Maximum Overdrive is a 1986 American comedy horror film written and directed by Stephen King.[5] The film stars Emilio Estevez, Pat Hingle, Laura Harrington, and Yeardley Smith. The screenplay was inspired by and loosely based on King’s short story “Trucks“, which was included in the author’s first collection of short stories, Night Shift.
Maximum Overdrive is King’s only directorial effort, though dozens of films have been based on his novels or short stories. The film contained black humor elements and a generally campy tone, which contrasts with King’s sombre subject matter in books. The film has a mid-1980s hard rock soundtrack composed entirely by the group AC/DC, whose album Who Made Who was released as the Maximum Overdrive soundtrack. It includes the best-selling singles “Who Made Who“, “You Shook Me All Night Long“, and “Hells Bells“.
The film was nominated for two Golden Raspberry Awards including Worst Director for King and Worst Actor for Estevez in 1987, but both lost against Prince for Under the Cherry Moon. In 1988, Maximum Overdrive was nominated for “Best Film” at the International Fantasy Film Awards.[6] King disowned the film and described it as a “moron movie”. He considered the process a learning experience,[7] after which he intended never to direct again.[8]