There are a lot of motorheads who love their cars. And they also love loud movies about engines revving and brakes screeching. These high-octane melodramas with spectacular special effects attempt to capture the heart and spirit of freedom out on the open road and in the modern coliseum paved with asphalt.
When it comes to the automotive sub-genre of popcorn flicks, there seems to be two types. First, those who incorporate cars and other vehicles into the plot like the Fast and Furious franchise and second, a fictional or non-fictional narrative where the driver and machine become the crux of the story.
Speed Racer (2008) - 41%
- Available To Buy On Amazon Video
Speed (Emile Hirsch) is a force to be reckoned with on the track, constantly eclipsing his competition. He turns down a lucrative deal of representation from a conglomerate because of their ethical challenges and plots to outwit their race fixing practices by competing in a cross-country trek at great risk, a feat his deceased sibling failed to accomplish.
Speed Racer is a science-fiction action-adventure film from the minds of the Wachowski sisters. As a result, the film searched for deeper meaning but was confined to a PG-rated kid-friendly environment but not devoid of the sisters' signature full visually stunning imagery. The story was adapted from a popular anime series of the same name from the 1960s.
Death Race (2008) - 42%
- Available To Buy On Amazon Prime
An innocent man (Jason Statham) imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit is given a shot at freedom if he'll compete in the Death Race under the title Frankenstein. Armed with a vehicle wielding various lethal weapons, he will have to rely on his driving skills to survive in a field of blood thirsty criminals facing the same stakes.
Death Race was a remake of the 1975 cult classic Death Race 2000 that was produced by that film's original visionary, Roger Corman, known throughout his career for making low-budget movies. Several character references from the original like Machine Gun Joe and Frankenstein were incorporated and the graphic violence significantly increased.
Le Mans (1971) - 69%
- Available To Buy On Amazon Prime
The story of two men and the longest endurance race in the world, the 24 hours of Le Mans in France. In a Porsche 917 is Michael Delaney (Steve McQueen), a driver plagued by awful memories of a tragedy he inadvertently caused a year earlier. His competition, Enrich Stahler (Siegfried Rauch), navigates a Ferrari 512LM and both must adapt to traversing natural wilderness on country roads, speeding upwards of 200 MPH.
Shot in documentary style with split screen points of view as if it were an episode of 24, every angle captures the man and machine tempting fate with each passing minute while piloting their racers on the track. However, the competition doesn't end in the pits as the rivalries continue behind the scenes.
Talladega Nights: The Ballad Of Ricky Bobby (2006) - 71%
- Available To Buy On Amazon Prime
In Talladega Nights, best friends Ricky Bobby (Will Ferrell) and Cal Naughton, Jr. (John C. Reilly) dominate the NASCAR circuit until the former suffers a crisis of confidence when Jean Girard (Sasha Baron Cohen) de-thrones him. While he recuperates, Naughton, Jr. marries Bobby's ex and takes possession of his race car. Only with the help of his estranged father can Bobby regain his mojo.
The comedy farce of 1990's Days of Thunder not only pays tribute to that film's star, Tom Cruise, but features almost identical subplots, such as an unexpected romance, a new rival that arrives halfway through the story, and a rehabilitation angle where the protagonist questions whether he has the will to continue fighting.
Cars (2006) - 74%
- Available To Stream On Disney+
Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) is obsessed with his personal image, spending day and night dreaming about racing glory. By accident, he arrives in a small town off Route 66 where a community of Cars welcome his presence but reject his attitude. From them, Lightning learns some humility from newfound wisdom of life's precious moments and a few new tricks of the trade, courtesy of another racing legend, The Hudson Hornet (Paul Neuman).
Although partially animated and computer-generated for Disney's Pixar Studios, the main character's obsession with the sport of racing drives him to act selfishly until a mentor figure gives him proper perspective. He also gains some appreciation for a time in American history when driving was regarded as a fun pastime.
The Love Bug (1968) - 78%
- Available To Stream On Disney+
Professional driver Jim (Dean Jones) and his faithful mechanic, Tennessee (Buddy Hackett), discover a Volkswagen Beetle has a little touch of magic and can think and speak for itself. Their enthusiasm catches the attention of hot rod salesman Peter (David Tomlinson) who schemes to get his hands on The Love Bug, the most amazing race car on the California racing scene.
The Love Bug takes a seldom explored corner of the sports world and adds a touch of Disney magic. It was spun off into several sequels (and a TV series) over a thirty-five-year period culminating in 2005 with Lindsay Lohan behind the wheel in Herbie: Fully Loaded.
Death Race 2000 (1975) - 81%
- Available To Stream On FuboTV
Criminals compete in an annual auto racing spectacle traversing the length of a fascist America that is ruled from overseas by "Mr. President." Their main objective is to commit as many vehicular homicides as possible to score the most points and be declared the winner of Death Race 2000.
David Carradine (Kung Fu) and Sylvester Stallone (Rocky) star in this Roger Corman production as drivers, Frankenstein and Machine Gun Joe Viterbo. The former is augmented with several pieces of future medical technology from artificial limbs to organs. The latter is Frankenstein's bitter rival, determined to emerge from his shadow.
Rush (2013) - 89%
- Available To Stream On Netflix
In 1976, there was no other distinct rivalry in Formula One racing than James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth) and Nikki Lauda (Daniel Bruhl). They are polar opposites. Hunt takes danger in stride and absorbs the Rush with an undeniable swagger while Lauda strategizes every decision he makes behind the wheel of his race car. After a near fatal accident, each man is forced to consider whether the risks they take are worth it.
The R-rated film was helmed by veteran director Ron Howard bringing a theme of realism to the sport of auto racing. Lauda's horrific injuries were portrayed accurately and both men were equally blunt to the press and each other.
Ford v. Ferrari (2019) - 92%
- Available To Stream On FuboTV
For years, American automaker Ford suffered humiliating defeats at the annual 24 hours of Le Mans endurance race in Europe at the hands of their racing rival, Ferrari. Ford engineer and entrepreneur, Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon), conjures a plan to build a hot rod powerful enough to compete with their Italian counterparts and recruits expert driver, Ken Miles (Christian Bale), to accomplish their goal.
Ford v. Ferrari director James Mangold brought together two of Hollywood's hottest stars for this historical account of good-ole fashioned American pride. Bale previously had worked with him alongside Russell Crowe in the western remake of 3:10 to Yuma.
Grand Prix (1966) - 100%
- Available To Buy On Amazon Prime
American racer Pete Aron (James Gardner) struggles to regain his footing in the world of professional European auto racing following a horrific crash that nearly killed his teammate. Finding new horsepower with a foreign race team, Aron must face the demons of the track and compete against his rivals in pursuit of a world championship.
John Frankenheimer's three-hour tour de force focuses on the driver's exploits during and in-between death-defying stunt marathons. Many sequences were filmed on location at several Formula One circuits that existed in 1966. The film also featured an old-school musical overture in the opening minutes.