Maximum Overdrive

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Maximum Overdrive

R

1986

1h 38m

Horror

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Popcornmeter

14%

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14 Reviews

50%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

After a comet causes a radiation storm on Earth, machines come to life and turn against their makers. Holed up in a North Carolina truck stop, a group of survivors must fend for themselves against a mass of homicidal trucks. A diner cook, Bill Robinson (Emilio Estevez), emerges as the unlikely leader of the pack, attempting to find an escape plan for himself and the survivors, who include his boss, Bubba Hendershot (Pat Hingle), and a newlywed couple.

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Richard Freedman

Newark Star-Ledger

Jan 6

"Maximum Overdrive" is minimum movie-making by no less a celebrity than best-selling horror writer Stephen King, here making his less than auspicious directorial debut.

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Kevin Carr

Fat Guys at the Movies

01/27/2024

1.5/4

Someone once said to me: “Stephen King didn’t direct this movie. Cocaine directed this movie.” And it certainly shows.

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Austin Kennedy

Sin Magazine

05/15/2012

1.5/4

Stephen King has admitted himself that he was coked out of his mind during the making of this. Well... duh!

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Steve Crum

Video-Reviewmaster.com

03/14/2009

3/5

Truck stop attacked by mechanical objects, including trucks, gone awry! Based on Stephen King story.

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

08/22/2005

2/5

Caffeinated Clint

Moviehole

05/06/2005

2/5

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Pete R.

@thekidsalami 2d

Hands down, the finest film of 1986. A masterpiece in every sense of the word.

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Lex C

@Monsterlex Jan 14

Perhaps because this Gen X guy watched this when I was a teen and loved it. I am giving it a 4 of 5. Its a movie you don't take as serious as other SK works. Its Fun and Silly with a good premise

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Clint C

@Shlebmo Jan 6

It is decent at first but grows boring. I’ve seen it so many times but don’t think I’ve ever finished it and doubt anyone has

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TheMovieSearch R

@TheMovieSearch Jan 4

Maximum Overdrive is a movie where the idea sounds far more entertaining than the final result. A horror story about machines coming to life should be wild, fun, and chaotic, but the film never fully connects those elements in a satisfying way. Instead of clever insanity, it feels disjointed and oddly dull. Emilio Estevez is easily the best part of the film. He brings energy and effort, but even he can’t anchor a story that lacks focus. The rest of the cast feels uneven and forgettable, making it hard to care about what happens to anyone. The screenplay is rough and overstuffed, throwing out bizarre moments without proper buildup or payoff. Direction is equally unfocused, failing to shape the chaos into something fun or memorable. Ultimately, Maximum Overdrive is more of a curiosity than a good movie—interesting in concept, but poorly executed and disappointing overall.

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H W

Nov 10

As a long time King fan I never saw the movie because of the reviews. Finally saw it and have to say it's not nearly as bad as I expected. Is it perfect? No. It's nowhere close. (It has some acting that makes you root for the trucks.) But it's fun. As far as rainy day movies go, you can do worse.

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Jay B.

@OldHorrorGuy Oct 29

Not as bad as some say, forget SK had anything to do with it and enjoy the silliness.

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Stephen King

Director

Emilio Estevez

Bill Robinson

Pat Hingle

Bubba Hendershot

Laura Harrington

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Yeardley Smith

Connie

John Short

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Synopsis

After a comet causes a radiation storm on Earth, machines come to life and turn against their makers. Holed up in a North Carolina truck stop, a group of survivors must fend for themselves against a mass of homicidal trucks. A diner cook, Bill Robinson (Emilio Estevez), emerges as the unlikely leader of the pack, attempting to find an escape plan for himself and the survivors, who include his boss, Bubba Hendershot (Pat Hingle), and a newlywed couple.

Director: Stephen King
Producer: Martha De Laurentiis
Screenwriter: Stephen King
Production Co: De Laurentiis Entertainment Group
Rating: R
Genre: Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 25, 1986, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 20, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $6.0M
Runtime: 1h 38m
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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