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Duel
1971
Suspense/Thriller, Action
TV Movie
1h 30m
A business commuter is pursued and terrorized by a malevolent driver of a massive tractor-trailer (imdb)
Directed by:
Steven SpielbergScreenwriter:
Richard MathesonDuel
1971
Suspense/Thriller, Action
TV Movie
1h 30m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 60.96% from 2539 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews
(2551)
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Rated 30 Aug 2019
83
80th
The truck has more personality than a lot of the slasher villains. Not as much personality as that truck from Maximum Overdrive though. Instead of AC/DC blasting throughout, there's an excellent minimalist score from Billy Goldenberg. Evidently Spielberg cut half of the scripted lines. This from guy who had Daniel Day Lewis look directly into the camera and say, "I'm Lincoln, bitch." although I might remember that wrong.
Rated 30 Aug 2019
Rated 18 Oct 2011
80
86th
Spielberg's incredible debut is minimalistic, effectively suspenseful and stylistically inventive, with smart choices like going handheld when Mann is dizzy. Weaver is cast perfectly and the voice-over worked well. The only gripe is that you can fault the logic of his character's actions (why not turn back or wait it out on the top of a hill?) but this is dealt with through the theme of masculinity. And, really, would you be able to think clearly under these circumstances? Nail-bitingly intense.
Rated 18 Oct 2011
Rated 05 Apr 2010
98
99th
Minus two points for not using an ice cream truck. That would've been awesome. Great acting, directing, editing and pacing. I miss GOOD Spielberg movies.
Rated 05 Apr 2010
Rated 14 Aug 2007
80
72nd
Great simple suspense movie. Proves that you can make a good TV movie with no money if you're talented.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
Rated 01 Feb 2007
88
77th
"Duel" plainly shows how incredibly talented a filmmaker young Spielberg was. Minimalistic and thrilling. Highly recommended.
Rated 01 Feb 2007
Rated 28 Apr 2019
75
65th
Top badass moment? “You can't beat me on the grade!” As I frequently drive automatic, 3.5t vans limited to the same speed as most lorries, this is my battle cry of choice when dealing with them; (especially along the A34 through Oxfordshire, which has a lot of hills). I reckon I can best about 95%, given enough dual carriageway. Unfortunately, the other 5% make me feel I'm more inadequate than David Mann, such is the humiliation of being overtaken by one. No cats, chainsaws or decapitations.
Rated 28 Apr 2019
Rated 31 Oct 2013
6
35th
Everyone's gotta start somewhere I guess. With 'Duel', Spielberg gives character development the middle finger and despite some neat suspense, the story was tediously protracted. And don't get me started on that climax, what a total cop-out -- it clearly read "FLAMMABLE", you bearded douche!
Rated 31 Oct 2013
Rated 25 Sep 2010
68
65th
Made about as well as a movie can be made for this budget. It feels a bit dated but still remains effective. Good taut thriller.
Rated 25 Sep 2010
Rated 14 Oct 2008
95
98th
Excellent suspense road-movie of Spielberg, one of the best I've ever seen ! Great !
Rated 14 Oct 2008
Rated 21 May 2008
63
40th
You can't beat me on the grade!
Rated 21 May 2008
Rated 14 Aug 2007
60
63rd
Probably the pinnacle of Spielberg's career. Also his first film.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
Rated 16 Jul 2007
3
38th
An interesting first feature from Spielberg. It manages to create suspense with almost a complete lack of plot. I mean, really, it's just a truck chasing a guy. You never even see the driver. It's weird. But entertaining.
Rated 16 Jul 2007
Rated 01 Oct 2019
80
68th
I don't think this film is an outright masterpiece (one of the inserted scenes ... a call to Weaver's wife ... is a mistake for multiple reasons), but it's a brilliant text book example of ratcheting suspense out of the bare minimum. We never see the truck driver ... just glimpses of his arm and feet ... but Spielberg generates a threatening personality from the filthy truck itself.
Rated 01 Oct 2019
Rated 10 Jun 2015
77
71st
i like car movies. i like spielberg. they went together pretty well. it can drag like any 70s car movie, but the internal dialogue helps out both for keeping you from noticing the slow moments but also ramps up the tension and suspense.
Rated 10 Jun 2015
Rated 15 Oct 2014
65
42nd
There's only so many times you can have them overtake each other before I DONT CARE I DONT CARE I DONT CARE I DONT CARE I DONT CARE
Rated 15 Oct 2014
Rated 18 Jun 2012
60
68th
Without a doubt Spielberg's finest achievement.
Rated 18 Jun 2012
Rated 25 Apr 2011
5
44th
Not a terrible film but you can't help but wonder what it would be like if Spielberg made it today. But then you realize that cell phones exist and thus the premise of this movie would be stupid as shit today. Still pretty good and you can see some obvious Spielberg themes and camera work already at play. About as good as a no budget TV film can get.
Rated 25 Apr 2011
Rated 26 Dec 2009
70
88th
There's only so much you can get out of this very thin premise but Spielberg milks it for all it's worth, showing a startling early flair that lifts Duel well above its made-for-TV roots. Few films manage to conjure up the suspense created here - I remember first seeing this as a young kid and being completely transfixed - and the truck is genuinely one of the most menacing baddies in cinema history. Personally I still think the finale's a bit weak, but I suppose it had to end somehow.
Rated 26 Dec 2009
Rated 12 Oct 2009
9
96th
Thin, thin plot surpassed by the menacing tension. Don't think Steven will ever live up to this.
Rated 12 Oct 2009
Rated 03 Jul 2009
80
84th
This is a simple and very straightforward suspense movie. Yet it's done in a highly engrossing and effective manner - and it's good fun!
Rated 03 Jul 2009
Rated 06 Jan 2009
63
77th
Has some good suspense. But the chase scenes, at some parts, dragged too long. The ending was too abrupt. It would've been better if (SPOILER AHEAD!) we knew who the truck driver was and all that stuff. (END SPOILER) This film would've been better if it were a mystery . Btw, this film was better than ALL of the Spielberg films I've seen (E.T, Jaws, Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones).
Rated 06 Jan 2009
Rated 30 Dec 2008
85
93rd
I have been laughed at in 11 countries for claiming this is better than Jaws. 12 if you include protectorates of Denmark. Yet I still stand by that remark.
Rated 30 Dec 2008
Rated 27 Oct 2008
75
59th
Life without a cell phone is scary shit.
Rated 27 Oct 2008
Rated 26 Jul 2008
80
70th
Incredible how much Spielberg does with so little here. This bare bones story of little more than a car chase somehow held me rapt.
Rated 26 Jul 2008
Rated 05 Jul 2008
80
54th
Cool - edge of your seat stuff
Rated 05 Jul 2008
Rated 25 May 2008
79
66th
In your face, Death proof.
Rated 25 May 2008
Rated 11 Feb 2008
90
74th
Spielburg's first major film remains one of the best made for tv films ever produced.
Rated 11 Feb 2008
Rated 15 Nov 2007
80
79th
Spielberg's first outing as a director, and it's actually brilliant and suspenseful.
Rated 15 Nov 2007
Rated 27 Sep 2007
95
97th
The scene with the sandwich I still think is one of the funniest in movies. The only debit is that Weaver's VOs are a bit (make that quite a bit) hammy at times.
Rated 27 Sep 2007
Rated 29 Aug 2007
87
60th
A superbly tight little thriller which hangs largely on the performance of Dennis Weaver. I wonder what became of the promising young director who made it?
Rated 29 Aug 2007
Rated 14 Aug 2007
85
88th
a masterful lesson in movie-making Must see !!!
Rated 14 Aug 2007
Rated 14 Aug 2007
100
94th
There is nothing better than a ghost truck wanting to kill!
The entire movie is one giant truck chase and I everyminute is perfect. Oh Spielberg you will never make anything better!
Rated 14 Aug 2007
Rated 05 Oct 2024
69
63rd
This really has no right to be as good as it is. The writing is quite good.
Rated 05 Oct 2024
Rated 16 Sep 2024
75
66th
The comparison of "Jaws on land" is unfair as this is a much more narrowly focused film. While not as deep (pun intended?), this makes it more impressive in that Spielberg can keep your interest in a plotless 90 minutes of a road chase.
Rated 16 Sep 2024
Rated 14 Apr 2024
70
64th
Excellent TV Movie that clearly shows Spielberg's filmmaking skills. In particular, he uses camera angles that really heighten the tension a lot. In other hands, this film could have turned into a mediocre affair, but here you just have to surrender. It all works very realistic. Duel is a must see.
Rated 14 Apr 2024
Rated 27 Dec 2023
78
72nd
This film has a low budget and a simple premise bit it works. There is a lot of well learned suspense in this film. This early film from director Steven Spielberg shows his great potential. Overall I would recommend this film.
Rated 27 Dec 2023
Rated 18 Dec 2023
82
81st
I'd say this was pretty well directed! Squeezes every last ounce of suspense, drama, and entertainment out of the movie-of-the-week framework. Those final shots of twisted wreckage and dripping fluids say more than 20 pages of dialogue ever could.
Rated 18 Dec 2023
Rated 15 Nov 2023
70
40th
Dug it. Very entertaining and well-directed. I appreciate the large variety of way Spielberg shoots the film. I struggled early to see where he would take this, thinking it would become monotonous. However, it manages to hold on to its intensity up to the final moments.
Rated 15 Nov 2023
Rated 11 Nov 2023
4
51st
It’s no Unhinged but it’s alright
Rated 11 Nov 2023
Rated 02 Nov 2023
60
35th
That is one heck of a commute. Armed with a little more than a concept (not a real fleshed-out plot), Spielberg shows a lot of creativity in making a thrilling movie about two guys who really shouldn't be on the road. I had convinced myself this would end as a "it was all a dream" cop-out as the silliness of it ramped up; the real ending is more nebulous in a surprising nihilistic take from the director. (Most real moment: the kids making faces in the bus.)
Rated 02 Nov 2023
Rated 12 Apr 2023
60
69th
I first rented this with my Dad after Siskel & Ebert featured it on their show, hyping it as Spielberg's audition for "Jaws". Loved it at the time. The years have dulled its impact. Younger viewers will probably be confused to see a pre-cellphone predicament.
Rated 12 Apr 2023
Rated 12 Mar 2023
90
85th
Somehow maintains the tension for the entire 90 minutes despite being a movie about a guy being followed by a truck.
Rated 12 Mar 2023
Rated 31 Jan 2023
85
96th
Spielberg does a fantastic job of conjuring no end of tension and excitement from a simple premise, as our protagonist alternates between the terror of yet another truck sighting, and getting caught up in the machismo of the "duel".
Rated 31 Jan 2023
Rated 23 Oct 2022
80
85th
This is a really intense car movie! Definitely holds up to its years when you know that this is not some CGI crap. This is the real deal with stunts and actual driving. There are no cellphones around to call the cops, either, and none of that usual horror movie 'I can't get a signal here' -trope which you know will have to happen in a modern horror movie. The way it is cut does a lot to work the mood and the thrills, too. I especially loved the starting shots of the camera in front of the car.
Rated 23 Oct 2022
Rated 02 Oct 2022
63
35th
Finally saw this. I enjoyed the tension, but felt like the protagonist was the worst driver in history swerving all over the road once he hit 70mph lol and smashing into things throughout. A tense situation for sure, but he handled it horribly. His reactions to things seemed pretty over the top at times or nonsensical. All that said still a solid beginning for Spielberg. He was only ~25 when he made this. 6.3 for me, probably higher if I saw it upon release and it wasn't 50+ yrs old.
Rated 02 Oct 2022
Rated 10 Jul 2022
85
90th
A fantastic debut, directed with skill and flair, creating tension and apprehension, only slightly brought down by the pacing; as a thriller, it doesn't quite balance the ebb and flow as well as it could. It's worth bearing in mind that the common version of this has had extra footage shot and updates to SFX. Even imagining the film in its rougher, original state though, Duel still comes across as a very impressive early work from Spielberg.
Rated 10 Jul 2022
Rated 01 Aug 2021
90
93rd
Didn't need this to fear other drivers, but it helps.
Rated 01 Aug 2021
Rated 21 Mar 2021
75
61st
Conceptually a thrilling premise and some deft camera angles set things into motion nicely. Who doesn’t like a bit of the ‘ol road rage gosh dagnabbit? Things get a bit clunky in places as the pacing is a bit off and I’m not just talking about the trucks. When the climax finally came I was expecting fire. Still it simmers along nicely for the most part. A very Hitchcock-esque piece by an up and coming director. Whatever became of him? How’d his career hold up? To shreds you say?
Rated 21 Mar 2021
Rated 24 Nov 2020
54
30th
Not much to it at all. The tension building doesn't really work, as the story continuously hits the same repetitive story beats
Rated 24 Nov 2020
Rated 29 Aug 2020
40
21st
Good enough for a TV movie and for Spielberg's debut. It's not until an hour in when it actually starts being fun though, and even then it's fleeting. Lots of excess that could be trimmed off.
Rated 29 Aug 2020
Rated 27 Aug 2020
85
73rd
w/ Orkun
Rated 27 Aug 2020
Rated 10 Aug 2020
91
97th
Despite the clunky internal monologue (the film does not need it) and the music, which at times blatantly rips off Herrmann's 'Psycho' score, this is a masterpiece of cinema as suspense. The truck is one of the great movie villains. This is simple and perhaps more importantly refined cinema that rewards the viewer more than most films.
Rated 10 Aug 2020
Rated 06 Apr 2020
70
83rd
one of the most crazy movies I've watched :D if u dont have balls all you need is some balls. thats the idea!!
Rated 06 Apr 2020
Rated 23 Jan 2019
60
27th
David Mann: "You can't beat me on the grade. You can't beat me on the grade!"
Rated 23 Jan 2019
Rated 23 Dec 2018
73
50th
Surprisingly tense for what it is
Rated 23 Dec 2018
Rated 17 Nov 2018
76
58th
Depending on how you look at it, there's no drama to this, or alternatively, it's all in the subtext. Either way this is a pure, pared-down thriller movie that is just incredibly effective, and serves as an early testament to Spielberg's natural filmmaking ability. Kind of a mini classic.
Rated 17 Nov 2018
Rated 21 Aug 2018
90
89th
Lives up to the hype. While Spielberg gets all the credit (& his direction here is unusually show-offy, successfully drawing attention to itself w/ some shots), it's Matheson who really deserves most of the kudos here as he manages to take a story that's mostly one long chase scene between 2 characters (1 we don't know) & structure it with enough variations (as well as perfectly cue the non-action scenes) to make it all damn riveting. He also smartly ties it all to the protagonist's personal arc
Rated 21 Aug 2018
Rated 10 Aug 2018
79
59th
????? ???? ? ???? ? ?? ??? ?????? ???? ?????? ???? ?? ???? ? ??? ? ????? ???? ??? ? ?? ?????? ????? ???? ???? ?? ????
Rated 10 Aug 2018
Rated 17 Jul 2018
92
67th
Outstanding.
Rated 17 Jul 2018
Rated 03 Apr 2018
75
65th
Spielberg and Matheson are a dream team. It's glaringly padded, and Weaver's performance doesn't always work, but it's overall a gritty little crowd-pleaser with some arresting images and staggeringly good sound design.
Rated 03 Apr 2018
Rated 02 Apr 2018
38
9th
I cannot possibly list all the problems I had with this film. The psychology of the truck driver, the continuity problems of leaving him alone and then picking up harassing him... the driver doesn't take the bunch of opportunities to mess up the protagonist's car, yet later will try to smash it. Shows restraint around people then suddenly doesn't. Car problems for the protagonist? There as a problem then they magically go away. Utter garbage.
Rated 02 Apr 2018
Rated 22 Aug 2017
68
33rd
yol, otoyol, yol verme, tanker, gerilim, demiryolu, hemzemin geçit
Rated 22 Aug 2017
Rated 23 Feb 2017
83
87th
Hilarious. A must-see for car chase enthusiasts.
Rated 23 Feb 2017
Rated 02 Oct 2015
94
86th
Little Stevie Spielberg's meditation on a world without Jaws.
Rated 02 Oct 2015
Rated 12 May 2015
7
49th
Spielberg's full-length debut is commendable, and his competence as a craftsman of thrills is evident from the get-go, but his best is yet to come.
Rated 12 May 2015
Rated 02 Jan 2015
4
52nd
generally well-done with the good sense to leave the identity and motivation of the truck driver a complete mystery. the road parts are easily the best. the intermittent use of exciting music was unnecessary, and verbalising the man's thoughts was an absurdly poor decision, showing that even early on in his career, this director was unable to trust his audience to figure things out for themselves.
Rated 02 Jan 2015
Rated 04 Sep 2014
10
89th
Spielberg has made many great movies but this one is my absolute favourite.
Rated 04 Sep 2014
Rated 11 Aug 2014
90
81st
Duel, a grippingly pared down chase, is the reason why Steven Spielberg was the ideal choice for a film like Jaws. It's truly his first monster film, the gritty forerunner to the T Rex in the side view. Who is our villain here? A truck. Not even the guy inside the truck. We never see him. Even when we, and our equally minimal protagonist Dennis Weaver, think we have, we're brought right back to square one: No idea. Brilliant.
Rated 11 Aug 2014
Rated 25 Jul 2014
70
76th
If you consider yourself a movie-buff this is a must watch.
Rated 25 Jul 2014
Rated 24 May 2014
75
45th
Saf gerilim. Spielberg'in teknik anlamda hünerlerini sergilediği bir film.
Rated 24 May 2014
Rated 14 Mar 2014
65
37th
The greatest thing about Duel is the presence of the truck itself. The driver is rarely shown, and when he is it's only his arm, with the windshield being too dark to see who's behind it. The truck wails its horn when in sight of David like a wild animal making the jump for its prey. This enigma stalks David throughout the film and feels like a living, breathing monster, and this suspenseful predator-prey relationship feels like a natural precursor to Spielberg's breakthrough film, Jaws.
Rated 14 Mar 2014
Rated 06 Nov 2013
60
20th
Spielberg puts forth a taut, tense thriller in his early days, but it feels dated at this point. There's not enough substance to sustain the runtime and if you've already seen Joy Ride, Duel will feel really old.
Rated 06 Nov 2013
Rated 07 Jan 2013
95
95th
This movie is like comfort food or a security blanket to me. I feel so good when I watch it. Love it! I watch this movie probably about 7 times a year or more.
Rated 07 Jan 2013
Rated 21 Dec 2012
70
28th
It pretty much has no story or character development and feels a bit too long but Duel is some of the best suspense filmmaking I have ever seen.
Rated 21 Dec 2012
Rated 09 Oct 2012
85
92nd
An impressively tense and beautifully shot chase/stalker movie, that might sound as pure entertainment, but it is also, at least in my view of seeing this one, a frightening tale about the destruction of families -- or the traditional family chain as we know it -- by ghostface but realistic enemies -- the war, the drugs or even invisible diseases, I guess. This is pure New Hollywood.
Rated 09 Oct 2012
Rated 01 Jul 2012
89
98th
Tension, tension and more tension that's all this movie is. You never get to see the antagonist and you can actually feel the fear of the main character. Probably Steven Spielberg's best and another classic penned by the great Richard Matheson
Rated 01 Jul 2012
Rated 16 Jun 2012
89
67th
Pretty damn cool
Rated 16 Jun 2012
Rated 02 Apr 2012
79
61st
One of the best TV movies I have seen, doesn't even feel like one at all. It's very tense, even though there is little to work with. There is barely a plot, they attempt to make one with the phone call near the starting, but they just kind of drop it right afterwards. This definitely feels like a precursor to Jaws, the truck is the shark, the open road the ocean. It's a nice touch that we never get to see the driver's face. Even though most of the film is just driving, it doesn't get boring.
Rated 02 Apr 2012
Rated 05 Mar 2012
69
49th
Pretty outstanding for how low-budget it was. Eventually you really start to feel like this evil truck driver is an unstoppable force. The chase scenes are shot in a variety of ways that makes me think it must have been a nightmare to edit. Cameras were around the cars in so many directions. The biggest letdown is that the truck is labeled "flammable" but there is no explosion throughout the entire movie. It had kind of raised my hopes.
Rated 05 Mar 2012
Rated 20 Dec 2011
68
45th
The chase is frequently tense and exciting, but it fails at the human elements - poor monologues, cheesy character interaction. Several scenes are completely unnecessary and only seem to be there to pad it out to 90 minutes. Noteworthy for starting an important career, but a bit too weak to take all that seriously.
Rated 20 Dec 2011
Rated 02 Dec 2011
56
12th
#876
Rated 02 Dec 2011
Rated 26 Aug 2011
80
37th
Very good execution of a simple concept, but it isn't consistently compelling. Still very impressive.
Rated 26 Aug 2011
Rated 14 May 2011
73
79th
Effective thriller with a simple but original premise, very well executed. An underrated movie by an overrated director, Spielberg's feature debut probably remains his best.
Rated 14 May 2011
Rated 20 Feb 2011
88
94th
A fantastic concept well presented by Spielberg. Almost a one man cast, this thriller/horror provides an exquisite combination of suspense and action, with a plot that confounds you with its simplicity. A lesson to horror writers everywhere, this demonstrates the power of the nameless, faceless, impenetrable enemy. Taking modern life back to the laws of the jungle, this film grips to the end. If only Spielberg had kept making them like this!
Rated 20 Feb 2011
Rated 10 Jan 2011
40
22nd
One of the best examples of redneck dementia. Don't know if it should be awarded a good score for the effort to document the emptiness or a poor one to protect the others from the stupidity, noise and disgust.
Rated 10 Jan 2011
Rated 09 Oct 2010
85
81st
Intense shit! This is much more worthier than it's made-for-TV stigma.
Rated 09 Oct 2010
Rated 16 May 2010
80
80th
Simple but harrowing. Signs of a master director in the making, if at this time, relying heavily upon a Hitchcockian influence. But when was that ever really a bad thing?
Rated 16 May 2010
Rated 04 May 2010
91
58th
Dennis Weaver wouldn't have had any trouble if he'd been driving a Mustang!
Rated 04 May 2010
Rated 05 Apr 2010
83
44th
the distress is palpable
Rated 05 Apr 2010
Rated 15 Jan 2010
58
16th
849
Rated 15 Jan 2010
Cast & Info
Directed by:
Steven SpielbergScreenwriter:
Richard MathesonCollections
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