Days of Thunder 1990

Dave Kehr, Chicago Tribune: This is the kind of monstrously overgrown commercial movie that depends entirely on the microscopic pleasures of having one`s most routine expectations fulfilled. Read more

Gene Siskel, Chicago Tribune: Good writing by Robert Towne and a host of strong supporting performances complement the on-the-track visuals of director Tony Scott in giving us a sense of the leap of faith that is required by drivers at this level. Read more

Sheila Benson, Los Angeles Times: Whoosh!! Days of Thunder just streaked in, fast as a race-car paint job and about as flat. Read more

Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel: Days of Thunder does accomplish the job it sets out to do. It's sometimes funny, sometimes exciting and never too boring or offensive. In a disappointing movie season -- as this one has started out to be -- that can seem like quite an accomplishment. Read more

Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer: Not only does Days of Thunder disappoint on the basic narrative level, it is also a peculiarly thrill-less action movie. Shot from the driver's point of view, the race sequences lose their novelty as swiftly as a video game. Read more

John Hartl, Seattle Times: The original script must have been truly atrocious if Towne's contributions can be considered an improvement. Read more

Richard Schickel, TIME Magazine: The nerve of these people, recycling that story. No, the shrewdness of these people. Read more

Janet Maslin, New York Times: It's one thing to market a film solely on the strength of its star. It's quite another to go ahead and make the film that way. Read more

Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader: In 1990 the people who brought you Top Gun -- Tom Cruise, director Tony Scott, and producers Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer -- figured out a way to take more of your money, and it involved stock-car racing. Read more

Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: There are plenty of soulless movies around. What's special about Days of Thunder is that it works overtime trying to convince you it's not one of them. Read more

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. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: An entertainment of great skill but predictable construction. Read more

Peter Travers, Rolling Stone: Producers Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer have raised formula films to a science. Read more

Time Out: A flashy, pre-packaged racing picture featuring stock cars and stock situations. Read more

Variety Staff, Variety: Days of Thunder zigzags between exploiting Cruise's likable grin and charming vulnerability and portraying him as an emotional loser. It's an uncertain and unsatisfying mix. Read more

Hal Hinson, Washington Post: The flash is still there, but Towne has added a layer of substance underneath, and in generous enough helpings that you can let the picture vamp you, ravage you, without hating yourself afterward. Read more

Desson Thomson, Washington Post: Exactly what it promises to be: Not Much -- but at dizzying speed, stripped down and free of wind-resistant subtlety. There's a certain integrity to that. A certain deafening integrity. Read more