Filmmaking clearly runs in the Scott family. Renowned director and producer Ridley Scott has released some of the most iconic films of all time. His directorial resume includes titles such as Alien, Blade Runner, Gladiator, American Gangster, and The Martian. Ridley’s brother, however, the late Tony Scott, has an impressive track record on his own, as Tony’s films had a stranglehold on the ’80s and ’90s. His directorial credits include Top Gun, The Last Boy Scout, True Romance, and Enemy of the State. Rest assured, those titles are nothing to scoff at.

But audiences tend to forget that Tony Scott gave us one of the most thrilling action movies of his time. In 1990, Scott reunited with Top Gun star Tom Cruise for a NASCAR film titled Days of Thunder. Cruise helped develop the story with long-time collaborator Robert Towne. Days of Thunder—and Tony Scott in particular—pushed the boundaries of what an action film could be. This movie is an in-your-face drama from start to finish. Ridley Scott might be the older brother, but it’s time to respect Tony’s name for quietly gifting us this underrated masterpiece.

‘Talladega Nights’ Is a Direct Parody of Tony Scott’s ‘Days of Thunder’

If the title sounds familiar, it’s because this is the film that Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby parodied. The Adam McKay comedy copies the plot almost verbatim. A driver gets his chance to race and becomes an overnight NASCAR sensation, but learns that setbacks are waiting around every turn. The Talladega Nights love-interest subplot echoes that of Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman in Days of Thunder. Even teammate Cal Naughton Jr. (John C. Reilly) can be traced back to Cary Elwes‘ portrayal of Russ Wheeler. Kudos to Tony Scott for creating such a strong foundation for McKay to build on.

How Tony Scott and Tom Cruise Reunited for ‘Days of Thunder’

Image via Paramount Pictures

Audiences have the massive success of Top Gun to thank for Days of Thunder. The duo of Scott and Cruise figured out a formula that works: an insanely cool action setting, trouble in paradise, self-reflection, and ultimate victory. Because Cruise had a hand in writing the script, it led to a deeper connection between actor and character, as Cole Trickle is confident, scared, overeager, passionate, and vulnerable. In the least surprising Tom Cruise move, the actor insisted on driving his race car in as many scenes as possible. At the behest of Tony Scott, producer Jerry Bruckheimer, and their insurance company, professional drivers were used for more technical shots and riskier sequences. In an interview with the British Film Institute, Cruise spoke highly of Tony Scott’s accomplishments, stating, “He changed aerial photography. He changed motorsports. The way that you see these sports being filmed today is because of Tony Scott.”

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Hans Zimmer’s ‘Days of Thunder’ Score Elevates the Action Drama

Days of Thunder also reunited Tom Cruise with composer Hans Zimmer. The artists had both worked on the Academy Award-winning Best Picture, Rain Man, in 1988. If there’s one thing Zimmer understands, it’s that sports are about drama. He allows that drama to build, not only over the course of the film but also within the ebb and flow of individual scenes. Screeching guitars underscore the epic, action-packed moments on the racetrack, while soft melodies reminiscent of ’80s synthwave build tension in calmer areas. In a previous interview with Collider, Zimmer recalled his defining moment of working with Tony Scott on Days of Thunder. He reminisced, “Everything had to be dangerous. If it wasn’t dangerous, if it wasn’t on the edge, if the equipment didn’t start burning, we weren’t doing it right. So he was pushing the envelope all the time.”

There’s no escaping the fact that Ridley Scott has the resume and the Oscar nominations. However, his younger brother Tony carved out his own piece of the Hollywood puzzle, and Days of Thunder is significant. He proved his worth and made it to victory lane. It’s high time we popped the champagne and gave Tony Scott his flowers.

Release Date

June 27, 1990

Runtime

107 minutes

Director

Tony Scott