A documentary on the history on mankind's attempts to reach high speeds. Starting with the invention of the bicycle, going on to sports cars, cars with jet engines, rocket-powered cars, attempts to break the sound barrier, and rocket-engine airplanes. Each achievement is documented by title card indicating the speed reached in miles per hour.
Practical Effects
Pre-CGI stunts with actual rocket cars that could've exploded.
Editing
Rapid-fire cuts that defined 80s action-doc style.
Director
Greg MacGillivray
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Director Greg MacGillivray later became IMAX royalty, shooting Everest and Grand Canyon Adventure — this was his speedrun origin story.
Released the same year as The Terminator, this doc captures a pre-digital moment when practical speed stunts felt genuinely dangerous.
US
