Brandon Sanderson, author of the beloved Cosmere universe, has some strong opinions about the Speed Racer movie.
During Sanderson’s weekly podcast, he and cohost Dan Wells often create different tier lists, and this week’s theme focused on the greatest overlords of all time. Before the two could even get into the ranking of any notorious movie villains, Sanderson made a bold statement about the 2008 Speed Racer movie.
“The movie Speed Racer is unironically a 10 out of 10,” said Sanderson quite emphatically. “This is the Wachowskis at their A game, and it was underappreciated when it came out.”
For reference, the Speed Racer movie is currently sitting at 42% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 6.1 out of 10 on IMDB. Despite these lower scores, IGN’s review of the movie back in 2008 seems to agree with Sanderson by giving it a near-perfect 9 out of 10. Here’s a quick snippet of what Todd Gilchrist thought of the film in our review:
“Overall, this anime adaptation is not merely the best film that it could be, it’s pretty much exactly what it should be: full of exciting, brilliantly-conceived races, primary-color characterizations and an irresistible sense of fun. Loud, fast and always in danger of veering out of control, Speed Racer is a masterpiece of its kind, and a definitive benchmark for film not only as a special effects extravaganza but as the moment when the Wachowskis went from wunderkind directors to true auteurs. In other words, as a summer distraction, a singular work of art or just as sensory overload, Speed Racer is a movie you absolutely must see.”
Sanderson went on to address the poor initial reception of the film by saying, “The reason it did so poorly, I think, is that it was so over the top and its just simple. It’s not like a complicated morals system, It’s a cartoon made live action — but it’s fantastic.”
While the Speed Racer movie only grossed a measly $94 million at the box office back in 2008, it’s had the chance at new life recently thanks to a physical media release. The film received a limited-edition 4K and Blu-ray steelbook earlier this year alongside additional theatrical screenings, and fans supported the new release in droves. The steelbook has long since sold out, but you can still buy the film in 4K for $24.99 at Amazon.
Speed Racer – Limited Edition Steelbook (4K Ultra HD + Digital)
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Jacob Kienlen is a Senior Audience Development Strategist and Writer for IGN. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, he has considered the Northwest his home for his entire life. With a bachelor’s degree in communication and 10 years of professional writing experience, his expertise is spread across a variety of different pop culture topics — from TV series to books and the latest Pokémon games.