A high-octane heist film that failed critics but conquered the global box office
In short: Despite a critical drubbing and a reputation for nonsensical plotting, the 2000 action film Gone in 60 Seconds became a massive commercial success. Starring Nicolas Cage as a retired thief forced back into the game, the movie turned a fleet of luxury cars into the ultimate cinematic prize.
Directed by Dominic Sena and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, the 2000 remake of the 1974 original follows Memphis Raines, a reformed car thief tasked with stealing 50 high-end vehicles in a single night to save his brother. The production, which filmed throughout Los Angeles and Long Beach from May to October 1999, featured a star-studded cast including Angelina Jolie and Robert Duvall. Despite the talent involved, the film was met with widespread critical disdain, holding a 25% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 35 out of 100 on Metacritic.
The film's reception was marked by sharp contrasts. While critics panned the writing and action sequences—with one reviewer calling it the dumbest of Cage's career—audiences were more forgiving, awarding it a B+ on CinemaScore. Commercially, the film was a powerhouse, opening at number one with over $25 million and eventually grossing $237,202,299 worldwide. However, the financial reality was complex; due to high production and marketing costs, the studio estimated a $90 million loss, while Hollywood accounting practices led Disney to record a $212 million write-down.
Central to the film's legacy is the 1967 Ford Mustang fastback known as Eleanor. Eleven or twelve cars were built for the production by Cinema Vehicle Services, with three fully functional vehicles and nine shells. The iconic design was the work of Steve Stanford and Chip Foose. While the film was mocked at the 2000 Stinkers Bad Movie Awards for its screenplay and score, it later received recognition for its stunts, with The Hollywood Reporter naming it the best of 2000 in a 2025 retrospective.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Gone in 60 Seconds (2000 film)
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