Death Race

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Death Race

R

2008

1h 45m

Action

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

41%

Tomatometer

155 Reviews

60%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Framed for a murder he did not commit, three-time speedway champ Jensen Ames (Jason Statham) finds himself at Terminal Island, the country's toughest prison, but he gets an unexpected chance at freedom when the warden offers a choice: Compete in the Death Race as a mythical driver called Frankenstein, or rot in a cell forever. Riding in a car equipped with flamethrowers and grenade launchers, Ames must survive a gauntlet of vicious criminals to win his freedom -- or die trying.

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Critics Consensus

Mindless, violent, and lightning-paced, Death Race is little more than an empty action romp.

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Jim Schembri

The Age (Australia)

11/07/2008

3/5

A must-see for petrolheads and cineastes alike.

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Anna Smith

Metro Newspaper (UK)

09/26/2008

2/5

If they don't take themselves too seriously, they can be fun and this remake of 1975's Death Race 2000 just about cuts it as entertainment.

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Anthony Quinn

Independent (UK)

09/26/2008

1/5

Fast cars, machine guns, explosions, babes in hotpants - it's everything a 12-year-old boy could want in a movie.

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Joshua Polanski

Boston Hassle

07/19/2024

A full showcase of the director’s visual and thematic talents.

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

11/28/2020

5/10

A heavy focus on visuals can't overcome an extremely predictable storyline.

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Nikhat Kazmi

The Times of India

02/28/2020

Gritty action, good-enough drama, Death Race keeps the fun vrooming.

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Frans B

@FransB Jun 24

Brilliant! If you are into Mad Max, Jason Statham, mayhem, explosions, dark noir dystopian armageddon stuff, this will tickle your fancy same way it tickled mine 😜 Very well written, directed and brought to screen. Mind blowing cinematography and CGI. Whole cast excels in character. Filled with non stop action, breakneck speed pace, huge explosions and fireworks, innovative gadgets to get one killed, adrenaline fueled, drama, suspense, intrigue, some emotion, grit, sheer will and devil may care attitudes. Highly entertaining, gripping and memorable. Another Jason Statham jewel

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Jerod S

@jeroduptown Jun 3

It's like Mad Max cars, driven by prisoners for Hunger Game like broadcasts. Mostly just violent driving with Statham.

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Taejhun S

@TLS44 Apr 22

The movie was pretty astonishing, the explosions are good, and these vehicles are well-designed and deadly. And I think the actors were really good, and it's really smokin'.

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Nick L.

@MADDOG1776 Mar 29

One of the best Jason Statham movies ever

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Nicholas T

@nicktalbert2025 Mar 8

Bad bad bad 👎 😑 😫 😐 😒 😕 👎 😑

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Damon G

@Dmoney420 Feb 22

Best racing action game ever

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Paul W.S. Anderson

Director

Jason Statham

Jensen Ames

Tyrese Gibson

Machine Gun Joe

Ian McShane

Coach

Joan Allen

Warden Hennessy

Natalie Martinez

Case

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Synopsis

Framed for a murder he did not commit, three-time speedway champ Jensen Ames (Jason Statham) finds himself at Terminal Island, the country's toughest prison, but he gets an unexpected chance at freedom when the warden offers a choice: Compete in the Death Race as a mythical driver called Frankenstein, or rot in a cell forever. Riding in a car equipped with flamethrowers and grenade launchers, Ames must survive a gauntlet of vicious criminals to win his freedom -- or die trying.

Director: Paul W.S. Anderson
Producer: Paul W.S. Anderson, Jeremy Bolt, Paula Wagner
Screenwriter: Paul W.S. Anderson
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: CW Productions, Impact Pictures
Rating: R (Strong Violence|Language)
Genre: Action, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 22, 2008, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 15, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $36.1M
Runtime: 1h 45m

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