Days of Thunder

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2:13

Days of Thunder

PG-13

1990

1h 47m

Action

Drama

Romance

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Popcornmeter

38%

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68 Reviews

60%

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100,000+ Ratings

In the fast-paced world of NASCAR, a rivalry brews between rookie hotshot Cole Trickle (Tom Cruise) and veteran racer Rowdy Burns (Michael Rooker). When both of them are seriously injured in competition, the former bitter rivals become close friends. With Cole's spirits restored by a romance with neurosurgeon Dr. Claire Lewicki (Nicole Kidman), and Rowdy still sidelined by injuries, Cole decides to race Rowdy's car in the Daytona 500 against underhanded newcomer Russ Wheeler (Cary Elwes).

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Critics Consensus

Days of Thunder has Tom Cruise and plenty of flash going for it, but they aren't enough to compensate for the stock plot, two-dimensional characters, and poorly written dialogue.

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Tim Robey

Daily Telegraph (UK)

10/24/2018

The most daring thing about his cat-and-mouse game with Kidman is how erotic Noyce makes it.

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Clayton Dillard

Slant Magazine

06/25/2015

Dispensing with all notions that Days of Thunder is a critical work of any sort reveals its hollow and misogynistic underpinnings.

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Terrence Rafferty

The New Yorker

05/20/2014

Like the previous Simpson-Bruckheimer pictures, it's designed to give audiences an overdose of the thrill of victory; it wants us to jump out of our seats, pumping our fists in the air and roaring for the hero to pulverize his opponents.

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

Feb 8

3/5

…Quentin Tarantino suggests that Days of Thunder is better than Grand Prix and Le Mans, but he’s wrong on both counts; Tony Scott's NASCAR movie is far too slammed together to be a movie for the ages, but now as in 1990, just about passes the time…

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Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

Jul 19

4/10

As an action-packed sports drama, it often features racing sequences that are, in general, low-octane and wear out like a tire on the track. [Full review in Spanish]

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Terry Francis

Southern Voice (Atlanta)

05/09/2023

0.5/4

Some members of the audience I attended for Days of Thunder snickered at the mythologizing of the young actor on the screen. Tom Cruise would be wise to pay heed to such derision.

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Alec

Jun 25

Still one of my faves of the 90s! Cruise and Kidman back in the day. Great racing scenes and how can you not root for Cole to Win Daytona! Great cast, action, and score. A high-octane action film when Simpson Bruckheimer were at their peak! Loved it still 35 years later! 🏁

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Yash B

@yashbansal 2d

"Days of Thunder" is a fun movie for what it is. It is a movie that came out in 1990, but certainly has the look and feel of a true 80s blockbuster. Tom Cruise at the helm elevates it, but the characters feel a bit flat, and their relationships could have been more invested, for sure. I liked the racing sequences quite a bit, and they make the movie worthwhile. The romance in the movie feels a bit distracting and underdeveloped, and when non-racing scenes are happening, sometimes the movie does become a bit tedious. Overall, it is a messy movie, but it has enough merit to warrant watching it one time, especially for fans of old-school cheesy blockbusters.

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Josh H

@PSYCHOZOMBIE Jan 1

This is a great movie, these rotten tomato critics do not have a clue. Someone should fire them they are idiots......

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MAURICIO M

@Macedomj Dec 13

melhor filme de corrida de todos os tempos.

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Joel H

@RT47793553 Sep 6

Yes, Days of Thunder is a watered-down version of Top Gun, but there’s still plenty to cheer on in this Tom Cruise vehicle. First of all, the racing scenes are high-octane, adrenaline-fueled excitement, enhanced by the fact that they’re done with practical effects. Also, Robert Duvall sets the pace as the seasoned crew chief, and this movie gave a rolling start to Nicole Kidman’s career. However, the plot drifts a bit whenever it’s away from the track, and most of the cast play stock characters with no real development. Days of Thunder may not be a roaring success, but it’s worth the occasional watch.

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Geo3 F

@RT82897544 Aug 24

Not a bad movie however is very dated, such as the Nascar cars look like in from a very different age compare to today, I don't know if if tom cruise or studios are making a sequel, i can see Top Gun Marverick vibes of it if they make as it very similar to Top Gun in story and vibes very 90’s film. Overall, a decent film but with an updated one could become even better.

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Tony Scott

Director

Tom Cruise

Cole Trickle

Robert Duvall

Harry Hogge

Nicole Kidman

Dr. Claire Lewicki

Randy Quaid

Tim Daland

Michael Rooker

Rowdy Burns

Days of Thunder: Official Clip - This Guy's Going Down

2:09

Days of Thunder: Official Clip - Wheeler's Lowdown Racing

2:13

Days of Thunder: Official Clip - Drive Through It

2:13

Days of Thunder: Official Clip - Dropping the Hammer

2:08

Days of Thunder: Official Clip - A Very Thorough Physical

2:13

Days of Thunder: Official Clip - Go to the Outside

2:05

Days of Thunder: Official Clip - Cole's Crash

2:12

Days of Thunder: Official Clip - Not My Specialty

1:04

Days of Thunder: Official Clip - Concealed Weapon

1:46

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Days of Thunder: Trailer 1

2:13

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Synopsis

In the fast-paced world of NASCAR, a rivalry brews between rookie hotshot Cole Trickle (Tom Cruise) and veteran racer Rowdy Burns (Michael Rooker). When both of them are seriously injured in competition, the former bitter rivals become close friends. With Cole's spirits restored by a romance with neurosurgeon Dr. Claire Lewicki (Nicole Kidman), and Rowdy still sidelined by injuries, Cole decides to race Rowdy's car in the Daytona 500 against underhanded newcomer Russ Wheeler (Cary Elwes).

Director: Tony Scott
Producer: Jerry Bruckheimer, Don Simpson
Screenwriter: Robert Towne, Tom Cruise
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount Pictures, Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer Films
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Action, Drama, Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 27, 1990, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $80.6M
Runtime: 1h 47m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SR, CDS, Stereo
Aspect Ratio: 70mm

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