Days of Thunder

PG-13

Released Jun 27, 1990

1 hr. 47 min.

Action

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38%

66 Reviews

Tomatometer

60%

100,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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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Christian K

This has absolutely everything going for it with the cast, director, and setting. Maybe one of Cruise's more completely uninteresting characters, the story and pacing is all so bland.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

04/22/24

Full Review

Val M

It was great!!! I love speed and motor sports!! The sound track was awesome too!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/15/24

Full Review

Carson P

A highly entertaining movie with very convincing and realistic racing scenes that show an accurate depiction of how dangerous nascar racing is it's well directed and well acted Tom cruise is great in the movie and the love story of him and Nicole Kidman is solid this film is top gun with racecars even if it's not as popular it's still a well made film and a delightful experience to watch the dialogue is also decent and I also loved seeing real life racecar drivers make a cameo this is a fun classic bruckheimer/simpson film and for those who are a fan of the producers will certainly love and enjoy days of thunder and I enjoyed it as well B+

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/03/24

Full Review

Parker D

In my opinion the best race car driving movie ever next to ford v Ferrari it shows a realistic portrayal of how dangerous nascar racing is and how drivers can crash into each other tom cruise and Nicole Kidman are phenomenal here and tony Scott did a great job directing it and it's also nice to see cameos from famous nascar drivers including Richard the king petty rusty wallace and Neil bonnet in the film even the late dale earnhardt sr nearly was cast as the villain but didn't like playing a bad guy still with or without the film is still the perfect movie that shows how they depict the dangers of nascar driving this is a well acted motion picture that provides the best entertainment hollywood gives us 8.5/10

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/13/24

Full Review

DanTheMan 2

Yeah, the comparisons to Top Gun are warranted but at its core, Days of Thunder accomplishes the job it sets out to do, sometimes funny, sometimes exciting but never boring. While the tension and rush of adrenaline can stagnate in direct contrast to its Air Force counterpart, Tony Scott directs the film with his patented flair and an exceptional sense of cinematic style, sunsets and all, elevating an already decent script to new heights. It rides heavily on the primal masculine energy with a big budget, big stars and a big director, with the exceptionally strong performances from Tom and the supporting cast combined with an exhilarating Hans Zimmer score, working with Scott to bring Days of Thunder's speed and high-octane eye candy to the screen. No one directed a movie quite like Tony Scott, hitting all the right notes and capturing your heart like thunder, rest well big man.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/04/24

Full Review

Tom C

This is easily the most painfully 80s movie of all time. Despite being released in 1990, this movie just completely captures the 80s feel and atmosphere. It's Top Gun with cars. Nothing more and nothing less. It's another collaboration between Tom Cruise, Tony Scott and producer Don Simpson so all the story beats from Top Gun are there. The action is shot very well and the camera never stays still for very long. It's shot at a frenetic pace that makes things very exciting. Tom Cruise is great and has great chemistry with Nicole Kidman. Robert Duvall, Michael Rooker and Cary Elwes deliver good performances. The soundtrack is great. The film just gets so ridiculously campy and stupid. It's just laughably ridiculous. But it's great entertainment. Watch it with an open mind and you'll have the time of your life.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/26/24

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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

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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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Tim Robey

Daily Telegraph (UK)

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

Oct 24, 2018

Full Review

Clayton Dillard

Slant Magazine

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

Jun 25, 2015

Full Review

Terrence Rafferty

New Yorker

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.

May 20, 2014

Full Review

Terry Francis

Southern Voice (Atlanta)

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.

Rated: 0.5/4

May 9, 2023

Full Review

Bill Chambers

Film Freak Central

There is some interest to be mined from Days of Thunder as an auteur piece--the auteur being Cruise, not Scott.

Rated: 2/4

Mar 3, 2022

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

A vanity piece for Tom Cruise, who makes sure that he looks even prettier than co-star Nicole Kidman.

Rated: 1.5/4

May 23, 2020

Full Review

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

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