The Last Rodeo (2025) unfolds with Joe Wainwright, a former bull riding world champion, now retired and living a quieter life with his daughter Sally and grandson Cody. Early scenes show a peaceful family dynamic, but the calm is shattered during a youth baseball game when young Cody is hit in the head by a ball. Though initially seeming fine, he soon becomes dangerously ill—dizzy and vomiting—leading to a rushed emergency trip to Dallas, where doctors discover a brain tumor requiring expensive invasive surgery that their insurance won’t fully cover.

Desperate to save his grandson, Joe decides to risk everything and enter a high-stakes bull riding competition specifically for former legends, called the Legends Championship, with a $750,000 first prize. This competition is unusual: it’s open to aging bull riders, carries significant injury risks, and requires Joe to sign a waiver acknowledging these dangers. At this point, Joe is grappling not only with physical challenges—remembering his past severe injury when he broke his neck riding drunk—but also with emotional pain stemming from estrangement from his daughter, Sally, who had to forgo her own life and career to care for him after that accident.

Scene by scene, the film takes the viewer through Joe’s preparation for the competition—not through lengthy training montages—but by showing his interactions with old friends and family, including his friend and bullfighter Charlie who reluctantly supports his comeback. As Joe steps back into the rodeo world, the film intersperses tense competition sequences with scenes of familial reconciliation. His daughter Sally wrestles with her mixed feelings of frustration and hope, while Joe's determination to prove his courage and commitment to family deepens dramatically.

In the competition in Tulsa, Joe confronts the physical danger of bull riding once again, facing off against younger riders and battling his own fear and self-doubt. The bulls buck fiercely, dust and sweat fill the air, and the crowd roars as Joe pushes his limits. Each ride is laden with raw tension, the visceral energy of the rodeo captured in vivid detail—man against beast, past versus present.

Parallel to the rodeo action, heartwarming scenes show Sally and Joe repairing their relationship, revealing old wounds and new hopes. Their interactions reflect a breakthrough where Joe admits his past mistakes, and Sally acknowledges her unfulfilled dreams sacrificed for family. Cody’s condition and upcoming surgery loom in the background, adding emotional urgency to Joe’s efforts.

The climax sees Joe riding in the final round of the Legends Championship. Against all odds and with the crowd on edge, he rides with skill and grit, embodying the true spirit of courage not just for sport but as a fight for family survival. The tension peaks in these scenes, evoking a dramatic impression of a man confronting his fears and history head-on.

The film closes on a note of hope and redemption: Joe’s comeback ride potentially securing the funds for Cody’s surgery, and the family’s renewed bond symbolizing healing beyond the physical. Joe stands, battered but unbroken, a figure of resilience and love in the face of daunting adversity.

Throughout the movie, Joe's character arc transforms from a man haunted by a broken past and estranged family ties to a courageous father and grandfather who takes his last and bravest rodeo ride to save those he loves. The viewer is drawn deeply into the emotional and physical realities of bull riding and the human drama underpinning it, making the story a visceral experience of grit, redemption, and family loyalty.

Joe Wainwright returns to bull riding primarily to win the prize money needed to pay for his grandson Cody's expensive brain tumor surgery, which is not fully covered by insurance or military benefits. This urgent family need drives him to risk his life by entering a high-stakes Legends Rodeo competition despite his past severe injury and retirement.

Joe's relationship with his estranged daughter Sally is strained at the start, especially because she is angry about his decision to ride bulls again. Throughout the story, Joe and Sally work through their past wounds, with Joe reconciling with her as part of his personal journey while trying to save their grandson. Sally had taken care of Joe after his injury and had given up her own professional pursuits, adding complexity to their dynamic.

Charlie, Joe's former best friend and trainer, accompanies Joe on his journey to the rodeo. He is a committed Christian who reads the Bible frequently and tries to witness to Joe, who is angry with God over his wife's death. Charlie supports Joe despite their past issues and helps him navigate the challenges of returning to bull riding.

During the competition, Joe faces several life-threatening challenges: he must convince the event organizer to let him compete despite not initially responding to the invitation; he suffers serious injuries including having his leg pinned and his knee stepped on by a bull; and he demands to be cleared by a doctor to continue riding. Despite these obstacles, Joe manages to perform well, even reaching first place with one day left in the rodeo.

Joe's internal struggle centers on his painful past, including breaking his neck while drunk and the death of his wife, which has left him angry with God. The film shows Joe wrestling with these unresolved issues as he makes his comeback. However, some critiques note that the film presents these elements through exposition rather than deep character development, with Joe's past and motivations conveyed in monologues rather than fully fleshed-out conflict.

Joe Wainright returns to bull riding primarily to win the $750,000 prize money from the Legends Rodeo event to pay for his grandson Cody's expensive brain tumor surgery, which is not fully covered by insurance. This decision is life-threatening given Joe's past neck injury from bull riding and his emotional struggles after his wife's death.

Joe's relationships, especially with his estranged daughter Sally and grandson Cody, are central to the story. Sally is angry about Joe's decision to ride bulls again, reflecting past family tensions. Joe also reconciles old wounds with Sally during the film. Cody idolizes Joe and faces his own health crisis, which motivates Joe's risky return to bull riding.

During the rodeo, Joe faces serious physical challenges. On the second day, a bull pins his leg against the wall and steps on his knee, causing serious injury. Despite this, Joe demands a re-ride after being cleared by the doctor and manages to deliver a great ride, putting him in first place with one day left in the competition.

Faith is portrayed through Charlie's character, who is a committed Christian and frequently reads the Bible, trying to support Joe spiritually. Joe struggles with anger towards God due to his wife's death, and throughout their journey, Charlie witnesses to him in various ways. The film includes themes of seeking miracles and courage in the fight for family, reflecting a faith-based narrative.

The movie The Last Rodeo (2025) is generally considered family-friendly and rated PG. It is described as an inoffensive family sports drama with positive themes of faith, family, and personal redemption, suitable for most audiences including children with some parental guidance.

However, there are a few potentially objectionable or upsetting elements to be aware of for children or sensitive viewers:

• Mild profanity is present in some scenes.
• Characters are shown drinking alcohol in a bar settings.
• The bull-riding scenes are fairly intense, which may be rough or suspenseful but are not overly graphic.
• The plot involves a family dealing with a serious illness (the grandson's aggressive cancer diagnosis), which could be emotionally challenging.

Overall, the film maintains a positive message and is mainly free from harsh content, violence, or language that would be unsuitable for children, but parents might want to consider the intensity of bull-riding scenes and the emotional themes before deciding for very young or sensitive children.