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Poster for Hell on Wheels

Hell on Wheels

Seen it?

2004 | 123 min | Documentary

Weeknight Watchearly rating

Why it’s a Weeknight Watch

With almost no lasting buzz and soft box office, it's a mixed bag. Fine if it's on; don't plan your night around it.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Best for anyone who loves an underdog and people who love a story about friendship. You don't need to know the game to feel the big moments. Shelve it next to Senna. The friendships are the beating heart of it.
The mood
Eye-opening.
The pace
Well paced for a documentary, at 2 hr 3 min.
What might put you off
Skip it if you want made-up drama tonight.

Year after year hundreds of thousands of fans line the route of the Tour de France, cheering on their heroes and willing them to victory, while millions of viewers worldwide tune in on their televisions. Academy Award-winning director Pepe Danquart, fascinated by the spectacle of the three week race, chose to focus on the courage, the pain and the fear of the riders of the Tour. Training his lens on German superstar sprinter Eric Zabel and his loyal domestique Rolf Aldag, Danquart captures the thrill of the race and the teamwork behind the stars of the peleton. He also shines light on the Tour's supporting cast - the director sportifs, masseurs, and, of course, the wildly enthusiastic fans. Reveling in the stunning landscape - from the Alps to the Pyrenees to the Massif Central to Paris - and with a nice dollop of Le Tour's history, HELL ON WHEELS transcends the sport it celebrates to reveal an astonishing human endeavor.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsNot counted

    Not enough reviews on record yet

  • AudiencesNot counted

    Not measured yet: not enough ratings

  • AwardsSolid

    Won 1 Oscar: Academy Awards: Live Action Short Film.

  • Reach & staying powerBelow par

    Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactWeak

    About 991 people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Werner Swiss Schweizer, Pepe Danquart

  • Erik ZabelHimself
  • Rolf AldagHimself
  • Andreas KlödenHimself
  • Steve ZampieriHimself
  • Dieter RuthenbergHimself
  • Mario KummerHimself
  • Serge LagetHimself