We love cars. We also love movies. And we absolutely love movies about cars. The topic came up while we were debating our top 10 cars of the decade. Someone mentioned the Audi S8, which made us think of *Ronin, *and before long we'd wasted a morning arguing about movies. So we thought we'd put together a list of our 10 favorite car movies.
What we came up with is a mix of contemporary and classic favorites with a few oddballs thrown in. We weren't looking strictly for awesome car chases but how the car impacted the film as well as pop culture. We've undoubtedly omitted something you think is The Best Car Movie Ever, and we're sure you're going to let us know about it. That's good, because we've added a Reddit widget for you to suggest films and vote for your favorites.
Now then. Our 10 favorite car movies of all time, in no particular order, are...
The story: An $80,000 bet says the Bandit (Burt Reynolds) can't get a load of beer from Texas to Atlanta in 28 hours. Bandit enlists his old friend Cledus (aka the Snowman, played by Jerry Reed) to drive the truck while he runs cover. Along the way he picks up Carrie (Sally Field), who is running from her finance and his father, Sheriff Buford T. Justice (Jackie Gleason).
Why we love it: Forget Burt Reynolds. The real star of this movie is the 1977 Pontiac Trans Am. It jumps everything in sight, and the movie has to win some kind of award for the number of high-speed chases. A classic that was 1977's second-highest grossing film -- behind some film called Star Wars.
The story: A lone driver named Kowalski (Barry Newman) is paid to deliver a Dodge Challenger from Colorado to San Francisco in 15 hours. Chase scenes, a naked woman on a motorcycle and gay hitchhikers follow as a blind DJ named Supersoul help Kowalski evade the cops.
Why we love it: We're talking about the 1971 original here, not the 1997 remake. Aside from being one of the few car movies to feature a Dodge muscle car, Vanishing Point features sweet cinematography and insightful commentary on the mood of America in the early 1970s. A cult classic and a favorite of Quentin Tarantino, who paid homage to it with his 2007 movie Death Proof.
The story: Don't tell us you don't know the story. Blue Brothers "Joliet" Jake (John Belushi) and Elwood Blues (Dan Akroyd) are "on a mission from God" to raise $5,000 to save the orphanage they grew up in. They put the band together for one last show. Hilarity ensues as they're pursued by neo-Nazis, a country-western band, about a zillion cops and even Carrie Fisher.
Why we love it: Aside from having some of the best chase scenes this side of The French Connection and one of the best soundtracks this side of O Brother Where Art Thou, this movie is flat-out hilarious. It's got too many memorable lines to count, with our favorite being, "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses." And you've gotta love any movie that makes an old Dodge cop car so cool that any repurposed police car is invariably called a "Bluesmobile."
The story: Robert De Niro and Jean Reno are two former special services soldiers hired to steal a mysterious and heavily guarded briefcase. Double-crosses and shifting alliances follow, along with two of the best car chases ever.
Why we love it: Two reasons: De Niro and the Audi S8. Both star in one most masterfully directed chase scenes ever, through mountain passes and city streets. A second-gen BMW M5 also gets a starring role in a chase through Paris. Bonus points for the fact David Mamet co-wrote it.
The story: New York City detectives "Popeye" Doyle (Gene Hackman) and Buddy Russo (Roy Scheider) investigate a drug trafficking ring stretching from Paris to the Big Apple.
Why we love it: Let us count the ways: lots of classic American iron, one of the best car chase scenes ever and a compelling story with top-notch acting. There's a reason this movie won a truckload of Academy Awards, including best picture. But don't take our word for it. The Library of Congress selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry.
The story: One man's completely illegal high-speed blast through the streets of Paris.
Why we love it: This 9 minute film has no actors and no script. It was shot with one camera mounted on the front of the car, and it feels like you're behind the wheel. It's the closest you'll ever come to tearing through the streets of Paris without actually tearing through the streets of Paris. Oh -- and the guy's a really good driver, too.
The story: An all-star cast that includes Burt Reynolds, Farrah Fawcett and Dom DeLuise participate in an illegal race across the United States. Loosely based on the Cannonball Baker Sea to Shining Sea Memorial Trophy Dash.
Why we love it: It's a guilty pleasure, we admit, but c'mon -- it's chock full of amazing cars, bad one-liners and celebrity cameos.
The story: San Francisco police Lt. Frank Bullitt (Steve McQueen) is assigned to watch a mob informant for 48 hours. Things get complicated when Bullitt's partner is killed and the informant is left for dead. Bullitt tries to get to the bottom of the case full of intrigue and crooked politicians.
Why we love it: Aside from the fact McQueen is the coolest guy ever, Bullitt features one of our favorite muscle cars and one of our favorite car chases. Bullitt's dash through San Francisco in a 1968 Mustang fastback hit speeds of up to 110 mph, and McQueen did a lot of the driving himself. So what if the real genius of the chase took place in the editing room -- you can't actually drive the route Bullitt did. It's still awesome.
The story: Lane Meyer (John Cusack) is a high school student obsessed with his girlfriend. She dumps him for someone who "drives a nicer car." Lane attempts suicide, befriends an exchange student and fixes up his old Camaro SS.
Why we love it: We relate with Meyer. We drove a heap in high school.
The story: Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) takes his family on a cross-country trip to Wally World. Along the way they meet family that hits them up for a $50,000 loan, drive off the road, rob a hotel and a leave a dead aunt behind on the porch. There's also a blonde in a Ferrari.
Why we love it: Two words: Family Truckster.
Photo of Steve McQueen in Bullitt: Warner Bros.
Your turn. Tell us what movies make your list of best car movies ever, and vote for your favorites.
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