Death Race (2008)

Ex-con Jensen Ames is forced by the warden of a notorious prison to compete in our post-industrial world's most popular sport: a car race in which inmates must brutalize and kill one another on the road to victory.

Director:

Paul W.S. Anderson

Writers:

Paul W.S. Anderson (screenplay), Paul W.S. Anderson (screen story),

Stars:

Jason Statham, Joan Allen, Tyrese Gibson

1 win & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jason Statham	...	Jensen Ames
Joan Allen	...	Hennessey
Ian McShane	...	Coach
Tyrese Gibson	...	Machine Gun Joe
Natalie Martinez	...	Case
Max Ryan	...	Pachenko
Jason Clarke	...	Ulrich
Fred Koehler	...	Lists
Jacob Vargas	...	Gunner
Justin Mader	...	Travis Colt
Robert LaSardo	...	Grimm
Robin Shou	...	14K
Benz Antoine	...	Joe's Navigator
Danny Blanco Hall	...	Joe's Navigator
Christian Paul	...	Joe's Navigator

Storyline

In 2012, amid economic chaos and high unemployment, Americans watch by the millions as criminals with life sentences race armored cars on Terminal Island. Two-thirds of the combatants die but the winner may earn his freedom. On the day he loses his job, steelworker Jensen Ames is arrested for his wife's murder. Sent to Terminal Island, he's offered an out by the steely and manipulative Warden Hennessey - race as the popular mask-wearing (but now dead) champion, Frankenstein, or rot in prison. Jensen makes the bargain. As the three-stage race approaches, he realizes that the whole thing may be a set up - can an anonymous man behind a mask get revenge and win his release?

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Plot Keywords:

car | warden | murder | armored car | christmas | 

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Taglines:

This Friday, may the best man live.

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Genres:

Action | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Certificate:

14A

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA Germany UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 August 2008 (USA)

Also Known As:

Course à la mort

Filming Locations:

Cité du Cinéma, Montréal, Québec, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$45,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£683,038 (UK) (26 September 2008)

Gross:

£1,920,818 (UK) (10 October 2008)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Relativity Media, Cruise/Wagner Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min 111 min (unrated)

Sound Mix:

SDDS DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Each car cost an estimated $250,000 - $300,000 to detail for the film.

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Goofs

When Machine Gun Joe slams into Frankenstein's car at the end of the first race, the driver's door is completely wasted, when it cuts away to Jensen inside the car, the door is magically "fixed".

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Quotes

[first lines]
Case: [while being shot at during Death Race] Damn it!

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Crazy Credits

After the credits, the line "Okay cocksucker. Fuck with me, and we'll see who shits on the sidewalk" is heard again.

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Connections

Referenced in His Name Was Jason: 30 Years of Friday the 13th (2009)

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Soundtracks

Grown Woman
Written by Mary J. Blige, Dejion Madison, The Dream (as Terius Nash)
Performed by Mary J. Blige
Courtesy of Geffen Records
Under License from Universal Music Enterprises

User Reviews

Great Movie

I went into Death Race with really no idea what to expect from it. I am a big fan of Jason Statham movies but the concept of this movie hadn't really made me too excited to see it. Nevertheless this is a great movie, the humor is spot on throughout the movie, though this is definitely no comedy. The action is fast paced throughout and they come up with some pretty creative ways for characters to get killed. I found the story to obviously be a bit far fetched with it being people racing in a prison and all but never that didn't ruin the movie at all and I ended up loving the storyline. Overall, the acting was great, and it had great effects and a good storyline. I consider this a must watch for those who love action movies. 9/10