Rider was produced by Kitty Films with whom Sōmai had previously collaborated on 1980's Tonda Couple.
Rider was four hours long; he had to cut the runtime in half as the film was intended to run as part of a double feature.
[2] The film was released in Japan by Toho on February 11, 1983, as a double feature with Urusei Yatsura: Only You.
Rider was restored for distribution in the United States by the Cinema Guild, who collaborated with Japan Society to present the film as part of a Shinji Sōmai retrospective.
The restoration was screened in previews throughout the year and premiered at the IFC Center in Manhattan on September 8, 2023, alongside a new 4K restoration of Typhoon Club, another film by Sōmai.