Car Movies: Best of All Time

There are many films that have characters playing prominent roles that may not be human. Sometimes the star can be a car in movies. While there have been lots of best car movies rankings that have focused on films with cars, this top 10 list is dedicated to movies in which a particular car has played a distinct and prominent role in the theme and plot of the film.

In order to be included in this list of car movies, the film has to have a car as a leading character or major player in the film. While the car does not necessarily have to be the “driving force” behind the story, it does have to be connected consistently and importantly to the development of the movie.

Along with meeting the aforementioned qualifications, this list of best car movies includes those that are entertaining, iconic, memorable, and/or impossible to create without the role of the car. Emphasis is placed in car films of the last few decades.

Top 10 Car Movies of All Time

10. Death Race (2008) - A remake of a 2000 film, this Jason Statham film features one of the most ‘protected’ car in movies. The movie is about prison inmates forced into deadly car races by the prison warden for sale on the internet. Statham’s character is framed for his wife’s murder so that he can take over for the just deceased driver of the film’s star car. The brutal car races are ideal for fans of action-packed and tough car movies.

9. Cobra (1986) – This Sylvester Stallone movie is generally not highly regarded for its acting and plot. However, many car in movies fanatics appreciate the 1950 Mercury that Stallone used from his personal collection for the movie.

8. Blues Brothers (1980) - As much as Jake (John Belushi) and Elwood (Dan Akroyd) Blues made this movie a classic, so to did the notorious Bluesmobile, which the brothers used to navigate the Chicago area. There were actually 13 cars used to portray the retired 1974 Mount Prospect, Illinois patrol car. Sixty other cars were purchased at action to perform large chase scenes and the movie held the record for most cars destroyed making a movie, before it was surpassed by the sequel.

7. Gran Torino (2008) – The star car in this movie even gets name recognition in the title. Clint Eastwood’s hard-edged war veteran character has a favorite possession that sits in brilliance in his driveway.

6. Batman (1989) – There have been several follow up Batman movies, but none of them had vehicles that created the stir of the original “Bat Car”, a very cool black car with shields, rocket booster, bullets and bombs, and amazing technology for 1989.

5. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986) - This classic 1980s best high school movies flick is certainly not best remembered as having a famous car in movies, but the little red Ferrari Ferris (Matthew Broderick) convinces his friend Cameron (Alan Ruck) to “borrow” from his dad definitely plays a major role in the development of the story and the climax.

4. Cars (2006) - While this animated feature included an ensemble of car characters, the intent of this list of car movies is to focus on films that feature one prominent character. Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) is the compelling central figure in this clever family film.

3. Goldfinger (1964) - Having this Bond movie on the list is more a representation of the collective impact of the fact that there is no more prominent place for a car in movies than in the Bond franchise. Cars and babes they are known for. This particular film featured the Aston Martin DB5, ranked the best Bond movie car by Times Online (UK).

2. Back to the Future (1985) – This original film in the classic Michael J. Fox trilogy about a high schooler who travels back in time with the help of his mad scientist friend (Christopher Lloyd) would not be the same without the DeLorean.

1. Dukes of Hazzard (2005) – Despite the fact that Jessica Simpson’s acting (as Daisy Duke) and the film itself were underwhelming, there is no more recognized, or talented, car in movies or television than the “General Lee” (named after General Robert E. Lee).

Do you have other famous roles played by a car in movies that should have been included in the best list of car movies? If so, please add a comment stating the movie and why you think it deserves to be one of the best car films. Remember, the focus of this list is on movies in which the car played a prominent role.

This list of best car movies of all time was written by Neil of Movie Room Reviews

Tags: best car movies, car movies, list of car movies