Maximum Overdrive (1986): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Maximum Overdrive is a 1986 action horror film directed by Stephen King, starring Emilio Estevez and Pat Hingle. It is partly based on Night Shift by Stephen King. It runs 1 hour 38 minutes and earned $7.4 million worldwide. Critics gave it 14% on Rotten Tomatoes and 24 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.4/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 38m (98 min)
- Director
- Stephen King
- Original language
-
English - Based on
- Night Shift by Stephen King
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Maximum Overdrive About?
The premise of Maximum Overdrive without spoilers, adapted from Night Shift by Stephen King. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A comet's radiation causes machines around the world to turn against humanity. At a North Carolina truck stop, a group of survivors finds themselves facing a terrifying threat: cars, trucks, and appliances have become violent. Led by the resourceful Bill Robinson (Emilio Estevez), they must band together to outwit the rogue machines and fight for survival amidst the escalating mechanical chaos, hoping to find a way to escape the deadly situation.
Maximum Overdrive Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- semi truck driving itself
- driverless truck
- carsploitation
- child knocked down by vehicle
- exploding truck
- vending machine
- inanimate object comes to life
- gas station
- animate object
- surrealism
- blood splatter
- video arcade
+38 more Show fewer
- cook
- stupid victim
- based on the works of stephen king
- 1980s
- atm
- exploding gas station
- truck comes to life
- symbolism
- junior lague baseball
- marquee
- sewer drainpipe
- weather satellite
- back road
- payphone
- woman
- chevrolet
- ford
- gmc
- cadillac
- driving
- exploding gasoline station
- gas pump
- semi truck and flatbed trailer
- cigarette machine
- jukebox
- vehicle driving by itself
- child beheaded
- hairy chest
- bare chested male
- murder of a child
- arcade
- reference to stephen king
- cult film
- automated teller machine
- newlywed
- baseball
- violence
- electric carving knife
Maximum Overdrive Cast
Emilio Estevez leads the cast, with Pat Hingle. Directed by Stephen King.
- Director Stephen King
Maximum Overdrive Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Maximum Overdrive 14% on Rotten Tomatoes and 24 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.4/10.
-
IMDb 5.4 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 14% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 50%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 24 Metascore
User score 5.6
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 58% User score
See on TMDB
Maximum Overdrive Plot Summary
What happens in Maximum Overdrive from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
On June 19, 1987, at precisely 9:47 AM Eastern Standard Time, the planet encounters the tail of a rogue comet named Rhea-M, leading to bizarre and catastrophic events that last for just over a week. In the small town of Wilmington, North Carolina, machines inexplicably come to life, turning from mundane objects into deadly threats against humanity. A marquee sign at a local bank displays a rude insult, while an ATM boldly calls a customer an “asshole,” a cameo includes the real-life Stephen King, who even plays that bank client. Shockingly, the town’s drawbridge spontaneously raises, causing a horrifying spill of cars and trucks that results in casualties, witnessed by the elderly bridge keeper and his less-than-bright assistant.
Full summary
The whole story of Maximum Overdrive, scene by scene
Maximum Overdrive Box Office
Maximum Overdrive grossed $7.4 million worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$7.4M
- US & Canada
- $7.4M
Maximum Overdrive Trailers & Videos
6 videos: 4 trailers, 1 clip and 1 behind-the-scenes video.
- Trailer Maximum Overdrive (1986) Trailer Remastered HD
- Trailer Maximum Overdrive (1986) original theatrical trailer [FTD-0203]
- Trailer Maximum Overdrive ≣ 1986 ≣ Trailer
- Clip Stephen king's cameo Maximum Overdrive
How Well Do You Know Maximum Overdrive?
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
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What astronomical event triggers the chaos in Wilmington, North Carolina?
Cars in Maximum Overdrive
91 cars on screen, including the 1976 White Western Star 4800 and the 1975 Autocar A64 B SR.
-
1976 White Western Star 4800 Featured role -
1975 Autocar A64 B SR Important role -
1977 Cadillac Coupe DeVille Important role -
Caterpillar D7 G Important role
Maximum Overdrive Also Known As
27 alternative titles, including “La Rebelion De Las Maquinas De Stephen King” and “Maximum Overdrive - Stephen King”.
- Also known as
-
- La Rebelion De Las Maquinas De Stephen King
- Maximum Overdrive - Stephen King
- Trucks - Stephen King
- Es begann ohne Warnung
- Ocho dias de Terror
- Stephen King's Brivido
- Stephen Kings Rhea M - Es begann ohne Vorwarnung
- Μάξιμουμ Όβερντραϊβ
- Rhea M - Es begann ohne Warnung
- Brivido
- La rebelión de las máquinas
- Максимальное ускорение
+15 more Show fewer
- Stephen King: Maximális túlhajtás
- Vzpoura strojů
- Maksymalne przyspieszenie
- Les camions maléfiques
- 맥시멈 오버드라이브
- Comboio do Terror
- Пълна мощност
- Ocho días de Terror
- 火魔战车
- หนีเหี้ยมประหลาด
- Максимальне прискорення
- 地獄のデビル・トラック
- 驚心動魄撞死你
- Maksimalno ubrzanje
- Potência Máxima
Seen Maximum Overdrive?
Movies Like Maximum Overdrive
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Trucks, Space Truckers and Night of the Comet.
Maximum Overdrive FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and post-credit scenes of Maximum Overdrive, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Maximum Overdrive?
Maximum Overdrive runs 1 hour 38 minutes (98 minutes).
When was Maximum Overdrive released?
Maximum Overdrive was released on July 25, 1986.
Who directed Maximum Overdrive?
Maximum Overdrive was directed by Stephen King.
More films by Stephen King Who is in the cast of Maximum Overdrive?
Maximum Overdrive stars Emilio Estevez and Pat Hingle.
How much did Maximum Overdrive make at the box office?
Maximum Overdrive grossed $7.4 million worldwide.
How is Maximum Overdrive rated?
Maximum Overdrive has 5.4/10 on IMDb, 14% on Rotten Tomatoes, 24 on Metacritic and 58% on TMDB.
Is Maximum Overdrive based on a book?
Yes. Maximum Overdrive is partly adapted from Night Shift by Stephen King.
Does Maximum Overdrive have a post-credit scene?
No. Maximum Overdrive has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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