'
Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows FanStore News Showtimes

Maximum Overdrive

Play trailer Poster for Maximum Overdrive R Released Jul 25, 1986 1h 37m Horror Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
14% Tomatometer 14 Reviews 50% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
After a comet causes a radiation storm on Earth, machines come to life and turn against their makers. Holed up in a North Carolina truck stop, a group of survivors must fend for themselves against a mass of homicidal trucks. A diner cook, Bill Robinson (Emilio Estevez), emerges as the unlikely leader of the pack, attempting to find an escape plan for himself and the survivors, who include his boss, Bubba Hendershot (Pat Hingle), and a newlywed couple.
Watch on Fandango at Home Buy Now

Where to Watch

Maximum Overdrive

Critics Reviews

View All (14) Critics Reviews
Kevin Carr Fat Guys at the Movies Someone once said to me: “Stephen King didn’t direct this movie. Cocaine directed this movie.” And it certainly shows. Rated: 1.5/4 Jan 27, 2024 Full Review Richard Freedman Newhouse News Service Maximum Overdrive is minimum movie-making by no less a celebrity than best-selling horror writer Stephen King, here making his less-than-auspicious directorial debut. Nov 6, 2019 Full Review Austin Kennedy Sin Magazine Stephen King has admitted himself that he was coked out of his mind during the making of this. Well... duh! Rated: 1.5/4 May 15, 2012 Full Review Steve Crum Video-Reviewmaster.com Truck stop attacked by mechanical objects, including trucks, gone awry! Based on Stephen King story. Rated: 3/5 Mar 14, 2009 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 2/5 Aug 22, 2005 Full Review Caffeinated Clint Moviehole Rated: 2/5 May 6, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (1000+) audience reviews
Stephen C Failed horror in 1 hour and 37 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 05/27/25 Full Review Jeffrey M This is a great sci-Fi film. It did get a little cheesy over the years, but is still a great story with an excellent soundtrack by AC/DC Rated 4 out of 5 stars 04/13/25 Full Review Luke G A one of a kind with an awesome soundtrack by ACDC. A grade? B grade? C grade? idk, Old school classic, and has Lisa Simpson :) Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/02/25 Full Review mike p Such a classic "bad" horror movie. Watched it when I was a real young kid and then again now that I'm 32 and it brought me back. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/24/25 Full Review Rae S This is a movie that is so bad, but its honestly so funny. If you like to laugh at "scary" movies, this is for you. If you want to be scared, its not. If you like MST3k, then you'll enjoy this movie for that it is. Otherwise - you're gonna hate it. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/21/25 Full Review Joshua H A bit silly overall, maximum overdrive is sure to entertain regardless,Stephen king should stick to writing books. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/02/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Maximum Overdrive

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

View All Cast and Crew

Stephen King

Director

Emilio Estevez

Bill Robinson

Pat Hingle

Bubba Hendershot

Laura Harrington

Brett

Yeardley Smith

Connie

John Short

Curtis

More Like This

View All Best Movies to Stream at Home
Pumpkinhead 64% 49% Pumpkinhead Watchlist Silver Bullet 43% 56% Silver Bullet Watchlist C.H.U.D. 41% 33% C.H.U.D. Watchlist TRAILER for C.H.U.D. The Hills Have Eyes Part II 0% 19% The Hills Have Eyes Part II Watchlist A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge 42% 33% A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More
View All Maximum Overdrive photos

Maximum Overdrive

Maximum Overdrive (1986) Maximum Overdrive (1986) Maximum Overdrive (1986) Maximum Overdrive (1986) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis After a comet causes a radiation storm on Earth, machines come to life and turn against their makers. Holed up in a North Carolina truck stop, a group of survivors must fend for themselves against a mass of homicidal trucks. A diner cook, Bill Robinson (Emilio Estevez), emerges as the unlikely leader of the pack, attempting to find an escape plan for himself and the survivors, who include his boss, Bubba Hendershot (Pat Hingle), and a newlywed couple.
Director
Stephen King
Producer
Martha De Laurentiis
Screenwriter
Stephen King
Production Co
De Laurentiis
Rating
R
Genre
Horror
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 25, 1986, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 20, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$6.0M
Runtime
1h 37m
Sound Mix
Surround, Stereo
Most Popular at Home Now