On Swift Horses Release Date, Storyline, and Everything You Need to Know
Amidst the sun-soaked backdrop of post-Korean War California, a tale of three lives intersects in this potent drama about to begin. Sony Pictures Classics has set an April 25, 2025, theatrical release date for “On Swift Horses,” the buzzy, lauded adaptation of Shannon Pufahl’s 2019 novel that thrilled people at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival.
On Swift Horses Release Date
On Swift Horses will be released theatrically in the US on April 25, 2025, by Sony Pictures Classics. It is based on a screenplay that had its world premiere on September 7, 2024, during the Toronto International Film Festival, to critical acclaim.
After TIFF, it was shown as the Secret Selection at the Palm Springs International Film Festival on Jan. 10, 2025, and will be the closing night feature at South by Southwest on March 13, 2025.
International release dates include April 30, 2025, in France (as “Les Indomptés” via Metropolitan Filmexport) and July 25, 2025, for Spain (through Beta Fiction Spain). Coming in April, the movie is placed perfectly in the spring film calendar: It follows the winter awards season but is ahead of summer’s blockbuster season, giving the film a prime spot — it can attract patrons looking for something, you know, more thoughtful, even character-driven.
The Emotional Journey Behind On Swift Horses
The movie follows Muriel (Daisy Edgar-Jones) and her husband Lee (Will Poulter) as they start building their American dream in Southern California once Lee returns from military duty. Their carefully constructed world develops a wobble when Lee’s broodingly magnetic younger brother Julius (Jacob Elordi) comes to visit, sending subtle shock waves that will alter all three characters irrevocably.
Director Daniel Minahan applies a light touch to this period romance, tracking the societal pressures of 1950s America against the characters’ quest for true intimacy. The story chronicles how some people followed their hearts in the face of overwhelming social pressure to follow the herd into conventional relationships.
“I was trying to get that feeling of longing for something you can’t name,” Minahan said in a recent interview. “These characters are finding ways into parts of themselves they didn’t know existed within them, and they’re doing all this in the context of a rapidly changing America.”
The screenplay, by Bryce Kass, skims Pufahl’s emotional prose while giving it a visual dimension that makes the era pop. Luc Montpellier’s cinematography washes the California scenes with golden light; in Las Vegas, Julius finds wealth and romance in the shops lit by neon.
On Swift Horses Plotline
Starring some of Hollywood’s brightest rising stars, the film’s performances are already creating buzz heading into the awards season. Daisy Edgar-Jones gives a nuanced performance as Muriel, a woman whose placid demeanor hides a daring soul willing to risk everything for true contentment.
“Muriel is boxed in by what society wants her to be,” Edgar-Jones said at the film’s TIFF premiere. “It’s about her path toward self-discovery, and the risks she had to take that women were taught they shouldn’t take in that period.”
Jacob Elordi makes a power move as Julius, proving his range beyond the heartthrob roles that made him a sensation. Critics have been especially laudatory of his chemistry with Diego Calva, who stars as Henry, the casino worker who wins Julius’s heart in Las Vegas.
“The love story of Julius and Henry is timeless and specific to that time,” one critic wrote after seeing the film at TIFF. “Elordi and Calva create magic on screen, and we feel the danger and joy of their forbidden relationship.
Will Poulter rounds out the central trio as Lee, a man torn between old-world notions of masculinity and unconditional love for his wife and brother. Sasha Calle gives a breakout performance as Sandra, the young woman Muriel meets who appears in her life and opens a door to things she would never have thought to feel.
On Swift Horses Star Cast List
Main Cast
| Actor | Character | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Daisy Edgar-Jones | Muriel | A young woman discovers independence and desire through gambling and new friendships. |
| Jacob Elordi | Julius | Charismatic and impulsive, Lee’s brother finds unexpected love in Las Vegas. |
| Will Poulter | Lee | Muriel’s husband, striving for a steady life in California |
| Diego Calva | Henry | Julius’s lover and fellow casino worker |
| Sasha Calle | Sandra | Muriel’s neighbor, who becomes central to her journey |
Supporting Cast
| Actor | Character | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Kat Cunning | Gail | Supporting figure in the California portion of the story |
| Don Swayze | Terence | A character from the gambling world with ties to the main characters |
Production Journey: Bringing 1950s America To Life
The film’s development began in July 2021 when producer Peter Spears and director Daniel Minahan announced their partnership with Tim Headington’s Ley Line Entertainment. Filming began in Los Angeles on February 28, 2023, with set designers and the production team recreating the unique visual style of post-war America.
The production designer, Telliott Hostetter, constructed sets that encapsulate the hopeful suburban growth of 1950s San Diego with the flashy underground gambling scene of Las Vegas casinos. Teri na San Juan’s wardrobes echo what people wore at the time and tell a visual story of each character’s progression.
“We wanted the costumes to reflect that these characters are both being constricted by and breaking free from society’s expectations,” said San Juan. “Mur el’s clothing becomes subtly more confident and expressive as she begins to take risks at the racetrack”
The film’s soundtrack is also grounded in authenticity. Pe’s original music is inset, along with an original song, “Song for Henry,” by Loren Kramar and Sean O’Brien. The filmmakers have also included a cover of the 1950s classic “Mr. Blue,” an emotional touchstone as the story unfolds.
Anticipation Grows With Festival Reception
Following its September 2024 world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, “On Swift Horses” built momentum at prestigious festivals. It was shown as the Secret Selection at the Palm Springs International Film Festival in January 2025 and as the closing night film at South by Southwest on March 13, 2025.
Critics have been overwhelmingly positive about the film, with Rotten Tomatoes giving it a 71 percent favorable rating and Metacritic scoring it 68, meaning “generally favorable” reviews. The Hollywood Reporter described Elordi’s performance as “his best yet,” showcasing “his more sensitive, vulnerable side on the big screen to what may be his first” time.
IndieWire gave the film an A- grade, praising how “Bryce Kass’s script straddles an ideal line between sentimentality and bitterness.” The Financial Times observed that the film doesn’t “reduce its characters’ experiences to a vehicle for prestige tragedy or steamy entertainment,” but refracts “countless lives or loves never fully realized because of social conformity and bias at the time.”
Other critics offered more measured assessments. Dea line Hollywood noted the film’s occasional struggles with “which thread to follow or which character to focus on,” but said that Calva remained “the standout, an intriguing character to be sure.”
How To Watch On Swift Horses
On Swift Horses opens in theaters nationwide on April 25, 2025, through Sony Pictures Classics. After its big-screen debut, the movie will likely be available for rent and purchase on digital platforms around three months after release.
Though streaming rights haven’t been confirmed, Sony Pictures Classics movies regularly land on either Netflix or Hulu within six months of theatrical opening. International viewers will be able to see the film in select theaters throughout Europe starting on April 30, 2025. Metopolitan Filmexport handles French distribution, and Beta Fiction Spain is fielding the film for a July 2025 release. For local listings and theater information, see Kino Lorber.
And Navigating Identity Through Freedom
At its core, “On Swift Horses” is about how people find and show who they are in a time when the world was trying to force them into one mold. Each main character goes on a parallel journey toward self-discovery and makes choices that offer them freedom and complications.
That night, Julius meets Henry in Las Vegas, and they fall in love, but this is an outlaw world where their love is unlawful. Mur el finds passion at the racetrack and in Sandra’s arms, calling into question her expectations of happiness. However, Lee also has questions about family, loyalty, and acceptance.
Yet, within the harsh realities of our world, the film also tenderly depicts how these figures carve out the space to be themselves in a society with little room for difference. The bravery in leading honest lives at significant risk speaks to modern audiences without sacrificing historical accuracy.
FAQ
Who stars in On Swift Horses?
The cast includes Daisy Edgar-Jones as Muriel, Jacob Elordi as Julius, Will Poulter as Lee, Diego Calva as Henry, and Sasha Calle as Sandra.
When does On Swift Horses come out in theaters?
The theatrical release date in the US is set for April 25, 2025, by Sony Pictures Classics.
Is On Swift Horses a book?
Yes, the film is based on Shannon Pufahl’s acclaimed 2019 novel of the same name (with a screenplay by Bryce Kass).
What is the film rated?
Although an official MPAA rating has not yet been released, the film features mature themes and suggestive scenes, so it will most likely be rated R.
Filming Locations of On Swift
Horses Principal photography was set in Los Angeles, with stages created to evoke 1950s San Diego and Las Vegas.
Final Thoughts
“On Swift Horses” is a vital addition to character-based cinema. It’s a look at lives rarely seen from this period. As viewers prepare for its April release, the film remains a testament to how the past still informs our understanding of identity, love, and the courage to live truthfully.
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