Speed Racer

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Speed Racer

PG

2008

2h 15m

Action

Adventure

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

42%

Tomatometer

219 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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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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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

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Tom Charity

CNN.com

Twelve-year-old boys should be wowed, but for the rest of us, it will depend on your appetite for eye candy.

Oct 18, 2008

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Carson Timar

ClapperCast

Not only do The Wachowskis bring one of the best visual identities ever seen in film, but the emotions are operating on just as high a level.

Nov 15, 2025

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

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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

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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

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Mitchell S

I don't like how the whole movie looked like either a Spy Kids movie or a low budget little kids show. And most of the themes and plot points I've seen done better in the Cars movies. I was more invested in Michael Giacchino's score than the movie itself.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

11/08/25

Full Review

Julian Rex M

With all the visual, narrative, and thematic smarts of a slickly edited TikTok, The Wachowski's Speed Racer fails to achieve the surrealist charm it aspires to, instead settling in exhausting, loud, kiddie-action territory.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

10/12/25

Full Review

Amber J

I think people that don’t appreciate this film are unimaginative. Firstly it’s not meant to look realistic not only was technology worse compared to nowadays but they chose a deferent approach for the visuals. I find the cartoonish style fun well also visually pleasing. I can’t believe some people are complaining about the acting when the actors did a great job considering the quirky nature of the characters. The racing it’s is so interesting not only do you have to do your laps but literally fight to finish now that’s cinema. Sure it’s unrealistic but that’s the Beauty of this world. My favourite part is the ending always leaves me with chills and inspires me. I also love the plot twist about racer x I hope it gets the love it deserves at some point.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/12/25

Full Review

Kevin T

This was the quintessential cartoon brought to life. The movie paid respectful and spot on homage to the Speed Racer cartoon that my generation both knew and loved. Well done.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/21/25

Full Review

Carter B.

This is my child hood movie I used to watch this every day from ages 5-9. Going back to it as an adult it only brings me joy. This movie was once discribed as an acid trip by one of my roommates where to me who remembers going to bed and dreaming speed racer I welcome that acid trip. I hope the reboot the franchise.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/18/25

Full Review

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Lilly Wachowski

Director

Lana Wachowski

Director

Emile Hirsch

Speed

Christina Ricci

Trixie

Susan Sarandon

Mom Racer

John Goodman

Pops Racer

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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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