Yesteryear’s Big-Screen Scorcher: How ‘Days of Thunder’ Holds Up Today

There are many different opinions about what is the greatest racing movie of all time! Films that were totally awesome when they first came out sometimes lose their luster. Here we will take a close look at director Tony Scott’s tire-scorching 1990 masterpiece. Many viewers wonder how ‘Days of Thunder’ holds up today.

How ‘Days of Thunder’ Holds Up Today

The success of “Top Gun” was just a few years behind Tony when he began work on this film. Boasting a production budget of $60 million, it successfully grossed $157 million worldwide. Tom Cruise plays racer Cole Tricker, who is recruited to race in the NASCAR Cup Series. 

Cole’s Phoenix Setback: Early Hurdles in the Heat

The film’s plot sees Cole making his start in Phoenix. Here he encounters various forms of communication breakdown with the crew. These problems and other crashes prevented him from success during the next three races as well. Cole finally admits to his team leader that he doesn’t even understand Nascar’s basics. 

The appearances of the NASCAR drivers do give the film a gritty sense of realism. Here tire conservation, custom builds, and engine health is held in high regard. The intense training Cole undergoes pays off at Darlington, where he claims a first-place win. An intense rivalry between Cole and Rowdy Burns develops here as well.

Gaining Speed: Momentum Builds After the Firecracker 400

Both Cole and Rowdy are seriously hurt after they crash into each other during the Firecracker 400. While Cole is beginning his recovery process, he meets a neurosurgeon played by Nicole Kidman. The two rivals are then told by the NASCAR president that he will not tolerate any more of their antics.

Just before this is one of the scenes that people feel may not hold up to modern standards. Cole and Rowdy feverishly race each other on wheelchairs in the hospital. While it is good for a laugh, today’s viewer may simply not be on board with the scene’s campiness. The Firecracker 400 racing scene is still visually thrilling! 

Tides of Tension: Inside Cole and Russ’s Shifting Rivalry

While Cole recovers, rookie Russ Wheeler is hired to take his place. Russ encounters a severe engine failure at Atlanta after they are now both driving on the same team. At North Wilkesboro, Russ rebelliously blocks Cole’s path, forcing him into a wall crash. They are then both fired after another brawl.

Rowdy is now facing surgery for blood vessel repair. Cole is asked to drive his car at the legendary Daytona 500 to fulfill his obligations. Cole performs his patented “slingshot” move to claim victory. This scene is action-packed even by today’s standards! The entire picture has a hazy orange hue that was ahead of its time when it came out. 

Intensity and Impact: The Defining Character of Days of Thunder

Randy Quaid plays quite a good role as Tim Daland, a wealthy car dealer who initially recruits Cole. Crew members sometimes sat idle for so long that they accumulated a huge deal of overtime! The film was shot predominantly in Charlotte and on Daytona Beach. 

Even though some diehard NASCAR fans think it’s a bit unrealistic, this film still does great at entertaining! It’s very beneficial for the film’s hard-hitting charm that it was made during NASCAR’s best era. As the sport headed into the 90s, it was then approaching a pre-boom juncture. 

Critics Are Gonna Critique! 

Some “Days of Thunder” critics claimed that this was a makeup that was simply too similar to “Top Gun”. The visceral thrills on the ground still provide a completely different experience than flight. “Top Gun” had pushed the boundaries of patriotic heroism a bit further. “Days of Thunder” does an excellent job of showing viewers an authentic rivalry. 

Rotten Tomatoes claimed that the picture “has plenty of flash going for it, but they aren’t enough to compensate for the stock plot, two-dimensional character, and poorly written dialogue.” Quentin Tarantino claimed that it “is the movie Grand Prix and Le Mans should have been.” In 1990, Mindscape released a video game adaption for the NES and PCs. 

Have you had the pleasure of busting out the popcorn and enjoying this racing classic? It was very sensationalized when it was released, but actually aged quite well! Many critics did not enjoy Tom Cruise’s arrogance. Let us know what you think in the comments below, or check out another article about Formula 1 fever!