# Rat Race

> 2001 film by Jerry Zucker

**Wikidata**: [Q1140605](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1140605)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rat_Race_(film))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/rat-race

## Summary
Rat Race is a 2001 American comedy film directed by Jerry Zucker, featuring an ensemble cast competing in a chaotic cross-country race for a $2 million prize. The film is a modern remake of the 1963 comedy "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" and blends slapstick humor with rapid-fire gags.

## Key Facts
- Released on August 17, 2001, in the United States
- Directed by Jerry Zucker, known for "Airplane!" and "Ghost"
- Features an ensemble cast including Rowan Atkinson, John Cleese, Whoopi Goldberg, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Seth Green
- Budget of $48 million with a worldwide gross of $85.5 million
- Runtime of 107 minutes
- Produced by Paramount Pictures and Fireworks Pictures
- Distributed by Paramount Pictures
- Genre classifications include screwball comedy, adventure film, and comedy film
- IMDb ID: tt0250687; Rotten Tomatoes score: 43%; Metacritic score: 52/100
- Filmed in multiple locations across the United States, including Las Vegas, Nevada
- Rated PG-13 for language, crude humor, and sensuality

## FAQs
**What is the plot of Rat Race?**
The film follows six teams of characters who are randomly selected by a Las Vegas casino owner (John Cleese) to race 563 miles from Las Vegas to Silver City, New Mexico, to claim a locker containing $2 million. The teams include a diverse group of misfits, each with their own comedic challenges and misadventures along the way.

**Who are the main actors in Rat Race?**
The ensemble cast includes Rowan Atkinson as Enrico Pollini, John Cleese as Donald Sinclair, Whoopi Goldberg as Vera Baker, Cuba Gooding Jr. as Owen Templeton, Seth Green as Duane Cody, Jon Lovitz as Randy Pear, and Kathy Najimy as Beverly Pear, among others.

**How was Rat Race received by critics and audiences?**
The film received mixed reviews from critics, with a 43% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic score of 52/100. However, it performed well at the box office, grossing $85.5 million worldwide against a $48 million budget, indicating stronger audience reception than critical consensus.

**What makes Rat Race a screwball comedy?**
Rat Race exemplifies screwball comedy through its fast-paced, farcical plot, eccentric characters, and absurd situations. The film features rapid-fire dialogue, physical comedy, and improbable scenarios typical of the genre, updated with modern sensibilities and a star-studded cast.

## Why It Matters
Rat Race represents a successful revival of the classic ensemble chase comedy format, demonstrating the enduring appeal of large-cast, high-concept comedies in the early 2000s. The film showcases Jerry Zucker's ability to orchestrate complex ensemble pieces with multiple intersecting storylines, building on his experience with "Airplane!" and "Ghost." Its commercial success ($85.5 million gross against a $48 million budget) proved there was still a market for star-driven, plot-light comedies in the era of special effects blockbusters. The film also serves as a notable entry in the careers of several comedy legends, bringing together talents from different generations of humor, from John Cleese and Whoopi Goldberg to Rowan Atkinson and emerging stars like Seth Green.

## Notable For
- Modern remake of the 1963 comedy "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World"
- Ensemble cast featuring comedy legends from multiple generations
- Jerry Zucker's return to broad comedy after directing dramas like "Ghost"
- Successful box office performance despite mixed critical reviews
- Blending of slapstick, physical comedy, and rapid-fire dialogue typical of screwball comedies
- Filming across multiple iconic American locations, particularly Las Vegas
- PG-13 rating allowing broader audience access while maintaining adult humor
- $2 million prize as central plot device driving character motivations

## Body
### Production and Development
Rat Race was produced by Paramount Pictures and Fireworks Pictures, with a production budget of $48 million. The film was directed by Jerry Zucker, who co-wrote the screenplay with Andy Breckman. Filming took place across multiple locations in the United States, with significant sequences shot in Las Vegas, Nevada, and various desert locations between Nevada and New Mexico. The production utilized practical effects and stunts to create the film's chaotic chase sequences, including car crashes, helicopter stunts, and elaborate set pieces.

### Cast and Characters
The film features an extensive ensemble cast led by John Cleese as eccentric Las Vegas casino owner Donald Sinclair, who orchestrates the race. Rowan Atkinson plays Enrico Pollini, an Italian tourist with narcolepsy. Whoopi Goldberg portrays Vera Baker, a woman reuniting with her long-lost daughter (played by Lanei Chapman). Cuba Gooding Jr. appears as Owen Templeton, a disgraced NFL referee. Seth Green and Vince Vieluf play brothers Duane and Blaine Cody, who engage in various schemes throughout the race. Jon Lovitz and Kathy Najimy portray the Pear family, whose journey includes memorable encounters with neo-Nazis and a Barbie museum. Additional cast members include Wayne Knight, Dave Thomas, and Kathy Bates in a cameo role as a mysterious "Squirrel Lady."

### Genre Classification and Style
Rat Race is classified under multiple genre categories, reflecting its hybrid nature. As a screwball comedy, it emphasizes fast-paced action, eccentric characters, and improbable situations. The adventure film classification acknowledges the cross-country race format and various physical challenges the characters face. The primary comedy film designation encompasses the movie's focus on humor through dialogue, physical comedy, and situational gags. The film's style draws from classic ensemble comedies while incorporating modern comedic sensibilities and references.

### Release and Distribution
The film premiered in the United States on August 17, 2001, distributed by Paramount Pictures. It was released in other territories throughout late 2001 and early 2002, with some countries receiving the film as late as August 2002. The theatrical release was supported by a marketing campaign emphasizing the star-studded cast and the film's connection to classic comedy traditions. Home media releases followed, including DVD and later Blu-ray editions, making the film accessible to wider audiences beyond its theatrical run.

### Critical Reception and Legacy
Upon release, Rat Race received mixed reviews from film critics. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reports a 43% approval rating based on reviews from 134 critics, with an average rating of 5.1/10. Metacritic assigned the film a weighted average score of 52 out of 100 based on 28 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews." Despite the critical reception, the film found success with general audiences, as evidenced by its box office performance and continued popularity in home media and streaming formats. The film has since gained a following among fans of ensemble comedies and those who appreciate its throwback style to classic madcap chase films.

### Cultural Impact and References
Rat Race participates in the tradition of ensemble chase comedies, directly referencing and updating the formula established by films like "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" (1963). The film's structure, featuring multiple characters racing toward a common goal while encountering various obstacles and each other, has influenced subsequent comedies in the genre. Its success helped demonstrate that star-driven comedies could still perform well in an era increasingly dominated by special effects blockbusters and franchise films. The movie's memorable scenes and quotable lines have contributed to its status as a cult favorite among comedy enthusiasts.

### Technical Specifications
The film has a runtime of 107 minutes (1 hour and 47 minutes) and was shot in color using standard widescreen format. The sound mix was designed to accommodate the film's rapid-fire dialogue and various action sequences. The production utilized multiple camera setups to capture the ensemble scenes and complex action sequences required by the cross-country race plot. Post-production included editing to maintain the film's brisk pace and integration of various practical and visual effects to enhance the comedic and action elements.

### Box Office Performance
Rat Race grossed $56.6 million in the United States and Canada, with an additional $28.9 million from international markets, for a worldwide total of $85.5 million. This performance represented a solid return on the $48 million production budget, particularly considering the film's mixed critical reception. The box office success helped solidify Jerry Zucker's reputation for directing commercially viable comedies and demonstrated the drawing power of ensemble casts featuring established comedy stars.

### Connections to Other Works
As a modern remake of "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World," Rat Race shares the basic premise of multiple characters racing to claim a large sum of money. However, it updates the concept with contemporary humor, modern settings, and a different cast of characters. The film also connects to Jerry Zucker's earlier work in comedy, particularly "Airplane!" and "The Naked Gun" series, through its use of rapid-fire gags, visual humor, and ensemble casts. The movie's structure and tone place it within a tradition of American comedy that includes films like "Cannonball Run" and "Scavenger Hunt."

## References

1. Česko-Slovenská filmová databáze
2. The Movie Database
3. Rat Race. Rotten Tomatoes
4. [IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0250687/releaseinfo)
5. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
6. [Source](http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=ratrace.htm)
7. Kinopoisk
8. [Source](https://www.kijkwijzer.nl/films/rat-race/)
9. terjesztesre_kerulo_filmalkotasok_nyilvantartasa.xlsx
10. Online-Filmdatenbank
11. Bechdel Test Movie List
12. [Source](https://ui.eidr.org/view/content?id=10.5240/EC8F-0956-E952-45B7-4D79-5)
13. Danish Film Database
14. Kanopy
15. TheTVDB
16. Trakt.tv
17. FilmVandaag.nl