Gran Turismo
Overview
Gran Turismo is a 2023 biographical sports drama film directed by Neill Blomkamp, based on the true story of Jann Mardenborough (Archie Madekwe), a teenage gamer who becomes a professional race car driver. The film is based on the PlayStation video game series of the same name. Jann is a young man from Cardiff, Wales, who spends his days playing Gran Turismo, a realistic racing simulator. He enters a competition sponsored by Nissan and PlayStation, the GT Academy, which offers the winner a chance to become a real race car driver. Jann wins the competition, and he is trained by Jack Salter (David Harbour), a cynical, washed-up former driver. The film follows Jann as he struggles to be taken seriously by the racing establishment. He crashes his car at the Nürburgring, and he is almost killed. He recovers, and he goes on to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The film is an underdog sports drama, filled with thrilling racing sequences. It explores themes of perseverance, the blurring of virtual and real, and the power of dreams. Gran Turismo was a critical and commercial success, earning over $121 million on a $60 million budget.
