The Best Race Car Movies

Two lane blacktop

If you want to go back a long time ago then Ben hur where chariots were concidered cars by the romans and there was a heck of a race portrayed.

Bugatti Fan

Nobody has mentioned 'Days of Thunder'. The NASCAR movie with Tom Cruise.

Amused that a sudden change to a lower gear going at that speed in the movie did not result in the car's gearbox exploding.

 

Maybe because the topic was "best race car movie" and no one thought it was the best?

Nobody has mentioned 'Days of Thunder'. The NASCAR movie with Tom Cruise.

Amused that a sudden change to a lower gear going at that speed in the movie did not result in the car's gearbox exploding.

Two lane blacktop

The original gone in 60 seconds

The original vanishing point 

Gumball rally

Ford v Ferrari 

Cannonball run ( the first one, with Burt Renolds 

Bullit

The French connection

I realise that half of these are more about car chases than racing... but the car "action"  is what keeps me watching.

I'll add a documentary that I thoroughly enjoy every time I watch it. "Super Speedway" is an IMAX film directed by Stephen Lowe and narrated by Paul Newman. It follows the development of the Newman-Haas team's new Lola indy car for the season while also chronicling the restoration of an early Indy roadster that Mario drove. In my opinion some of the best in car footage and best in car audio ever created. It is available on Blu-ray and streaming platforms. If you happen to have a home theater setup CRANK IT UP

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Speedway

I like ALL the movies mentioned here, but "BEN HUR", in the chariot scenes rates right up there for an adrenalin rush.

Yeah, not a car movie, but close enough for me. LOVED IT. Still do!!!

Ford Vrs. Ferrari

jrb53

Hey Don, we're showing our age here! That movie is "Buck Privates Come Home" a 1947 A&C flick. Jack

 

Yes, that's it!

There was a great old Abbot and Costello movie that I forget the name of.  The pair are running from police.  They run into a race track featuring a midget car race, and costello climbs into a midget.  The push truck then immediately pushes him off and he accidently starts the car.  Of course it gets wildly out of control and the results are hilarious.

One that goes unnoticed by most car folks, but still has one of the best all time car chases is "To live and die in LA". Hands down easily in the top 5 all time car scenes. Most car folks have never heard of the movie. Well worth it to see that chase.

BK

For me, if it's "pure racing" then Grand Prix, LeMans, Rush,and Ford vs Ferrari.  For movies with great car scenes then American Graffitti 1 & 2, The Hollwood Knights, Gone in 60 Seconds, Bullitt, and Dirty Mary,Crazy Larry.

While all of those already mentioned deserve credit, I think there are some others listed below that are worthy too:

- Heart Like a Wheel (Shirley MulDowney, drag racing)

- Herbie (VW Bug, Disney)

- Fast and Furious (2001, first one)

- McLaren (movie documentary of Bruce McLaren; driver and cars)

- Cannon Ball Run (first version)

- Vanishing Point (original)

- World's Fastest Indian (Indian motorcycle salt flats racing)

IMHO

For my for action it's
1. "Turbo"
2. "Cars"
3. "Cars 2"
4. "Ford vs Ferrari"

It might only count tangentially for your thread, but "The Great Race" is an excellent car race movie, too.  All-Star performances, all around.

Best regards,

Brad

For me it's 

Le Mans

Ford Vs Ferrari

Grand Prix

Driven

Rush

Gumball rally, not a traditional racing movie.

The '55 LeMans crash is in there in the true stories list.  But tough to tell.

Ford V Ferrari is probably the best so far in that it was based on a true and interesting story (Blaine's book "Go Like Hell" that the movie is based on is even better). The "Leo Beebe was the villain" storyline was a little overwrought and unnecessary, the real story was more complicated and more interesting.

Here's two more interesting and true stories that would make really great auto racing movies IMO:

"Black Noon" - fascinating true story behind the tragic 1964 Indy 500, best car racing book ever. 

"Nuvolari" - GP racing in the '30's, Alfa Romeo, Enzo Ferrari, Auto Unions, Silver Arrows Mercs, Ferdinand Porsche, Musolinni, Hitler,....With actual cars and CGI and a decent script based on history and a good cast, it could be a visual masterpiece similar to TITANIC.

What list could be complete without Speed Racer? Trixie was super hot and they had ninjas in the movie. My young son was big into this movie.

In all seriousness, I kinda enjoyed the Ricky Bobby movie.

But my favorite has to be Cars.

It's not a racing movie, but, it is a car movie. I really really like the re-make of Gone in 60 seconds. Yeah, the acting isn't great, but, and don't tell my wife, I've had a secret love affair with Eleanor ever since! 

Grand Prix has spectacular footage.  There are scenes that capture the drivers feet while driving at speed.  Very cool.  The greatest car racing film I have ever seen is Senna.  The documentary on Brazilian ace Aryton Senna.  The onboard footage at Monaco is just amazing.  It perfectly captures the epic battle between Senna and Prost.  The film is just brilliant.  Watch it and thank me later.

Talladega Nights; The Ballad of Ricky Bobby

Bill

I saw Grand Prix at the Martin Cinerama in St. Louis when it came out. It just took my breath away. This was when Redline 7000 was the best you could get in a racing movie.

I saw Winning with Paul Newman in the theater also. A good movie that launched the stunning racing career of Newman.

Saw Le Mans at a theater in Atlanta when it came out. A good racing movie because superfluous storyline and dialog were left out.

Ford vs. Ferrari. Good racing and good character development.

Days of Thunder gets mentioned only for the amount of money spent on such a colossal movie blunder.

The best/greatest racing movie has yet to be made though.

To Please a Lady

The Racers

LeMans

Grand Prix is at the top. There are some good scenes in "A Man and a Woman".

Bill

I hadn't seen Grand Prix.  Watching now and loving the open wheel cars!

Real G

As far as bits and pieces go, the opening to The Road Warrior, the Lotus chase scene in The Spy Who Loved Me, and the tunnel chase in THX1138.

Well strictly speaking, 'chases' are different from 'races'...but since you brought it up, let's not forget what are perhaps the two most iconic (and sphincter-tightening) car-chase sequences in movie history: Bullitt and The French Connection.

I would add that, whether race or chase, they really need to be experienced on the big screen in a darkened theater. Even the biggest-screen TV doesn't do them justice.