The Great Race (1965)
Kernel Score: 79% · 358 ratings · Rated NR
Genres: Comedy, Adventure, Action
Released: 1965-07-01
Runtime: 160 minutes
Where to watch The Great Race
- Free with ads: Kanopy, YouTube Free, Plex, Tubi
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
Professional daredevil and white-suited hero, The Great Leslie, convinces turn-of-the-century auto makers that a race from New York to Paris (westward across America, the Bering Straight and Russia) will help to promote automobile sales. Leslie's arch-rival, the mustached and black-attired Professor Fate vows to beat Leslie to the finish line in a car of Fate's own invention.
The Great Race parents' guide: ages 6+
Parents need to know that The Great Race is a lighthearted slapstick comedy adventure about a cross-country car race in the early 1900s.
- Violence & scariness: A little — Slapstick action typical of the genre, no real-world harm depicted.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official NR rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like The Great Race
If you liked The Great Race, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Back to the Future Part II (1989) — 88%
- Back to the Future (1985) — 95%
- Speed Racer (2008) — 64%
- The Adam Project (2022) — 79%
- Ninotchka (1939) — 84%
- Midnight in Paris (2011) — 84%
- Castello Cavalcanti (2013) — 77%
- The Time Machine (1960) — 82%
Director
Cast
- Jack Lemmon as Professor Fate
- Tony Curtis as The Great Leslie
- Natalie Wood as Maggie Dubois
- Peter Falk as Max
- Keenan Wynn as Hezekiah
- Arthur O'Connell as Henry Goodbody
- Vivian Vance as Hester Goodbody
- Dorothy Provine as Lily Olay
- Larry Storch as Texas Jack
- Ross Martin as Rolfe Von Stuppe
The Great Race FAQ
Is The Great Race good?
The Great Race has a 79% Kernel Score on Fresh Kernels from 358 audience ratings.
Where can I watch The Great Race?
In the US you can watch it free with ads on Kanopy, YouTube Free, Plex and Tubi and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is The Great Race OK for kids?
The Great Race is rated NR. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 6+. Parents need to know that The Great Race is a lighthearted slapstick comedy adventure about a cross-country car race in the early 1900s.
What movies are like The Great Race?
If you liked The Great Race, try Back to the Future Part II, Back to the Future, Speed Racer and The Adam Project.