A car movie is many things to many men. It can be a movie like the original Fast and Furious movie where cars are the centerpiece of the entire plot, but they can also be about a specific car like Steve McQueen’s Bullitt.
Either way, car movies are eye candy to car enthusiasts, and choosing the best car movies out there is not an easy task. Either way, it’s hard to go against the 2019 Ford v Ferrari movie because this movie encompasses the true passion behind living the race track lifestyle.
The 2017 Baby Driver is not for off Ford v Ferrari as far as sheer excitement is concerned, and the same story goes for the 2015 Mad Max Fury Road movie. The 1977 Smokey and the Bandit is a definite classic when it comes to old-school US muscle cars and it definitely deserves a spot on the top 10 car movie list.
The 1969 Italian Job is also an incredibly fun movie to watch, and so is the 1966 Grand Prix. To end this “top 10 car movie” list with two bangers, be sure to also watch the 1971 Two-Lane Blacktop and the first serious Steven Spielberg feature – the 1971 Duel.
1. Original Fast and Furious (2001)
If you are a late 90s kid like me, chances are that the original Fast and Furious movie was the first entry point towards appreciating cars. It may not be the best movie of all time as far as acting and “art” is concerned, but this movie is so big that it spawned an undying franchise that is sure to encapsulate many generations to come.
2. Steve McQueen’s Bullitt (1968)
The 1968 Bullitt is arguably the most influential car movie of all time because it set the standard for the “cool guy in a cool car” type of movie which still attracts a large audience. Be that as it may, the best thing about this movie is the brilliant acting and plot-twisting followed by one of, if not the best car chase ever.
3. Ford v Ferrari (2019)
The showdown between Ford and Ferrari is one of the coolest car-related stories to ever exist, and it’s safe to say that the 2019 Ford v Ferrari movie certainly managed to tell the story in an interesting and incredibly fun way. From A-list actors to amazing shots and thrilling moments, the 2019 Ford V Ferrari is certainly worth your attention.
4. Baby Driver (2017)
The late 2010s were a great time to be a petrolhead, especially when you consider that the 2017 Baby Driver action movie was packed with amazing cars, amazing driving, and an amazing story. The leading role portrayed by Ansel Elgort captured the hearts of many, but the shining star from this movie was the brilliant sound editing.
5. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
The 2015 Mad Max Fury Road is a thrilling ride through an imaginary world full of amazing machinery, lots of sand, fire, and craziness. This dark dystopian vision of a future world is arguably the best car-related movie franchise of all time, and this 2015 classic was nominated for 10 Academy Awards and even won six of them.
6. Smokey and the Bandit (1977)
If you love a good old American movie with good old American cars, style, and scenery, be sure to check out the 1977 icon that is the Smokey and the Bandit. Reynolds Bandit was one of the most iconic characters in all car-related movies of all time, and the legendary Trans Am muscle car is easily recognizable even to this day.
7. The Italian Job (1969)
If you love an exciting drive, be sure to watch the original 1969 The Italian Job movie because this definite classic features one of the most interesting car scenes of all time when 4 Mini Coopers used massive underground tunnels in order to escape from a heist. The movie is also filled with amazing music, great actors, and beautiful scenery.
8. Grand Prix (1966)
The 1966 Grand Prix movie perfectly translates how melodrama can fit perfectly with action-packed visuals associated with high-speed racing. This movie is mostly known because its creator John Frankheneimer spent a lot of time around real racing teams in order to make the movie experience as true to original as humanly possible.
9. Two-Lane Blacktop (1971)
This classic was given to petrolheads by the incredibly artistic Monte Hellman, and the best thing about this movie is the sheer excitement it carries while watching three people – a driver, a mechanic, and a girl participating in a cross-country race. The acting was on a different level when compared to most car movies, and so were the car scenes.
10. Duel (1971.)
It’s hard to believe that 1971. was one of the greatest movie years as far as cars concerned considering that it also had legendary Steven Spielberg with his 1971 Duel, the aforementioned Two-Lane Blacktop, and Vanishing point which is also a classic car movie. This movie is brimming with excitement as a man tries to escape a mad man in a truck.
FAQ Section
Why do people love car movies?
People love car movies because they often share the passion we all have towards cars in a way that can easily be understood even by someone who does not even like cars.
However, for us enthusiasts, it’s just another way how we can enjoy watching cars and learn more stuff about the beautiful world of motoring.
Which is the worst car movie of all time?
There are many objectively bad car-related movies out there, but hardly any of them can be as bad as 1970s Van Nuys Blvd. Even though the movie did become somewhat of a classic, it’s not one due to anything related to the film.
Honorable mentions for the worst car movie of all time go to the 2016 Monolith and the 1978 Corvette Summer.
What is the best movie car of all time?
Whether it is a car-related movie or not, the best movie car out of all time is the Aston Martin DB5 from James Bond Goldfinger. The DeLorean is also one of the most iconic movie cars out of all time and so is Steve McQueen’s Bullitt.
Honorable mentions go to the Mini Cooper from the original Italian Job, the Batmobile, and the Smokey and the Bandit’s Trans Am.
