Skip to content
What's After the Movie?
Action thriller

Speed Kills (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Speed Kills (2018) movie poster

Speed Kills is a 2018 action thriller directed by John Luessenhop and Jodi Scurfield, starring James Remar as Meyer Lansky, Tom Sizemore and John Travolta. It runs 1 hour 42 minutes and earned $5,812 worldwide on a $15 million budget. Critics gave it 19 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 4.3/10.

IMDb rating
4.3/10
worldwide gross
$5.8K
Echo Score
25
Metascore
19
Loading streaming availability…
Speed Kills (2018) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 42m (102 min)
Genres
Action , Drama , Thriller , Crime
Original language
English
Budget
$15M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Speed Kills About?

The premise of Speed Kills without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

A charismatic speedboat racer’s lavish lifestyle hides a dangerous world of crime and corruption. As his illicit activities escalate, he finds himself increasingly entangled in a web of deceit and facing serious consequences. The pursuit of wealth and thrills leads him down a perilous path where the risks become increasingly high, and the stakes are life and death.

Speed Kills Themes & Keywords

· 6 tags
  • boat
  • champion
  • multimillionaire
  • double life
  • drug lord
  • speedboat
Loading streaming availability…
Cast & crew

Speed Kills Cast & Characters

James Remar leads the cast as Meyer Lansky, with Tom Sizemore as Dwayne Franklin and John Travolta as Ben Aronoff. Directed by John Luessenhop and Jodi Scurfield; 12 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Speed Kills

· 8 more
From the directors

More from John Luessenhop and Jodi Scurfield

More films directed by John Luessenhop and Jodi Scurfield, best-rated first: Texas Chainsaw 3D, Takers and Lockdown.

Ratings

Speed Kills Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Speed Kills 19 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 4.3/10. Our Echo Score gives it 25/100, strongest in sensory experience (35) and weakest in rewatch factor (20).

25 /100

Speed Kills Echo Score Breakdown

The film's overall reception reflects pervasive shortcomings in direction, performance, and narrative cohesion. Critics and audiences have pointed to clunky editing, uninspired camera work, and an inconsistent visual style that undermines dramatic tension. While a handful of viewers noted competent production values and moments of earnest racing sequences, these elements remain overwhelmed by flat pacing and uneven execution. Ultimately, Speed Kills delivers little beyond momentary action beats and leaves a largely negative impression overall.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 25

    In terms of art and craft, the film struggles with uninspired direction, flat cinematography, and perfunctory editing that evoke a low-budget direct-to-video aesthetic. Critics described scenes as blandly shot with minimal stylistic flair, while occasional production design elements supplied modest visual interest. Despite one remark on acceptable technical polish in the racing sequences, the overall craftsmanship remains uneven and detracts from dramatic momentum.

  • Character & Emotion 30

    When it comes to character and emotion, performances are generally criticized as shallow and unengaging, with several actors delivering stilted or exaggerated takes. John Travolta’s committed presence drew occasional praise, but it could not overcome a lack of nuanced character development or meaningful emotional stakes. The supporting cast was similarly uneven, leading to limited chemistry and minimal audience investment in the protagonists’ arcs.

  • Story & Flow 25

    In terms of story and flow, the narrative relies on familiar biopic conventions and offers limited originality, resulting in predictable plot turns and uneven pacing. Critics noted abrupt tonal shifts and a tendency to gloss over complex events, producing a featureless saga that struggles to maintain engagement. Though a few viewers reported being drawn into the racing storyline, the overall plot coherence remains weak and fails to sustain interest.

  • Sensory Experience 35

    When examining the sensory experience, the film’s sound design and score are serviceable but lack memorable motifs, and visual styling often feels generic. Critics pointed to a drab color palette and uninspired framing that evoke mid-tier home video productions. A handful of racing sequences show kinetic potential, yet the overall audiovisual cohesion is undermined by inconsistent tone and limited creative flair throughout the soundtrack and imagery.

  • Rewatch Factor 20

    In terms of rewatch factor, Speed Kills offers limited appeal for repeat viewings due to its uneven execution and lack of depth. The film’s sporadic action set pieces provide brief entertainment, but recurring flaws in pacing and character development diminish any lasting attraction. While dedicated genre fans might revisit isolated racing scenes, the overall lack of narrative or stylistic substance makes multiple viewings unlikely for most audiences.

Plot

Speed Kills Plot Summary

What happens in Speed Kills from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Don Aronow’s story unveils the life of a man shaped by ambition and tragedy. Born in 1927 to Russian Jewish immigrants in the Sheepshead Bay neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, he relocated to New Jersey in 1961 after finding success in the construction industry since 1953. Seeking new horizons, he moved to South Miami in 1959, where he pursued a passionate hobby of racing and designing boats.

Full summary

The whole story of Speed Kills, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Speed Kills Box Office & Budget

Speed Kills grossed $5,812 worldwide on a $15 million budget.

2018 box office

Worldwide gross

$5.8K

International
$5.8K
Budget
$15M
Videos

Speed Kills Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Speed Kills.

Speed Kills Official Trailer (2018) - John Travolta
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Speed Kills?

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 industry did Don Aronow originally start in?

Cars

Cars in Speed Kills

34 cars on screen, including the 1969 BMW 2002 and the 1981 Chevrolet Impala.

All 34 cars
  • 1969 BMW 2002 in Speed Kills 1969 BMW 2002 Important role
  • 1981 Chevrolet Impala in Speed Kills 1981 Chevrolet Impala Important role
  • 1987 Ford Bronco in Speed Kills 1987 Ford Bronco Important role
  • 1978 Ford F-100 in Speed Kills 1978 Ford F-100 Important role
Details

Speed Kills Also Known As

24 alternative titles, including “Cigarette” and “Speed Kills VR”.

Also known as
  • Cigarette
  • Speed Kills VR
  • Szybki jak śmierć
  • Velocidad Mortal
  • Smrtící rychlost
  • Скоростта убива
  • Más veloz que la muerte
  • Скорость убивает
  • 极速杀机
  • מהירות הורגת
  • 스피드 킬
  • Velocidade Mortal
+12 more
  • Η ταχύτητα σκοτώνει
  • Hız Öldürür
  • 極速殺機
  • Швидкість вбиває
  • La mort à toute vitesse
  • スピード・キルズ
  • Trùm Tốc Độ
  • Žudantis greitis
  • شىددەتلىك ھۇجۇم
  • Smrtiaca rýchlosť
  • Més veloç que la mort
  • Halálos száguldás

Seen Speed Kills?

FAQ

Speed Kills FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Speed Kills, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Speed Kills?

Speed Kills runs 1 hour 42 minutes (102 minutes).

When was Speed Kills released?

Speed Kills was released on November 16, 2018.

Who directed Speed Kills?

Speed Kills was directed by John Luessenhop and Jodi Scurfield.

More films by John Luessenhop

Who is in the cast of Speed Kills?

Speed Kills stars James Remar as Meyer Lansky, Tom Sizemore as Dwayne Franklin and John Travolta as Ben Aronoff, among 12 credited actors.

How much did Speed Kills make at the box office?

Speed Kills grossed $5,812 worldwide on a budget of $15 million.

How is Speed Kills rated?

Speed Kills has 4.3/10 on IMDb, 19 on Metacritic, 55% on TMDB and 1.8/5 on Letterboxd.

Does Speed Kills have a post-credit scene?

No. Speed Kills has no extra scene during or after the credits.

Coming soon to your phone

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app