You’ve probably seen the headlines or a stray TikTok clip by now. The one where Pete Davidson and Bill Murray are bickering in a car like a dysfunctional father and son who both happen to be contract killers. It’s for a movie called Riff Raff.
Honestly, it sounds like a fever dream. If you told someone five years ago that the star of Ghostbusters and the guy from The King of Staten Island would be playing a bumbling duo of mob enforcers in a Maine-set crime comedy, they’d think you were reading a random Mad Libs prompt. But here we are.
What Really Happened With the Riff Raff Movie?
People have been calling this "the Pete Davidson Bill Murray movie" for months, but that’s actually a bit of a misconception. While their faces are all over the marketing, they aren't the main characters. They are the looming threat.
Basically, the story centers on Vincent, played by the legendary Ed Harris. He’s a former criminal who has successfully "gone straight." He’s living a quiet, snowy life in Yarmouth, Maine, with his wife Sandy (Gabrielle Union) and their son DJ (Miles J. Harvey). Everything is peaceful until his chaotic past literally crashes through the front door.
The Family From Hell
The real engine of the movie is a family reunion from the deepest pits of hell. Vincent’s disowned son, Rocco (Lewis Pullman), shows up with his pregnant girlfriend and—in the ultimate casting masterstroke—his mother, Ruth.
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Who plays Ruth? Jennifer Coolidge.
If you think Coolidge playing an abrasive, wine-slugging ex-wife to Ed Harris sounds like a recipe for chaos, you’re 100% right. She’s the one who warns them: Leftie and Lonnie are coming.
Leftie and Lonnie: The Duo We Didn't Know We Needed
This is where the Pete Davidson and Bill Murray magic happens. Bill Murray plays Leftie, an aging, sociopathic mobster who is clearly losing his edge but none of his ruthlessness. Pete Davidson is Lonnie, his younger, somewhat incompetent partner.
There’s this one specific scene that critics have been raving about. It’s just the two of them dealing with a "never-ending obstacle" while trying to reach the cabin. The chemistry is weird. It’s dry. It’s dark. It works because Murray plays it straight-faced while Davidson brings that specific brand of "I shouldn't be here" energy.
- Directed by: Dito Montiel (the guy who did A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints).
- The Tone: Imagine Knives Out but with more blood and fewer sweaters.
- The Twist: The movie actually opens at the end, with the son holding a gun to his father’s head.
Why This Movie Is Polarizing
When Riff Raff hit theaters in February 2025, and later when it started streaming on Hulu in July, the reviews were... mixed. Some people loved the genre-bending. Others felt it couldn't decide if it wanted to be a serious thriller or a slapstick comedy.
The truth is, it’s a bit of both. It’s a "Little Caesars" movie—as one critic put it—it’s not a five-star meal, but it’s exactly what you want when you're bored on a Tuesday night.
One of the biggest complaints? Gabrielle Union is criminally underused. When you have an actress of her caliber, you expect her to do more than just react to the chaos, but the script keeps her mostly on the sidelines. On the flip side, Lewis Pullman continues his streak of being one of the most underrated actors in Hollywood.
Actionable Insights for Your Next Movie Night
If you're planning on watching the Pete Davidson Bill Murray movie, here is how to actually enjoy it:
- Don't expect a buddy cop movie. If you go in thinking Pete and Bill are the leads, you'll be disappointed. They are the spice, not the main course.
- Watch it for Jennifer Coolidge. She carries the comedic weight of the middle act. Her "redemption arc" from a total train wreck to a key player in the finale is the best part of the film.
- Look for the cameos. There are several "Old Mainer" characters and side roles that add to the atmosphere of the isolated, snowy setting.
- Check the streaming status. As of early 2026, the film is widely available on VOD platforms like Amazon and Apple, and it remains a staple in the Hulu library.
The film is a wild ride that doesn't always stay on the tracks. It’s messy, it’s violent, and it features Bill Murray killing a store clerk because of an offhand remark. It might not win an Oscar, but as a piece of "riff raff" entertainment, it certainly leaves an impression.
To get the most out of the experience, watch the 2025 trailer first to set your expectations for the tone. Then, look for the Reddit AMA from director Dito Montiel where he explains the "money laundering" jokes and how he managed to get this insane cast together in the first place.