When the old owner of a dilapidated used car lot dies due to foul play, his young and ambitious hot-shot salesman and colleagues vow to save the property from falling into the hands of the o... Read allWhen the old owner of a dilapidated used car lot dies due to foul play, his young and ambitious hot-shot salesman and colleagues vow to save the property from falling into the hands of the owner's treacherous brother and used-car rival.When the old owner of a dilapidated used car lot dies due to foul play, his young and ambitious hot-shot salesman and colleagues vow to save the property from falling into the hands of the owner's treacherous brother and used-car rival.
- Awards
- 1 nomination total
- Sam Slaton
- (as Joseph P. Flaherty)
- Stanley Dewoski
- (as Dan Barrows)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
I encourage you men to view this gem with your female significant other even though it's not a "chick flick" like "When Harry Met Sally." If she hates it, dump her for a woman with a sense of humor.
A classic in bad taste, in the best Mel Brooks and Farrelly Brothers fashion--and 50 bucks never killed anyone!
The comedies that year were; 1) "Airplane," 2) "Used Cars" and 3) "How to beat the High Cost of Living." I went and saw film 3, and have regretted not seeing "Used Cars" in the theatre to this day. Some four or five years later when it hit Home Box Office (HBO) I thought I'd die laughing, and was kicking myself even harder for not seeing Robert Zemeckis' film in the theatre some five years before!
"Airplane" took the box office that summer with all of its cheap gags, and "How to Beat the High Cost of Living" spawned the popular "Kate and Ally" TV series. Unfortunately "Used Cars" faded into the background, but saw a well earned and much deserved revival courtesy an HBO airing and home video sales.
"Used Cars" is the comedy those two other films wanted to be, but couldn't. "Used Cars" is a better film with funnier material, better story, more action, and more heart, and will always be remembered as the quintessential 1980's comedy.
You must see "Used Cars," but be cautioned, it's NOT a family comedy. There's lots of swearing, a few strippers, and other "adult" references. Even so, in my personal opinion, it is the funniest film made to date. ENJOY! :-)
My Grade: B+
DVD Extras: Commentary by Robert Zemeckis, Kurt Russell, and Bob Gale; Outtakes; TV spot; 8 Radio spots; Advertising Gallery; filmagraphies; and Trailers for "So I Married an Axe Murderer", "Multiplicity" and "Groundhog Day"
Eye Candy: Deborah Harmon and Cheryl Rixon each get topless
Did you know
- TriviaIn the scene where Roy L. Fuchs (Jack Warden) walks up to Rudy Russo (Kurt Russell) and Jeff (Gerrit Graham) as they are finishing shoveling dirt over the spot where they buried Luke, Graham didn't have any lines and kept pestering Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale for lines. Finally, he just decides to repeat whatever Russell said to Warden. Apparently, Warden was unaware of what Graham was doing, thus his line "What're you? A fuckin' parrot?" It was Warden's genuine annoyance at Graham, which worked so well in the scene that it was included in the final cut.
- GoofsWhen Barbara is in court defending the "mile of cars" accusation, Sam (the "Prosecutor") points out that she already has 25 cars on her lot "according to witnesses". If one mile of cars is 250 cars, and Rudy has "exactly 250 drivers" to drive back the 250 cars he bought from the Mexican, then they are well over the mark with one mile + 25 cars. They didn't have a "one car safety margin," they had a 25-car safety margin.
- Quotes
[President Carter on television]
President Carter: -high inflation. What is the solution?
[Television cuts to the commercial for Luke's yard taking place in Roy's yard]
Jeff: You want the solution to inflation? Hi, friends. Marshall Lucky here for New Deal Used Cars, where we're lowering inflation not only by fighting high prices, not only by murdering high prices, but by blowing the living shit out of high prices. Yes sir. Here's an example. It's a 1972 Cadillac Coupe DeVille, for sixty-two ninety-nine. That price is too high.
[shoots the car]
Jeff: Yes sir. Here's another one. It's a Lincoln Continental, Mark IV, 1973. It's loaded. It's got air conditioning. It's got a stereo. It's got white-wall radial tires. It's got power steering, power brakes, power seats, power windows. And a price that is just too high.
[shoots the car]
Jeff: Yes sir.
[Jim appears on the car behind him in costume]
Jim the Mechanic: YAAAAAAHHHH.
Freddie Paris: [on microphone] Look out, Marshall Lucky. It's High Prices.
Jeff: Take this, you dirty ol' High Prices.
[shoots Jim, who puts on a very convincing act]
Jim the Mechanic: AHHHH. Ya got me Marshall. Ahhhhh...
Jeff: [shocked] Jesus Christ.
[winks at the screen]
Jeff: Yes sir, that's New Deal Used Cars... Now wait just a Goddamn minute. What the hell is this? Is this a 1974 Mercedes 450SL for *twenty-four thousand dollars*? That's too fucking high.
[blows up the car with dynamite. Roy watches at home]
Roy L. Fuchs: You son of a bitch.
Jeff: [laughs] Yes sir. We blew the shit out of that over-priced motherfucker just the way we blow the shit out of *all* high prices, down here at New Deal Used Cars. So y'all come on down. Did you hear what I said? New Deal Used Cars. So y'all come on down. Did you hear what I said?
[Television cuts back to the President]
President Carter: I have heard you, with unmistakable clarity...
Roy L. Fuchs: You son of a bitch.
[kicks the televison and electrocutes himself]
- Alternate versionsCBS edited 7 minutes from this film for its 1985 network television premiere.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Biography: Al Lewis: Forever Grandpa (2000)
- How long is Used Cars?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Also known as
- Carros usados
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $8,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $11,715,321
- Gross worldwide
- $11,715,321
- Runtime1 hour 53 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1