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Action thriller

Death Race (2008): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Death Race (2008) movie poster

Death Race is a 2008 action thriller directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, starring Tyrese Gibson, Jason Statham and Joan Allen. It earned $76 million worldwide on a $45 million budget. Critics gave it 41% on Rotten Tomatoes and 43 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.4/10.

IMDb rating
6.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes
41%
worldwide gross
$76M
Metascore
43
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Death Race (2008) movie poster
Released
Genres
Action , Sci-Fi , Thriller
Original language
English
Budget
$45M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Death Race About?

The premise of Death Race without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

In a dystopian future, incarcerated individuals are pitted against each other in a televised, high-octane race for freedom. These desperate competitors risk everything in a series of brutal events, navigating souped-up vehicles and facing ruthless opponents. The ultimate prize is parole, but failure means certain notoriety and a gruesome fate as an internet spectacle. This extreme competition has become the most popular form of entertainment in a society consumed by sensationalism.

Death Race Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • armoured vehicle
  • baby
  • leg
  • miniskirt
  • capitalist society
  • right wing politics
  • tattooed criminal
  • inked criminal
  • opening action scene
  • prison
  • car
  • prison warden
+38 more
  • dystopia
  • prison brawl
  • car set on fire
  • escape from prison
  • burned alive
  • prisoner
  • prison guard
  • police brutality
  • loss of wife
  • crushed to death
  • 2020s
  • vehicle
  • armoured car
  • weapons fire
  • motor vehicle
  • weaponised car
  • weaponised vehicle
  • death in title
  • car racing
  • racecar
  • game of death
  • universal studios
  • comic relief
  • explosion
  • villainess
  • spark
  • foundry
  • cleavege
  • camera shot of a woman's legs
  • denim mini skirt
  • camera shot of legs
  • male pattern baldness
  • pig
  • visible midriff
  • woman with a bare midriff
  • female pedal pumping
  • warden
  • murder
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Cast & crew

Death Race Cast

Tyrese Gibson leads the cast, with Jason Statham and Joan Allen. Directed by Paul W.S. Anderson.

From the director

More from Paul W.S. Anderson

More films directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, best-rated first: Mortal Kombat, Resident Evil: The Final Chapter, Event Horizon and Pompeii.

Full filmography
Ratings

Death Race Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Death Race 41% on Rotten Tomatoes and 43 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.4/10.

Plot

Death Race Plot Summary

What happens in Death Race from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In 2013, the United States faces a total economic collapse, leading to soaring unemployment rates and rampant crime, resulting in a rise of incarcerated individuals and the emergence of privatized prisons that profit off their suffering. The ruthless warden of Terminal Island Penitentiary, Hennessey, exploits the desperate situation by orchestrating a pay-per-view gladiator event known as “Death Race,” where incarcerated racers compete to secure their freedom.

The competition spans three intense days on a closed track, complete with various pressure plates: swords trigger offensive weapons, shields unleash defensive tactics like oil or smoke, and skulls (dubbed “Death Heads”) activate lethal traps that spring up unexpectedly. The ultimate prize for the racers is the chance to win their freedom after securing five consecutive victories.

Full summary

The whole story of Death Race, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Death Race Box Office & Budget

Death Race grossed $76 million worldwide on a $45 million budget, 1.7 times what it cost. $36.3 million came from the US and Canada and $39.7 million (52%) from the rest of the world.

2008 box office

Worldwide gross

$76M

1.7× its budget

US & Canada
$36.3M
International
$39.7M
Budget
$45M
US & Canada 48% Rest of the world 52%
Videos

Death Race Trailers & Videos

9 videos: 1 trailer and 8 clips.

All 9 videos
Death Race Trailer - YouTube WideScreen 720p - REAL HD
  • Clip Death Race (3/12) Movie CLIP - Rules of Death Race (2008) HD
  • Clip Death Race (4/12) Movie CLIP - Jensen's First Race (2008) HD
  • Clip Death Race (5/12) Movie CLIP - You Can't Kill Me (2008) HD
  • Clip Death Race (2/12) Movie CLIP - Prison Cafeteria Fight (2008) HD
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Death Race?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What year does 'Death Race' take place in?

Cars

Cars in Death Race

27 cars on screen, including the 2002 Dodge Ram and the 2006 Ford Mustang.

All 27 cars
  • 2002 Dodge Ram in Death Race 2002 Dodge Ram Featured role
  • 2006 Ford Mustang in Death Race 2006 Ford Mustang Featured role
  • 1967 Buick Riviera in Death Race 1967 Buick Riviera Main role
  • 1978 Porsche 911 SC in Death Race 1978 Porsche 911 SC Main role
Details

Death Race Also Known As

34 alternative titles, including “Death Race 3000” and “Smertelnya gonka”.

Also known as
  • Death Race 3000
  • Smertelnya gonka
  • Death Race 1
  • Carrera Mortal
  • Carrera de la muerte
  • La Carrera de la muerte 1
  • Death Race, course à la mort
  • 絕命尬車
  • מרוץ קטלני 1
  • Ölüm Yarışı
  • מרוץ המוות
  • Course à la mort
+22 more
  • Death Race: Wyścig śmierci
  • Смертельная гонка
  • Death Race: La carrera de la muerte
  • Corrida Mortal
  • 死亡飞车
  • Halálfutam
  • Смъртоносна надпревара
  • מרוץ קטלני
  • Rallye smrti
  • Κούρσα Θανάτου
  • Cursă mortală
  • Смертельні перегони
  • 데스 레이스
  • デス・レース
  • ซิ่ง สั่ง ตาย
  • Трка смрти
  • Dirka smrti
  • Cuộc Đua Tử Thần
  • Mirties Lenktynės
  • مسابقه مرگ
  • Death race - kuolonajot
  • आखरी रेस, სასიკვდილო რბოლა

Seen Death Race?

FAQ

Death Race FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Release Date

Release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Death Race, each answered in a sentence.

When was Death Race released?

Death Race was released on August 22, 2008.

Who directed Death Race?

Death Race was directed by Paul W.S. Anderson.

More films by Paul W.S. Anderson

Who is in the cast of Death Race?

Death Race stars Tyrese Gibson, Jason Statham and Joan Allen.

How much did Death Race make at the box office?

Death Race grossed $76 million worldwide ($36.3 million domestic, $39.7 million international) on a budget of $45 million.

How is Death Race rated?

Death Race has 6.4/10 on IMDb, 41% on Rotten Tomatoes, 43 on Metacritic and 63% on TMDB.

Does Death Race have a post-credit scene?

No. Death Race has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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