Riders in the Sky (1949): cast, story & where to watch
1949 · Film · ★ 5.2
Released in 1949, Riders in the Sky is a comedy, drama, music and western film directed by John English, running about 69 minutes. “Gene and Champion Ride To Glory!... as the range echoes to the stirring strains of the great cowboy ballad!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. When asked about the Ghost Riders song he sings, Gene Autry tells this legend: Gene is about to resign as an investigator for the county attorney and go into the cattle business with his pal Chuckawalla Jones but decides instead to help Anne Lawson clear her father, rancher Ralph Lawson, of a false murder charge. He looks for the three witnesses who can testify that Lawson shot only in self defense in killing a gambler, but the witnesses are terrorized by another gambler, town boss Rock McCleary, who shoots witness Pop Roberts Morgan. Fatally wounded, Pop gives Gene the information needed to clear Lawson, then dies crying the "Ghost Riders" are coming for him. Gene then heads for a showdown with McCleary.
Who’s in it. Riders in the Sky stars Gene Autry as Gene Autry, Champion as Champ, Gene's Horse, Gloria Henry as Anne Lawson and Pat Buttram as 'Chuckwalla', among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 5.2/10, Riders in the Sky has proved divisive with audiences.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Amazon Prime Video with Ads and Shout! Factory Amazon Channel and rent or buy it from Amazon Video. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Riders in the Sky page.
If you liked it. Fans of Riders in the Sky tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Riders in the Sky (1949)?
- In US, Riders in the Sky is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV and Amazon Prime Video with Ads, and rent or buy from Amazon Video. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Riders in the Sky worth watching?
- Riders in the Sky holds an audience score of 5.2 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy, drama, music and western. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Riders in the Sky?
- Riders in the Sky stars Gene Autry, Champion, Gloria Henry, Pat Buttram and Mary Beth Hughes.
- When was Riders in the Sky released?
- Riders in the Sky was released in 1949, with a runtime of about 69 minutes.