Some of the most popular action movies in film history prominently feature unforgettable cars. The best of these car movies excite car enthusiasts and thrill seekers by offering a glimpse at fast, exotic, and one of a kind dream cars.
1) Senna
The documentary tribute to legendary Formula One racer Ayrton Senna may be more about the driver than the car, but it is impossible to miss the impressive machines roaring through the film. Unlike other, somewhat stale, car and driver documentaries, “Senna” skips the traditional narration in favor of in depth interviews and behind the scenes access to the exciting, and ultimately tragic, life and career of Ayrton Senna.
2) Back to the Future
Most people don’t consider “Back to the Future” a car movie, and they are wrong. Without Doctor Brown’s time traveling DeLorean there would be no movie to speak of in the first place. Not only did “Back to the Future” breathe new life and notoriety into the nearly forgotten DeLorean, it also made action heroes out of an unlikely pair of mad scientist Doctor Brown and nerdy high school student Marty McFly.
3) Ronin
Director John Frankenheimer’s 1998 heist movie “Ronin,” starring Robert DeNiro, is so chock-full of cool cars and thrilling chase scenes that it is impossible to point the spotlight on a single instance. Unlike a number of other action movies, there is no out of place love story distracting from the gritty fun of “Ronin,” making it the quintessential car movie experience.
4) Death Race
A movie with a name like “Death Race” is bound to be one of the best car movies out there. The premise of the movie is self-explanatory, tricked out fantasy cars with seemingly insane drivers in a nonstop race to the death. Every car in the race, including a 2006 Ford Mustang complete with firepower and armor driven by Jason Statham, is a physical embodiment of many a little boy’s car fantasy.
5) Initial D
Adapted from a hugely popular anime series, “Initial D” is a skillfully shot and edited movie from Hong Kong that focuses heavily on the artful driving skill of drifting. American fans of drifting, which came to the United States from Asia’s die-hard racing scene, will be fascinated by the angles achieved in the cinematography. As in the anime series it was adapted from, the film version of “Initial D” allows viewers an up-close look at each of the complex drifting maneuvers.
The best car movies bring viewers closer to the high speed chases and unforgettable cars of their dreams. Whether the movie highlights a time traveling spectacle or an entire parade of professional racing machines, they are all thrilling tributes to the fastest and coolest vehicles around.
