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Used Cars
1980 113 min United States of America R 16+
★6.9
Comedy
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Trailers
Description
When the owner of a struggling used car lot is killed, it's up to the lot's hot-shot salesman to save the property from falling into the hands of the owner's ruthless brother and used-car rival.
Budget:
$8M
US Gross:
$11.72M
Worldwide:
$11.72M
Starring
Kurt Russell
Actor
Jack Warden
Actor
Gerrit Graham
Actor
Awards
1 nomination total
Key opinion
Used Cars is recognized as a sharp, cynical satire that effectively skewers American capitalism through Robert Zemeckis's signature kinetic style. While many viewers praise its grotesque humor and clever subversion of industry tropes, others find the comedy dated and the narrative formulaic.
| Theme | The film functions as a biting and intelligent satire of American capitalist greed and cut-throat entrepreneurial tactics. | |
| Direction | Robert Zemeckis showcases his early virtuosity, establishing a dynamic, energetic directorial style that foreshadows his future successes. | |
| Acting | Kurt Russell anchors the film with a charismatic performance that successfully embodies the character of a sharp, scheming salesman. | |
| Humor | The film’s humor divides viewers; some find it a hilariously edgy and absurd classic, while others view the gags as tired, dated, and unoriginal. | |
| Screenplay | The plot polarizes audiences, with some praising its complex, genre-defying trajectory and others dismissing the narrative as an unremarkable and predictable formula. |