Release
The producers unsuccessfully attempted to negotiate an American release for the film with Roger Corman after it was shown with great success at the Cannes film festival. Shortly afterwards Corman recruited Paul Bartel to direct his Death Race 2000; Bartel hadn't seen The Cars That Ate Paris but he was aware that Corman had a print of the film.
The movie struggled to find an audience in Australia, changing distributors and with an ad campaign unsure whether to pitch it as a horror film or art film. However it has become a cult film. In 1980, $112,500 had been returned to the producers. It received an American release in 1976 by New Line Cinema under the title The Cars That Eat People with added on narration and other differences.
In 1992, it was adapted as a Music-Theatre work by Chamber Made Opera.
The film currently holds a 57% 'Rotten' rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Read more about this topic: The Cars That Ate Paris
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