Cinema history is filled with exciting action movies, and one of the biggest elements of the action genre is the car chase scene. Used for a variety of reasons, the car chase can help ratchet up tension and give the audience the exciting spectacle the film was made for.
Whether its the over-the-top CG action of Matrix Reloaded, or the practical mastery of The Dark Knight, there is a wealth of pulse-pounding car chases to enjoy. Users on Reddit took to the site to voice their opinions on their favorite car chase scenes from movie history.
The Road Warrior (1981)
The Mad Max franchise has made a name for itself with its variety of exciting (and practical) car chase scenes. A deleted Reddit user pointed out their absolute favorite Mad Max moment when writing, "The tanker chase scene in Mad Max 2 is my favorite".
Also known as The Road Warrior, the first sequel to Mad Max added to the scope of the original low-budget classic. The aforementioned tanker chase is the climax of the film and sees Max helping to defend a tanker truck full of gas from evil marauders. What makes the chase so great is that it combines car chase action with hand to hand combat, all of which was done practically.
Bullitt (1968)
Action films often rely on an interesting location as their backdrop, and that goes double for exciting chase scenes. A deleted user put an academic spin on their favorite chase scene when writing "Film professor says Bullitt. Steve McQueen".
Steve McQueen was known for his iconic roles, and Bullitt was certainly one of his best. Cast as a hard-nosed San Francisco cop, McQueen stalks the slanted streets in search of an evil drug kingpin. Featuring several iconic chases, Bullitt uses its location for full effect and it is incredibly exciting to watch the chases unfold on the unorthodox streets of San Francisco.
The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
Few films changed the way audiences viewed cinema quite like The Matrix series, and the films' combination of practical effects with CG enhancements was an exciting new vision of films to come. User BassAddictJ mentioned a specific moment when writing "Some may disagree but Matrix Reloaded on the freeway".
The freeway sequence in The Matrix Reloaded was certainly a highlight of what was an otherwise divisive film. Unlike previous on-road chases from film history which relied on practical effects exclusively, Reloaded combined both practical and CG together for an interesting mixture. While many film purist may prefer practical effects, there is no denying that The Matrix Reloaded used both effectively.
Death Proof (2007)
Director Quentin Tarantino is known mostly for revolutionizing independent cinema in the 1990s, and making some of the most memorable films of that decade. User DrKluge, when writing about their favorite car chase scene, mentioned a Tarantino film when saying "Death Proof is almost worth watching for the final car chase".
While Death Proof isn't considered one of Quentin Tarantino's best films, there is no denying the power of the film's climactic final chase. After being haunted by the mysterious man all film, the lead characters take to the open road to get revenge against the car-based killer. Harkening back to the glory days of car chases, the finale of Death Proof is a perfect throwback homage to days gone by.
The Blues Brothers (1980)
While car chases are generally synonymous with action films, occasionally they can become part of other genre films, and they are just as effective. User georgieramone had high praise for one film when writing "I think The Blues Brothers has the best car chases".
Sprinkled throughout the classic 1980s comedy are a handful of amazing car chases that are just as exciting as they are hilarious. Whether it is the chase through mall, or the final pursuit with the police at the end of the film, Jake and Elwood spend most of the movie evading capture. Not only are the chases riveting, but they also serve the film's style of humor by delivering over-the-top action.
The French Connection (1971)
Action films aren't generally considered to be artistic masterpieces, but occasionally a film will succeed at being both artistically stimulating and exciting as well. User KennyKatsu brought up a specific example when writing "The French Connection has one of the best car chases of all time, the suspense is amazing".
Though the film has a slower pace, it uses one particular scene to ramp up the tension excellently. The film's hero "Popeye" Doyle, pursues a suspect with his car who has hijacked an elevated train. Relying more on realism, the chase is filled with all of the scrapes and dents that would come with attempting to traverse New York traffic. Eschewing the slickness of other car chases, The French Connection is gritty and real.
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
When used correctly, car chase scenes can combine with other types of action scenes and make some of the most riveting films of all time. User TheWiseMountain gushed about a particular film when writing "Terminator 2's chase scene, it introduced the characters a bit more and was all around awesome".
The user points out an interesting thing about the sequences in Terminator 2 in that they also help to advance the plot. The chase scene through the LA river is an iconic piece of action cinema, and uses a great combination of vehicles from semi truck to motorcycles. This clever use of action is one of the reasons that Judgment Day is considered one of the best Sci-Fi sequels of all time.
The Dark Knight (2008)
Christopher Nolan's dark take on Batman was met with universal acclaim for its brave approach to the classic character. User ArmchairHacker brought up a famous chase scene when writing "The freeway scene in The Dark Knight...The scene pretty much stands for itself...They also flipped a semi. So that's cool".
The freeway chase in The Dark Knight succeeds on several levels, and not the least of which is its technical prowess. Using practical effects that were only slightly supplemented by CG, the film still maintains its realist reputation. Despite this eye for realism, they also push the envelope by introducing incredible destruction with the flipping of an entire semi truck.
Ronin (1998)
Some action films hinge on one exciting chase sequence, while others pepper them throughout the film for more effective excitement. User halfarian praised a specific film's car chases when writing "Ronin has not one, but two of the best chase scenes ever".
The theme of the film Ronin is pursuit, and it uses car chase sequences to get its point across in the most exciting way possible. The cramped streets of Paris is the backdrop of one of the film's most exhilarating chases, and it pits the two drivers against each other in a test of skill as much as speed. The uniqueness of the locations helps to add to the intrigue of the sequences, on top of the amazing choreography and stunt work.
Smokey And The Bandit (1977)
Chase sequences can often be a portion of a larger film, but occasionally, a chase can encompass the entire film. User TangerineChickens spoke broadly when writing about their favorite chase scene, saying "Smokey and the Bandit, every scene".
With its extremely simple premise of hauling illegal booze from Texas to Georgia as quickly as possible, Smokey and the Bandit is essentially one long chase sequence with very short breaks in the action. With a mixture of exciting driving and funny characters, the film uses its chase sequences as a way to make the audience laugh as much as have them sitting on the edge of their seat. Ultimately, the energy of the film carries into the finale as the characters immediately embark on another exciting run.