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‘Days of Thunder’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Kyle Brandt

March 18, 2025 · Days of Thunder (1990) · Action · Drama · Sport · 2:03:15 · ▶ Listen on Spotify

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Bill Simmons▶ 6:13Simpson/Bruckheimer had $300 million Paramount deal for 5 movies; budget officially $65 million but actually around $100 million; Don Simpson was at his craziest during 1990 production with excessive spending; this was the most sure-thing idea possible in 1990 - like 'Top Gun with race cars'
Chris Ryan▶ 7:13Production literally took over the city of Daytona with neon signs, producers lorded over the city like kings; movie idea came from Tom Cruise and Paul Newman doing charity race, Cruise got obsessed with racing; Robert Towne became Cruise's sensei for next 4-5 movies
Kyle Brandt▶ 8:39Nothing today compares to the 'nitroglycerin effect' of Tom Cruise's run with Jerry Bruckheimer; NASCAR welcomed the production like a desperate league (compared to NHL welcoming Van Damme movie vs NFL rejecting Dark Knight Rises); Hans Zimmer is the GOAT composer and one of the stars of this movie

Casting What-Ifs

Bill Simmons▶ 13:39Kevin Costner — Discusses Hans Zimmer being brought in after Harold Faltenmeyer passed, and suggests Cole Trickle role could have been Kevin Costner instead of Tom Cruise
Bill Simmons▶ 1:34:11Led with Kurt Russell as Rowdy Burns (Cruise wanted him; Russell did Backdraft instead — 'a pretty good what-if') and argued Dale Earnhardt Sr. actually should have played Rowdy, since Rowdy ended up '100% not the bad guy' — an 'unbelievable career move' what-if; also flagged Don Simpson casting himself as driver Aldo Benedetti.
Chris Ryan▶ 1:33:46His what-if lineup: Robin Wright as Dr. Claire Lewicki (the actual first choice), Tom Sizemore as Tim, Kurt Russell or Dale Earnhardt as Rowdy, and Paul Newman coming back to play Harry Hogge.
Kyle Brandt▶ 1:34:37Skeptical of the Earnhardt-as-Rowdy what-if: 'I don't know if you can pull that off. It could have been awful. Or it could have been Brett Favre in Something About Mary. I don't know.'

Apex Mountain

Bill Simmons▶ 1:41:24Cruise: probably not — 'we're in the Cruise vicinity, but I still feel like it's A Few Good Men in that range'; Duvall no; Kidman not yet; yes for Cruise's hair and teeth, lunatic Don Simpson stories ('this is apex right here'), and Cruise as a believable real-life playboy bachelor; NASCAR no; Rooker's apex is Cliffhanger; car-racing movies belong to Talladega Nights ('better legs').
Chris Ryan▶ 1:41:29Agreed Cruise isn't at apex here — his window is ''89, '90, '92... we're in range'; called the Don Simpson stories incredible, though his favorite remains David Milch's from Bad Boys.
Kyle Brandt▶ 29:39NASCAR is apex mountain for sports that you have to be there in person to really enjoy
Kyle Brandt▶ 1:42:56Mello Yello: yes — 'this car and the movie and everything's got to be' its apex (the Donovan song notwithstanding).

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Bill Simmons▶ 43:31I like being peripherally near where the debauchery is happening, and I like hearing the stories after, but keep me out of the rooms. But I'm probably like Cruz.
Chris Ryan▶ 42:13He's in Scientology by this point
Kyle Brandt▶ 42:06Is Cruz part of the decadence? If it's blow and women and party and all, is Cruz into that?

Most Rewatchable Scene

Bill Simmons▶ 49:04Cole's first scene - his introduction on motorcycle through smoke onto the track and confrontation with Rowdy
Kyle Brandt▶ 50:29Cole's opening scene with Rowdy - the 'dick swinging contest' back and forth confrontation

Big Kahuna Burger Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:13:19Mellow Yellow just being a sponsor
Chris Ryan▶ 1:13:37The dinner scene with Fred Dalton Thompson when Cole goes for the crudité first
Kyle Brandt▶ 1:13:54Sweet and Low - double pack it into the thigh

Butch's Girlfriend Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:16:51The middle 25 minutes of the movie craters - Rowdy's career ending injury storyline and every scene where Claire is mad at Cole
Chris Ryan▶ 1:16:26The crash happens too early in the movie - should have had more time with Cole racing in his prime before it becomes about CTE
Kyle Brandt▶ 1:16:02The second half of the movie has too much talking - scenes of Duvall talking to the car and crews, not enough racetrack action

Overacting Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:28:11Tom Cruise — Mentioned Tom Cruise and Cary Elwes as possibilities but didn't give a definitive pick
Chris Ryan▶ 1:28:22Robert Duvall — Robert Duvall's crazy laugh, specifically when he does the ice cream thing and laughs at Cruz

Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:32:40This movie is way better if Cole Trickle is just Brian Flanagan, and it's called Cocktail 2 Days of Thunder - making it a sequel where Brian Flanagan has gotten divorced, given up the bar business, and moved into racing

Dion Waiters Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:37:32Leilani Sarelle — Leilani Sorrell (the stripper police officer, aka Roxy from Basic Instinct) as the winner, with Fred Thompson as runner-up
Chris Ryan▶ 1:37:20Fred Thompson — Discussed Fred Thompson's performance, calling him 'always reliable' but 'mildly racist'
Kyle Brandt▶ 1:38:26Leilani Sarelle — Emphasized the importance of Leilani Sorrell's scene, calling it 'fully erotic' and significant for young viewers

Is There a Better Title?

Bill Simmons▶ 1:39:21Suggested 'Daytona' and 'Dropping the Hammer' as alternatives, criticizing 'Days of Thunder' as incoherent and corny, but concluded they couldn't find a better answer
Chris Ryan▶ 1:39:44Suggested 'Checkered Flag' and referenced F1 movie just being called 'F1', but admitted he didn't know what the answer was
Kyle Brandt▶ 1:39:56Called 'Days of Thunder' terrible and said it sounds like a storm movie or Twister, but didn't offer a definitive alternative

Best Quote

Kyle Brandt▶ 1:45:15I'm more afraid of being nothing than I am of being hurt

Is This Movie Better With

Bill Simmons▶ 1:51:08Tony Romo — Praised both responses and suggested Tony Romo as another option
Chris Ryan▶ 1:50:03Daniel Plainview (DB) - doing a threatening scene about Cole's girlfriend and racing
Kyle Brandt▶ 1:50:29Wilford Brimley — Wilford Brimley in The Firm - threatening Cole about compromising photos of him with a stripper

Just One Oscar

Bill Simmons▶ 1:51:19Hans Zimmer — Suggested Hans Zimmer, then mentioned the movie was nominated for Best Sound and maybe that should win
Chris Ryan▶ 1:51:21Robert Towne — Disagreed with Don Simpson's suggestion that Robert Towne should get an Oscar for the screenplay

Coach Finstock Life Lesson

Bill Simmons▶ 1:55:15I'm more afraid of being nothing than being hurt
Kyle Brandt▶ 1:55:22rubbing is racing - sometimes there's going to be some shit that happens, but that's life

Best Double Feature

Kyle Brandt▶ 1:55:36Far and Away — Days of Thunder, Far and Away, and Eyes Wide Shut (Nicole Kidman trilogy - broke rules to do triple feature)

Who Won the Movie

Bill Simmons▶ 1:56:26Robert Duvall — Robert Duvall (1A) and Tony Scott (1B) - Duvall saves it from being a bad movie
Chris Ryan▶ 1:56:07Tony Scott — Tony Scott (director) - makes every scene work and worth rewatching
Kyle Brandt▶ 1:55:59Tom Cruise — Tom Cruise - 'Cruz is just such a one seed that's hard to knock off'

Movies Referenced (53)

Top Gun (1986)

19 mentions · Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt, Chris Ryan▶ 4:01IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

7 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Kyle Brandt▶ 17:44IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Crimson Tide (1995)

4 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 41:58IMDb ↗Lb ↗

The Firm (1993)

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt▶ 17:28IMDb ↗Lb ↗

A Few Good Men (1992)

3 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt▶ 1:08:49IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Basic Instinct (1992)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 1:37:41IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Dead Calm (1989)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 11:20IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Heat (1995)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 0:43IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Nine Months (1995)

3 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons▶ 43:09IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Bad Boys (1995)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 41:58IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Beverly Hills Cop (1984)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 41:36IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Collateral (2004)

2 mentions · Chris Ryan▶ 49:57IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Directors Referenced (11)

Tony Scott

30 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Kyle Brandt · Known for Domino, Unstoppable, True Romance▶ 4:25IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Michael Mann

4 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for The Insider, Collateral, The Last of the Mohicans▶ 16:34IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jim Rome

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt · Known for The Longest Yard, Space Jam▶ 31:03IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Chris Corner

2 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for The Saint, Open Your Eyes▶ 0:19IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Kevin Costner

2 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Dances with Wolves, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves▶ 9:39IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Paul Thomas Anderson

2 mentions · Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt · Known for Punch-Drunk Love, Licorice Pizza, There Will Be Blood▶ 1:07:35IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Cameron Crowe

1 mentions · Kyle Brandt · Known for Almost Famous, Jerry Maguire, Vanilla Sky▶ 1:26:43IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Chris Jones

1 mentions · Kyle Brandt▶ 2:00:56IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Mel Gibson

1 mentions · Kyle Brandt · Known for Braveheart, Conspiracy Theory▶ 1:32:21IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Quentin Tarantino

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, From Dusk Till Dawn▶ 44:46IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Stanley Kubrick

1 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for 2001: A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange, Barry Lyndon▶ 1:29:03IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Actors Referenced (95)

Tom Cruise

82 mentions · Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt, Chris Ryan · Known for Top Gun, Mission: Impossible II, Minority Report▶ 3:14IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Don Simpson

45 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Kyle Brandt · Known for Days of Thunder, Beverly Hills Cop, The Rock▶ 5:06IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Nicole Kidman

31 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Kyle Brandt · Known for Moulin Rouge!, Rabbit Hole▶ 5:16IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Michael Rooker

21 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Kyle Brandt · Known for Guardians of the Galaxy, Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer▶ 11:36IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Bill Paxton

16 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Kyle Brandt · Known for Aliens, Apollo 13▶ 2:40IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Robert Duvall

12 mentions · Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt, Chris Ryan · Known for The Judge, Tender Mercies▶ 11:10IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Hans Zimmer

11 mentions · Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt · Known for Gladiator, Interstellar▶ 4:26IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Russ Wheeler

10 mentions · Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt, Chris Ryan · Known for Cocoon▶ 48:38IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Crazy Town

9 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Something's Gotta Give, Saving Silverman, Orange County▶ 0:35IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Randy Quaid

9 mentions · Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt · Known for Independence Day, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation▶ 12:15IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Richard Petty

7 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons · Known for Cars, Cars 3▶ 17:10IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Val Kilmer

6 mentions · Kyle Brandt, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for The Doors, The Saint, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang▶ 1:05:39IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Writers Referenced (7)

Robert Towne

13 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Kyle Brandt · Known for Chinatown, Mission: Impossible, The Last Detail▶ 35:40IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jerry Bruckheimer

11 mentions · Bill Simmons, Kyle Brandt · Known for Top Gun: Maverick, Armageddon▶ 6:03IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Andy Greenwald

1 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 2:07IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Danny McBride

1 mentions · Kyle Brandt · Known for Underworld▶ 1:35:44IMDb ↗Lb ↗

David Milch

1 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 1:41:57IMDb ↗Lb ↗

James Cameron

1 mentions · Kyle Brandt · Known for Avatar, Aliens, Terminator 2: Judgment Day▶ 21:28IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Roger Ebert

1 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 44:17IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Cinematographers Referenced (1)

Ward Russell

1 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for The Last Boy Scout, The X Files, Top Gun▶ 15:43IMDb ↗Lb ↗