Top 10 Best Automotive Movies

With the world either under lockdown or socially distancing themselves in order to restrict the spread of Covid-19. We’ve put together a list of the best (in our opinion) automotive/car racing movies of all time. We’ve got something for everyone, a combination of  old classics, American muscle cars and exciting car racing biopics. Which one is your favourite?

1.Ford vs Ferrari (2019)

My favourite movie of the moment! American car designer Carroll Shelby and fearless British race car driver Ken Miles battle corporate interference, the laws of physics and their own personal demons to build a revolutionary vehicle for the Ford Motor Co. Together, they plan to compete against the race cars of Enzo Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France in 1966.

2. Rush (2013)

Rush is a biographical sports film centred on the Hunt–Lauda rivalry between two Formula One drivers, the British James Hunt and the Austrian Niki Lauda during the 1976 Formula 1 motor-racing season. It was written by Peter Morgan, directed by Ron Howard and stars Chris Hemsworth as Hunt and Daniel Brühl as Lauda.

3. Senna (2010)

Spanning his years as a Formula One racing driver from 1984 to his untimely death a decade later, Senna explores the life and work of the triple world champion, his outstanding achievements on the track, his quest for perfection and the mythical status he has since attained.

4. Babydriver (2017)

If you love cars and music this one is perfect for you. A talented, young getaway driver relies on the beat of his personal soundtrack to be the best in the game. But after being coerced into working for a crime boss, he must face the music when a doomed heist threatens his life, love and freedom.

5. Le Mans (1971)

In this film, Steve McQueen is ideally cast as a champion racecar driver, participating in the famed 24-hour race headquartered in Le Mans, France. Though dedicated to winning the race, McQueen finds time to romance widowed Elga Andersen. Have you seen this film, what did you think?

6. Drive (2011)

Ryan Gosling stars as a Los Angeles wheelman for hire, stunt driving for movie productions by day and steering getaway vehicles for armed heists by night. Though a loner by nature, Driver can’t help falling in love with his beautiful neighbor Irene (Carey Mulligan). After a heist intended to pay off Standard’s protection money spins unpredictably out of control, Driver finds himself driving defense for the girl he loves, tailgated by a syndicate of deadly serious criminals. But when he realizes that the gangsters are after more than the bag of cash in his trunk-that they’re coming straight for Irene and her son-Driver is forced to shift gears and go on offense.

7. Gone in 60 Seconds (2000)

In this action thriller, a master car thief has his skills pushed to the limit. Randall “Memphis” Raines (Nicolas Cage) can steal practically any car that crosses his path. While he has done well in his life of crime, he knows that there’s a short future in theft, and he wants to get out of the business. But his retirement plans are interrupted when his younger brother Kip (Giovanni Ribisi) gets in trouble with a dangerous crime boss. To get his brother out of harm’s way, Randall agrees to a profitable but risky scheme to steal 50 luxury cars in one night, with the help of several other car thieves, including Sara “Sway” Wayland (Angelina Jolie). Gone in Sixty Seconds is a remake of the 1974 low-budget action hit of the same name, best remembered for a 40-minute chase scene in which 90 cars were destroyed.

8. The Italian Job (1969)

Everyone knows this classic movie, I’m sure you’ve heard the famous saying ‘You’re only supposed to blow the bloody doors off’. The quintessential British caper film of the 1960s, The Italian Job is a flashy, fast romp that chases a team of career criminals throughout one of the biggest international gold heists in history. Michael Caine is Charlie Croker, a stylish robber and skirt-chaser just out of British prison. Shunning rehabilitation for recidivism, Croker takes over “The Italian Job,” a complicated plan to hijack gold bullion from Italy — right from underneath the noses of the Italian Police and the Mafia. The job, whose original mastermind was murdered, clearly requires the sponsorship of a richer, more established criminal than Croker. He turns to the auspices of the eccentric Mr. Bridger (Noël Coward in his last film role), a suave, regal, incarcerated English crime boss with a peculiar fascination with the Queen. Bridger provides Croker with a quirky group of Britain’s most infamous computer hackers (including a lascivious Benny Hill), bank robbers, hijackers, and getaway drivers — the ex-con is soon well on his way to relieving Italy of the gold. Absolutely fantastic film to watch on a Sunday afternoon.

9. Fast & Furious Saga (2001)

In the past twenty years, The Fast and The Furious has gone from being a critically-derided, C-rate streetcar racing flick to one of the most profitable, critically acclaimed action franchises of the early 21st century. The movies revolve around Los Angeles police officer Brian O’Conner who must decide where his loyalty really lies when he becomes enamored with the street racing world he has been sent undercover to destroy. I could re-watch these movies over and over again and never get bored. This movie is perfect for the American muscle car lovers out there.

10. Talladega Nights (2006)

When America’s number one NASCAR speed-demon is issued a direct challenge from a French Formula One racer with a hunger for the top spot and a mean talent for tight-cornering, the race is on to become the number one man in all of NASCAR in a full throttle comedy starring Will Ferrell and directed by Anchorman cohort Adam McKay.

That’s just 10 cool car/ racing movies that we can think of right now. Please let us know if we’ve missed any in your top 10, so we can watch them and others can as well.