A nerdish boy buys a strange car with an evil mind of its own and his nature starts to change to reflect it.A nerdish boy buys a strange car with an evil mind of its own and his nature starts to change to reflect it.A nerdish boy buys a strange car with an evil mind of its own and his nature starts to change to reflect it.
- Awards
- 1 win & 3 nominations total
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Featured reviews
Tense, thrilling, reeking of terror & delivering the goods in a gripping fashion, John Carpenter's Christine is far more engaging & nail-biting than it looks, and appears just as polished today as it did at its time of release. Another impressive yet under-appreciated gem from The Horror Master that's well worthy of its cult following.
I'm not particularly a fan of horror movies and I couldn't fix an ailing automobile if my life depended on it so the workings of cars don't fascinate me.....but this movie fascinated me. The '58 Plymouth Fury, alias "Christine," is absolutely gorgeous. What a piece of machinery!
This is a horror story but there are no ghosts or monsters nor is there any gore. A car is the star of the film, a very jealous and vengeful one at that. Man, that sounds silly but, if you're reading this you have probably watched the movie so no sense going into details. It's hard to describe the story in a paragraph without it sounding stupid....but it's not. Maybe the quickest way to explain it is that it is about a car that is alive, like a human, and you mess with it, you pay!
It is definitely one creepy, well-made, unique and always-entertaining film.
The car is a lot better than any of the people, sad to say. No, I didn't like any of the kids in this film (high schoolers who all look 30 years old!) and the language is a little too rough in spots, but that can be filtered out.
The car, the '50s music, the unique story, the satisfying revenge angle all make this very watchable.
This is a horror story but there are no ghosts or monsters nor is there any gore. A car is the star of the film, a very jealous and vengeful one at that. Man, that sounds silly but, if you're reading this you have probably watched the movie so no sense going into details. It's hard to describe the story in a paragraph without it sounding stupid....but it's not. Maybe the quickest way to explain it is that it is about a car that is alive, like a human, and you mess with it, you pay!
It is definitely one creepy, well-made, unique and always-entertaining film.
The car is a lot better than any of the people, sad to say. No, I didn't like any of the kids in this film (high schoolers who all look 30 years old!) and the language is a little too rough in spots, but that can be filtered out.
The car, the '50s music, the unique story, the satisfying revenge angle all make this very watchable.
John Carpenter adapts Stephen King's novel with skillful precision. A high school kid becomes obsessive in his feelings for a very strange car he has bought. The car is given the name Christine and repays her owner's adoration by "taking care of" his enemies.
It is fun watching Keith Gordon, owner of Christine, go from wimp to self proclaimed stud. Also in the cast are: John Stockwell, Alexandra Paul, Harry Dean Stanton and David Spielberg.
It is super cool watching Christine repair her damaged parts. This is an underrated movie that deserves a repeat viewing.
It is fun watching Keith Gordon, owner of Christine, go from wimp to self proclaimed stud. Also in the cast are: John Stockwell, Alexandra Paul, Harry Dean Stanton and David Spielberg.
It is super cool watching Christine repair her damaged parts. This is an underrated movie that deserves a repeat viewing.
Ah, do I remember the day that I saw Christine, which is disturbing since I was only 6 years old, but my sister said "Do you wanna watch Christine?" and I was confused, my name is Kristine, but she told me about this little horror movie and thanks to her I couldn't go near our family car for a few months. This is a movie that has always stayed with me and still scares the heck out of me when I watch it in the dark. Who knew that even before taking a driver's ed class that cars could scare me? But this isn't just any ordinary car, this is a killer car! This is a car with ghosts in it and you wouldn't like them if you make them angry or try to take their owner away. Christine is the car that you definitely don't wanna mess with, otherwise you may have to face those bright lights and loud rock and roll music, what happens next, you may not wanna know.
Arnie Cunningham, a typical high school nerd with only one friend, a childhood companion named Dennis Guilder, a popular jock. Arnie's life begins to change when he discovers Christine, a red 1958 Plymouth Fury in serious need of repair. Arnie begins to restore Christine to her original beauty, but as he spends more and more of his time repairing her, those in his life notice that he is changing as well. Formerly shy, Arnie develops a cocky arrogance. Dennis, as well as Arnie's new girlfriend Leigh, discover that the car has a deadly past. The previous owner, Roland LeBay, became consumed with Christine and he paid for it with his life. Leigh and Dennis try to save Arnie from a similar fate. They realize that the only way to save Arnie is by destroying Christine. Christine, however, isn't ready to give up Arnie without a fight.
Christine is a classic horror movie that for me will always deliver on the good scares. I still have a hard time watching it. I think the scariest scene for me will always be the last scene where Leigh and Dennis face off with Christine and you see that Arnie just completely gone. I'm honestly shocked that Keith Gordon didn't continue on with his acting career, he just blew me away as Arnie, reading the book I couldn't picture anybody else. He's absolutely incredible. John Stockwell also pulls in a good solid performance as well. This is one of the rare horror movies that is over all very enjoyable and if it doesn't scare you, I still think you will like it, it has a great story and a very good cast and crew. I highly recommend that you see this movie if you get the chance, it's a classic.
8/10
Arnie Cunningham, a typical high school nerd with only one friend, a childhood companion named Dennis Guilder, a popular jock. Arnie's life begins to change when he discovers Christine, a red 1958 Plymouth Fury in serious need of repair. Arnie begins to restore Christine to her original beauty, but as he spends more and more of his time repairing her, those in his life notice that he is changing as well. Formerly shy, Arnie develops a cocky arrogance. Dennis, as well as Arnie's new girlfriend Leigh, discover that the car has a deadly past. The previous owner, Roland LeBay, became consumed with Christine and he paid for it with his life. Leigh and Dennis try to save Arnie from a similar fate. They realize that the only way to save Arnie is by destroying Christine. Christine, however, isn't ready to give up Arnie without a fight.
Christine is a classic horror movie that for me will always deliver on the good scares. I still have a hard time watching it. I think the scariest scene for me will always be the last scene where Leigh and Dennis face off with Christine and you see that Arnie just completely gone. I'm honestly shocked that Keith Gordon didn't continue on with his acting career, he just blew me away as Arnie, reading the book I couldn't picture anybody else. He's absolutely incredible. John Stockwell also pulls in a good solid performance as well. This is one of the rare horror movies that is over all very enjoyable and if it doesn't scare you, I still think you will like it, it has a great story and a very good cast and crew. I highly recommend that you see this movie if you get the chance, it's a classic.
8/10
This is a well made horror/Fantasy picture, John Carpenter directs and puts his talent even into the music score, which is classic Carpenter old school synth based vibe, among also the presence of many 1950's rock n roll classic tracks, to give you a vibe of the car 'Christine' Period of manufacture during the 1950's.
Of course there are a few flaws here and there, but it's a addictive watch, with many modern horrors churned out in recent years which go straight to Netflix streaming service, this 1980's film has a high a look of high production value, especially when comparing it to so many modern digital movies from 2000 onwards. , I love the grain in the film and the non CGI, it has great special effects never the less.
I think it stands up as one of Carpenters better features along with The Thing and Assault on Precinct 13. It's perhaps not quite as good, but still it seems to have aged well. Good fun, if you like a car based film with mind of its own.
Stephen King Movie Adaptations, Ranked
Stephen King Movie Adaptations, Ranked
See how every feature film adaptation of Stephen King's work stacks up, according to IMDb ratings.
Did you know
- Trivia15% of the budget was just on the cars. By the end of filming, all but 2 were destroyed.
- GoofsWhen Christine smashes into the silver Camaro at the gas station, the hood of the Camaro gets knocked off the hinges and twisted sideways. As Christine reverses and drags the Camaro backward, you can see down through the hood that the engine compartment is empty. Minus a transmission, as well.
- Quotes
Arnie Cunningham: Okay... show me.
- Crazy creditsIn the opening credits when the titles are appearing, Christine's engine can be heard.
- Alternate versionsThere was a home video release during the 1980s that was an extended cut which included many of the deleted scenes found on the Special Edition DVD.
- ConnectionsFeatured in At the Movies: Christine/Silkwood/Sudden Impact/Thriller (1983)
- SoundtracksBad To The Bone
Written by George Thorogood
Performed by George Thorogood & The Destroyers (as George Thorogood and The Destroyers)
Courtesy of EMI America Records
Delsound Music
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Languages
- Also known as
- John Carpenter's Christine
- Filming locations
- Calabasas High School - 22855 Mulholland Highway, Calabasas, California, USA(Football game scenes.)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $9,700,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $21,017,849
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $3,408,904
- Dec 11, 1983
- Gross worldwide
- $21,045,763
- Runtime
- 1h 50m(110 min)
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
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