Days of Thunder 1990

Days of Thunder is a 1990 American sports action drama film produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Tony Scott. Robert Towne wrote the screenplay based on a story he co-wrote with Tom Cruise. The film stars Cruise, Robert Duvall, Randy Quaid, Michael Rooker, Nicole Kidman and Cary Elwes. It also features appearances by real life NASCAR racers, such as Richard Petty, Rusty Wallace, Neil Bonnett, and Harry Gant. Commentator Dr. Jerry Punch, of ESPN, has a cameo appearance, as does co-producer Don Simpson. Days of Thunder was released in the United States on June 27, 1990, by Paramount Pictures. The film received mixed reviews from critics, who praised its racing sequences, Hans Zimmer's musical score, and the performances of Cruise and Duvall, but criticized its lack of originality compared to Scott's previous film Top Gun, and grossed $157.9 million worldwide against a production budget of $60 million. The film has made a large cult following to NASCAR fans over the years. As of November 2024, a sequel is in development.