A 1981 American action drama film written and directed by George A. Romero, following a Medieval reenactment troupe as they deal with struggles and pressures from within and without, including talent agents and their leader's increasing loss of control.
The film stars Ed Harris, John Amplas, Gary Lahti, Tom Savini, Amy Ingersoll, Patricia Tallman, Brother Blue, Ken Foree, Scott Reiniger, Martin Ferrero, Warner Shook, Michael P Moran, Christine Forrest, and Donald Rubinstein.
It was released on April 10, 1981.
Tropes for the film:
- Action Girl: Dame Rocky, who is the sole female jouster in the troupe, is one.
- Big "YES!": Pippin's response to Punch asking him to be his lover, assisted by the still-on microphone.
- Black Knight: Morgan is explicitly called "the infamous Black Knight" before his joust with Sir Kay, and while not evil, he does want to be King instead of William and is the film's primary antagonist.
- The Cameo: Stephen King makes an appearance as "Hoagie Man" and the woman seated next to him is his wife, Tabitha.
- Coming-Out Story: For Pippin, and possibly also for Punch, who isn’t revealed to be gay until he asks Pippin to be his lover. He could be openly gay before then. However, he is present during the campfire scene, goes unmentioned, and says nothing, so that seems unlikely.
- Dirty Cop: A police officer demands bribes and beats a prisoner. When Billy beats him up near the end of the movie, everyone in the diner cheers.
- Forced Out of the Closet: Angie tries to do this to Pippin.
- Foreshadowing: The troupe's bard is composing a song, but stops playing when William comes to sit with him, despite William asking him to continue, saying that it's not finished. He promises to play it for him one day, and does, at William's funeral.
William: Finish it now.
Bard: Huh. Instant song.
- Knighting: King William gives the accolade to local townsman The Indian, after he acquits himself well during the mêlée
- Lady and Knight: Linet and Billy, Julie and Alan, Angie and Morgan, and eventually Linet and Alan.
- The Lady's Favour: Julie’s necklace serves as this for Alan.
- Love at First Sight: Averted. Alan and Julie’s relationship seems like this at first but they’re really just using each other to escape their problems. Alan secretly loves Linet instead.
- Love Epiphany: After an interaction with Punch, Pippin has one of these.
- Motorcycle Jousting: The plot is all about a motorcycle jousting Ren Faire troupe.
- My Horse Is a Motorbike: The movie is all about a modern biker troupe who act like Arthur's Knights of the Round Table.
- Mythical Motifs: Arthurian legends are repeatedly alluded to, through the plot, the “code” which Billy’s troupe lives by, and the names of some of the characters.
- Naked People Trapped Outside: Julia becomes a victim of this trope when she is seen naked after having sex with Alan in the forest at night. When she realizes she's being seen by the group's Friar Tuck, she has a very subdued almost too stunned to react Naked Freakout as her shame is Played for Laughs.
- One-Word Title: Knightriders.
- Passing the Torch: after Morgan wins the grand tournament for the kingship, William removes the crown from his own head and places it on Morgan's. Then Linnet hands hers to Morgan, who crowns Angie with it.
- Psychopomp: The knight with the blackbird shield may function as one for Billy.
- Renaissance Fair: The main characters are part of a traveling troupe which holds these.
- Tagline: "From the Master of Action and Suspense!"
- Tragic Hero: Billy
