Summary
- Watching the Death Race movies in order is improved when following the story continuity, as it illustrates the rise and fall of the original Frankenstein.
- However, the films can also be enjoyed as self-contained adventures, making them great standalone action films.
- For those looking to avoid weaker entries, watching the movies in release order would be preferable.
Watching the Death Race movies in order is no easy task, as the beloved exploitation franchise has been split into two different continuities over the years. Starting with the release of Roger Corman's sci-fi carsploitation classic Death Race 2000 in 1975, the dystopian franchise has seen plenty of twisted metal and high-octane thrills even as it was split into distinct continuities that have totally diverged. Noted for its bleak outlook on the future, and exciting car stunts, the Death Race movies deliver on pulse-pounding car action no matter which filmmaker is behind the wheel.
While none of them have been particularly well-received by critics, the original 1975 hit was yet another gem from Roger Corman's New World Pictures which gave fledgling actor/director Paul Bartel his first big break. Unflinching with its over-the-top cheese, the charm of the Death Race movies continued even into the remakes, and they were given a grittier facelift to match the tone of the 2000s. Certainly one of the best deadly game movies in cinema history, Death Race shines because of its unique sci-fi tone that inspired other dystopian action films that followed like the ever-popular Mad Max franchise.
Death Race Movies In Order By Release Date
- Death Race 2000 (1975)
- Death Race (2008)
- Death Race 2 (2010)
- Death Race 3: Inferno (2013)
- Death Race 2050 (2017)
- Death Race: Beyond Anarchy (2018)
Death Race 2000 (1975)
When watching the Death Race movies in order, the Roger Corman-produced Death Race 2000 is where the entire dystopian franchise began. The year 2000 is a dystopian nightmare where the annual bloody Transcontinental Road Race is the most popular form of entertainment and sees drivers like the masked man Frankenstein (David Carradine) compete in the deadly marathon across the country. Despite its obvious shoestring budget, director Paul Bartel squeezed every ounce of excitement and satire he could out of the story and delivered a genuinely gripping story. Death Race 2000 posed more questions than answers and was a great example of sci-fi that left the viewer wanting to know more.
Death Race (2008)
Decades after the release of the first film, 2008's Death Race arrived to reboot the 1970s classic with a thoroughly modern upgrade. Accomplished racer Jensen Ames (Jason Statham) is framed for murder but given the opportunity to compete in the annual Death Race as the mysterious Frankenstein to earn his freedom. The straight-to-video movie certainly upped the ante but left much to be desired in the way of satire or thoughtful screenwriting. Director Paul W.S. Anderson's movie delivered his usual action fare, and 2008's Death Race reset the series' continuity which allowed for a handful of sequels.
Death Race 2 (2010)
Coming hot on the heels of its predecessor, Death Race 2 is a prequel to the first film and explores the origins of the legendary Frankenstein character. Carl Lucas (Luke Goss) is sent to prison for killing a police officer, but is given the chance to win his way out by entering the Death Race competition. Lucas was seen dying at the beginning of Death Race, and the story of the sequel was an interesting look at how Frankenstein came to be. Despite notable names like Sean Bean, Lauren Cohan, Ving Rhames, and Danny Trejo, Death Race 2 was a surprisingly flat film that didn't build upon the first film.
Death Race 3: Inferno (2013)
Death Race is a remake of the classic film, Death Race 2 is a prequel to said remake, and Death Wish 3: Inferno is a sequel to the prequel. With only one Death Race victory between him and his freedom, Frankenstein (Goss) faces his deadliest challenge yet as he competes in the desert of South Africa. Inferno's streamlined approach to the story was a massive improvement, and it bore a striking resemblance to the Mad Max movies with its desert setting and almost constant action. While the third Death Race movie was anything but perfect, it finally realized the potential of the Carl Lucas character.
Death Race 2050 (2017)
Even amidst the Death Race remake series, Roger Corman returned to the roots of the franchise and delivered a long-awaited sequel the form of Death Race 2050. Set decades after the first movie, Frankenstein (Manu Bennett) competes in the annual Death Race but doesn't know that his co-pilot is a rebel spy who plans to bring the whole thing down. By adding the satire back into the equation, Death Race 2050 took cues from the original and was not influenced by the remakes. While it was still noticeably cheap, Death Race 2050 took elements of the best car movies and supercharged them with plenty of campy fun.
Death Race: Beyond Anarchy (2018)
Not to be deterred by the return of the original continuity, 2018's Death Race: Beyond Anarchy finally continued the story of the remake series after the events of the 2008 film. The new warden of The Sprawl prison complex declares Death Race illegal and sends in Connor Gibson (Zach McGowan) to take down the legendary champion known as Frankenstein (Velislav Pavlov). Beyond Anarchy scored points for trying something new, and it shifted the focus away from Frankenstein which was an interesting twist. Ultimately though, the final film in the Death Race remake continuity didn't feel big enough to be the ending of the dystopian franchise.
Death Race Movies In Chronological Order
Original Continuity:
- Death Race 2000 (1975)
- Death Race 2050 (2017)
Remake Continuity:
- Death Race 2 (2010)
- Death Race 3: Inferno (2013)
- Death Race (2008)
- Death Race: Beyond Anarchy (2018)
Unlike many film franchises which jump through time, watching the Death Race movies in order is actually improved upon when ignoring the release timeline and following the story continuity. Obviously, the original Roger Corman duology is rather straightforward and only moves linearly, but the Death Race remake series jumps back and forth through time on several occasions. The Death Race experience is heightened when watching the movies in chronological order because the story truly illustrates the rise and fall of the original Frankenstein, which informs the later movies.
However, if one were to watch the Death Race movies in order based on the release dates, the films are scripted in such a way that little is lost when not having seen them in the story order. Like many post-apocalyptic stories, each Death Race film is a self-contained adventure, and they can each makes for a great stand-alone action film on their own. Considering how lackluster a few of the entries are, a release order viewing would be preferable for those looking to avoid some of the weaker entries in the franchise.