Duel (1972)
88%RT Audience Score: 84%
Awards & Nominations: 4 wins & 38 nominations
Duel makes brilliant use of its simple premise, serving up rock-solid genre thrills while heralding the arrival of a generational talent behind the lens
Duel is a classic thriller that will have you gripping the edge of your seat. Spielberg’s first big break is a nail-biting game of cat and mouse that will leave you breathless. The killer truck is just as terrifying as Jaws, and it’s impressive to see how Spielberg’s technical virtuosity shines through in this shoestring marvel. It’s no wonder that Duel is still remembered and loved by audiences today. So buckle up and get ready for a wild ride!
Production Company(ies)
Paramount Pictures, Dreamworks Pictures, Amblin Entertainment,
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Cahir Castle, Cahir, County Tipperary, Ireland
MPAA / Certificate
– Rated R for strong violence including sexual assault, sexual content, some graphic nudity, and language
Year of Release
1972
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Atmos
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Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
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Runtime:NA
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Language(s):English, German, French, Latin
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Jul 17, 2001
Genre(s)
Mystery & Thriller
Keyword(s)
starring Dennis Weaver, directed by Steven Spielberg, written by Richard Matheson, mystery, thriller, TVPG, box office, budget, reviewed by Kevin Maher, Mick LaSalle, Dave Kehr, Tom Milne, Janet Maslin, Grant Watson, Andrew Collins, David Nusair, Tim Brayton, Rob Humanick, Dennis Schwartz, Emanuel Levy, producer George Eckstein, MPAA rating TVPG, cat and mouse, killer truck, suspense, simple premise, generational talent, rock-solid genre thrills, inner warrior, dangerous game, tormentor, electronics salesman, two-lane highway, old oil tanker, unseen driver, dangerous antics, demonic big rig, deadly levels, rusted, growling tanker truck, man-eating Great White, road rage, technical virtuosity, nail-biting suspenser, mad trucker, horror, MCU movies, Netflix series, TV premiere dates, worst horror movies, renewed and cancelled TV shows, accessibility
Worldwide gross: $30,552,111
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $33,228,681
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,513
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 3,623,629
US/Canada gross: $10,853,945
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $11,804,824
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,566
US/Canada opening weekend: $4,759,151
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $5,176,085
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,095
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $100,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $108,760,672
Production budget ranking: 354
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $58,567,622
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$134,099,613
ROI to date (est.): -80%
ROI ranking: 1,881
Tim Herbert – Gas Station Attendant
Charles Seel – Old Man
Eddie Firestone – Cafe Owner
Shirley O’Hara – Waitress
Lucille Benson – Lady at Snakerama
Director(s)
Steven Spielberg
Writer(s)
Richard Matheson
Producer(s)
George Eckstein
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
4 wins & 38 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (43) | Top Critics (6) | Fresh (38) | Rotten (5)
A shoestring marvel.
May 29, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Kevin Maher
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
This simple premise — a killer truck stalks a driver — becomes the basis for an exceptionally fraught and well- made suspense film.
June 14, 2018 | Rating: 3/4
Mick LaSalle
San Francisco Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
This 1971 made-for-TV movie was one of Steven Spielberg’s auditions for Jaws, and the same slickly impersonal shock effects prevail.
December 10, 2007
Dave Kehr
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Simply a rivetingly murderous game of cat and mouse that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
January 26, 2006
Tom Milne
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
Even without benefit of hindsight, Duel looks like the work of an unusually talented young director.
January 15, 2005 | Rating: 4/5
Janet Maslin
New York Times
TOP CRITIC
Famous for being Spielberg’s first big break, it deserves to be remembered better in its own right.
January 26, 2021 | Rating: 8/10
Grant Watson
Fiction Machine
Once you’ve seen it, you’ll never forget it.
November 17, 2017 | Rating: 5/5
Andrew Collins
Radio Times
…a surprisingly sturdy first effort for a filmmaker who would (obviously) go onto bigger and better things.
March 16, 2016 | Rating: 2.5/4
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews
This is among the most flawless pieces of entertainment [Steven Spielberg] ever put his name to.
June 20, 2015 | Rating: 10/10
Tim Brayton
Antagony & Ecstasy
The film’s rusted, growling tanker truck is an obvious predecessor to the man-eating Great White of Jaws. And it’s every bit as terrifying.
July 20, 2011 | Rating: B+
Rob Humanick
Projection Booth
… ‘road rage’ taken to new heights of exploitation by the boy wonder.
August 2, 2009 | Rating: B-
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews
At 24, Spielberg demonsrated his technical virtuosity with his first made for TV feature, a nail-biting suspenser of a salesman pursued on the roadby a mad trucker.
July 12, 2009 | Rating: A-
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com…
Plot
Based on the true story of France’s last trial by combat in the Middle Ages. Knight Jean de Carrouges challenges his former friend Jacques Le Gris to a duel after Jean’s wife Marguerite accuses Le Gris of rape. Told in multiple “Rashomon-style” points of view.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
There is no goofy or funny or odd comment about the film Duel on Fresh Kernels.
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