Everyone has a unique story of what makes them love cars. For some, it’s a family obsession passed down generation to generation. For others, automobiles, particularly cars serve as their escape from the woes of everyday life, while for others, their love for cars can be attributed to watching motorsports as a kid on the television.
There is however, another group of people who’s journey to becoming gearheads begun on the big screens of a movie theatre. In the not-too-distant past, before the age of computer-generated imagery (CGI), movie directors and stunt coordinators scripted and produced immaculate jaw dropping car stunts for some of Hollywood’s biggest blockbuster movies that have become modern day cult classics.
So, if you are in the mood of watching a movie with thrilling car chases on the paved roads, not space (looking at you, Fast & Furious), buckle-up for we have got five movies with immaculate vehicular shenanigans you must watch in 2024.
Bullitt – 1968 (1968 Mustang GT Fastback vs. 1968 Dodge Charger R/T)
The critically acclaimed 1968 action thriller Bullitt is widely regarded as having one of the best car chase scenes in film history. Featuring Steve McQueen as the protagonist, the movie’s plot centers around the assassination of a witness McQueen is protecting by syndicate hit men. The hit men, driving a 1968 Dodge Charger tail McQueen as he is leaving a parking space in his 1968 Ford Mustang GT.
The first couple of minutes of the chase scene is used to set the audience up for what’s to come with subtle rumbling from the big burly V-8 engines. The chase intensifies as McQueen pulls an uno-reverse card on his pursuant and gives chase up and down San Francisco’s hills. In all, Bullitt is a thrilling movie to watch and the car scenes just make it that much better.
Smokey and the Bandit – 1977 (1977 Pontiac Trams-Am)
This 1970s action movie can be seen by some as a subtle nod to the early days of moonshine runners that smuggled illegally distilled alcohol across state lines after the imposition of tax on alcohol during prohibition.
Starring Burt Reynolds as Bandit, the movie plot has Bandit and his fellow hooligan, trucker named Snowman and played by Jerry Reed transport 400 cases of beer from Texarkana, Texas to Atlanta Georgia. The 1800 miles round trip must be completed in 28 hours. Bandit, driving a 1977 Pontiac Trans-Am picks up a run-away bride and is pursued by a local sheriff who happens to be the father of the groom left at the altar.
Put simply, Smokey and the Bandit is a ridiculous movie filled with tire smoke, slides, drift and a bucket load of crashes that will surely grab your attention. No more spoilers from us, grab a drink, some popcorn and treat yourself to some 70s mayhem.
Ronin – 1998 (Peugeot 406 vs. BMW E34 5-series)
The third entry on this list is a bit of a strange one. Released in 1998, Ronin follows a group of ex-intelligence agents whom have become freelance. Tasked by an IRA mistress to retrieve a briefcase. Their pursuit of the briefcase takes them to some of the nicest cities in Europe where they cause utter mayhem.
Before we lose ourselves, this is not a movie review but a list of classic movies with immaculate car stunts, so let’s cut to the chase, get it? Next to Bullitt, Ronin has some of the best car chase ever recorded for a motion picture. What makes Ronin standout from the likes of Bullitt and modern day fast and furious is the hero cars that were chosen.
It is one thing to see expensive, big V-8 sports cars involved in a chase, compared to your ordinary everyday family sedans. The selection of cars in Ronin is so perfectly made that the audience can relate to the sequence unfolding before them. One of the many chase scenes unfolds on the narrow streets of Paris where, lead character, Sam, played by Robert De Niro gives chase after a BMW E34 5-series in his front wheel driven Peugeot 406 down narrow, crowded French roads.
The strange part is, Ronin is easily forgotten when the conversation for the best high paced, high stakes action chase scenes are being discussed. For those looking to enjoy some nineties fun, Ronin is definitely the movie to watch.
The Bourne Identity – 2002 (Mini Cooper)
The youngest entry into this list of classic movies with stunning car chases has to go the Bourne Identity from 2002. Featuring Matt Damon as Jason Bourne, an ex-CIA assassin that’s lost all memory of his past life. Jason tries to piece together clues to his former life. In a desperate bid to flee from Zurich police, Jason offers a gypsy lady twenty thousand dollars to give him a ride in her Mini Cooper to France.
In France, the CIA sends an assassin to kill Bourne but he makes quick work of the assassin. French police identify the fugitive and gives chase, this is where the classic Mini Cooper shines as Jason showcases his precision driving to escape from the pursuit. The Mini mounts the side walk, goes down flights of stairs and squeezing through the wet narrow streets of France.
Although the chase is short lived, the Mini puts on a memorable showing that is reminiscing of the classic rally Mini racecars making it worthy of an entry to this list.
The Fast and the Furious – 2001 (Variety of Cars)
It’s hard to imagine that the Fast and the Furious started from humble beginnings of petty crimes by a group of classic 2000s hooligans driving what now can only be described as cheesy modified Japanese cars. What fast and furious lacks in authenticity, good acting and exciting plot, it makes up for a stacked list of JDM dream cars including the legendary Toyota Supra, Mazda RX7, Mitsubishi Eclipse, Honda Civic and many other exciting vehicles.
While not as iconic or revered as the movie the 1968 movie Bullitt, the fast and the furious certainly has some unmistakably exciting driving stunts that unquestionably made audiences sigh in the theaters. From the get-go, the movie opens with protagonist Dominic Toretto played by Vin Diesel and his crew of misfits driving four identical Honda Civics with underglow hijacking a semi-truck shipment from the ports. The Civics slides underneath the semi-truck to conceal them before darting out for a coordinated attack, this scene sets up what’s to come in the latter part of the movies when undercover police officer played by the late Paul Walker races against Dominic, losses and later saves him from certain arrest.
The ending scene of the movies has perhaps one of the most iconic and memorable stunts featuring Paul Walker’s character, Brian chasing down Dominic who is now a fugitive, the pair meet at a traffic light which conveniently measures a quarter of a mile to the other end of the road. The friends turned foes put the pedal to the metal down the straight in a short lived JDM vs American muscle fight, halfway down the road Dominic Toretto clips the cab of an oncoming semi-truck and flips his 1970 Dodge Charger.
Although not the most exciting car related movies out there, the first fast and furious is credited for turning many younger generation into auto enthusiasts with its flamboyant cars and stunts as well as the most important staple of every fast and furious movies that preceded it, FAMILY.
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