A trip to the movies has always been an escape. A time in which to indulge in the fastasy worlds projected up on the silver screen that will allow us to forget about the day-to-day grinds and disappear down a wonderful rabbit hole. For gearheads, it's an opportunity to bathe in the majesty of the hero car, a vehicle that not only steals the show but spurs fans on to worship at the tail pipes of an iconic machine. And let's be honest, there are plenty of movies out there every gearhead should watch.

Whether it's from the very hint of the burbling idle of a V8 powered Ford Mustang, the sun soaked coachwork of a sleek modified Dodge Charger, or the high-pitched whines of a supercharged Pursuit Special, it's the muscle car that thrills us the most, and grabs our attention from the instant they appear to the second the credits roll.

Having proved over time that they are much bigger than the movies they appeared in and dripping in nostalgia, their tanks full of gas, smoke pouring from the rear tires, these are the coolest classic muscle cars to star in movies.

10 Bullitt - 1968 Mustang GT

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It takes a special kind of car to elevate an average cop drama starring the King of Cool, Steve Mcqueen, to legendary status, but that's exactly what the humble Ford Mustang achieved when Bullitt was released in 1968.

McQueen

Considered featuring the best car chase ever filmed, Bullitt's success was arguably down to the hero car, a Highland Green Mustang GT 390, a car that was capable of a 0-60 mph time of 6 seconds thanks to a generous 325 hp and 427 lb-ft of torque.

9 Dukes Of Hazzard - 1969 Dodge Charger

General Lee

For those who grew up in the 80s it was common place to see an orange painted Dodge Charger sporting a confederate flagged roof some fifteen feet off the ground as a herd of police cruisers pointlessly tried to chase it down.

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The infamously named 'General Lee' was based on a 1969 model and powered by a variety of engines from a 5.2 liter 318 in the original series right through to a 426 6.9 liter Hemi in the film. Most notably, the doors were welded shut for supposed structural rigidity and trademark window entry by the Dukes.

Related: We Pick The Ugliest Muscle Car Of Each Decade

8 Smokey And The Bandit - 1977 Pontiac Trans-Am

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Marketed as a road action comedy and starring the late great Burt Reynolds as 'The Bandit', a bootlegger who drove a distinctive black 1977 Pontiac Trans Am with a golden, screaming bird on the hood.

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The Bandit Trans Am was depicted as a 1977 6.6 liter model with a 225 hp engine capable of propelling the 'Screaming Chicken' to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds, but in reality the cars used were actually modified 1976 models powered by the famous 455, a 7.4 liter engine.

7 Vanishing Point - 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T

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The 1971 film Vanishing Point is essentially one long car chase with brief pauses in between, and it is none the worse for it. Having been remade in 1997, it's the original that holds up to the test of time and first introduced the movie going public to the fantastic Dodge Challenger R/T.

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It is often wrongly believed that the engine fitted to the iconic movie car was a (426) 6.9 liter Hemi when in actual fact eight 440 Hemi powered 'six-pack' cars were supplied for filming. That's 386 hp and a 0-60 mph time of 6.1 seconds with which to wow an audience.

Related: 10 Classic Muscle Cars Most Collectors Steer Clear Of

6 Mad Max - 1974 Ford Falcon XB GT

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Famed for being the 'Last of the V8 Interceptors' and built from a piece from here and a piece from there, Max's Pursuit Special started life as a Ford Falcon XB GT before having a drastic makeover and engine upgrade by talented mechanic 'Barry' to become something of legend.

interceptor engine

For theatrical purposes, the Interceptor was powered by a 5.8-liter engine with additional Weiand 6-71 Supercharger, displayed side pipes, gold police emblems and pumped out an incredible 600 hp. More than enough to chase any crazed biker gang down.

5 Gran Torino - 1972 Ford Gran Torino Sport

GT Sport

If there is one man on the list that is actually meaner in both look and stance than his ride, then it's the star of 2008's Gran Torino, Clint Eastwood. Exposing a brief yet gritty look at life in America, the car soon becomes a focal point for the movie, and a lasting message.

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The third generation Torino featured a 5.8-liter V8 engine with close ratio gearing that would hit 60 mph in 6.5 seconds and cover the quarter mile in an impressive 15 seconds. Draped in gleaming green paintwork with lighter accents, the Torino is a scene stealer.

4 Death Race - 2006 Ford Mustang GT

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Driven by action star Jason Statham as character 'Frankenstein', the heavily modified 4.6-liter Mustang GT features a whole host of additional extras that you won't find in any Ford accessory brochure, such as armor plating, machine guns, oil slick, and smoke cannon.

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Underneath all of the battle dress lurks a supercharged engine that pumps out an impressive 500 hp, a full Ford racing exhaust system, adjustable Progress Technology suspension, 18" Cobra alloys, Brembo brakes and the all important roll cage.

Related: Here’s Why The Golden Era Of Muscle Cars Ended In The 70s

3 The Fast and The Furious - 1969 Dodge Charger

Charger

Instantly recognizable this monster has thundered through countless high speed car chases and has been wrecked more times than any film fan would like to admit but the beast, like the film franchise itself, continues to endure.

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With an impressive parts list featuring Hedman headers, Hotchkis suspension, Wilwood brakes, Flowmaster exhaust, Holley fuel pump, a supercharger, and a big dose of nitrous, the Charger was touted as a 9-second quarter mile eater.

2 Death Proof

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A stripped out 1970 Chevrolet Nova piloted by Stuntman Mike, Kurt Russell, the car was used to lure and murder female passengers as its driver brags how the vehicle is completely 'Death Proof'.

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Death Proof

Proudly wearing a brushed chrome duck hood ornament, the Nova II has a 5.7 liter V8 SS specification engine good for 300 hp, 650 Edelbrock carburetor, B&M shifter, full roll cage and imposing skull/lightening motif for that all important fear factor.

1 Gone in 60 Seconds - 1967 Mustang GT500

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Described as a unicorn, a mythical beast that can't be tamed, the enhanced 1967 Mustang GT500 lovingly known as Eleanor stole the show from co-stars Angelina Jolie and Nicholas Cage from the very second it appeared on the screen.

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With additional aero and body styling that include flared arches, unique hood and trunk lid, the gorgeous Eleanor sports a 5.8-liter racing crate engine rated at 400 hp, lowered suspension, 17-inch alloy wheels, and nitrous kit.