Panic Mechanic (1996): cast, story & where to watch
1996 · Film · ★ 5.7
Released in 1996, Panic Mechanic is a comedy film directed by David Lister, running about 100 minutes.
What it’s about. When Hanky Pranky (alias Schucks), star of a candid camera TV show, loses his job to affirmative action, he applies for a job at a stress academy. It´s not long before Schucks discovers his new boss, Jack Paddaman, is as crooked as they come, but it´s too late: the employment contract is signed and sealed.A year passes, and Schucks is no better off. However, his candid camera videos, which poke fun at all sectors of post-1994 South Africa, prove a big hit with stressed-out government ministers. When the president asks Paddaman to make a movie to benefit street children, Schucks and his pals do all the hard work while Paddaman plans how he can get hold of the profits from the video sales. Add a scatterbrained secretary, a lovelorn traffic cop and a cunning street child and you have a roll-in-the aisles comedy with a distinctly South African flavour.
Who’s in it. Panic Mechanic stars Leon Schuster as Schuks, Tolla Van Der Merwe as Jakob, Frantz Dobrowsky as Jack Paddaman and Nana Stapelberg as Gloria Haasbroek, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 5.7/10, Panic Mechanic has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Panic Mechanic page.
If you liked it. Fans of Panic Mechanic tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Panic Mechanic (1996)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for Panic Mechanic change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is Panic Mechanic worth watching?
- Panic Mechanic holds an audience score of 5.7 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Panic Mechanic?
- Panic Mechanic stars Leon Schuster, Tolla Van Der Merwe, Frantz Dobrowsky, Nana Stapelberg and Themba Ndaba.
- When was Panic Mechanic released?
- Panic Mechanic was released in 1996, with a runtime of about 100 minutes.