We’ve already written about the best movies about trucks and truck drivers you have to watch. Now it is time now for our recommendation on some great car movies you must see. From classic ones full of drama, comedy, and romance to more recent ones that include action, crime, spy-thriller and documentary, we have it all.
The yellow Rolls-Royce, 1964
This classic launched on May 13, 1965, and combines drama with comedy and romance. Directed by Anthony Asquith and written by Terence Rattigan, the movie starred Ingrid Bergman, Rex Harrison, and Shirley MacLaine. Moreover, there are three stories within the movie that tell us more about the lives of three different owners of a specific type of yellow Rolls-Royce. A must watch?
Gone in 60 seconds, 1974
You’ve probably seen Gone in Sixty Seconds movie that launched in the States in 2000 starring Nicolas Cage and Angelina Jolie. If you haven’t, don’t even bother because that remake is not worth it. I would recommend the original one though that launched in 1974 starring Henry Blight Halicki, Marion Busia and Jerry Daugirda.
The action/crime/drama movie tells the story of Maindrian Pace, an insurance investigator and retired car thief who has to return to the automotive industry and together with his team he has to steal 48 cars in a single night in order to save the life of his brother. “When a South American drug lord pays Pace to steal 48 cars for him, all but one, a 1973 Ford Mustang, are in the bag. As Pace prepares to rip-off the fastback, codenamed “Eleanor”, in Long Beach, he is unaware that his boss has tipped off the police after a business dispute. Detectives are waiting and pursue Pace through five cities as he desperately tries to get away,” according to IMDB.
Tucker: The Man and His Dream, 1988
This biographical – drama movie launched on August 12 1988 and tells the story of car designer Preston Tucker trying to enter the auto industry market by designing and producing his own car concept: 1948 Tucker Sedan. The movie was directed by Francis Ford Coppola, written by Arnold Schulman and David Seidler, and starred Jeff Bridges, Joan Allen, and Martin Landau. Even though its box office was not quite successful in 1988, the movie received very good opinions from critics at the time and I strongly recommend it.
Ronin, 1998
Before telling you anything about the plot of the movie, let me just mention the fact that Robert DeNiro and Jean Reno co-star in it. How cool is that? This American spy-thriller had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival on September 12, 1998, and launched in the United States on September 25, 1998. Directed by John Frankenheimer and produced by Frank Mancuso Jr. the film according to Wikipedia article, “centers on a team of hired operatives trying to steal a mysterious and heavily-guarded case while navigating a maze of shifting loyalties and alliances.” Oh, and for all you Game of Thrones fans out there, Sean Bean also stars in this movie. Need I say more?
Who Killed the Electric Car? 2006
As a big fan of documentary films, I had to recommend this investigative documentary film that explores the rise and fall of electric cars, the role of automobile manufacturers, and the renewable energy, the battery-electric vehicle in the States during the 90s. The documentary launched on August 4, 2006, and starred Martin Sheen, Tom Hanks, and Mel Gibson. “Who Killed the Electric Car” writer and director Chris Paine started shooting a follow-up documentary about the return of electric cars called “The Revenge of the Electric Car,” which had its world premiere on April 22, 2011, at the Tribeca Film Festival.
Rush I, 2013
This movie about cars is another must-see! This biographical drama/action movie launched on September 27, 2013, and is about the 1970’s rivalry between two Formula 1 drivers: English James Hunt and Austrian Niki Lauda. Directed by Ron Howard, the film was shot in different locations like Germany, Austria, and the United Kingdom. “The story follows their distinctly different personal styles on and off the track, their loves and the astonishing 1976 season in which both drivers were willing to risk everything to become world champion in a sport with no margin for error: if you make a mistake, you die,” according to movie writer Peter Morgan.
And did I mention that Chris Hemsworth and Olivia Wilde co-star in this movie? No? Well, now you know!
All Fast and Furious movies… if you haven’t seen them yet.
American franchise Fast & Furious, Universal’s biggest franchise of all time, as you may already know, is a series of action films about “illegal street racing and heists, and various other media portraying the characters and situations from the films,” as per Wikipedia. The first movie of the sequel launched on June 22, 2001. The most recent one, Furious 7 launched on March 16, 2015. It stars Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Jason Statham, Dwayne Johnson, and Michelle Rodriguez. In 2014, Universal chairwoman Donna Langley said that most likely there will be 10 Fast and Furious movies made. WooHoo!!
Furthermore, the eighth Fast and Furious movie is expected to be released on April 14, 2017. The story of Fast and Furious 8 “is going to have to be something enticing for all of us […] It has to be as good as or better than Furious 7,” producer Neal Moritz said. “I was trying to keep it close to the vest throughout the release. Paul Walker used to say that eight was guaranteed. And in some ways, when your brother guarantees something, you sometimes feel like you have to make sure it comes to pass. […] Seven was for Paul, eight is from Paul,” said Vin Diesel in an interview.
So, this was our short list of the best car movies you must see. Hopefully, there are some in here that you still haven’t watched yet and would like to see. If so, feel free to comments on which one is your favorite. If you have any good movies about cars in mind please do recommend. Thank you!