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Speed Racer

Play trailer Poster for Speed Racer PG Released May 9, 2008 2h 15m Action Adventure Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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42% Tomatometer 218 Reviews 60% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
Born into a family business of race cars, Speed Racer (Emile Hirsch) is one of the track's hot stars. Sitting at the wheel of his Mach 5, he consistently deflates the competition. When Speed turns down an offer from the head of Royalton Industries, he uncovers a secret. Powerful moguls fix the races to boost profits. Hoping to beat the executive, Speed enters the same arduous cross-country race that killed his brother.
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Speed Racer

Speed Racer

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Critics Consensus

Overloaded with headache-inducing special effects, Speed Racer finds the Wachowskis focused on visual thrills at the expense of a coherent storyline.

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Critics Reviews

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William Goss Film.com Amid the overly earnest tone, (almost) squeaky-clean humor and familiar messages about teamwork and integrity is the rare film family that's as strong at the start as they are by the end. May 29, 2013 Full Review Peter Bradshaw Guardian You have to be 12 to like it, and I have to say there is little or nothing here to remind us why we were all quite so excited about The Matrix. Rated: 2/5 Oct 18, 2008 Full Review St. Louis Post-Dispatch Rated: C+ Oct 18, 2008 Full Review Chance Solem-Pfeifer Willamette Week Behold the racing stripes and lipstick so red they’d make Technicolor blush, and live-action performances (by almost everyone but star Emile Hirsch) reaching for the transcendently unrestrained hysteria of action anime. Apr 3, 2025 Full Review Tina Kakadelis Beyond the Cinerama Dome The Wachowskis’ style is very distinctive, and while The Matrix series is far grittier than Speed Racer, they share the same belief that good people and love are the answer to changing the world for the better. Jul 25, 2023 Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review It’s a cinematic sugar rush. Rated: 3.5/4 Mar 10, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jadan S One of the very few Anime to Live-action films made that not only honors the original show, but improves upon it. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/04/25 Full Review Stephen C Funny in 2.25 hours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $43,900,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/08/25 Full Review Gabriel K This movie… i never knew how animation was done, just loved it. Then after speed doodles an animation on his test, all clicked for me. I have the M of mach 5 tattooed in my body, so I don’t forget to think freely and be creative. The Wachowskis were truly ahead of their time, stylized movies inspired by anime culture are all over the place and this is a hidden gem, it’s janky, but wonderful. They do know how to transmit a message. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/03/25 Full Review Brandon S Visuals are bit too uncanny world type CGI and Emile's dramatic moments are underwhelming to say the least, but there's a really good movie in here if they trimmed a bit of the fat off. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 06/28/25 Full Review M. H This is a cinematic masterpiece on par with Citizen Kane and 12 Angry Men. The critics that hate on this film are pseudo intellectual simpletons that should stick to Dan Brown and Jack Reacher movies. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/22/25 Full Review Thomas O This is one of the very few live action movies that really goes above and beyond the orginal source material. Movie isnt for everone but if you grew up with the old cartoon speed racer your sure to love this one. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/09/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Speed Racer

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Movie Info

Synopsis Born into a family business of race cars, Speed Racer (Emile Hirsch) is one of the track's hot stars. Sitting at the wheel of his Mach 5, he consistently deflates the competition. When Speed turns down an offer from the head of Royalton Industries, he uncovers a secret. Powerful moguls fix the races to boost profits. Hoping to beat the executive, Speed enters the same arduous cross-country race that killed his brother.
Director
Lilly Wachowski, Lana Wachowski
Producer
Joel Silver, Grant Hill, Lilly Wachowski, Lana Wachowski
Screenwriter
Lilly Wachowski, Lana Wachowski
Distributor
Warner Bros.
Production Co
Warner Bros., Village Roadshow Entertainment, Silver Pictures
Rating
PG (Language|Brief Smoking|Sequences of Action|Some Violence)
Genre
Action, Adventure, Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 9, 2008, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 1, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA)
$43.9M
Runtime
2h 15m
Sound Mix
DTS, Dolby SRD, SDDS
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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