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Tom Cruise, Robert Duvall, Nicole Kidman, Randy Quaid, Michael Rooker ... see more see more... , Cary Elwes , Fred Dalton Thompson , John C. Reilly , J.C. Quinn , Don Simpson , Peter Appel , Stephen Michael Ayers , Michael Burgess , Tania Coleridge , Barbara Garrick , John Griesemer , Margo Martindale , Jerry Molen , Nick Searcy , Mike Slattery , Caroline Williams , Donna Wilson , Chris Ellis , Leilani Sarelle , Jim Grimshaw , Cindi Vicino , James Martin Jr. , Donna W. Scott

The Top Gun team of producers Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer, director Tony Scott, and superstar Tom Cruise reunite for this excursion into stock-car racing that incorporates the vroom and rumble o... read more read more...f deafening car engines with a rehash of the same elements that worked so effectively in Cruise's Top Gun, The Color of Money, and Cocktail. Cruise plays stock-car driver Cole Trickle, a young fireball on the Southern stock-car circuit who has loads of talent but no conception of how to channel that talent in to racing success. When Tim Daland (Randy Quaid) commissions veteran stock-car racer Harry Hogge (Robert Duvall) to built a car and hires Cole to drive it, Harry must instill in Cole his philosophy of winning and teach him how to channel his raw talent into success -- or, as Harry puts it, "controlling something that's out of control." Cole immediately comes into conflict with the circuit's star driver, Rowdy Burns (Michael Rooker), and their hijinks on the track causes them to smash up their cars and lands them both in the hospital. Because of his injuries, Rowdy is forced to withdraw from the circuit competition. With no rival to torment, Rowdy becomes Cole's supporter and friend, while Cole revs up his motors for Dr. Claire Lewicki (Nicole Kidman), the attractive brain specialist who supervises Cole's recovery from the crackup. Cole's health is restored, and he begins to race again, chastened and hanging onto Harry's every word. Cole appears to have centered himself for success, but in an orgasmic grand finale, Cole must compete against Russ Wheeler (Cary Elwes), a dastardly driver who not only wants to see Cole defeated but permanently disabled. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Flixster Users

59% liked it

120,368 ratings

Critics

40% liked it

43 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 48 min.

Directed by: Tony Scott

Release Date: June 27, 1990

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DVD Release Date: May 25, 1999

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Stats: 3,545 reviews

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Days of Thunder tom cruise... cruise nd kidman tom cruise Days of Thunder Dr. Claire Lewicki Nicole Kidman as Dr. Claire Lewicki Nicole Kidman as Dr. Claire Lewicki Nicole Kidman as Dr. Claire Lewicki
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Flixster Reviews (3,545)

  • xXGiNoBiLiPRXx
    August 2, 2011
    xXGiNoBiLiPRXx
    You can't outrun the thunder.

    Very good movie! I enjoyed it from beginning to the end. Tom Cruise and Robert Duvall did an excellent screen combo. I think the supporting cast was good also. Very nice ending full of adrenaline!

    Days of Thunder revolved around a talented, hot-sho... read moret auto racing rookie, (# 46 and 51) Cole Trickle (Tom Cruise), who, after trying his hand in the American open wheel ranks, seeks to win on the NASCAR circuit. His mechanic mentor, Harry Hogge (Robert Duvall), acts as his crew chief. He also develops a romantic relationship with Dr. Claire Lewicki (Nicole Kidman), a young brain surgeon who tries to tame him. Lo and behold, just when he thought it was safe and easy to get back into a race car and drive, an arrogant and dangerous newcomer by the name of Russ Wheeler (Cary Elwes) doesn't make it easy on him as he picks on him because he knows he can get away with it since not only did he substitute drive Trickle's Pink Superflo car while Cole was in the hospital, but now he is teammates with him under the selfish, bullheaded car owner Tim Daland (Randy Quaid) as the new superstar Nascar was looking for with Rowdy Burns out.
  • ythelastman89
    March 19, 2010
    ythelastman89
    Very much the same style as Top Gun, a perfect match between Tom Cruise and Tony Scott. I think it's often mistaken as a mindless nascar film, when it's really much more than that. It really works on sort of an operatic level, saying a lot about trust and determination. You can't... read more really pick anything out that is bad about this, it's just way too much fun and harmless. Tom Cruise is perfect as Cole Trickle, the greatest Nascar driver to ever live. It's also a great start by Nicole Kidman, the Australian doctor from heaven.
  • fb733768972
    January 18, 2010
    fb733768972
    This film has a great message: Never Give Up! When you try but fail, try even harder to get what you want! This movie is amazing!
  • SirPant
    September 25, 2009
    SirPant
    It?s basically Top Gun in cars and I hated Top Gun.
  • stormyweather980
    September 14, 2009
    stormyweather980
    A waste. Perhaps Cruise's worst movie.
  • FiLmCrAzY
    April 24, 2009
    FiLmCrAzY
    I liked this film, whiced surprised me when basically its about a car race driver but this is really a film and well acted so differnatly worth a watch
  • bhobbs1985
    March 12, 2009
    bhobbs1985
    One of the best films of it's time!

    The fact that this movie only has a 3-star overall on flixster shows that there's a lot of people that simply, dont know what they are talking about.

    Tom Cruise plays a cocky winston cup driver that eventually comes to understand the fea... read morers and reality of driving stock-car on the most prestigeous race circut.
    He learns the ropes from former pit cheif of one of winston cups top drivers, Robert Davull, who coaches him along the way.
    You add some rivalries on the track, some friendships off the track, and a romance with a doctor whose nearly just as fearful as him and you got a plot that simply don't come better than this.
    It's action packed, it's comical, it's emotional, and overall its completley entertaining.

    There are no negatives in this one!

    Overall:
    This movie happend to be the greatest racing flim of it's time; and still is right up there with the best of them today. Starring three of Hollywoods greatest actors Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, and Robert Duvall your instantly awarded a movie that captures the romance, thrills, fear, and realities of the worlds highest racing circut.
  • thmtsang
    September 28, 2008
    thmtsang
    Tom and Nicole star in this movie about an ambitious racing driver. Love the car racing.
  • TheMachinist
    July 15, 2008
    TheMachinist
    A total waste of time. The "script" is probably written during the screenwriters first hangover beer. The racing events are totally unrealistic and where's the excitement? Only worth a look because of Robert Duvall and the audio track.
  • movieguru12
    June 16, 2008
    movieguru12
    This was another great Cruise film,and I couldn't help,but to give it 5 stars!!!

View All Days of Thunder Reviews

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff
May 7, 2008
Variety Staff, Variety

Days of Thunder zigzags between exploiting Cruise's likable grin and charming vulnerability and portraying him as an emotional loser. It's an uncertain and unsatisfying mix. Full Review

Owen Gleiberman
May 7, 2008
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

There are plenty of soulless movies around. What's special about Days of Thunder is that it works overtime trying to convince you it's not one of them. Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum
May 7, 2008
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

In 1990 the people who brought you Top Gun -- Tom Cruise, director Tony Scott, and producers Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer -- figured out a way to take more of your money, and it involved stock-ca... Full Review

Janet Maslin
May 20, 2003
Janet Maslin, New York Times

It's one thing to market a film solely on the strength of its star. It's quite another to go ahead and make the film that way. Full Review

Peter Travers
May 12, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Producers Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer have raised formula films to a science.

Desson Thomson
January 1, 2000
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

Exactly what it promises to be: Not Much -- but at dizzying speed, stripped down and free of wind-resistant subtlety. There's a certain integrity to that. A certain deafening integrity. Full Review

Hal Hinson
January 1, 2000
Hal Hinson, Washington Post

The flash is still there, but Towne has added a layer of substance underneath, and in generous enough helpings that you can let the picture vamp you, ravage you, without hating yourself afterward. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

An entertainment of great skill but predictable construction. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
April 12, 2012
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

Trashy, formulatic thriller actioner, directed by Tony Scott, who had earlier helmed the 1986 Top Gun, which catapulted Tom Cruise to stardom. Full Review

Brian Orndorf
June 28, 2010
Brian Orndorf, BrianOrndorf.com

Days of Thunder retains a few moments of startling competency, though overall it's an inconsistent feature film -- not always providing the thunder, though the Cruise is well taken care of. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Facts

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    • Harry Hogge: You stay out of that car. If you get back in that car, you'll die. You hear?
    • Cole Trickle: I'm not getting back in my car, I'm getting in Rowdy's.
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Days of Thunder Trivia

  • In what movie did Tom Crusie play the character of Cole Trickle?  Answer »
  • In which movie did Tom Cruise play a race car driver?  Answer »
  • On the set of which film did Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise meet?  Answer »
  • Use the missing words to create the name of a movie. Six _________, Seven Nights Pirates _____ The Caribbean __________ and Lightning  Answer »
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