12 best car movies of all time

When it comes to thrilling rides across completely deserted roads or rendezvous in the middle of a city as packed as Tokyo, we all live vicariously as we inhale the perfection of car movies all around the globe. The need for speed (pun intended), gravitates all car enthusiasts into this delicious trap that is the adrenaline boost that surges in everyone, enthusiasts or laymen alike after watching a well-shot car chase.

From great movies on cars to great movies that happen to have cars in them, the industry has given us plenty to choose from. No matter if you are a race car connoisseur or a vintage fan, movies have it all to please your every craving. The industry has not only worked on movies that give us the thrill of speed but also complex tales that make us question what stimulation those movies on cars can awake in us.

Meanwhile, there are also those films that subvert the genre on its head and introduce the same old tingle in unique narratives. Movies like the Transformers franchise would give you all the same electrifying joy yet add their own little flair to the story. Similarly, another such example would be the animated movie series Cars which again spins the genre for an entertaining bout of movies that are not only appropriate for the younger car lovers but also infinitely entertaining. Scroll down further to sift through our compilation of some of the best car movies ever made.

Check out our list of 12 best car movies below:

Ford v Ferrari

Directed by James Mangold, the plot of the movie follows automotive designer Carroll Shelby who heads a team of American and British engineers and designers. Shelby joins hands with Ken Miles, a race car driver, to build a new and improved racing car in an attempt to defeat the dominant Italian racing team, Scuderia Ferrari, at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans race in France. Starring Christian Bale and Matt Damon in leading roles alongside  Jon Bernthal, Caitríona Balfe, Tracy Letts, Josh Lucas, Noah Jupe, Remo Girone, and Ray McKinnon as supporting actors, this movie is certainly one for those who appreciate the technical side of automobiles and are looking for that car race thrill. Critics lauded the performances in the film especially Bale and Damon's and also praised Mangold's direction, the exceptional editing and the riveting racing sequences. The film later got nominated for four Academy Awards, of which it took home two including Best Film Editing and Best Sound Editing.

Gone in 60 Seconds (2000)

A remake of its 1970s predecessor, the movie casts Nicholas Cage, Angelina Jolie, Giovanni Ribisi and more. The movie takes car heists to an extreme as it follows Memphis Raines who attempts to steal 50 cars in one go and the real challenge is not the number but the time. An explosive delight for the ones who enjoy a good heist tale with lots of revving eye candy. Some fans have named it the Fast and Furious 0 as the movie does what the franchise will be known to do better in the coming years. Though after the release of the movie all critics jumped the wagon and gave the film majorly negative reviews, it performed a storm at the box office and quickly became a cult favourite. The movie follows Memphis Raines who is a former inmate, and on finding out that his brother is in danger with gangster Raymond Calitri, he returns to the criminal underworld to save Kip's life.

Duel

This 1971 Steven Spielberg masterpiece is a rather unique take on the genre. The story captures the dangerous repercussions of David's decision to overtake a truck on a desert road while travelling for a meeting. David's action aggravates the truck driver who then attempts throughout the movie to kill him. In his directorial debut, Spielberg gave the genre his own flavour as he explored the deadly and scary side of the flashy car thrills that might turn into a tale of torment in no time. Starring Dennis Weaver as David, the movie decides to keep the truck driver anonymous much like a boogeyman that haunts us in our sleep, unbeknownst to us yet ever-present in our journey. Upon the launch of the film, critics applauded the film and especially the director as many hailed Spielberg for his unique flair, even branding the film as the best ever television film of all time. Duel has also been recognized as an A-list cult classic by fans.

Grand Prix

The movie that gave the genre all its winning aspects from great camera work to essential sound techniques, this 1966 John Frankenheimer movie has much to be credited for all the movie magic today. The film captures the Formula One championship where the best racers from all around the world show up in order to compete with each other. The movie packs a punch with a touch of drama as it follows American wheelman Pete Aron (James Garner) who is dropped by his sponsor and joins the Japanese team as he refuses to quit. The tale gets pricklier as Pete has to juggle a torrid love affair with his ex-teammate's betrothed while also trying to defeat the previous winner of two world titles from France, Jean-Pierre Sarti (Yves Montand). A good mix of drama and real race cars, this film burns hot. The film went on to become the highest-grossing project of that year and also took home three Oscars for its technical excellence.

Days of Thunder

A Tony Scott wonder, this Tom Cruise film is about a promising budding racer Cole Trickle who is recruited by a big brand but gets injured in an accident. However, on his return, Cole has to face a deterrent that not only wants to defeat him but also disable him. Some say the movie is a carbon-copy of Tom cruise's Top Gun yet the movie does not disappoint the automobile fans who are there in front of the line waiting for a sip of good race car movies. Interestingly, the film also features real NASCAR race drivers. Besides Cruise, the film stars Nicole Kidman, Robert Duvall, Randy Quaid, Cary Elwes, Caroline Williams, and Michael Rooker. The film received harsh criticism for its artificial special effects and similarities with Top Gun but was praised highly for its action sequences and the outstanding performances by Kidman and Cruise. 

Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift 

A personal favourite that no one can take off a list of best car movies, this edition of the Fast and Furious franchise particularly holds a special place in all car enthusiasts' bonnets. The movie series introduced CGI to the genre and changed the game entirely. Director Justin Lin captures a newer side of the car genre not with formula 1 race cars but by utilizing the underground culture of those that need the thrill to breathe again. The story follows an errant car racer who is sent to Japan in order to avoid jail time though he jumps into the tiger's den once again as he joins the drifting world and becomes a major competitor. The film is lauded by its fans for being the most realistic film among the releases of the franchise. It casts Lucas Black and Bow Wow in lead roles. As for the critics, the film did not land right with them and received mostly mixed to bad reviews and has been the lowest-grossing film from the franchise, owing to its cult status.

Death Proof 

If you enjoy a good car crash, then this movie is for you. Diving into the car genre with a fresh story, this 2007 Quentin Tarantino film offers an interesting plot that involves a Hollywood stuntman who kills women and in turn, makes it look like a car accident until one day he comes across a lot that attempts to fight back. In a time when most movies opt for a computer-generated sequence than some real tear and destruction, this movie does not shy away from giving the people what they want, real car chases with real car jump-ins. The film stars Kurt Russell as the killer stuntman alongside  Rosario Dawson, Vanessa Ferlito, Jordan Ladd, Rose McGowan, Sydney Tamiia Poitier, Tracie Thoms, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, and Zoë Bell who co-star as his victims.

Baby Driver

Packed with fast car chases and beautifully shot drifts, this Edgar Wright film is surely a must-watch. Doc coerces Baby, a former getaway driver, into taking part in a heist, threatening to harm his girlfriend if he doesn't. However, when their gun dealers reveal out to have been undercover cops, the scheme goes bad and the movie gets good. The pace of the movie draws one in, with speed and touch of drama alongside romance, the movie tops the genre. It also has a star-studded cast including Ansel Elgort with Lily James, Kevin Spacey, Jon Hamm, Jamie Foxx, Eiza Gonzalez and more. The film was praised for its craftsmanship though it did receive occasional criticism. The film was also nominated for several accolades including three Academy Awards and two BAFTAs one of which it took home.

Mad Max Fury Road

A bizarre concept with a stranger aesthetic, this movie is not for the weak of heart as it takes the audience on a wild ride in the middle of an unending desert. Max, a drifter and survivor in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, reluctantly joins Imperator Furiosa, a rebel warrior, in a quest to overthrow a despot who rules over the land's supply of water. Thirty years after the last instalment of the franchise was released, George Miller brings back the series in his glorious 2015 masterpiece that stars A-listers who do not disappoint including Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult, Mel Gibson, Zoe Kravitz and more. Although the film has remained the highest-grossing project in the Mad Max franchise, it did perform as well as expected and led to the production companies bearing losses. The critics complimented Miller's direction and screenplay as well as the performances of the cast, giving extra credit to Hardy and Theron's work.

The Italian Job (1969)

This 1969 original is unlike most in the genre that use flashy automobiles for an even flashier display of car chase sequences, this Peter Collinson production helms its mantle on Austin Mini Coopers. The story follows Charlie played by Michael Caine who on getting out of prison learns about his friends' failed attempt at completing a heist in Italy. With the mafia on his periphery, Charlie decides to take on the task himself. Besides Caine, the movie stars the industry's best including Noel Coward, Benny Hill, Michael Standing, Raf Vallone, Tony Beckley and more.

Back To The Future

Not a typical car movie, Back To The Future though features the best of both worlds as it combines a super savvy high-tech car that also serves as not only a time machine but also a hovercraft with sci-fi fun. Although the movie does not offer epic car chases and tumbling cars in the air yet it entertains an automobile enthusiast all the same. The film follows Marty who follows back in time using a scientist's time machine (the prize) in order to make his parents fall in love again if he wants to return back in time. The film casts Michael J. Fox as Marty, Christopher Lloyd as the eccentric scientist alongside Lea Thompson, Crispin Glover and more.

Ronin

Though not essentially a "car" movie, this John Frankenheimer film gives the audiences a great blend of all the elements one seeks in a thrilling ride. Sam, a former US intelligence officer, employs a mercenary group from Japan to acquire a mysterious suitcase that is likely to slip into Russian hands. The movie offers good car chase scenes with an exhilarating pursuit for the unknown article in question. The film stars legendary Robert De Niro alongside Jean Reno, Sean Bean, Natascha McElhone, Stellan Skarsgard and more.

This was our list of the best car movies of all time. Share your own additions to our log in the comments below.