Fantasy author Brandon Sanderson, known for his expansive Cosmere universe, has declared the 2008 Speed Racer film a perfect "10 out of 10." Sanderson shared his enthusiastic assessment during a recent episode of his weekly podcast, where he and cohost Dan Wells discuss various tier lists.
Sanderson described the movie as the Wachowskis "at their A game" and contended that it was "underappreciated when it came out." This stance contrasts with the film's reception, which currently holds a 42% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 6.1 out of 10 on IMDB. However, IGN's own review from 2008 awarded Speed Racer a near-perfect 9 out of 10, calling it a "masterpiece of its kind."
According to Sanderson, the film's initial poor performance stemmed from its "over the top" and straightforward nature. He explained that it was "a cartoon made live action — but it's fantastic," suggesting its simplicity may have been misunderstood by audiences expecting a more complex narrative.
Despite grossing only $94 million at the box office in 2008, Speed Racer has found renewed appreciation. A recent limited-edition 4K and Blu-ray steelbook release, accompanied by theatrical screenings, saw significant fan support. The steelbook has since sold out, though the 4K version of the film remains available for purchase.