Nerdy high schooler Arnie Cunningham falls for Christine, a rusty 1958 Plymouth Fury, and becomes obsessed with restoring the classic automobile to her former glory. As the car changes, so does Arnie, whose newfound confidence turns to arrogance behind the wheel of his exotic beauty. Arnie's girlfriend Leigh and best friend Dennis reach out to him, only to be met by a Fury like no other.
Direction
Carpenter's creeping dread behind the wheel.
Practical Effects
The car literally rebuilds herself on camera—no CGI.
Acting
Keith Gordon's full-body transformation from nerd to nightmare.
Director
John Carpenter
Keith Gordon
Arnie Cunningham
John Stockwell
Dennis Guilder
Alexandra Paul
Leigh Cabot
Robert Prosky
Will Darnell
Harry Dean Stanton
Rudolph Junkins
Christine Belford
Regina Cunningham
Roberts Blossom
George LeBay
William Ostrander
Buddy Repperton
David Spielberg
Mr. Casey
Malcolm Danare
Moochie Welch
Steven Tash
Richard Trelawney
Stuart Charno
Don Vandenberg
Kelly Preston
Roseanne
Marc Poppel
Chuck
Robert Darnell
Michael Cunningham
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Carpenter destroyed 23 Plymouth Furys during filming; only two survived and were later used for the Diddy 'Coming Home' music video.
The film captures Reagan-era anxieties about suburban teenage alienation and the American love affair with automobiles as status symbols.
US
