Death Race 2000
A gleefully lurid dystopian road race turns state propaganda, pedestrian carnage, and celebrity driving into a cult-classic black comedy.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Graphic
- campy
- irreverent
- sardonic
- cult movie night
- drive-in movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly find it cartoonish, kinetic, and entertaining as exploitation spectacle, while its political satire and extreme violence remain divisive.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The totalitarian United States promotes the Transcontinental Road Race to pacify a population amid unrest and anarchy.
The race, costumed killers, pedestrian scoring, and broad character archetypes create a knowingly outrageous exploitation style.
The plot revolves around customized race cars scoring points by striking pedestrians and defeating rival drivers.
The nationally celebrated death race turns lethal competition into a public show designed to pacify and excite viewers.
Films like Death Race 2000, and why
The Running Man
dystopian spectacle, campy satire, and violent futuristic competition
RoboCop
retro-futurist dystopia, outrageous action, and darkly comic exploitation energy
Mad Max
countercultural road violence, anarchic humor, and stylized car spectacle
Brazil
surreal authoritarian satire, black humor, and deliberately cartoonish political allegory
Movie Details
- Director
- Paul Bartel
- Release Date
- 1975-04-30
- Runtime
- 80 min
- Rating
- 6.2 / 10 (598)
Cast
- David Carradine
- Simone Griffeth
- Sylvester Stallone
- Mary Woronov
- Roberta Collins
- Martin Kove
- Louisa Moritz
- Don Steele
- Joyce Jameson
- Carle Bensen
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Cultpix, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Best of British Tv Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Death Race 2000 about?
- A gleefully lurid dystopian road race turns state propaganda, pedestrian carnage, and celebrity driving into a cult-classic black comedy.
- What is Death Race 2000 like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Death Race 2000 as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Death Race 2000 violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Death Race 2000 as graphic.
- What did critics think of Death Race 2000?
- Critics broadly find it cartoonish, kinetic, and entertaining as exploitation spectacle, while its political satire and extreme violence remain divisive.
- Which films are like Death Race 2000?
- Films with a similar feel include The Running Man, RoboCop, Mad Max, and Brazil.
- How long is Death Race 2000?
- Death Race 2000 runs 80 minutes.
- Where can I watch Death Race 2000?
- In United States, Death Race 2000 streams on Amazon Prime Video, Cultpix, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Best of British Tv Amazon Channel.
