Maximum Overdrive

Name: Maximum Overdrive
Genre: Horror, Action, Science Fiction
Released: 1986-07-13
Duration: 1 h 38 min
Rating: 5.5
Cast: Emilio Estevez, Pat Hingle, Laura Harrington, Yeardley Smith, John Short

Imagine your worst nightmare...machines take over the world!

Maximum Overdrive (1986)

Timing: 1:38 (98 min)

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no scores

5.8/10
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5.4/10
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All about film

Video 9

Photo 48

Actors and characters

Watch film Maximum Overdrive — Maximum Overdrive ≣ 1986 ≣ Trailer

2:07

Photo 48

Release date

1986-07-13

Country

United States

Production

DEG

Genre

Horror, Action, Science Fiction

Budget

$10 000 000

Revenue

$7 433 663

Website

Director

Stephen King

Actors

Emilio Estevez, Pat Hingle, Laura Harrington, Yeardley Smith, John Short, Ellen McElduff, J.C. Quinn, Christopher Murney, Holter Graham, Frankie Faison
All actors and roles (10)

Scenario

Producer

Martha De Laurentiis, Don Levin, Mel Pearl, Dino De Laurentiis

Operator

Armando Nannuzzi

Composer

Angus Young

Artist

Giorgio Postiglione, Rod Schumacher

Audition

Mary Colquhoun

Editing

Evan A. Lottman
All team (81)

Short description

When a comet passes close to the earth, machines all over the world come alive and go on homicidal rampages. A group of people at a desolate truck stop are held hostage by a gang of homicidal 18-wheelers. The frightened people set out to defeat the killer machines ... or be killed by them.

What's left behind the scenes

Stephen King, a former cocaine addict, later admitted that he was "out of his mind" throughout the entire production of the film and often didn't realize what he was doing. He also noted that he would like to try his hand at directing again someday, but while sober.
An accident occurred during filming when a mechanical lawnmower actually spiraled out of control. As a result, cinematographer Armando Nannucci lost an eye. He filed a lawsuit against Stephen King for 18 million dollars. The case was later settled out of court.
Stephen King, a former cocaine addict, later admitted that he was “not of sound mind” throughout the entire time the film was being made and often did not realize what he was doing. He also noted that he would like to try his hand at directing again someday, but only when sober.
Rumor has it that George A. Romero lent a hand to directing a significant portion of the film – at least while King was trying to overcome his cocaine addiction. Many Romero fans have noted that the film 'Maximum Overdrive' clearly bears Romero’s mark – for example, in the camera angles and editing. King has never commented on this topic, but mentioned that Romero was constantly on set and that King himself repeatedly sought his advice.
The truck stop set was built a short distance from Wilmington, North Carolina. It looked so realistic that some passing trucks tried to stop and park there, and the film crew had to put up signs stating that filming was in progress.
The soundtrack for the film was provided by the band AC/DC, who were chosen by Stephen King himself.
For a scene where an ice resurfacer drives across a baseball field, director and screenwriter Stephen King asked that a bag of fake blood be placed next to the baseball player who would be run over, so that the blood would get onto the ice resurfacer and then be imprinted on the grass. During filming, however, the bag burst too early and splattered blood everywhere, creating the impression that the player’s head had literally exploded. King was delighted with the resulting scene, but censors demanded it be cut from the film.
For the scene where a steamroller drives across a baseball field, director and screenwriter Stephen King requested that a bag of fake blood be placed next to the baseball player who would be run over, so that the blood would get onto the roller and then leave prints on the grass. During filming, however, the bag burst too early and splattered blood everywhere, creating the impression that the player's head had literally exploded. King was delighted with the resulting scene, but censors demanded that it be cut from the movie.
The film's musical score was provided by AC/DC, a band chosen by Stephen King himself.
Rumors suggest that George A. Romero had a hand in directing a significant portion of the film—at least while King was trying to overcome his cocaine addiction. Many of Romero's fans noted that his influence is clearly visible in 'Maximum Overdrive,' for example, in the specific camera angles and the editing. King has never spoken directly on the subject, but mentioned that Romero was constantly present on set and that King himself frequently turned to him for advice.
An accident occurred during filming when a mechanical lawnmower actually went out of control. As a result, operator Armando Nannucci lost an eye. He filed a lawsuit against Stephen King for $18 million. The case was later settled out of court.