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

4 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:

semi truck driving itself | vending machine | inanimate object comes to life | driverless truck | animate object | 

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Taglines:

Imagine your worst nightmare: machines take over the world!

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Genres:

Action | Comedy | Horror | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the film the character Brett says to the Bible salesman "eat my shorts" under her breath. Yeardley Smith voices the character of Lisa Simpson on The Simpsons (1989), whose brother Bart says that same tag line. The line is also used in The Breakfast Club, another movie starring Emilio Estevez.

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Goofs

When Bill drops the live grenade on top of the M60 buggy, the ensuing explosion happens underneath it, instead of on top where the grenade is.

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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 WatchMojo: Top 10 Least Accurate Stephen King Adaptations (2019)

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Soundtracks

Ride of the Valkyries
Written by Richard Wagner
[Plays while the plane is flying]

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")

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

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$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