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Motivational sports drama has teen swearing, drinking.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Hard Miles
What's the Story?
HARD MILES tells the true story of Greg Townsend (Matthew Modine), a social worker at a correctional high school who forms the "Rite of Passage" cycling team with four incarcerated teens. In an effort to show them their potential—and life's wide range of possibilities—he takes his new recruits on a 762-mile ride from Denver to the Grand Canyon.
Is It Any Good?
With counselor Greg rolling through mountains of metaphors and aphorisms, this drama about the real-life Rite of Passage cycling program is a vehicle made for families with teens to view together. The bump in the road, though, is that Hard Miles feels kind of like something parents make their kids watch. Greg is the central character, and when they see that he works in a juvenile correctional school, teens may brace themselves for the inevitable preaching and "learning" on the horizon.
While the conceit is obvious, there's still some solid entertainment value here. The four kids who form Greg's peloton have issues, big ones. And while this is a drama, much of the story glides along as the boys build their relationship and their ride begins. Seeing their struggle and drafting behind the idea that it's all racked in truth—that this amazing ride was accomplished (there are photos of the real Greg and his various teams through the years)—allows for all of the movie's positive messages to freewheel home.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the advice Greg gives the teens in Hard Miles: Set a goal, no matter how impossible, and then commit to achieving it. What is your goal? How might you achieve it?
The Rite of Passage cycling program is a type of therapy. What was the goal of the program, and how do you think it helped the boys? Is there an activity you enjoy that has therapeutic value?
How have coaching and parenting evolved over the decades? Why did it used to be acceptable to yell at and hit kids in the name of pushing them into becoming the best they could be? Do you think "it was a different time" is a valid excuse for behavior we no longer tolerate?
Is drinking glamorized here? Are there realistic consequences? Why does that matter?
What do bikes typically symbolize to kids? What do they mean to the movie's group of incarcerated teens? What other visual and verbal metaphors did you see in Hard Miles?
Movie Details
- In theaters : April 19, 2024
- On DVD or streaming : June 7, 2024
- Cast : Matthew Modine , Cynthia Kaye McWilliams , Jahking Guillory , Leslie David Baker
- Director : RJ Daniel Hanna
- Inclusion Information : Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Blue Fox Entertainment
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : School ( High School )
- Character Strengths : Perseverance , Teamwork
- Run time : 108 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate