Cole's motorcycle entrance, test-drive challenge, and status contest with Rowdy are proposed.
Cole's disastrous first races and the Give Me Some Lovin montage are proposed. — Bill Simmons
Cole's first win, Harry's tire deception, and the low-side pass are proposed.
The staged police stop and its sexual joke are proposed, alongside questions about what happens after the scene.
Cole mistaking Dr. Lewicki for another stripper and the hospital wheelchair race are proposed.
The beach rental-car race and valet exchange are proposed. — Bill Simmons
Cole ruining Russ Wheeler's victory lap is proposed. — Bill Simmons
Cole and Harry's confrontation over driving Rowdy's car is praised as the principal acting scene, with objections to the abruptly revived backstory.
Cole's Daytona comeback through the smoke and the final high-versus-low pass are proposed. — Bill Simmons
The wheelchair race is a final selection for one participant. — Kyle Brandt
The Give Me Some Lovin montage is a separate final selection.
Rowdy's first encounter with Cole is a separate final selection. — Bill Simmons

Share this discussion More Most Rewatchable Scene answers

1:01:17

The most 1990 thing

David Coverdale sings the theme at Tom Cruise’s request

In the discussion (4)

Approx. transcript time · 01:01:17Read transcript

Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman falling in love during the production is proposed. — Bill Simmons
The Tide, Snickers, Skoal, Exxon, and Mello Yello sponsorships are proposed. — Bill Simmons
Russ Wheeler's girlfriend, her hair, and her boxy blazer are proposed as distinctly 1990.
The winning choice is Tom Cruise requesting Whitesnake singer David Coverdale for the film's theme song. — Bill Simmons

Share this discussion More The most "year the movie came out" thing answers

1:03:42

What’s Aged the Best?

Robert Duvall, craft, cast, and racing lessons

In the discussion (8)

Approx. transcript time · 01:03:42Read transcript

Robert Duvall's committed crew-chief performance is praised and argued to hold the movie together. — Bill Simmons
Tom Cruise's hair and Nicole Kidman's curly hair are praised. — Bill Simmons
Nicole Kidman and Robert Duvall sharing serious scenes is praised in light of their later careers. — Bill Simmons
John C. Reilly's Bucky is praised as an early version of Reed Rothchild. — Kyle Brandt
Cary Elwes is praised for reliably playing an antagonist.
Tom Cruise's unconvincing drunk acting is enjoyed as comedy. — Chris Ryan
The movie's racing lessons about crew-chief trust, tires, team ownership, and driver temperament are praised. — Bill Simmons
The wheelchair race is praised as more entertaining than the car races, including Rowdy batting away a nurse’s assistance. — Kyle Brandt

Share this discussion More What’s Aged the Best? answers

1:13:14

The Great Shot Gordo Award for Most Cinematic Shot

Daytona cars beneath rising balloons

In the discussion (2)

Approx. transcript time · 01:13:14Read transcript

A low-angle Daytona shot of the cars passing as balloons rise is selected for its color and scale. — Chris Ryan
The physical-exam two-shot revealing the height difference between Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise is an alternate comic choice.

Share this discussion More The Great Shot Gordo Award for Most Cinematic Shot answers

1:14:48

The Butch’s Girlfriend Award for the Weakest Link in the Film

The post-crash middle section

In the discussion (4)

Approx. transcript time · 01:14:48Read transcript

Rowdy never receiving a full-intensity Michael Rooker scene is identified as a small weakness. — Kyle Brandt
Too much talking and too little racing in the second half is the principal weakness. — Kyle Brandt
The crash is argued to occur too early, leaving too little of Cole racing at his peak.
Rowdy's injury subplot and Cole and Claire's conflict are criticized; killing Rowdy or giving Harry an illness subplot are proposed alternatives. — Bill Simmons

Share this discussion More The Butch’s Girlfriend Award for the Weakest Link in the Film answers

1:18:37

What’s Aged the Worst?

Video game, overloaded subplots, rushed win, courtship, and sex scenes

In the discussion (7)

Approx. transcript time · 01:18:37Read transcript

The Days of Thunder video game is criticized as unusually poor for a film suited to an arcade adaptation. — Bill Simmons
The film is criticized for carrying too many underdeveloped backstories, including Bucky's father. — Chris Ryan
Cole's muted reaction to winning Daytona is criticized as rushed and insufficiently celebratory. — Bill Simmons
Cole's pursuit of Claire is criticized as intrusive from the exam-room contact through the parking-lot wait and apartment flowers. — Kyle Brandt
Harry's rapid car-building montage is criticized for skipping potentially interesting craft detail. — Bill Simmons
Tim Daland's generic name and the unclear financing of the two-car team are questioned.
Cole's bedroom scene with Claire is criticized as another awkward, ambiguous Tom Cruise love scene. — Bill Simmons

Share this discussion More What’s Aged the Worst? answers

1:26:54

The Ruffalo / Hanna / Rubinek / Partridge Overacting Award

Tom Cruise in the car; Robert Duvall laughing

In the discussion (2)

Approx. transcript time · 01:26:54Read transcript

Tom Cruise's car outbursts are proposed for overacting. — Bill Simmons
Robert Duvall's delighted laugh after provoking Cole is a separate proposal. — Chris Ryan

Share this discussion More The Ruffalo / Hanna / Rubinek / Partridge Overacting Award answers

1:27:45

The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Old Tom Cruise teeth; Cocktail 2

In the discussion (5)

Approx. transcript time · 01:27:45Read transcript

The production indirectly enabled Eyes Wide Shut because Dr. Jerry Punch recommended Nicole Kidman after Dead Calm. — Chris Ryan
Days of Thunder is tested and rejected as better than Top Gun. — Kyle Brandt
Tom Cruise's original teeth are preferred to his later straightened teeth. — Kyle Brandt
Michael Rooker should have become a much bigger star, though a lack of comic range or conventional leading-man looks is offered as an explanation. — Bill Simmons
The film would be better as Cocktail 2, with Brian Flanagan leaving the bar business for racing. — Bill Simmons

Share this discussion More The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award answers

1:35:06

The Joey Pants “That Guy” Award

J. C. Quinn

In the discussion (3)

Approx. transcript time · 01:35:06Read transcript

J. C. Quinn is selected for his recognizable roles in Maximum Overdrive, Vision Quest, and The Program.
Nick Searcy is an alternate for his law-enforcement roles in The Fugitive and Justified and his appearance in Cast Away. — Kyle Brandt
Margo Martindale is noted as having graduated beyond That Guy status. — Bill Simmons

Share this discussion More The Joey Pants “That Guy” Award answers

1:36:17

The Dion Waiters Award for Best Heat Check Performance

Leilani Sarelle

In the discussion (2)

Approx. transcript time · 01:36:17Read transcript

Fred Dalton Thompson is runner-up for his brief, commanding and racially dated team-owner scenes. — Bill Simmons
Leilani Sarelle wins for the staged police officer, linked to her later role as Roxy in Basic Instinct. — Bill Simmons

Share this discussion More The Dion Waiters Award for Best Heat Check Performance answers

1:38:21

Is There a Better Title for This Movie?

No replacement beats Days of Thunder

In the discussion (2)

Approx. transcript time · 01:38:21Read transcript

Daytona, Trickle, Dropping the Hammer, and Checkered Flag are considered as alternatives. — Bill Simmons
The panel remains dissatisfied with the title but does not find a clearly better replacement. — Bill Simmons

Share this discussion More Is There a Better Title for This Movie? answers

1:40:23

Apex Mountain

Mello Yello and car-racing movies; several near-apex cases

In the discussion (8)

Approx. transcript time · 01:40:23Read transcript

Tom Cruise is placed near, but not definitively at, his apex. — Bill Simmons
Robert Duvall and Nicole Kidman are rejected as being at their apex; Cruise's hair and teeth are accepted. — Bill Simmons
NASCAR and Don Simpson production stories are proposed as apex cases. — Bill Simmons
Michael Rooker is assigned Cliffhanger; Cary Elwes is assigned The Princess Bride. — Bill Simmons
Hans Zimmer and Simpson–Bruckheimer are rejected as apex cases. — Bill Simmons
Car-racing movies are debated against Talladega Nights. — Bill Simmons
Mello Yello is accepted as an apex case. — Bill Simmons
Cruise is accepted in the Cruise-or-Hanks comparison. — Bill Simmons

Share this discussion More Apex Mountain answers

1:47:23

Sequel, Prequel, Limited Series, or All-Black Remake

A sequel with Tom Cruise

In the discussion (2)

Approx. transcript time · 01:47:23Read transcript

A Days of Thunder sequel is discussed, with skepticism that Tom Cruise would yield the central driving role to a younger character.
Cole's minor eye injury is criticized as inadequate for the severity of the crash. — Chris Ryan

Share this discussion More Sequel, Prequel, Limited Series, or All-Black Remake answers

1:48:45

Is This Movie Better With…?

Wilford Brimley in The Firm

In the discussion (3)

Approx. transcript time · 01:48:45Read transcript

A Wayne Jenkins-style riff imagines pressure on Cole to pass Russ. — Chris Ryan
Wilford Brimley's character from The Firm wins with a blackmail scenario involving the staged police-stop photographs. — Kyle Brandt
Tony Romo-style racing commentary is an alternate. — Bill Simmons

Share this discussion More Is This Movie Better With…? answers

1:50:34

Just One Oscar

Hans Zimmer

In the discussion (2)

Approx. transcript time · 01:50:34Read transcript

Hans Zimmer is selected for the film’s one Oscar. — Bill Simmons
Robert Towne and the sound work are mentioned and rejected as alternatives. — Bill Simmons

Share this discussion More Just One Oscar answers

1:53:06

What Piece of Memorabilia Would You Want From This Movie?

Mello Yello racing suit

In the discussion (2)

Approx. transcript time · 01:53:06Read transcript

A Superflo hat is proposed.
Cole Trickle's embroidered Mello Yello racing suit wins as a possible child Halloween costume. — Bill Simmons

Share this discussion More What Piece of Memorabilia Would You Want From This Movie? answers

1:54:29

The Coach Finstock Award for Best Life Lesson

Rubbing is racing

In the discussion (2)

Approx. transcript time · 01:54:29Read transcript

I'm more afraid of being nothing than being hurt is selected as a life lesson.
Rubbing is racing is selected as an alternate lesson applicable beyond the track. — Kyle Brandt

Share this discussion More The Coach Finstock Award for Best Life Lesson answers

1:55:05

Who Won the Movie?

No consensus: Roxy (Leilani Sarelle), Tom Cruise, Tony Scott, or Robert Duvall

In the discussion (4)

Approx. transcript time · 01:55:05Read transcript

Roxy, played by Leilani Sarelle, is one winner choice. — Bill Simmons
Tom Cruise is a separate winner choice because Cole Trickle remains the focus. — Chris Ryan
Tony Scott is a separate winner choice because his direction makes the racing and crowd footage rewatchable. — Chris Ryan
Robert Duvall is selected over Tony Scott by another participant because his performance keeps the film from collapsing.

Share this discussion More Who Won the Movie? answers

Mentions across The Rewatchables

Recorded movie reference

Top Gun

The Rewatchables · aired July 23, 2019

Days of Thunder is listed in the sourced research for this episode. The precise discussion has not been linked yet.

Transcript time unavailableRead transcript

Source 1 Source 2