We all know that a great movie usually has at least one great car in it. But what about great movies that are ABOUT cars? I’m talking about the best movies that revolve around car culture, rather than just featuring a sweet ride in a couple of scenes.
We want to know what your favorites are! While you’re thinking about it, here are my top 5 movies about cars:
Cars
The story of a cocky rookie race car realizing what’s important in life is as heartwarming as it is exciting. Yeah, it’s an animated “kids” movie, but adults can be entertained and learn from it just as much. We can even learn a thing or two about driving (turn right to go left!?).
Days of Thunder
Another hot-shot rookie race car driver (this time in human form) gets his shot at the racing big time. Fast cars, intense racing, true love… what else do you need? How about “the need… the need for speed!”
Talladega Nights
“Shake” and “Bake,” baby! The top two NASCAR drivers always finish 1st and 2nd. But uh-oh… here comes a French Formula One driver ready to take over NASCAR! As funny as Will Ferrell is, Sacha Baron Cohen makes this movie. Darrell Waltrip and Dale Earnhardt Jr. even make appearances!
Speed Racer
Maybe it’s just because I have a 7-year-old son, but I’ve seen this movie twice and loved it even more the second time. This movie lacks real cars, is partly computer generated and has completely unrealistic race scenes. Still, the race scenes are as fun as they are furious. This isn’t just a movie about racing; it’s a movie about saving the world of racing.
The Fast and the Furious
The underworld of LA street racing: fast cars, beautiful women… so tempting even an undercover cop isn’t sure he wants to give it up!
Did I miss one of your favorites?
-tgriffith
Awful list. These are not bad movies, but none of them are truly about car culture, except The Fast and The Furious. Look past the $5.00 DVD bin at Walmart and you’ll find real car movies like Two-Lane Blacktop, American Grafitti, Vanishing Point, and Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry. Car movies as a genre really hittheir peak in the 70’s.
Mad Max: the Road Warrior.
Really, the discussion begins and ends with Two-Lane Blacktop. There are lots of good and entertaining movies about racing or with great chase scenes, or about being a rebel driver. If we’re looking for a movie about cars and car enthusiast culture — Two-Lane Blacktop is number one.
well out of all these fast and furious movies are the best.
theres really hott guys and hott cars.
they go great together.
ve always like the Fast and Furious movies. I mean the plot is terrible, and the acting isn’t great, but its basically car porn. It’s just nice, flashy, fast cars, power sliding around LA.
The others are really good movies too, although I’ve never seen Speed Racer (didn’t hear good things). Gone in Sixty Seconds is definitely one of the best ones, and Vanishing Point (the original, not the Viggo remake) is a good one too.
Honorable mention –
Smokey and the bandit
American Gra
The HB Halicki original gone in sixty seconds is the only one that will do. Also the chase scenes in Death Proof were amazing.. Vanishing Point is a monster also. Oh and Smokey and the Bandit.. The way he drives that car in the first one was hella crazy..
Does Ronin count? there are some great chase scenes in that film – squished between scenes of DeNiro repeating lines.
Classic, yes. Awesome car movie, no.
You know, I thought about adding the Herbie movies to my list. Gone in 60 Seconds is a good choice too…actually that should’ve been on the list! Tim, not a fan of the chitty chitty, huh? It’s a classic!
Chitty chitty bang bang? Seriously? Replace the ‘ch’ with ‘sh’!
American Graffiti, More American Graffiti, Two Lane Blacktop, Hot Rod, The orginal Bullit, Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang, Hell Drivers, all of the Herbie movies, both versions of Death Race. Is that enough for you?
I do not know I like the idea of at least being slightly realistic and the guys that are talking about the cars knowing what they are talking about. So that leaves Cars, the fast and the furious and, vanishing point out. I like gone in 60 seconds except the one jump scene of the hauler. Everything else was realistic. For me saying that vanishing point was a good car movie I would have to say that dukes of hazzard was a good movie. That is a long stretch when the whole basis of the movie is that a car is essentially indestructible.
Sure there are great cars in all of these other than Cars and Speed racer but there is more to a car movie than cool cars. it has to be believable cars as well. That is why American Graffiti comes in second place for me.
I’ve always like the Fast and Furious movies. I mean the plot is terrible, and the acting isn’t great, but its basically car porn. It’s just nice, flashy, fast cars, power sliding around LA.
The others are really good movies too, although I’ve never seen Speed Racer (didn’t hear good things). Gone in Sixty Seconds is definitely one of the best ones, and Vanishing Point (the original, not the Viggo remake) is a good one too.
Honorable mention –
Smokey and the bandit
American Graffiti