3 of the Best Car Movies

by Lewis Robinson

Movies that feature cars span just about every genre. In so many moves, cars figure prominently in the plot line, and they often represent one of the most important settings depicted in a film. The role of cars in movies has evolved, and taking a look back at some of the lesser known but most well-directed movies about cars illustrates the dynamic concept of a car as a narrative vehicle. 

1. “Death Proof” (2007)

In Quentin Tarantino’s entire filmography, “Death Proof” may be his most underappreciated title. It was released as the second film in “Grindhouse,” a collaboration with Robert Rodriguez. The two masterful directors had collaborated in “From Dusk Till Dawn'' (1996), which Tarantino wrote and Rodriguez directed. Although this project had been years in the making, poor publicity made it a box office bomb. 

The movie is a fun and at times campy homage to 70s thrillers in which cars played a central theme such as “Vanishing Point” (1971) and “Dirty Mary Crazy Larry” (1974). However, it has a couple of unique twists. 

The heroines, who include self-described “gearheads' ' obsessed with cars, are pursued by a sinister serial killer played by Kurt Russel. His character is a psychopathic stunt driver who stalks his victims with the intention of causing fatal collisions. He can walk away from a fatal accident practically unscathed. His “Death Proof” car has a reinforced steel cage, and one would have to assume the killer's methodical planning includes comprehensive insurance with accident forgiveness. 

In the film’s climax, the psychotic stunt driver chases his targets while they’re joyriding in a ‘71 mint condition ‘71 Challenger. The suspense is intensified by great car chase music from Italy’s Poliziotteschi genre. Ultimately, this overlooked Tarantino masterpiece is designed to appeal to film buffs and car lovers alike.   

2. “Drive” (2011)

This dramatic thriller tells the story of a mechanic who has a side gig as a professional stunt driver and also moonlights as a getaway driver. 

The protagonist, portrayed by Ryan Gosling, feels more comfortable behind the wheel than his own home. He leads an entirely solitary life until falling in love with a young mother whose husband is serving time in prison. The return of the husband, played by Oscar Isaac in one of earlier noteworthy performances, gives rise to a tense turn of events. 

The car is integral to the protagonist’s identity, and the portrayal of this dynamic is apparent in the range of scenes featuring a car. At the beginning of the film he’s furtively weaving through traffic to make a daring escape. In the next, he’s calmly patrolling his city in a type of meditative state. Soon thereafter, he’s sharing the simple joy of driving with the family that he wishes he had. 

The movie also has strong supporting performances from Bryan Cranston and Albert Brooks. One of the most exceptional qualities of the movie is the score crafted by Cliff Martinez and retro-futuristic tracks from great groups such as College and Chromeo.

3. “Mad Max” (1977)

Few Australian movies had a comparable cultural impact to “Mad Max” in the United States. The movie made Mel Gibson a rising star and sparked a franchise worthy of several follow ups as well as a 2015 reboot, “Mad Max: Fury Road.” 

The story takes place in a post-apocalyptic wasteland in which resources are scarce and gasoline is worth killing for. Gibson plays a law enforcement officer with the burden of running down outlaws in high speed pursuits. His vehicle is an extremely rare 1974 GT Falcon, and you don’t have to be a “gearhead” to appreciate how cool it is. The movie has amazing chase sequences and action that’s about as brutal as it can get while still managing to be fun for filmgoers.

The next time you want to experience the thrill of the open road from your living room. pick a lesser known classic. These iconic car films will continue to enthrall audiences for decades to come.