Year: 1974
Runtime: 102 mins
Language: Italian
Director: Marcello Fondato
Following a tied victory in a local stunt‑car showdown, two rival drivers agree to a head‑to‑head contest to claim the winning prize—a coveted dune buggy. Their plans are derailed when a mobster slams the buggy, leaving it wrecked. Fueled by anger and pride, the pair join forces to track down the criminal and reclaim their prized vehicle.
Warning: spoilers below!
Haven’t seen Watch Out, We’re Mad yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!
Read the complete plot breakdown of Watch Out, We’re Mad (1974), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
Somewhere in Spain, off-road race car driver Ben [Bud Spencer] eagerly anticipates the next rallycross, driven by the prize: a striking red Puma dune buggy with a yellow top. His rival, the sharp and fearless Kid [Terence Hill], shares the same dream and eyes the same prize with a competitive spark. The race roars to life, and in a dramatic finish the two cars surge toward the buggy at the same moment, ending in a tie that awards them both the vehicle.
Sharing the glory proves impossible, so they set out to decide a fair fates pattern. What starts as a playful dispute soon spirals into a sequence of dares: a high-stakes card game, a tense arm-wrestling match, and finally a boisterous “beer and hot-dog” eating contest in the funfair pub, where the first one to give up loses the car and picks up the tab. The contest is lighthearted at first, a rough-and-tumble wake-up call to see who truly deserves the prize.
Their competition is interrupted by men working for The Boss, a ruthless building profiteer who wants Luna Park torn down to make way for a skyscraper. The Boss’s men tear into the pub and threaten the customers, and Ben and Kid refuse to back down. They escape in high spirits, but not before the buggy is rammed by a rival car, leaving them determined to reclaim a new ride.
To regain ground, the two barge into the Boss’s restaurant during a dance party and demand replacement for the stolen buggy. The Boss wavers, but the German-born Freudian psychologist known as the Doctor [Donald Pleasence] pushes the Boss toward a hard line, insisting that giving in would create bad psychological fallout and accusing Ben and Kid of acting like spoiled children who need a father figure. The Doctor’s taunts goad the Boss into ruthless action, and he sends his henchman Attila [Deogratias Huerta] after them, even spraying gasoline on Ben’s car and setting it aflame—only for the duo to extinguish the blaze by racing into a nearby car wash.
Undeterred, Kid works to persuade the Boss to hand over the dune buggy, and Ben reluctantly follows, partly to scout for a possible choir assignment he’s been eyeing. The first attempt ends in a brutal brawl in the fairgrounds’ gym, where Ben and Kid defeat Attila and his henchmen. Enraged, the Boss unleashes a motorcycle gang, triggering a chase through a forest that the two manage to outmaneuver.
The Doctor persuades the Boss to unleash Paganini [Manuel de Blas], a feared assassin from the Chicago Underworld, after the two rivals. Paganini confronts them, but they manage to evade his relentless pursuit. Kid lures the assassin away from Ben’s place to the auditorium where the choir rehearses, igniting a clash in the middle of a work session that ends with Ben being kicked out, while Paganini is forced to stay and play violin at the Boss’s restaurant as a bizarre punishment.
The Boss’s attention shifts to Jeremias [Luis Barbero], Ben’s loyal assistant and a former cook who once worked for the Boss. Jeremias is found beaten in his garage, and Ben heads straight to the Boss’s restaurant to confront him, forcing his way in alongside Kid and mounting a full-blown struggle with the Boss’s henchmen.
In the end, the Boss tires of the escalating war and offers not one, but two dune buggies—one for each of them. The pair celebrate their hard-won victory, but a distraction ties into Kid’s interest in Liza [Patty Shepard], causing him to crash and destroy Ben’s buggy. As the two stand amid the wreckage, they pause to decide how to divide the remaining prize and what the future holds for their unlikely, stubborn rivalry.
Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 11:10
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Compelling stories of stubborn competitors forced to team up for a common goal.If you enjoyed the competitive but ultimately cooperative spirit of Watch Out, We’re Mad, you'll like these movies. They feature characters who start as adversaries but are forced into a partnership, leading to hilarious clashes and triumphant teamwork in action-packed or comedic settings.
The narrative typically begins with a clear rivalry between two strong-willed characters, often established through a contest or conflict. An external event or a shared, tangible goal forces them to temporarily set aside their differences. The journey is marked by friction, comic misadventures, and a gradual respect that culminates in a successful, and often chaotic, joint effort.
These movies are grouped together because they share the core character arc of enemies becoming allies. They balance competitive tension with the joy of forced collaboration, usually within a lighthearted, fast-paced framework that prioritizes fun and energetic action over deep drama.
Fast-paced, comedic adventures where characters embark on an absurd mission.Find more movies like Watch Out, We’re Mad that feature a straightforward plot driven by a playful crusade. If you liked the blend of slapstick humor, vehicle chases, and standing up to bullies in a lighthearted way, this collection of energetic action-comedies is for you.
The plot is kicked off by a personal affront or a desire for a specific prize, leading the protagonists on a linear and fast-moving quest. The narrative structure is a sequence of escalating, absurd challenges and slapstick set-pieces against a stubborn antagonist. The focus is on the playful chaos of the pursuit rather than deep character development or complex twists.
This thread connects movies that share a specific vibe: a fast, straightforward pace, a light tone despite chaotic action, and a narrative built around a humorous personal mission. They offer a consistent experience of energetic, boisterous fun without heavy emotional stakes.
Don't stop at just watching — explore Watch Out, We’re Mad in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Watch Out, We’re Mad is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Track the full timeline of Watch Out, We’re Mad with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Watch Out, We’re Mad. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Watch Out, We’re Mad: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.