On this day August 28 1982, The Junkman premiered in theaters. Billed as a sequel to Gone in 60 Seconds, the film was written, produced, directed by, and starred H B Halicki. Known for his love of high speed car stunts, Halicki delivered another action packed spectacle with dozens of real crashes, chases, and practical effects.
The story followed a movie producer targeted by assassins and forced into a deadly cat and mouse chase across California. While the plot took a backseat to the mayhem, the film’s over the top car sequences and raw energy made it a cult favorite among action fans. With helicopters, exploding vehicles, and traffic filled freeway pursuits, The Junkman was pure chaos captured on film.
Much like its predecessor, the movie was independently financed and pushed the boundaries of stunt work with real danger and no CGI. It may not have been a critical hit, but it became a beloved piece of gearhead cinema from the early 80s.
80s insight: The Junkman set a world record for the most vehicles destroyed in one movie at the time, with over 150 cars wrecked during production.
The story followed a movie producer targeted by assassins and forced into a deadly cat and mouse chase across California. While the plot took a backseat to the mayhem, the film’s over the top car sequences and raw energy made it a cult favorite among action fans. With helicopters, exploding vehicles, and traffic filled freeway pursuits, The Junkman was pure chaos captured on film.
Much like its predecessor, the movie was independently financed and pushed the boundaries of stunt work with real danger and no CGI. It may not have been a critical hit, but it became a beloved piece of gearhead cinema from the early 80s.
80s insight: The Junkman set a world record for the most vehicles destroyed in one movie at the time, with over 150 cars wrecked during production.
