Death Race 2000

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Death Race 2000

R

1975

1h 18m

Action

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

80%

Tomatometer

41 Reviews

64%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

In the year 2000, America is a totalitarian regime on the brink of collapse. The most popular sport in this dystopia is the Transcontinental Road Race, where teams earn points for logging the fastest time and for mowing over the most innocent pedestrians in the process. This year's competitors include Frankenstein (David Carradine), who is rumored to be more machine than man, and the tough-as-nails "Machine Gun" Joe Viterbo (Sylvester Stallone). Some have a plan to stop the race.

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Critics Consensus

Death Race 2000 is a fun, campy classic, drawing genuine thrills from its mindless ultra-violence.

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Colin Bennett

The Age (Australia)

It makes its satirical points economically, with great stunting, and at 1 1/4 hours does not outstay its welcome despite the gory carnage on the roads.

Oct 8, 2025

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

I was torn between walking out immediately and staying to witness a spectacle more dismaying than anything on the screen: the way small children were digging gratuitous bloodshed.

Rated: 0/4

Apr 29, 2018

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Chris Nashawaty

Entertainment Weekly

Behold the power of cheese!

Rated: B-

Jun 17, 2010

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Lou Cedrone

Baltimore Sun

"Death Race" has humor and considerable imagination, but its good points are drowned in the violence and gore the film gives us.

Oct 9, 2025

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Scott Collura

IGN Movies

“The world doesn’t want to be saved.” So says Frankenstein, David Carradine’s warped freedom fighter, in Death Race 2000, the campy (but serious!), fun (but violent!), farcical (but prescient!) sci-fi actioner.

Apr 4, 2025

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Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

Director Paul Bartel squeezes all he can out of the film’s modest budget, putting together some thrilling race sequences and visualizing a dystopian future that admittedly looks cheap at times but also shows insightful imagination.

Rated: 3.5/5

May 28, 2024

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Khalid F

A very interesting movie that kept me entertained throughout the entirety. It has the the look of an old budgeted movie but with some entertainment seeing them drive around in those go-karts. But for me was an overall good watch.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/25/25

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Jack F

It's strange, because it just shoves the story and concept in your face, and you find yourself trying to keep up. I think it's a cult classic? I don't know how many people know about this one. Also... It's Bill from Kill Bill!!!! And Rocky!!!!!!! Literally the whole concept is the most inhumane and sick thing to do with your afternoon... literally to run over people to score points. That's crazy.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/20/25

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Cailei P

It knows exactly what it is. Ridiculous, gritty, and somehow still hilarious, and fully commits to the absurdity. If you like dystopian action with a heavy dose of dark humor, this cult classic absolutely delivers.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/13/25

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Noah S

Definitely one of the more action packed cult films that I have seen compared to the other ones I watched. Good concept yet horrible execution. I liked how Sylvester Stallone was in the film.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

10/21/25

Full Review

Angela C

I thought this movie was actually somewhat enjoyable and it wasn't to complex but I was a little confused at the beginning. I definitely liked the killing machine was made with teeth because it was very fitting for the name.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/01/25

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Abigail C

The film’s low-budget aesthetic adds a certain charm, with exaggerated makeup and futuristic costumes that feel both retro and timeless. While some effects and acting may seem campy by modern standards, this only enhances the film’s unique character and cult appeal. The blend of action, satire, and social critique gives it layers that invite viewers to look beyond the surface thrills.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

09/25/25

Full Review

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David Carradine

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Synopsis

In the year 2000, America is a totalitarian regime on the brink of collapse. The most popular sport in this dystopia is the Transcontinental Road Race, where teams earn points for logging the fastest time and for mowing over the most innocent pedestrians in the process. This year's competitors include Frankenstein (David Carradine), who is rumored to be more machine than man, and the tough-as-nails "Machine Gun" Joe Viterbo (Sylvester Stallone). Some have a plan to stop the race.

Director: Paul Bartel
Producer: Roger Corman
Screenwriter: Robert Thom, Charles B. Griffith
Production Co: New World Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Action, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 30, 1975, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 23, 2017
Runtime: 1h 18m

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