“Death Race” (2008), directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, is a high-octane action-thriller that reimagines the 1975 cult classic “Death Race 2000.” Starring Jason Statham in the lead role, this film blends dystopian sci-fi elements with brutal vehicular combat, set against a backdrop of prison exploitation and corporate greed.

Set in a near-future America where the economy has collapsed and prisons are privately owned, “Death Race” takes place within Terminal Island Penitentiary, a prison where inmates compete in deadly races for the entertainment of the masses. These races, broadcast to the public, are no-holds-barred affairs where heavily armored and weaponized cars are used to win at any cost—often leading to fatal consequences for the competitors.

Jason Statham stars as Jensen Ames, a former race car driver who is falsely accused of murdering his wife. Sent to Terminal Island, Jensen is coerced by the ruthless prison warden Hennessey (played by Joan Allen) into competing in the Death Race. He is offered a deal: win five races and earn his freedom. Ames must don the mask of Frankenstein, a legendary and anonymous driver who was supposedly killed in a previous race, and take on a group of brutal competitors in order to survive and escape the corrupt system.