# Need for Speed

> 2014 film directed by Scott Waugh

**Wikidata**: [Q13374569](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q13374569)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Need_for_Speed_(film))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/need-for-speed

## Summary
Need for Speed is a 2014 action thriller film directed by Scott Waugh, based on the popular video game franchise of the same name. The movie follows a street racer who seeks revenge against a wealthy business associate who framed him for a crime.

## Key Facts
- Release date: March 12, 2014 (premiere), March 13-14, 2014 (various countries), March 20, 2014 (US)
- Director: Scott Waugh
- Production companies: Touchstone Pictures, DreamWorks Pictures
- Country of origin: United States, Italy
- Runtime: 130 minutes
- Budget: $66,000,000
- Box office gross: $203,300,000
- IMDb rating: 4.3/10
- Rotten Tomatoes score: 23%
- Metacritic score: 39/100
- IMDb ID: tt2369135
- TMDb ID: 207989
- Wikipedia sitelink count: 40
- Wikidata description: "2014 film directed by Scott Speed"
- Genre: Action film, thriller film, crime film, drama film
- Main cast: Aaron Paul, Dominic Cooper, Imogen Poots, Ramón Rodríguez

## FAQs
**What is the plot of Need for Speed?**
The film follows Tobey Marshall, a street racer and mechanic who is framed by a wealthy business associate, Dino Brewster, for a crime he didn't commit. After serving two years in prison, Tobey seeks revenge by entering a high-stakes underground race called the De Leon, while being pursued by law enforcement and bounty hunters.

**Who are the main actors in Need for Speed?**
The film stars Aaron Paul as Tobey Marshall, Dominic Cooper as Dino Brewster, Imogen Poots as Julia Maddon, Ramón Rodríguez as Joe Peck, Scott Mescudi as Benny, Rami Malek as Finn, and Michael Keaton as Monarch.

**What video game franchise is the movie based on?**
Need for Speed is based on the long-running Electronic Arts video game series of the same name, which began in 1994 and focuses on illegal street racing, car customization, and police pursuits.

**Where was Need for Speed filmed?**
The movie was filmed in various locations across the United States, including Georgia, California, and Maine, as well as in the United Kingdom. The production utilized real cars and practical stunts rather than relying heavily on CGI.

**What was the critical reception of Need for Speed?**
The film received generally negative reviews from critics, with praise for its practical car stunts and action sequences but criticism for its plot, dialogue, and character development. It holds a 23% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 39/100 score on Metacritic.

## Why It Matters
Need for Speed represents one of the most high-profile attempts to adapt a video game franchise into a successful film franchise, following in the footsteps of other game-to-movie adaptations like Tomb Raider and Resident Evil. The film's production showcased a commitment to practical effects and real car stunts, distinguishing it from many contemporary action films that rely heavily on CGI. Its release coincided with the video game industry's growing influence on mainstream entertainment and the increasing trend of cross-media storytelling. The movie also served as a significant starring vehicle for Aaron Paul following his success in Breaking Bad, demonstrating the challenges actors face when transitioning from television to film leading roles.

## Notable For
- One of the few major Hollywood films to feature extensive practical car stunts rather than CGI
- Adaptation of one of the longest-running and most successful video game franchises
- Featured real cars including the Ford Mustang, Koenigsegg Agera R, and Saleen S7
- Directed by Scott Waugh, a former stuntman known for Act of Valor
- Scored by Nathan Furst, who also composed the music for Act of Valor
- Included cameo appearances by real-life racing personalities
- Filmed using innovative camera techniques to capture high-speed racing sequences
- Part of DreamWorks Pictures' final slate of films before its absorption into Amblin Partners

## Body
### Production and Development
Need for Speed was developed as a feature film adaptation of the Electronic Arts video game franchise, with DreamWorks Pictures acquiring the rights in 2011. The project was fast-tracked with Scott Waugh attached as director in 2012, bringing his experience from the military action film Act of Valor. The screenplay was written by George Gatins, with John Gatins receiving story credit. Filming began in the summer of 2013 and took place across multiple locations including Macon and Rome in Georgia, Mendocino and San Francisco in California, and various sites in the United Kingdom.

### Cast and Characters
Aaron Paul was cast in the lead role of Tobey Marshall, marking his first major film starring role following his acclaimed performance as Jesse Pinkman in Breaking Bad. Dominic Cooper was cast as the antagonist Dino Brewster, while Imogen Poots played Julia Maddon, the car broker who becomes involved in Tobey's quest for revenge. The supporting cast included Scott Mescudi (known professionally as Kid Cudi) as Benny, Rami Malek as Finn, Ramón Rodríguez as Joe Peck, and Michael Keaton as Monarch, the mysterious organizer of the De Leon race.

### Technical Specifications
The film has a runtime of 130 minutes and was produced with a budget of $66 million. It was distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures through their Touchstone Pictures banner, making it one of the final films released under that label before its retirement. The movie was shot using Arri Alexa cameras and features extensive practical effects, with the production team emphasizing real car stunts over computer-generated imagery. The sound design and mixing were handled by Skywalker Sound, and the film was released in both 2D and 3D formats.

### Racing and Car Culture
Need for Speed features an impressive array of high-performance vehicles, including the Ford Mustang GT500, Koenigsegg Agera R, Saleen S7, Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, McLaren P1, Lamborghini Sesto Elemento, and GTA Spano. The production worked closely with automotive manufacturers and racing experts to ensure authenticity in the car culture depicted. The film's racing sequences were choreographed by professional stunt drivers and included real high-speed chases, jumps, and crashes, with the production team using innovative camera rigs and techniques to capture the action.

### Release and Distribution
The film had its world premiere on March 12, 2014, in Los Angeles, followed by releases in various countries throughout March. It opened in the United States on March 14, 2014, and was released in 3D, 2D, and IMAX 3D formats. The marketing campaign included partnerships with automotive brands, video game promotions, and extensive social media engagement. The film's release coincided with the launch of Need for Speed Rivals, the video game that served as a companion piece to the movie.

### Critical Reception and Box Office Performance
Need for Speed received mixed-to-negative reviews from critics, who praised the practical stunts and car action but criticized the plot and character development. The film holds a 23% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 183 reviews, with an average rating of 4.2/10. Metacritic assigned the film a score of 39 out of 100 based on 34 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews." Despite the critical reception, the film performed moderately well at the box office, grossing $203.3 million worldwide against its $66 million budget.

### Video Game Connection
The film adaptation was closely tied to the video game franchise, with Electronic Arts serving as a co-producer and the game's developers providing consultation on the film's authenticity. The movie's release was accompanied by promotional content in the video games, including special editions and in-game items featuring the film's cars and characters. The film's success or failure was seen as potentially influential for future video game adaptations, given the franchise's long history and dedicated fan base.

### Cultural Impact and Legacy
While Need for Speed did not spawn the planned franchise that studios often seek from video game adaptations, it remains notable for its commitment to practical effects in an era dominated by CGI. The film's approach to car stunts influenced subsequent action films and demonstrated the continued appeal of practical effects in high-octane sequences. The movie also contributed to the ongoing conversation about the challenges of adapting video games to film, joining other adaptations like Prince of Persia and Max Payne in the mixed-success category of game-to-movie translations.

## References

1. [Source](http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/need-speed-film)
2. [Source](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2369135/)
3. [Source](http://www.cinematografo.it/cinedatabase/film/need-for-speed/56816/)
4. [Source](http://www.adorocinema.com/filmes/filme-207989/)
5. [Source](http://www.allocine.fr/film/fichefilm_gen_cfilm=207989.html)
6. [Source](http://www.interfilmes.com/filme_29305_Need.For.Speed.O.Filme-(Need.for.Speed).html)
7. Česko-Slovenská filmová databáze
8. [Source](http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/14/movies/need-for-speed-puts-video-gamers-in-the-passenger-seat.html?_r=0)
9. [Source](http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/14/movies/need-for-speed-puts-video-gamers-in-the-passenger-seat.html)
10. [Source](http://www.metacritic.com/movie/need-for-speed)
11. [Source](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2369135/fullcredits?ref_=tt_ov_st_sm)
12. The Movie Database
13. Need for Speed. Rotten Tomatoes
14. Freebase Data Dumps
15. [IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2369135/releaseinfo)
16. [Source](http://nmhh.hu/dokumentum/166259/premierfilmek_forgalmi_adatai_2014.xlsx)
17. [Source](http://nmhh.hu/dokumentum/198182/terjesztett_filmalkotasok_art_filmek_nyilvantartasa.xlsx)
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20. [Source](https://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/need-speed-2014)
21. [Source](https://www.kijkwijzer.nl/films/need-for-speed/)
22. List of film licenses issued from 1945 to 2020
23. [Source](https://www.eirin.jp/list/index.php?s_year=2014&s_month=3&e_year=2014&e_month=3&pageID=2)
24. [Source](https://www.cnc.fr/professionnels/visas-et-classification/139527)
25. Cineplex
26. Online-Filmdatenbank
27. [Source](http://portal.mj.gov.br/ClassificacaoIndicativa/jsps/DadosObraForm.do?select_action=&tbobra_codigo=57143)
28. Brazilian Advisory Rating System
29. [Source](http://www.mecd.gob.es/cultura-mecd/areas-cultura/cine/industria-cine/calificacion/calificacion-por-meses.html)
30. [Source](http://cnc.abt.ro/registru/index.aspx?pageID=3&filmID=14537)
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36. TheTVDB
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38. FilmVandaag.nl