Duel

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Duel

TV-PG

1971

1h 35m

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

89%

Tomatometer

46 Reviews

84%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

David Mann (Dennis Weaver), a mild mannered electronics salesman, is driving cross-country on a two-lane highway when he encounters an old oil tanker driven by an unseen driver who seems to enjoy annoying him with dangerous antics on the road. Unable to escape the demonic big rig, David finds himself in a dangerous game of cat and mouse with the monstrous truck. When the pursuit escalates to deadly levels, David must summon his inner warrior and turn the tables on his tormentor.

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Critics Consensus

Duel makes brilliant use of its simple premise, serving up rock-solid genre thrills while heralding the arrival of a generational talent behind the lens.

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Mitchell Beaupre

Little White Lies

This is a film stripped back to its bare essentials, and Spielberg thrives in having to get creative to make each moment feel as fresh and energised as the last.

Rated: 4.5/5

Sep 22, 2022

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Kevin Maher

Times (UK)

A shoestring marvel.

Rated: 4/5

May 29, 2021

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Mick LaSalle

San Francisco Chronicle

This simple premise -- a killer truck stalks a driver -- becomes the basis for an exceptionally fraught and well- made suspense film.

Rated: 3/4

Jun 14, 2018

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William Stottor

Loud and Clear Reviews

Duel is one hell of a ride and Spielberg at his finest—playful, refined and above all else, entertaining.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 11, 2024

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Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

Duel might not have meant much at the time of its ABC premiere but cinephiles owe a lot to the film because it launched Steven Spielberg's professional career as a feature filmmaker.

Rated: 4/5

Nov 23, 2022

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Grant Watson

Fiction Machine

Famous for being Spielberg's first big break, it deserves to be remembered better in its own right.

Rated: 8/10

Jan 26, 2021

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Sam N

Duel is an absolute nail-biter—the best thing I’ve ever seen from Spielberg. From the moment David Mann crossed paths with that rusted, smoke-belching truck, I was utterly hooked. The faceless driver turns a simple road trip into a relentless nightmare, with every roar of the engine feeling like a threat. Dennis Weaver delivers a sweaty, truly human performance, throwing vanity aside to show real vulnerability. He’s not some action hero—just an average guy pushed to the edge, and you feel every ounce of his fear and frustration. Spielberg’s economy in storytelling is razor-sharp—no fluff, no wasted moments, just pure, escalating tension. The wide-open desert should be a place of escape, but here, it’s a suffocating trap. The camerawork is sharp, the editing tight, and the whole thing feels raw and honest. And how on earth was this Spielberg’s debut? It’s too good—too assured, too masterful in its suspense. Most directors don’t make something this great in their whole careers, let alone straight out of the gate. And if you haven’t seen the 4K version, do yourself a favour—it looks incredible. The heat, the dust, the sweat, the sheer physicality of everything—every detail pops, making the film even more immersive. It’s stripped-down, edge-of-your-seat filmmaking at its absolute finest.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/21/25

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Farah R

Steven Spielberg's first movie shows the director's exceptional vision for creating masterpieces. Duel is a tense, suspenseful ride from start to finish, sparing no second of dullness.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/22/25

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Steven J

Nostalgic, ridiculous, and hilarious. The acting is so amusing, Denis Weaver’s horror is hysterical. It’s amazing how entertaining this movie is considering the lack of technology and, I assume, a modest budget. The movie wholly relies on a solid plot, creativity, and convincing acting.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/25/25

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Milos C

Absolute masterpiece.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/02/24

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Brad CKA L

https://youtu.be/61v7CpNIahM?si=1x8pCQIA0Lyj1X1V

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/25/24

Full Review

Austen B

car good, truck bad. awesome! favorite thriller.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

09/16/24

Full Review

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Synopsis

David Mann (Dennis Weaver), a mild mannered electronics salesman, is driving cross-country on a two-lane highway when he encounters an old oil tanker driven by an unseen driver who seems to enjoy annoying him with dangerous antics on the road. Unable to escape the demonic big rig, David finds himself in a dangerous game of cat and mouse with the monstrous truck. When the pursuit escalates to deadly levels, David must summon his inner warrior and turn the tables on his tormentor.

Director: Steven Spielberg
Producer: George Eckstein
Screenwriter: Richard Matheson
Production Co: Universal TV
Rating: TV-PG (L), PG
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2015
Runtime: 1h 35m

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