Without a doubt, the car chase is one of the greatest staples of action films. Despite its name, the film term "car chase" doesn't have to involve a car, just one or more automobiles chasing each other. Exciting and risky, these scenes usually act as centerpieces of action films. For some franchises like The Fast and the Furious, these films are based around these scenes.
As special effects and stunt work gets better, the car chases in film evolve. Since most of the new decade's films are not yet released, let's focus on the car chases from the last one. To narrow it down the following list, chases in animated films won't count. Without further ado, here are the best car chases from 2010 to 2019.
Opening Scene - Skyfall (2012)
Arguably the better of director Sam Mendes' two James Bond films, Skyfall happens to feature a fun opening chase. In Istanbul, MI6 agents James Bond (Daniel Craig) and Eve Moneypenny (Naomie Harris) chase down a mercenary that has stolen a hard drive containing information on undercover agents.
Starting as a car chase through the busy markets of the Turkish city, the scene transitions onto motorcycles as Bond and the mercenary travel over stairs and rooftops alike. As a cherry on top, the chase is capped off with Bond crashing his bike onto a moving train. According to Radio Times, Coca-Cola was sprayed on the streets to keep the bikes from sliding.
Return Of The Batman - The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
Sometimes, a car chase is the most exciting way to introduce a beloved character. In The Dark Knight Rises, villain Bane (Tom Hardy) and his men rob the Gotham Stock Exchange and flee from the police on motorcycles. Returning after eight years from the cowl, Batman (Christian Bale) chases them down on his Batpod.
Fittingly emerging from darkness, the Caped Crusader's first moment on screen is a triumphant one. Backed by composer Hans Zimmer's score, there is something magical about watching Batman chase down villains quickly and dramatically. Also, the chase ends with the debut of the latest iteration of the Batplane, which had eluded the big screen since first appearing in Batman Forever.
Ending Chase - Nightcrawler (2014)
It's hard to give the car chase a new spin but Nightcrawler does it. Following known criminals to a restaurant, late-night stringer Lou (Jake Gyllenhaal) calls the police to spark an encounter to film and sell. A shootout ensues after the police arrive and the suspect flees with cops, Lou, and his assistant, Rick (Riz Ahmed), in pursuit.
Filled with crashes and cars ignoring red lights, the exciting scene is a fitting end to a thrilling film. By the end of the chase, it's also a chilling way for Lou to get rid of Rick, who had leverage over him. Speaking to Hollywood Reporter, director of photography Robert Elswit revealed the scene was inspired by Bullitt and The French Connection.
Nick Fury vs. Hydra - Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
Who would've thought that SHIELD director Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) would get the exciting car chase in Captain America: The Winter Soldier? While driving to meet agent SHIELD agent Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders), Fury is ambushed in broad daylight by Hydra assailants before the encounter turns into a car chase.
Like the film's famous elevator scene, the sequence starts as a tense standoff between a beloved character and unknown parties. Lesser films would've had Fury obtain his vehicle's weapon immediately, but Winter Soldier wisely makes the audience wait to rack up the tension. Amongst all the nerve-racking moments in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Fury's ambush is up there.
Morocco Chase - Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (2015)
It's the undeniable truth: Tom Cruise and dangerous stunts simply go together. In Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation, IMF agent Ethan Hunt (Cruise) steals important data before it's taken from him by undercover agent Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson). Hunt chases Faust with the crime organization Syndicate both on their tails.
Exciting and surprisingly funny, the first part of the sequence pairs Hunt with fellow agent Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg) as they follow Faust through narrow Morocco streets. The chase takes a more dramatic shift after Hunt jumps on a motorcycle and weaves through traffic along a mountainside cliff. According to Men's Journal, Cruise did all the motorcycle stunts himself.
Motorcycle Chase - John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum (2019)
Former hitman John Wick (Keanu Reeves) may be known for his impressive gunplay, but he can also hold his own in a chase. In John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum, Wick flees to the Continental Hotel for a haven after a large bounty is placed on him. Stealing a motorcycle, he is pursued by sword-wielding hitmen on similar vehicles.
Like the shootouts of the series, the sequence utilizes long takes so the action is clearly understood and appreciated as Wick dispatches one rider at a time. Speaking in a featurette for the film, Reeves and stuntman-turned-director Chad Stahelski (John Wick: Chapter 2) said the sequence was inspired by 2017's The Villainess, which also features a motorcycle chase with swords.
Money Truck Robbery - The Town (2010)
Sometimes, a car chase can offer exciting action and showcase how smart characters are. In The Town, Boston local Douglas (Ben Affleck) and his crew rob a money truck and flee the scene. While efficient, they aren't fast enough to leave before encountering police. The two parties go on a dangerous chase through the narrow alleys of Boston.
Thrilling and tense, the scene showcases how clever these characters are as they wear costumes, switch cars, and listen to police scanners to increase their chances of success. Director Affleck cited Heat as an inspiration for the film -- the heist classic features characters who use similar tactics. Also, Douglas and his crew get extra points for picking nun costumes.
Opening Scene - Drive (2011)
It would be pretty ironic if a film called Drive didn't have at least one great car chase. Luckily, the Ryan Gosling-led flick opens with one. Working as a mechanic in the day and as a getaway driver at night, the unnamed driver (Gosling) transports two jewel thieves away from a crime scene as police are in hot pursuit.
With the point of view never leaving the vehicle, the night-time chase scene is rather unique. Quiet, slow, and intimate, the opener is a perfect representation of director Nicolas Winding Refn's unusual masterpiece. Like the driver with his criminal occupants, the scene may take its time with delivering its audience to the destination, but it does so with intelligence and style.
Vault Chase - Fast Five (2011)
The Fast and The Furious franchise was known as a street racing film series, but Fast Five changed that with daring action sequences. In the film's climax, Dominic (Vin Diesel) and the gang break into a Rio de Janeiro police station and tear a vault from it with their cars. Chased by the police, the crew navigate the streets of the city with the heavy prize behind them.
On top of the usual carnage in a car chase, the scene stands apart for its inclusion of the vault. Despite the chaotic damage that occurred during the chase, the vault itself was never CGI. In a Screen Rant interview with stunt coordinator Jack Gill, it was revealed seven prop vaults were used and the scene itself required four weeks of preparation to map out the filming angles.
Buzzards Chase - Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
While it's arguable that Mad Mad: Fury Road is basically a two-hour car chase, one particular scene stands out. Strapped to a car as a portable blood source, apocalypse survivor Max (Tom Hardy) is forced to accompany his captors, the War Boys, as they fight rival gang Buzzards in a thrilling chase across the desert wasteland.
Because director George Miller prioritized practical effects over computer ones, the chase features real vehicles and explosions together in wonderfully utilized slow-motion. As for the War Boys on top of the vehicles? According to Miller, that was all practical stunt work. For the film crew's efforts, Fury Road won 6 of the 10 Academy Awards it was nominated for.