Days of Thunder

PG-13

Released Jun 27, 1990

1h 47m

Action

TRAILER

for Days of Thunder: Trailer 1

List

38%

Tomatometer

66 Reviews

60%

Audience Score

100,000+ Ratings

In the fast-paced world of NASCAR, a rivalry brews between rookie hotshot Cole Trickle (Tom Cruise) and veteran racer Rowdy Burns (Michael Rooker). When both of them are seriously injured in competition, the former bitter rivals become close friends. With Cole's spirits restored by a romance with neurosurgeon Dr. Claire Lewicki (Nicole Kidman), and Rowdy still sidelined by injuries, Cole decides to race Rowdy's car in the Daytona 500 against underhanded newcomer Russ Wheeler (Cary Elwes).

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Critics Consensus

Days of Thunder has Tom Cruise and plenty of flash going for it, but they aren't enough to compensate for the stock plot, two-dimensional characters, and poorly written dialogue.

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Tim Robey

Daily Telegraph (UK)

The most daring thing about his cat-and-mouse game with Kidman is how erotic Noyce makes it.

Oct 24, 2018

Full Review

Clayton Dillard

Slant Magazine

Dispensing with all notions that Days of Thunder is a critical work of any sort reveals its hollow and misogynistic underpinnings.

Jun 25, 2015

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Terrence Rafferty

New Yorker

Like the previous Simpson-Bruckheimer pictures, it's designed to give audiences an overdose of the thrill of victory; it wants us to jump out of our seats, pumping our fists in the air and roaring for the hero to pulverize his opponents.

May 20, 2014

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Terry Francis

Southern Voice (Atlanta)

Some members of the audience I attended for Days of Thunder snickered at the mythologizing of the young actor on the screen. Tom Cruise would be wise to pay heed to such derision.

Rated: 0.5/4

May 9, 2023

Full Review

Bill Chambers

Film Freak Central

There is some interest to be mined from Days of Thunder as an auteur piece--the auteur being Cruise, not Scott.

Rated: 2/4

Mar 3, 2022

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

A vanity piece for Tom Cruise, who makes sure that he looks even prettier than co-star Nicole Kidman.

Rated: 1.5/4

May 23, 2020

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Paul D

One of the greatest films in history, FACT. Up there with Rocky for sports films

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/28/24

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Narciso R

Crazy awesome movie, great cast. Great chemistry. Love it. NRJ.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/12/24

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Dan R

First Nascar movie I watched, lack luster performance from Tom Cruise, the plot was very dry, but other than that, it's not the worst movie.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

05/08/24

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Christian K

This has absolutely everything going for it with the cast, director, and setting. Maybe one of Cruise's more completely uninteresting characters, the story and pacing is all so bland.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

04/22/24

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Val M

It was great!!! I love speed and motor sports!! The sound track was awesome too!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/15/24

Full Review

Carson P

A highly entertaining movie with very convincing and realistic racing scenes that show an accurate depiction of how dangerous nascar racing is it's well directed and well acted Tom cruise is great in the movie and the love story of him and Nicole Kidman is solid this film is top gun with racecars even if it's not as popular it's still a well made film and a delightful experience to watch the dialogue is also decent and I also loved seeing real life racecar drivers make a cameo this is a fun classic bruckheimer/simpson film and for those who are a fan of the producers will certainly love and enjoy days of thunder and I enjoyed it as well B+

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/03/24

Full Review

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Tony Scott

Director

Tom Cruise

Cole Trickle

Robert Duvall

Harry Hogge

Nicole Kidman

Dr. Claire Lewicki

Randy Quaid

Tim Daland

Michael Rooker

Rowdy Burns

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Days of Thunder: Official Clip - This Guy's Going Down