Death Race

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Death Race

R

Released Aug 22, 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)

A must-see for petrolheads and cineastes alike.

Rated: 3/5

Nov 7, 2008

Full Review

Anna Smith

Metro Newspaper (UK)

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.

Rated: 2/5

Sep 26, 2008

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Anthony Quinn

Independent (UK)

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

Rated: 1/5

Sep 26, 2008

Full Review

Joshua Polanski

Boston Hassle

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

Jul 19, 2024

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

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

Rated: 5/10

Nov 28, 2020

Full Review

Nikhat Kazmi

The Times of India

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

Feb 28, 2020

Full Review

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Jonathan N

Spoilers: This review contains spoilers, so go watch the movie before you read it... What can I say about this one? A classic action movie! The special effects still hold their own, even though this is an early 2000s flick. Statham has some cheesy lines, but otherwise, this movie keeps it interesting, exciting, and there's never a dull moment. Is it the best movie I've ever seen? Not by a longshot, but it definitely is the best dystopian-prison-racing-violence movie I've ever seen. Definitely a solid action movie, worth your time. Well worth watching.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/28/25

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Matt C

If you want a solid action flick with Mad Max style cars shooting each other up and a standard revenge plot, this is your Huckleberry. I enjoyed it for what it is, in fact it was better than I expected.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/12/25

Full Review

thiago s

Filme bacana, o roteiro é bacaninha, a história do filme é fraca, mas as cenas de ação do filme são boas, jason stathan como protagonista foi bacana, mas isso não melhorou tanto o filme.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

01/29/25

Full Review

Georgan G

The original 1975 as better despite have a low budget. This version was slick and had lots of crazy driving stunts, but not the same heart.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

08/05/24

Full Review

Hargie M

A high-octane thrill ride that delivers exactly what it promises – fast cars, explosive action, and zero subtlety. With Jason Statham at the wheel, the film barrels through its plot like a runaway train, leaving logic and character development in the dust. It's a guilty pleasure for adrenaline junkies, but anyone looking for depth or nuance should steer clear of this crash course in mindless entertainment.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

04/11/24

Full Review

Connor A

This is a good film. There's plenty of action and entertainment, the races are fun to watch and the deaths are creative and brutal. The plot is basic and the ending is abit weak and cheesy but it's a dumb, fun action film and it knows it.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

Full Review

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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

Death Race: Official Clip - Jensen is Framed

2:48

Death Race: Official Clip - Destroying the Dreadnought

1:50

Death Race: Official Clip - You Can't Kill Me

0:26

Death Race: Official Clip - The Dreadnought

2:52

Death Race: Official Clip - You Wanted a Monster

2:42

Death Race: Official Clip - Revenge on Pachenko

1:06

Death Race: Official Clip - Jensen Fights Pachenko

2:56

Death Race: Official Clip - Jensen and Joe Escape

1:54

Death Race: Official Clip - Jensen's First Race

2:53

Death Race: Official Clip - Rules of Death Race

2:58

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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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