Maximum Overdrive (1986)

A group of people try to survive when machines start to come alive and become homicidal.

Director:

Stephen King

Writers:

Stephen King (film by), Stephen King (written for the screen by)

Stars:

Emilio Estevez, Pat Hingle, Laura Harrington

3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Emilio Estevez	...	Bill Robinson
Pat Hingle	...	Hendershot
Laura Harrington	...	Brett
Yeardley Smith	...	Connie
John Short	...	Curt
Ellen McElduff	...	Wanda June
J.C. Quinn	...	Duncan
Christopher Murney	...	Camp Loman
Holter Graham	...	Deke
Frankie Faison	...	Handy
Pat Miller	...	Joe
Jack Canon	...	Max
Larry Parks	...	Steve (as Barry Bell)
John Brasington	...	Frank
J. Don Ferguson	...	Andy

Storyline

When Earth passes through the tail of Rea-M rogue comet, the machines come to life and start to kill mankind. A group of survivors is under siege from fierce trucks at the Dixie Boy truck stop gas station and they have to fight to survive.

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Plot Keywords:

driverless truck | semi truck driving itself | carsploitation | vending machine | atm machine | 

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Taglines:

Who Made Who?

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Genres:

Action | Comedy | Horror | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 July 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

Overdrive

Filming Locations:

Supply, North Carolina, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$10,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,205,644, 27 July 1986

Gross USA:

$7,433,663

Company Credits

Production Co:

De Laurentiis Entertainment Group (DEG)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the film, the Earth passes through the comet's tail on June 19, 1987. On June 19, 1999, King would be hit, and nearly killed by a distracted truck driver. The number 19 has been prominent in his writing for most of his career.

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Goofs

At the end of the movie Brett walks up and takes a ring from a dead woman's finger leaning his gun up against the side of the car, the gun is tall enough to be seen through the rear driver-side window but in the next shot from the rear of the car the gun is gone.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Man At Cashpoint: Honey, come on over here, sugarbuns. This machine just called me an asshole.

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Alternate Versions

King's thoughts and further info on these cuts can be read in the book "The Lost Work of Stephen King" by Stephen J. Spignesi.

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Connections

Featured in Nostalgia Critic: Children of the Corn (2015)

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Soundtracks

Hells Bells
Written by Angus Young, Malcolm Young and Brian Johnson
Produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange

User Reviews

Silly, Campy, Funny and Highly Entertaining Movie with a Great Soundtrack

When Earth passes through the tail of Rea-M rogue comet, the machines come to life and threaten and kill the mankind. A group of survivors is under siege of fierce trucks in the Dixie Boy truck stop in a gas station and they have to fight to survive.

"Maximum Overdrive" is a silly, campy, funny and highly entertaining movie by Stephen King with a great soundtrack by AC/DC. Despite the awful story, acting and direction, I saw this cult movie again yesterday afternoon and it makes laugh so stupid it is. Fortunately Stephen King has given up directing movies. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Comboio do Terror" ("Convoy of Terror")