Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci, Matthew Fox

Hurtling down the track, careening around, over and through the competition, Speed Racer is a natural behind the wheel. Born to race cars, Speed is aggressive, instinctive and, most of all, fearless. ...( read more  read more... )His only real competition is the memory of the brother he idolized-the legendary Rex Racer - whose death in a race has left behind a legacy that Speed is driven to fulfill. Speed is loyal to the family racing business, led by his father, Pops Racer, the designer of Speed's thundering Mach 5. When Speed turns down a lucrative and tempting offer from Royalton Industries, he not only infuriates the company's maniacal owner but uncovers a terrible secret-some of the biggest races are being fixed by a handful of ruthless moguls who manipulate the top drivers to boost profits. If Speed won't drive for Royalton, Royalton will see to it that the Mach 5 never crosses another finish line. The only way for Speed to save his family's business and the sport he loves is to beat Royalton at his own game. With the support of his family and his loyal girlfriend, Trixie, Speed teams with his one-time rival-the mysterious Racer X - to win the race that had taken his brother's life: the death-defying, cross-country rally known as The Crucible.

Flixster Users

61% liked it

376,630 ratings

Critics

37% liked it

199 critics

PG, 2 hrs. 15 min.

Directed by: Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski

Release Date: April 28, 2008

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DVD Release Date: September 16, 2008

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Stats: 17,130 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (17,130)


  • November 1, 2008
    Truly one of the most exciting & most entertaining family-friendly action movies of 2008. Visually dazzling, surprisingly heartfelt, consistenly thrilling, & very funny. Great entertainment for all ages.
  • April 7, 2009
    Jesus christ, let my eyes recover first haha this is really all thats bad with modern films today, imagination wise its very good and im sure the cartoon was very good (for kids), I never saw it, but it should have stayed a cartoon. This really is very poor stuff. Its totally cgi...( read more) and looks awful. Its very clearly fake looking and like all cgi effects, kinda has a plastic quality about it.
    Its sort of like a combo of a modern day tron with matchbox hotwheels cars on a neon epileptic fit enducing scaletrix set in space, and you probably would benefit better if you were high as well lol
    its totally crazy and moves so fast at times you cant really follow the action. There seems to be alot of dueling in mid air using super racing cars with all manner of crap coming out of them, James Bonds auto's move over hahahahahaha
    Acting is pretty dire, cast shouldnt be doing this, Christina Ricci, for shame. Oh and the name of the film is the name of the main lead which is kinda idiotic. Kids may like it, but adults will get a headache.
  • March 16, 2009
    My thoughts about this film don't so much take the form of a cohesive film review as a series of comments and observations. Here they are:
    #1) AUGH! My eyes!
    #2) Matthew Fox can't fucking act. The Wachowski Brothers must have hired him because they couldn't get Keanu Reeves.
    #...( read more)3) I really like the way they came up with the film conversations between charactacters ion different cars.
    #4) I really hate the little kid they hired to play Speed's brother.
    #5) The car races looked really really cool. Take that George Lucas and your silly Pod-Races!
    #6) Chimps make everything better.
    #7) You can solve problems by simply driving your car really really quick.
    #8) I think the colours in this film gave me epilepsy.
    #9) The montage of thoughts that go through Speed's head at the end of the movie is really really funny. It's comedy gold, really.
    #10) With all the ample opportunities onscreen, there was no shot of a pedestrian getting hit by a car. I was so disappointed.
  • February 27, 2009
    A dazzling array of lights and whirring sounds propels Speed Racer into a heightened level of sensation and immersion. The film is a blistering showcase of eye candy and adrenalised tempo where the cartoon world of high-octane racing crashes into reality - with a unique force. Th...( read more)e Wachowski brothers have crafted an enjoyable gem that entertains and intrigues. They're filmmaking eye has been sent into overdrive as the experimentations with editing, visual effects, and colour have been used to a rare extent.

    But it pays off. Speed Racer is a film that pushes its viewers as fast as the roaring wheels of its cars, propelling us into the dizzying lights and splattered colouring that adorns the frame.
  • February 16, 2009
    AWESOME!
  • November 23, 2009
    For the sake of all humanity, someone please destroy all traces of this movie.
  • November 22, 2009
    Visually fantastic, and full of silly, cartoon dialogue and actio, but it works for me. I get if people don't like it, but the visuals and the fact that it looks, feels, and sounds like the show it's based on makes me happy.
  • November 19, 2009
    AS A KID, I REALLY ENJOYED WATCHING SPEED RACER, BUT THIS MOVIE WAS JUST TOO DUMB, CHEESY, AND TOO MUCH OF AN ACID TRIP TO PROVIDE SERIOUS ENTERTAINMENT. YEAH, SURE IT MIGHT WORK FOR SOME FAMILIES AND PEOPLE WHO WATCHED THE CARTOON. HOWEVER EVEN I WATCHED AND LIKED THE CARTOON AN...( read more)D STILL HATED THIS MOVIE. IT COULD HAVE BEEN MADE BETTER, AND YET, IT ENDED UP BEING A CHEESY, DUMB REMAKE.
  • November 16, 2009
    Just Saw it.. ufff... it rememmbrrrs me Ma ChildHooOd!
  • November 10, 2009
    Day: Wednesday
    Date: 14 May 2008
    Amt: 70/-
    Time: 7.15 Pm
    Over at: 9.45 Pm
    With: Azeem
    Theatre: Regal, Mumbai

    I really liked the plot and the treatment. Visuals are way too much and gives you an artificial feel. The script and direction is what steals the show. But finally the ca...( read more)rtoon is much better anyday.

Critic Reviews


October 18, 2008
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Even the target audience of 10-year-olds might get jimmy legs sitting for a punishing 135 minutes as the Wachowski brothers projectile-vomit their cotton-candy dreams all over the big screen. full review

May 9, 2008
Claudia Puig, USA Today

For a movie about velocity, the excitement factor is low and the races feel like a drag. full review

May 9, 2008
Pete Hammond, Back Stage

With "The Matrix" the Wachowski Brothers created a sci fi action classic, with its two sequels they destroyed a franchise and now with Speed Racer they have destroyed another one right out the box. full review

May 9, 2008
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle

It gave me a headache, a stomach ache and the less-defined unease that comes from witnessing a major change in the zeitgeist. Because the zeitgeist, judging from this movie, now embraces rattle-headed... full review

May 9, 2008
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

So bereft of intelligence, style and excitement that I can't figure out who in the world it's supposed to appeal to. full review

May 8, 2008
A.O. Scott, The New York Times

Speed Racer sets out to honor and refresh a youthful enthusiasm from the past and winds up smothering the fun in self-conscious grandiosity.

May 7, 2008
Armond White, The New York Press

Over all, there's the drab, sinking feeling of Matrix 3 -- that the Wachowskis' lame, expensive imaginings have played out. full review

May 5, 2008
Anthony Lane, The New Yorker

I reckon the M.P.A.A. should use the advent of Speed Racer to revive an old ratings symbol: a big Roman X, meaning 'of no conceivable interest to anyone over the age of ten.' full review

May 5, 2008
David Edelstein, New York Magazine

It's an eyesore, a shambles, with incoherent action and ear-buckling dialogue. full review

View more Speed Racer reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • Rosepetal75
    March 2, 2009
    Racer X (Matthew Fox) is turned out to be Speed Racer's (Emile Hirsch) older brother named Rex Racer didn't die but he is alive underwent plastic surgery as Racer X.
  • bronsonthejew
    October 19, 2008
    the fact of this movie existence made me loose faith in life. nothing could be so blatantly shit! its almost like the creators wanted it to be shit for a sick joke. jeez, this was as bad as Hell boy!!
  • MovieLover57
    September 8, 2008
    Does Anybody Seem To Think of The Resemlince To This & ''The Fast & The Furious'' Movies?
    Because I Do.
  • LouiseLesleey
    August 18, 2008
    Personally I don't have a stick up my ass.

    I didn't like the final editing of this. It would of been great if it wasn't for some of the droopy dialogue and the stupid fade in/fade out of the characters wrecking the pure action at the end.

    This film gave me a headache at times.
  • SnugglingBunny
    June 12, 2008
    Go Speed Racer Go Speed Racer Go!!!!!

    Bloody brilliant!!

    Loved it! Loved it!

    The only ones who hate it are the ones with a stick up their ass.
    Sorry, but thats the truth for you. =)
  • aoddball416
    May 23, 2008
    wondorous movie indeed! my folks & me were the first ones in line to see it in tencil town! ;)
  • CowboyUp982
    May 23, 2008
    Overall I really liked it. It stayed pretty true to the show without being overly imitative of it.
    I gotta say, parts of it were really loud, Trixie wasn't like she used to be, and plot-wise it wasn't much to write home about, but once again, the whole picture, I liked.
  • SnugglingBunny
    May 21, 2008
    Just insane.
    Perfect, really, could have not of been better. I love every second of it, very a dull moment. Emile Hirsch is a perfect, all around the perfect cast. Amazing effects!!
    Just perfect, perfect, perfect. Loved it loads!
  • gloomgurl
    May 18, 2008
    i think of myself as a true children movie and cartoon lover, so i thought this movie would be ok and that i would like it. But i was wrong. this movie really did not peak my interest. It was kind of boring. The only thing that kept my attention was the bright vibrant colors and the gorgeously amazing graphics. But having great graphics and cool cars don't do for me. I need more substance in the story line, and this movie lacked it severely. Another thing that annoyed me was the fact that they were over-empasizing racing to the point you wanted to throw something at the screen. I mean, dang! I get it! the family liked racing but calm the hell down! yeah! this movie really sucked. I couldn't wait for it to be over. I only went to see it because a friend wanted to.
  • dms2052
    May 13, 2008
    Christina Ricci made this movie very hot, and very worth watching just to see how hot she was become.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Speed Racer Trivia


  • "Speed Racer" (2008) is from the makers of the Matrix Trilogy.  Answer »
  • What is Speed Racer's oldest brother named?  Answer »
  • Who plays Pops Racer in the 2008 movie Speed Racer?  Answer »
  • (Speed Racer 2008) What is the car called?  Answer »

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