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MONEY
Did you know
Shot for just $1.8M β micro-budget by Hollywood standards.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#01
Roadgames
"The truck driver plays games. The hitchhiker plays games. And the killer is playing the deadliest game of all!"
1981 1h 41m EN
π
6.5
SOLID
π₯
92%
CERTIFIED FRESH
π
71
METACRITIC
β
6.6
IMDB
β
6.5TMDB Β· 224π
92%Rotten Tomatoesβ71Metacriticβ
6.6IMDB Β· 11,133
MysteryThrillerHorror
Synopsis
Spoiler shield
A truck driver plays a cat-and-mouse game with a mysterious serial killer in a van who lures young female hitchhiker victims on a desolate Australian highway.
βThe truck driver plays games. The hitchhiker plays games. And the killer is playing the deadliest game of all!β
Where to watch Β· US
Cast
Stacy Keach
Patrick 'Pat' Quid
Jamie Lee Curtis
Pamela 'Hitch' Rushworth
Marion Edward
Madeleine 'Frita' Day
Grant Page
Smith or Jones
Thaddeus Smith
Policeman 'Abbott'
Steve Millichamp
Policeman 'Costello'
Alan Hopgood
Lester
John Murphy
Benny Balls
Credits
Behind the camera
- Director
- Richard Franklin
- Writers
- Everett De Roche, Everett De Roche, Richard Franklin
- Languages
- English
- Countries
- Australia
Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.
Did you know?
Fun facts πΏ
2 / 8
MONEY
Did you know
Earned back only 6% of its budget on initial theatrical β a commercial disappointment on release.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#02
3 / 8
ERA
Did you know
45 years old β old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#03
4 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Directed by Richard Franklin, shot by Vincent Monton. Note their partnership β DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#04
5 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Original score by Brian May. Worth a dedicated listen after β most great films lose half their impact without the score.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#05
6 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Editor Edward McQueen-Mason shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#06
7 / 8
CAST
Did you know
Stacy Keach and Jamie Lee Curtis and Marion Edward carry the top of the cast.
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#07
8 / 8
FACT
Did you know
Marketing tagline: "The truck driver plays games. The hitchhiker plays games. And the killer is playing the deadliest game of all!".
MoodPlayr Β· trivia#08
Cinephile deep dive
The take
Richard Franklin directs. Vincent Monton behind the camera. Brian May scores. Edward McQueen-Mason cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in Australia. Dialogue in English.
Trivia
Things worth knowing
- 1Shot for just $1.8M β micro-budget by Hollywood standards.
- 2Earned back only 6% of its budget on initial theatrical β a commercial disappointment on release.
- 345 years old β old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
- 4Directed by Richard Franklin, shot by Vincent Monton. Note their partnership β DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
- 5Original score by Brian May. Worth a dedicated listen after β most great films lose half their impact without the score.
- 6Editor Edward McQueen-Mason shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
- 7Stacy Keach and Jamie Lee Curtis and Marion Edward carry the top of the cast.
- 8Marketing tagline: "The truck driver plays games. The hitchhiker plays games. And the killer is playing the deadliest game of all!".
- 9IMDB entry: tt0083000 β still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
- 10Released under 19 different titles around the world.
The technical file
- Cinematography
- Vincent Monton
- Original score
- Brian May
- Editing
- Edward McQueen-Mason
- Production design
- Jon Dowding
- Costume design
- Aphrodite Kondos
- Makeup / hair
- Lois Hohenfels
- Sound
- Robert W. Glass Jr.
- Stunt coordinator
- Grant Page
- Runtime
- 101 min Β· 1h 41m
- Aspect ratio (typical)
- 1.37:1 (Academy)
- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $1,750,000
- Box office
- $100,000
- Return
- 6% of budget
- Original language
- EN
- Certification (US)
- PG
- IMDB
- Roadgames (1981)
- Rotten Tomatoes
- 92% π Fresh
- Metacritic
- 71/100
- IMDB rating
- 6.6/10 Β· 11,133 votes
- MPAA
- PG
Awards
6 nominations total
Also by
Richard Franklin
Stills Β· wallpapers
Selected frames
Full-resolution frames β open one to save it as a wallpaper.
Trailers & featurettes
Watch the pieces
Community reviews
What people are saying
- JPV852β 5/10
Uneven suspense-thriller does feature a fine performance from Stacy Keach but otherwise pretty disappointing as I normally enjoy these sorts of thrillers. Also has characters making bizarre, though luckily ultimately correct choices... 2.75/5
Production companies
Who made it
- ES
Essaness Pictures
- GU
GUO
AU
- QU
Quest Productions
Key crew
- ProducerRichard Franklin
- Executive ProducerBernard Schwartz
- EditorEdward McQueen-Mason
- Production DesignJon Dowding
- Original StoryEverett De Roche
- Original StoryRichard Franklin
- Assistant DirectorTom Burstall
- Assistant DirectorRobert Kewley
- Assistant DirectorJames Parker
- PropsNick Hepworth
- Assistant Art DirectorHarry Zettel
- Sound Re-Recording MixerRobert W. Glass Jr.
- Sound Re-Recording MixerRobert Thirlwell
- Sound Re-Recording MixerJohn Wilkinson
- GripKarel Akkerman
- ElectricianDaryl Binning
- Assistant CameraDavid Brostoff
- Assistant CameraPhil Cross
- ElectricianTony Holtham
- Camera OperatorLouis Irving
- Second Unit CinematographerLouis Irving
- Second Unit CinematographerEric Lomas
- GripGraeme Mardell
- Still PhotographerJim Townley
Themes & keywords
What it's about, really
- australia
- truck
- serial killer
- hitchhiker
- truck driver
- suspenseful
Release history Β· US
When it landed
- Theatrical1981-11-19PG
Also known as
International titles
- Road GamesUS
- Carretera mortalES
- Convoy en peligroMX
- Truck Driver - Gejagt von einem SerienkillerDE
- Enigma na EstradaBR
- Jogos na EstradaBR
- DΓ©viation MortelleCA
- Lift Γ₯t dΓΆdenFI
- Kuolema kyydissΓ€FI
- Antipaloi tis asfaltouGR
- Truck Drivers, oi antipaloi tis asfaltouGR
- O dolofonos tis asfaltouGR
- O Asfalto do MedoPT
- ΠΠΎΡΠΎΠΆΠ½ΡΠ΅ ΠΈΠ³ΡΡSU
- Juegos de carreteraES
