When you look at the credits of a movie, the list of actors, writers, special effects people, stunt people, and all the other professionals needed to create a film is extraordinary. But there is one non-human character missing from the list. Those cars sometimes drive the plot. And there has been a lot of great car movies!
When a list of great movies includes a 2011 Bugatti Veyron, a Ferrari 458 Italia, a 1968 Ford Mustang GT, even a few Porsche 911s, then gearheads take note. But it's not only the vehicles that stun, but the crashes, the stunts, and even the legendary people working behind the scenes. Check out some of the great car movies of our time.
10 Thelma and Louise (1991)
What beats a good road trip movie? Cruising around in a 1966 Thunderbird convertible (5 Thunderbirds were used in the filming of Thelma and Louise). Not forgetting a car chase where a legion of police cars (24 to be precise) are roaring through the desert.
Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon create the perfect on-screen road trip duo. But there is another significant relationship: Louise's attachment to her Thunderbird. When Thelma suggests she cares more about the car more than people, Louise retorts, "Most people just cause me trouble, but that car always gets me out of it."
9 The Junkman (1982)
The Junkman is a classic early 80s car movie. Look out for the 1974 Bricklin sV-1, front and center in a police chase, a squadron of police cars in pursuit (with a twist). Of course, one of the stars is a 1980 Cadillac Eldorado, not forgetting the chase (no spoiler alerts here!).
Oh, and let's not forget the number of cars wrecked in this movie. 150 vehicles and planes, a Guinness world record for that time, a record held for more than 20 years!
8 No Man's Land (1987)
The ultimate movie for Porsche lovers. No Man's Land follows Benji Taylor, an undercover rookie cop, trying to break up an auto-theft ring. What beats a good car chase involving a hot Porsche? Just watch the Porsche v. Camaro chase!
And yes, there are some nice Porsches in this film, not to mention the showcase of 911s! Played by Charlie Sheen, Ted Varrick's passing comment about a Ferrari 512 Boxer may stir a reaction. Oh, look out for Brad Pitt, in probably one of his first movie appearances.
7 Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011)
Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011) offers gearheads not only a thrill ride involving a battle of robots, but also a feast of extraordinary visual effects.
The selection of cars offered in this movie is incredible. But when you have a budget of $195 million for a film, you can afford to splurge on a Ferrari 458 Italia, a Hummer H2, and a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. Now consider that 532 cars were destroyed in this movie. This all adds up to one serious auto extravaganza.
6 Duel (1971)
To mention Spielberg alongside a Plymouth Valiant may seem strange, until you realize that this car was a springboard for his career. Duel (1971) was Spielberg's official directorial film debut.
Duel is a thriller pursuit that pits a 1955 Peterbilt 281 against a red Plymouth Valiant. The Peterbilt 281 was produced from 1954 to 1976, used for hauling freight. The Peterbilt 281 in the film was powered by a Cummins NTC 350 turbocharged engine, reaching top speeds of 74 mph.
5 Vanishing Point (1997)
Vanishing Point (1997) is a remake of the 1971 movie of the same name, with some great chase sequences, including a chase that pits a 1968 Dodge Charger against the 1970 Dodge Challenger.
440 Magnum engines were reportedly used because of the cost of a 426 Hemi. But to quote the movie, "The 1970 Hemi Challenger is not just a car. It is the apotheosis of American Muscle car technology. Okay? A reminder of when we were number one."
4 Gone in Sixty Seconds (1974)
An early-seventies classic revolving around a car theft ring! Yes, other movies borrow from its plot, with a film like No Man's Land (1984) re-exploring some of these themes. But some of those cars though! A Rolls Royce Silver Ghost, a Silver Shadow, not to mention the Cadillacs!
But we can't forget that car chase! Involving 'Eleanor', a customized 1971 Ford Mustang Sportsroof (and yes, fans online still argue over the 1971/73 dating). It has been described as one of the greatest car chases. 40 minutes long, it's a thrill ride of destructive proportions, reportedly destroying 93 cars!
3 Furious 7 (2015)
When 230 cars are destroyed in a film, any gearhead will sit up and take notice. Then to consider the production budget for Furious 7. A whopping 190 million dollars! Not to mention some of the cars! 2011 Bugatti Veyron and of course, a Lykan HyperSport (raising lots of questions), to name a few.
Then those stunts, such as the Etihad Towers car jump, in which multiple 40-foot tall enclosures were constructed from glass and steel, with a stunt driver driving through the glass walls. Not forgetting the stunt drivers, such as Rhys Millen, a racing legend and a professional stunt driver, working on films such as The Dukes of Hazzard and multiple Fast and Furious films, including Furious 7, doubling as Jason Statham and Paul Walker.
2 Bullitt (1968)
The legend of Steve McQueen shines decades after his passing. His love affair with cars was well known. Not to mention his films and some of the machines that graced the screen. That 1953 Plymouth Cranbrook blue convertible in The Blob (1958) or that rare 1968 Ferrari 275 GTS/4 NART Spider in The Thomas Crown Affair (1968).
But of all his films, Bullitt, with its unforgettable car chase and of course that 1968 Ford Mustang GT, is always remembered as one of the great car movies. The chase scene alone took several weeks to film. Not only that, McQueen was doing most of the stunt driving.
1 Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) is a post-apocalyptic car chase dream for gearheads, just look at Mad Max's Interceptor, that modified black 1973 Ford Falcon XB! And let's not forget its 6 Academy Awards, not to mention those 10 nominations.
The genius of Fury Road for a gearhead is not just the vehicles roaring across our screens but also their design. Colin Gibson, a legend when it comes to production design, having worked on numerous films, created the vehicles on Fury Road, even winning the Academy Award for Best Production Design.