Wachowskis' SPEED RACER @ the Million Dollar Theater

Part of our Let’s Go Back to the Movies series

Saturday, May 16, 2026, Million Dollar Theater

LOCATION: The Million Dollar Theater, 307 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013

5p SPEED RACER (2008, wri & dir by Lana and Lily Wachowski, w/ Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci, John Goodman, Susan Sarandon, Warner Brothers, 135mns, USA, digital presentation)

You can get tickets to THE ANIMATRIX or get the entire ANIME + SPEED TRILOGY All-Day pass (all movies-11a ANIMATRIX 2p REDLINE 5p SPEED RACER best deal).

5p SPEED RACER. And thus we come to the final movie of our ANIME + SPEED triple feature which combines the visionary talents of the Wachowskis with the near sci-fi whiplash of Redline, Lana and Lily Wachowski’s 2008 Speed Racer. Just like The Matrix, this is a movie way ahead of its time. Which is great because it’s based on one of the very first anime/manga cross-over hits from Japan to the United States, the 1960’s anime tv show Speed Racer.

The Wachowskis create a live-action, anime, eye candy, video game, maximalist experience that surprised audiences in 2008. Now in 2026, Speed Racer is a cult classic screened around the world.

Speed Racer (Emile Hirsch), aided by his top notch family and girlfriend team of Pops, Mom, Spritle, Sparky, Chim Chim, and Trixie, is at the top of his game. He races to honor his older brother Rex who was killed in the cross-country Casa Cristo 5000.

But when Speed Racer moves to the biggest races in the world, he must deal with aggressive corporations like Royaltan and its CEO who promise one thing but have a much more sinister agenda. And Speed Racer becomes aware of a mysterious Racer X who may know more than he lets on about brother Rex’s death. Like Lana Wachowski’s later The Matrix Resurrections, Speed Racer is a sly autobiography of the Wachowskis thoughts on making art in a corporate system. But don’t worry, you’re gonna get the special effects, big movie goods. The races in this movie are like an extended psychedelic cinematic trip straight to the dream center of your brain.

The Wachowskis use a combination of special effects, animation, editing, and live action components to make Speed Racer a singular cinematic experience, still not matched since its release.

Maybe more importantly, they retain the family heart and soul and wacky humor of the 1960’s original so that Speed Racer is a cinematic and emotional ride.

Strap in, buckle up, get ready. This is going to be a wild ride in a movie palace.

Today, we screen three visionary anime and anime inspired 21st century works. You can get tickets to any individual movie or get the ANIME + SPEED TRILOGY All-Day pass (all movies, best deal). Go to next door's historic Grand Central Market for breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks as we take in what an art form can do and inspire.

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