Olivia Colman shines in Joyride, an emotional Irish road-trip drama worth seeking out

Olivia Colman and a 12-year-old boy make an unexpectedly compelling pair in Joyride, the 2022 Irish road-trip drama that turns a chaotic taxi theft into a moving story about grief, motherhood and two people who badly need a way out.

Directed by Emer Reynolds, the film follows Mully (Charlie Reid), a boy running from his troubled father, who steals a taxi without realising that Joy (Olivia Colman) and her newborn baby are asleep in the back. What begins as a desperate escape quickly becomes an unlikely journey across Ireland, with the two strangers gradually finding a connection neither expected.

Joyride runs for around 94 minutes and combines comedy and drama as its two central characters confront difficult family circumstances.

What is Joyride about?

Mully has already experienced a devastating loss. His mother, Rita, has died from cancer, leaving him with his father, James, who is struggling with debt.

When Mully discovers that his father has taken money raised for a charity in his late mother’s honour, he decides to flee. He takes a taxi and sets off, only to discover that the vehicle is far from empty.

In the back seat is Joy, a solicitor, along with her newborn baby.

Joy is dealing with her own crisis. She has decided to give the baby to a friend who will raise the child, and she is trying to leave her complicated feelings about motherhood behind. The sudden arrival of Mully completely derails her plans.

The pair are therefore travelling for very different reasons, but both are desperate to escape their circumstances. As their journey across Ireland unfolds, the difficult and sometimes chaotic road trip gradually brings them closer together.

Their relationship is central to the film. Mully is dealing with the loss of his mother and the behaviour of his father, while Joy is forced to confront her fears about becoming a parent and the impact of her own childhood.

Colman previously explained that she was immediately drawn to Joy. She described the character as fiercely independent and said Joy’s relationship with her own mother helped explain why she struggles to settle with anyone and is so frightened of repeating her mother’s mistakes.

Olivia Colman leads the cast

Colman brings a complicated mix of toughness, vulnerability and humour to Joy, while Charlie Reid makes a strong impression as Mully.

The main cast includes:

• Olivia Colman as Joy
• Charlie Reid as Mully
• Lochlann O’Mearáin as James Mulligan
• Elaine Kennedy as Rita Mulligan
• Olwen Fouéré as Sideline Sue
• Florence Adebambo as Catherine
• Aislín McGuckin as Angela
• Tommy Tiernan as Ferryman
• Ruth McCabe as Noreen
• Aisling O’Sullivan as Mags

Emer Reynolds directed the film from a screenplay by Ailbhe Keogan. Colman and Reid are at the centre of the story, with the supporting cast filling out the unusual collection of people the pair encounter along the way.

Reid was also a notable newcomer. His performance was singled out by several reviewers, with Irish Film praising the chemistry between the young actor and Colman.

Is Joyride worth watching?

If you’re looking for a film that mixes humour with more serious themes, Joyride has plenty to offer.

The premise sounds deliberately chaotic: a reluctant new mother, a troubled 12-year-old and a newborn suddenly thrown together on an Irish road trip. Yet the film uses that unlikely setup to explore grief, family relationships, motherhood and the ways people can help each other when they are both struggling.

Colman’s performance is one of the film’s biggest strengths. Reviews have differed on the film itself, particularly its tone and plotting, but critics have consistently noted the appeal of the two central performances. The Irish Times, for example, praised the work of both Colman and Reid even while finding fault with the film’s uneven tone.

Irish Film was more enthusiastic, highlighting how naturally the relationship between Joy and Mully develops as they gradually begin to understand each other’s problems.

The result is an occasionally messy but warm-hearted road movie built around two characters who initially have very little in common.

Watch the trailer

The trailer gives a good sense of the film’s unusual setup, from Mully’s decision to steal the taxi to the unlikely relationship that develops between him and Joy.

Where can you watch Joyride?

Joyride was released in 2022 and was previously available on Netflix in the UK. However, it left the UK Netflix catalogue on August 1, 2026. As of September 2026, the film is available to stream through ITVX, including its ad-supported offering, while other UK options include Amazon Prime Video and rental or purchase services.

Availability can change, so it is worth checking the service before settling down to watch.

More Olivia Colman films to watch

If Joyride leaves you wanting more of Colman’s dramatic work, two other films are particularly worth considering.

The Lost Daughter

In The Lost Daughter, Colman plays Leda, a woman whose quiet seaside holiday becomes increasingly unsettling after she develops a fixation on a young mother and her daughter.

The film takes a much darker and more introspective approach to motherhood, memory and the choices Leda made in her own life. It also stars Jessie Buckley and Dakota Johnson. The Lost Daughter is currently available on Netflix in the UK.

The Father

For a more emotionally demanding watch, The Father stars Anthony Hopkins as Anthony, an 80-year-old man struggling with dementia while refusing the help his daughter Anne, played by Colman, tries to provide.

The film places the audience inside Anthony’s increasingly uncertain perception of reality, making Colman’s role an important part of its deeply affecting family drama. In the UK, The Father is currently available through Lionsgate+ Amazon Channels, with rental and purchase options also available.

For something lighter and more unpredictable, though, Joyride remains a good showcase for Colman’s ability to move between comedy, vulnerability and drama while carrying an unusual story about two strangers who find themselves travelling in the same direction.