User reviews

I had absolutely no idea what to expect from Twisted Metal since I never played the game. All I could go by was the trailer and it made it look like it was going to be a fun show to watch. Well, this show it only met my expectations but surpassed them. I've really enjoyed it so far. Anthony Mackie does a great job as the lead in this and the supporting actors/actresses also all do a pretty good job making this show worthy of watching. Some of it's ridiculous, but it's suppose to be. Just turn your brain off and you'll have a good time watching this. I love that they released all 10 episodes at the same time because this series is best watched binged. The episodes are only about 30min long so you can binge the 10 episode first season pretty quick.

I don't know what people are looking for here, but definitely it's not an Emmy's award winner, not a deep and twisted script series. Take it for what is it: a fun ride!

First, the cast is great. Didn't expect Sidney Prescott here! (Scream), or people from Mayans MC. Most of the main characters do an acceptable job here. Love it.

Second, Fx's are pretty cool. Good point the blood does look real most of the time, so great for gory fans like me.

Last, music is great. As other said the music fits perfectly with the action and goofy-gory scenes.

So, overall a great series just for entertainment. I didn't know it is based in a video game and I think you don't need to know anything to enjoy. But I think it's even better if you know about it. Consequently, if you're in a mood of short episodes (30 min) of a goofy gory action series, go for it.

Twisted Metal is absolutely bananas but it works. It's one of the more entertaining new shows that I've seen this year. You can't really compare it to anything since there's never been anything quite like it. The series is based off a PlayStation game of the same name. It's about a quirky outsider (Anthony Mackie) who's offered a chance at a better life if he can deliver a mysterious package across a post apocalyptic world all the while by being chased by a bunch of different violent maniacs trying to stop him. He's helped from a badass car thief (Stephanie Beatriz) who is the perfect sidekick for him.

A fun romping stomping show, based on a videogame series (which I didn't know going into it) so was clueless as to what it was but with a good crew it was worth a try. I just finished binging all 10 episodes in one sitting, so this deserves a solid 9/10 from me.

It had minimal downtime, basically a hoot to watch, and the actors did a great job, especially the character Sweet Tooth, voiced by Will Arnett while embodied by Joe Seanoa, a wwe wrestler wearing a clown mask. He easily stole every scene he was in.

The cgi and action scenes could have been better, but you can't expect MCU 200 million dollar budget effects from a TV show based on a video game, so with the budget they had they did well enough that it didn't feel to o campy.

Certainly recommend giving it a go.

As a fan of the original games, I wasn't sure what this is going to be & the trailers were absolutely awful. They need to demote the marketing people for that.

This is surprisingly good, has a decent plot, good characters & true to games to a good extent.

Started first episode & I was hooked. Of course having Stefanie Beatriz & Thomas Haden Church makes it even better. Two of my favorite comedy actors.

It has decent car action sequences, weird good comedy & interesting characters.

If you are the fan of games or just looking for a fun new series, I highly recommend Twisted Metal series. Hope it gets renewed.

Watched it without any expectations and this definitely turned out to be a decent watch, Sweet tooth was a standout character and one of the most twisted, violent clown performance of the recent time. Detective Diaz and Falcon were good too. There are some loose ends but yeah this really was a fun watch. It was good to see backstory of every significant character, they kept the backstory short to not exaggerate and make things boring. Felt all the action was reserved for sweet tooth and the milkman opening short, other than that the two main characters were deprived of action, wanted to see more action from those two. Hope they confirm the second season with more action on the platter.

Season 2 update!

There are a lot of fantastic shows and movies since Twisted Metal debut, including other shows that have since improved greatly (cough cough Foundation cough), AND YET!!! Somehow Twisted Metal has upped the ante in its zaniness and fun adventuring.

They've introduced a few characters I figured they'd COMPLETELY ignore because of how ridiculous they are (Axel is a prime candidate, I could not believe he was in this show with game-accuracy!). This is still one of the most enjoyable, fun shows (or even movies) of recent times! Give it a chance and push past the first few episodes and see if it hooks you.

-See below for Season 1-

Season 1: This feels like a show from a bygone era: Locally made no-budget B-movies that somehow manage to be bad yet somehow great too?

The shots are flat, oversaturated, uninteresting, and often ugly. The effects are bad and shockingly subpar for today. The plot is predictable (though it does manage a few surprises). The world is about as big as a postage stamp. It looks cheaply made. Most of the acting is pretty 'whoever they could round up locally for their b-movie' level... even though it stars Anthony Mackie.

HOWEVER! It has charm. The driving chase/fighting scenes are real cars in real places being driven by real drivers. The locations are real locations that actually exist in the world and not only inside a computer. The humor is pretty spot-on for the material and quality of the show, which means the goofiness fits the end-product show. Theres a half-naked maniacal clown who drives an ice cream truck with machine guns who lusts for destruction.

By no means is this a show for everyone. Its based on an "edgy" PS1 game about cars blowing each other up with zany drivers. I dont know how they sqeezed this decent of a show. Its ridiculous and it shouldnt work, but nevertheless its good silly fun.

For a TV show based off of a video game series it really isn't that bad. There are quite a few references to the video game and others if you know them otherwise the references just fit into the shows dialogue. It's not the worse adaptation I've seen it's actually one of the better ones. They did a good job adding things from the game that people will recognize. It is a show not just for fans of the game series but also for new fans. The casting was done really well. The ending was the only thing that brought the score down for me. I think if they added one or two more episodes it would have been great.

The character of Quiet is written so poorly it almost makes it unwatchable. Clearly she's competent but she is constantly doing so many stupid things and creating problems that it's impossible to like her. The acting is fine; it's 100% the writing.

The overall concept is surprisingly good. The acting by the primaries is really good across the board and the CGI is acceptable for what this is. I'd like to see more seasons but only if they fix the inconsistent writing. Arnett/Samoa Joe kill it as Sweet Tooth.

Another thing I found surprising is this is more character and story driven than it is reliant on the car combat the game series is known for. The car combat that does exist is pretty cool.

Started this show with the idea that it would be a big bright colorful background noise. I was pleasantly surprised. I was very well aware of the game growing up but not being a PlayStation owner I didn't have much excitement for this show as I wouldn't have the slightest clue for what was happening. Listen if you've got a few days (or hours if you're a binge freak) and want something fun this is your show. If you take things too serious than look the other way.

Positives: Great characters. Great pace. A few good laughs. 2000's Nostalgia music

Negatives: a few minor plot holes that make you scratch your head.

Set two decades after the catastrophic event known as "the fall," in which the collapse of electronic infrastructure triggered widespread chaos and societal breakdown, the narrative unfolds in a world where cities have isolated themselves behind fortified walls, functioning as autonomous city-states. Meanwhile, those outside the city walls engage in constant battles for control over resources and territories. Facilitating the transport of essential goods between these isolated cities are daring "Milkmen" drivers who navigate treacherous roads, fending off scavengers and marauding gangs. Our focus centers on one such Milkman, an individual suffering from amnesia, identified as John Doe (portrayed by Anthony Mackie). A transformative opportunity arises when Raven (Neve Campbell), the Chief Operating Officer of New San Francisco, offers John the chance to secure citizenship in her city. The task is clear: retrieve a crucial package from New Chicago and deliver it within a strict 10-day timeframe. As John embarks on this journey towards the east, his path unexpectedly intersects with Quiet (Stephanie Beatriz), a wanderer driven by a thirst for revenge after her brother's tragic demise by the hands of a self-appointed enforcer named Agent Stone (Thomas Haden Church).

"Twisted Metal" emerges as a screen adaptation of the renowned Sony Playstation game series that shares its title. Debuting in 1995 and continuing until its most recent significant release in 2012, this gaming franchise is now brought to life under the aegis of Sony's Playstation Productions. This venture marks the third successful adaptation following the Uncharted film and The Last of Us TV series. Translating the essence of the game, the series remains true to the extravagantly frenetic action inherent to "Twisted Metal," effortlessly channeling the premise into a breathless, adrenaline-pumping, post-apocalyptic escapade.

The on-screen chemistry between Anthony Mackie's John Doe and Stephanie Beatriz's Quiet is undeniably solid. Their dynamic journey, oscillating between antagonism, convenient partnership, and rekindled discord, is deftly portrayed without ever growing tiresome. Despite the initial abrasiveness of Quiet's character, her evolution is skillfully managed in the early episodes. Both characters serve as relatable anchors in the midst of the chaotic world they inhabit, allowing the lunacy around them to be showcased more vividly. The series excels in its inclusion of other characters, intricately weaving them into the narrative. Memorable personas such as Preacher, Granny Dread, Agent Stone, and Sweet Tooth are presented in unique and entertaining scenarios. A standout is Sweet Tooth, masterfully brought to life by Samoa Joe's physical presence and Will Arnett's voice acting, creating a compelling insane clown character that distinguishes itself within the realm of such archetypes, offering a blend of impeccable comedic timing and disturbingly intense violence.

"Twisted Metal" starkly contrasts the tone of "The Last of Us." This series revels in audacious and irreverent storytelling, reminiscent of a blend between "Shoot 'em Up" and "Hell Comes to Frogtown." The show constructs a world brimming with morbid humor and unapologetic violence, crafting a distinct atmosphere of lunacy and brutality. While my familiarity with the source material is not extensive, I surmise that devoted fans will discover much to savor in this presentation, eagerly anticipating the promised second season with zeal.

When I heard Peacock was going to have an exclusive series Twisted Metal, based on the beloved video game series. I didn't have high hopes. The trailer left me feeling like it looked ok, but would probably still be a let down. Just some cheap script they made to try and cash in on something.

But I was wrong. The series is great! Alot for us Twisted Metal fans and alot for newcomers. They did a good job at turning a videogame series about car fighting into a series, with people on top of it. There were people in the video games of course but just characters, you just drove their cars.

I will say this series is NOT meant to be serious or deep. It's just a fun entertaining ride of adult mayhem. Cars, guns, gore, language, action...etc. I'm only a few episodes in and loving it!

I'll change my review later if for some reason the show becomes terrible. To note, you really don't need to know anything about Twisted Metal games to watch this.

-now finished series- Finished the last episode and can say yes, the whole season was great. No spoilers but there was alot of reveals in the last two episodes when it comes to famous TM stuff. The final episode felt much like a actual TM battle.

The series does have some pretty cheesy moments. But it seems to work in favor of it. I know they greenlit a season 2, I hope we get introduced to more characters/cars.

While the show mainly focuses on the characters, there is just enough TM content that keeps us fans invested. And if you don't know TM lore, you probably will get all the exciting things you see. You will enjoy them, but the reveal may not mean as much to you.

This all said I wouldn't mind if they toned down the cheesiness just a bit. While the show can be dark, I'd like it even darker. Twisted Metal Black had a very dark nature to it. Maybe next season they will get into the darker lore. Granted so far the series is filled with violence, gore, language so its NOT for kids in anyways.

Oh and hint... next season will be more like TM then you realize.... ;)

I don't know the video game, so I can only rate it on what it is. A wild ride, quite foul mouthed, lots of gore at times, and quite a memorable performance by Sweet Tooth, and Stone, the lawman who wants to impose his will on the 'outsiders'. Because the grid went down, there are enclaves behind walls where the well-to-do thrive, and lawlessness everywhere else. John Doe is a 'milkman' making paid deliveries from one point to another. And milkmen usually have a very short life span. He takes on a delivery job that requires him to travel from New San Francisco to New Chicago and back, and has 10 days to do it. Not easy. But a lot of fun to watch. And if a person is easily offended by some of the language or scenes, why are they watching it? If one forgets everything else, one will remember Sweet Tooth. It is so over the top at times, impossible to take much of it seriously. It leaves things open to a Season 2.

Season 1: 7 stars (2 viewings, 7/29/2023, 7/31/2025)

HELL YEAH! This show is beastly and hilarious.

For perspective, I know very little about the Twisted Metal games. I've played it a few times when visiting a friend, but I never owned the game myself. And this was about 25 years ago. The only thing I remembered was it involves armed vehicles.

I went in with low expectations given the terrible history of video game movies/shows. But we have been on a good streak lately (Sonic 1/2, Mario, Gran Turismo). And I'm ecstatic to say that the streak continues with Twisted Metal.

It hooked me immediately. I love the tone and over-the-top nature. I love that it doesn't hold back with the violence and blood. I love all the comedic attempts, with so many of them being memorable. I love the two leads, I didn't know Mackie could play funny/slightly goofy.

But the thing I loved the most, and it's not even close, is SWEET TOOTH!!!! He's so awesome. I've never liked clowns. Never been scared of them. Just never saw the appeal. So for me to like him this much is saying a lot. The show is elevated every time he's on screen.

At first I couldn't tell who was voicing him. I kept wondering, who is the actor fully bringing this character to life? Who is the one making this sadistic psychopath so likeable? Of course, it's Will Arnett. What a beast. He's able to bring so much to the table with his voice, as we've already seen with his performances as Lego Batman and BoJack Horseman.

(EDIT: I should have my Nolan card revoked for forgetting about Joker in The Dark Knight. But I never really saw him as a clown. He's more like an endlessly intriguing character who dresses like a clown. But if you include him, Sweet Tooth would be second.)

This show is highly efficient. It doesn't meander. It does so much with so little time. Most shows these days are terrible at that, especially streaming ones. I also love the song selections on this soundtrack. Some are late 90's/early 2000's songs I love and still listen to. Others are songs I haven't heard in decades. The choices seem odd but all work. Never in a million years would I have thought a scene playing the Thong Song would give me goosebumps.

In conclusion, YES and GIVE ME MORE!

EDIT: On second viewing, it didn't hit as hard. I still enjoyed it but not as enthusiastically as the first time. Changing season 1 rating from 8 to 7 stars.

Season 2: 3 stars (1 viewing, 8/28/2025)

Wow. What a nosedive. I hated this season. I had to force myself to finish it. I can't explain exactly why, but here are a few things that contributed.

-For a game where they're meant to kill each other, the frequently don't. And I'm not talking about the ones that are friends. So much of this season doesn't make sense in general.

-They jumped the shark with how goofy it is. Vermin is the best example. Horrible.

-In season 1, Sweet Tooth was menacing and beastly. In this season he's unintimidating and kind of a joke.

-In this hell of a post-apocalyptic world, so many of the characters are good guys, working towards a righteous end. The show feels more nice than sadistic. We already have thousands of shows/movies with righteous characters. This should lean way heavier on the sadistic side.

I'm so bummed. The only standout positive is the look of some of the car battles with cool colors, lightning, etc. I'll probably try season 3, but I'm not confident we'll get one after such a drastic nosedive.

This is a fantastic adaptation of the Twisted Metal series from Playstation. By the way, other video game adaptations should take note, this is a series done correctly. It doesn't take itself too seriously, it doesn't try to do anything over the top. And it doesn't spend endless time trying to explain why things are what they are. They just go for it, hard and fast. I loved it. They finally made a series that was true not only to the spirit of the games, but also to feel.

The story revolves around a guy named John Doe, and a girl named Quiet(at least for now). They meet in the wasteland of a world where the only real stable places are cities surrounded by walls. Between those cities is no mans land where everyone basically tries to kill everyone else. However that's where the "milkmen" come in, they're drivers who deliver packaged between the walled cities. And so the story begins.

10/10 this adaptation did everything right, good cast, good crew, good plot. I haven't seen a series get this much right in a while, and to think they actually did it with a video game adaptation, that's impressive.

Had a couple slow episodes and definitely some changes to the characterization from the games that take some getting used to, but overall they did an awesome job and did a great job with casting. I had a blast matching up characters with their videogame counterparts.

The only major gripe I had was none of the characters sported their 'special weapons'. Hopefully with the way they teased Season 2 this will be more of a thing going forward.

Also ready for more awesome music. They did a great job with the soundtrack. Fizzled a bit in the middle, but the beginning and end episodes got hard and fast.

Im not sure what people are expecting from a twisted metal TV show but this delivered pretty close to what anyone could hope for.

There are plenty of characters from the game represented, they may not be carbon copies of the games story but that would've been impossible. They essentially had to turn Death Race into a 10 episode series with slightly more in depth characters. I'd say they accomplished that.

The season does start off slow but if you manage to make it to the last two episodes it delivers what most could expect. There's little story involved in the twisted metal games, and I think this shows only detriment is that it ignores the storylines the games do present.

And an entertaining one at that. By messed up, I mean fun. I enjoyed just about every character, especially Sweet Tooth. I never played the games, but I would got excited every time he was on screen. Agent Stone and his entire force were honestly the most forgettable parts for me. I am really hoping for a season 2 so we can get that tournament. I really can't say anything more without spoiling anything and I really don't want to.

Oh, if you do decide to watch all the way through; don't make the same mistake I did and leave during the credits of the last episode. There is a end credits scene. Have fun!

What a delightful surprise "Twisted Metal" is. Knowing nothing about it aside from it being based on a wacky 90's video game, I expected some lowbrow jokes and gallows humour. Thankfully, it completely obliterated my expectations.

One of the show's biggest strengths is that it has some absolutely brilliant writing. I'm not surprised Sean Diston is one of the writers on the show - the film has some of his subversive style in its soul, (the podcast that he hosts with Scott Aukerman on "Scott Hasn't Seen" is a must for film and comedy lovers). And the always charismatic and exceptional Anthony Mackie, along with the chameleon-like devotion Stephanie Beatriz puts into her acting, are all stunning. The soundtrack, sound editing, even the mixing are all dynamic, booming and right on point. Every zig zag this series takes, ends up right on track.

All in all, this is a visually colourful, explosive, hilarious, surprisingly heartfelt and absolutely enjoyable action-comedy that has just the right mix of action, drama, characterization, backstory and flat out enjoyable characters. Will Arnett/Samoa Joe are a delight; going absolutely insane, in a Jack Nicholson-in-Batman type of performance. Thomas Haden Church is a devilishly cruel, memorable villain, and Mike Mitchell is, unsurprisingly, fantastic. He gives his character complexity and enough heart to make the audience truly care about who he's playing. As do the rest of the cast.

This is the rare moment when a lot of perfect elements all meet up to make something special. This is a heavy metal drenched, post apocalyptic, ridiculous, soaringly funny, video game adaptation that takes its premise and does truly inventive and interesting things with it. Not only is the season's overarching plot and writing stellar, but so is the acting, cinematography, editing and everything else.

Also, as horrifying and disturbing as this vision of the near future is - it also has moments of wholesome goodness - amongst mountains of gore. It's like a "happy horror" film. Is that a thing?

It is now.

Season 1 of Twisted Metal was all right, John Doe was a serviceable main character who was elevated by the likes of Sweet Tooth who is fantastic, Agent Stone who was cool and compelling, and the holy men and Raven who were ok as well. Then we enter season 2, oh boy, the writing for season 2 is terrible; at least for John and Quiet.

So much contrivances and cringe acting where John gets emasculated by Quiet, or Raven or Mayhem or some other lady all too often just kills his character for me and makes him a drag to watch for the remainder of the show.

Outside of John and Quiet however things are still all right, Mr Grimm comes along and finally Calypso is revealed and the actor does a wonderful job even if he's not what I expected at first.

After finishing season 2 though I can't say I'm excited for season 3, the main characters are just not good and it's only a small of sum of side characters who were carrying this show along for me. I was also disappointed with Calypso's so called final boss, I was expecting something resembling an actual Twisted Metal boss; not whatever bland idea the writers presented here.

Unless the writing seriously improves I think this will be as far as I can go, the action and occasionally the comedy can only go so far. Better characters are required!! Or a new focus on more interesting ones.

Somoa Joe was incredible as sweet tooth, just awesome! The whole show is just a fun watch and a blast of nostalgia for any OG Twisted Metal fans. My only gripe is Quiet, she sucks. Not a fan of her or the way they wrote her character, very un-likable with go Away heat. Also, I don't like how John Doe couldn't parallel park even tho he's supposed to be some expert car driver, this was kinda silly. All in all though it's a very fun and fast watch, something you can put on and not have to pay attention to every word in order to understand it. Anthony Mackie is great just like he always is and I already can't wait for a season 2!

Twisted Metal is one of my favorites. Me and the people I grew up with reference or just bring up the OG ones on Playstation one because it stuck with Gen X and millennial gamers back in the 90s. I had my concerns about how this series was going to turn out because it had to be violent, full of explosions, blood, guts, bullets, rockets, etc. So it needed to be a Michael Bay film with a dark plot. It's not the exact plot of what I thought it would be, but I am liking it. The show is set in 2005 and full of all kinds of turn of the century nostalgia. Anthony Mackie is even doing a 90s Will Smith with his character and it's a lot of fun. It's got a mix of Fallout, Mad Max, The Postman, and of course Twisted Metal.

Twisted Metal" revives the adrenaline-fueled chaos of the iconic PlayStation game into a gripping TV series. Anthony Mackie's portrayal of the enigmatic driver Jon Doe is electric, capturing his character's sinister charm flawlessly. With stunning visuals, intense action sequences and a great soundtrack, the show stays true to the game's essence. Each episode delves into the dark pasts of contestants, adding depth to the narrative. The incorporation of classic vehicles and familiar arenas from the game is a nostalgic treat for fans. Despite some pacing issues, the series maintains a thrilling momentum throughout, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats. "Twisted Metal" successfully translates the gaming experience into a compelling television format, offering a wild ride for both fans and newcomers alike. A particular highlight is the 2 actor portrayal of sweet tooth voiced by Will Arnett and physically acted by the hulking Samoa Joe. Looking forward to a second season.

Season one was awesome, it was fun with good action and interesting characters. Season two is complete garbage.

What happened? Season two feels more like a teenage high-school drama complete with angst.

The lackluster action and when it hits it's just 'meh' feels like they focused more on feelings and talking and sulking and some cringe dialogue here and there.

Gotta play it safe i guess so no one gets offended and triggered.. sigh.

I've been waiting for Twisted Metal to premiere for a long time. I was not disappointed. This show starts off strong and ends strong. It's entertaining and the story is relatable. No one wants to be alone.

I don't understand the bad reviews. It's a good show. Take it for what it is, fun and interesting. I don't care if it's like the video game or not, it doesn't have to be. If you like post apocalyptic shows this one is for you. I do wish the show delved into what happened before, but I understand that's not what it's about. I'm excited for a second season, just annoyed it will probably take a year or more. I hate waiting.