Watchworthy

The Greatest Car Movies Ever Made

Updated November 15, 2019 66.4k votes 7.7k voters 1.1M views 155 items

List Rules Films must feature cars; may include auto racing / fast cars

List of the best movies featuring awesome and fast cars, ranked by the fans. This car films list can be sorted by director, actors, or year of release via their column headers. So, what are the best movies about cars? Nothing is more exciting than a movie with a fast auto. In this list of the greatest car movies ever made, including racing films, fast car movies, old films with high speed chases, and action car movies. What are the best car action movies? While this might not feature all car films, it does have the greatest.

Cars in movies have always played an important storytelling role in American and foreign cinema and when talking about the top car movies one has to mention The Fast and the Furious, Gone in 60 Seconds, and all-time greats like Bullitt and Smokey and the Bandit. Featuring good classic movies, car-themed animated films, and cool Hollywood movies about driving similar to Need for Speed, this list has it all.

After watching these, you may make your own top 10 car movies list. For other interesting movie lists check out the horse racing movies, and car racing movies.

Data-driven recommendations based on voting from over 40 million monthly visits to Ranker. Try the free app

list ordered by

Bullitt is listed (or ranked) 1 on the list The Greatest Car Movies Ever Made

Bullitt Robert Duvall, Steve McQueen, Jacqueline Bissett

Released: 1968

Directed by: Peter Yates

Bullitt is a 1968 American action police procedural film directed by Peter Yates and produced by Philip D'Antoni. It stars Steve McQueen, Robert Vaughn and Jacqueline Bisset. The screenplay by ...more

More Bullitt ❯

#150 of 360 The Best Movies Based On Books #1,164 of 1,646 The Most Rewatchable Movieslisted on Every Oscar Winning Film Ever

The Fast and the Furious... is listed (or ranked) 2 on the list The Greatest Car Movies Ever Made

The Fast and the Furious Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster

Released: 2001

Directed by: Rob Cohen

The Fast and the Furious is a 2001 American street racing action film directed by Rob Cohen and starring Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez and Jordana Brewster. The film is the first ...more

More The Fast and the Furious ❯

Things You Didn't Know about the 'Fast and Furious' Films #338 of 1,646 The Most Rewatchable Movies #48 of 560 The Greatest Guilty Pleasure Movies

Smokey and the Bandit is listed (or ranked) 3 on the list The Greatest Car Movies Ever Made

Smokey and the Bandit Sally Field, Burt Reynolds, Jackie Gleason

Released: 1977

Directed by: Hal Needham

Smokey and the Bandit is a 1977 Technicolor American action comedy film starring Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Jackie Gleason, Jerry Reed, Patrick McCormick, Paul Williams and Mike Henry. It ...more

More Smokey and the Bandit ❯

#930 of 1,646 The Most Rewatchable Movies #103 of 1,138 The Absolute Funniest Movies Of All Time #151 of 923 The All-Time Greatest Comedy Films

Gone in 60 Seconds is listed (or ranked) 4 on the list The Greatest Car Movies Ever Made

Gone in 60 Seconds Angelina Jolie, Nicolas Cage, Robert Duvall

Released: 2000

Directed by: Dominic Sena

Gone in 60 Seconds is a 2000 American action film, starring Nicolas Cage, Angelina Jolie, Giovanni Ribisi, Christopher Eccleston, Robert Duvall, Vinnie Jones, and Will Patton. The film was ...more

More Gone in 60 Seconds ❯

#290 of 1,646 The Most Rewatchable Movies #30 of 32 Blockbusters With No Cultural Impact Whatsoever, Ranked #3 of 12 12 Bad Nicolas Cage Movies That Are Actually Good

Fast Five Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Jordana Brewster

Released: 2011

Directed by: Justin Lin

Fast Five is a 2011 American action film directed by Justin Lin, and the fifth installment in The Fast and the Furious franchise. Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his crew of street racers plan ...more

More Fast Five ❯

#911 of 1,646 The Most Rewatchable Movies #164 of 560 The Greatest Guilty Pleasure Movies #220 of 226 The Worst Sequels Of All Time

Fast & Furious Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster

Released: 2009

Directed by: Justin Lin

Fast & Furious is a 2009 American street racing action film directed by Justin Lin and written by Chris Morgan. It is the fourth installment of The Fast and the Furious franchise. The plot ...more

More Fast & Furious ❯

Fast & Furious Quotes That Prove Dom Is Truly Wise #307 of 355 The Best Rainy Day Movies #743 of 1,646 The Most Rewatchable Movies

2 Fast 2 Furious Eva Mendes, Paul Walker, Ludacris

Released: 2003

Directed by: John Singleton

2 Fast 2 Furious is a 2003 American street racing action film directed by John Singleton. It is the second installment of The Fast and the Furious franchise. Brian O'Conner teams up with his ...more

More 2 Fast 2 Furious ❯

#1,171 of 1,646 The Most Rewatchable Movies #107 of 158 The Best Movie Sequels Ever Made #174 of 560 The Greatest Guilty Pleasure Movies

The Cannonball Run Farrah Fawcett, Terry Bradshaw, Burt Reynolds

Released: 1981

Directed by: Hal Needham

The Cannonball Run is a 1981 comedy film starring Burt Reynolds, Roger Moore, Dom DeLuise, Farrah Fawcett, and an all-star supporting cast. It was directed by Hal Needham, produced by Hong ...more

More The Cannonball Run ❯

#136 of 522 The Greatest Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked #106 of 560 The Greatest Guilty Pleasure Movies #55 of 324 The Funniest '80s Movies

The Transporter Jason Statham, Shu Qi, François Berléand

Released: 2002

Directed by: Corey Yuen, Louis Leterrier

The Transporter is a 2002 French action thriller film directed by Louis Leterrier and Corey Yuen and written by Luc Besson, who was inspired by BMW Films' The Hire series. The film stars Jason ...more

More The Transporter ❯

#84 of 114 The Greatest Date Movies of All Time #50 of 560 The Greatest Guilty Pleasure Movies #174 of 481 The Greatest Movies for Guys

The Italian Job is listed (or ranked) 10 on the list The Greatest Car Movies Ever Made

The Italian Job Charlize Theron, Kelly Brook, Mark Wahlberg

Released: 2003

Directed by: F. Gary Gray

The Italian Job is a 2003 film directed by F. Gary Gray, written by Wayne and Donna Powers and produced by Donald DeLine. The film stars Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, Jason Statham, Edward ...more

More The Italian Job ❯

#263 of 355 The Best Rainy Day Movies #54 of 109 The Best Mafia Filmslisted on The Very Best Movies About Hackers

Mad Max Mel Gibson, Hugh Keays-Byrne, Steve Bisley

Released: 1979

Directed by: George Miller

Mad Max is a 1979 Australian dystopian action film directed by George Miller, produced by Byron Kennedy and starring Mel Gibson. James McCausland and Miller wrote the screenplay from a story by ...more

More Mad Max ❯

Things You Didn't Know About The 'Mad Max' Movies #365 of 1,646 The Most Rewatchable Movies #14 of 48 Every Movie Coming To Netflix In August 2020

The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift Vin Diesel, Bow Wow, Amber West

Released: 2006

Directed by: Justin Lin

The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift is a 2006 American action film directed by Justin Lin, produced by Neal H. Moritz and written by Chris Morgan. It is the third installment of The Fast and ...more

More The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift ❯

#264 of 560 The Greatest Guilty Pleasure Movies #95 of 102 The Best Third Films In A Movie Series #158 of 264 Movies That Should Be Made Into Broadway Musicals

American Graffiti Harrison Ford, Ron Howard, Suzanne Somers

Released: 1973

Directed by: George Lucas

American Graffiti is a 1973 American coming of age comedy-drama film directed and co-written by George Lucas starring Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Paul Le Mat, Harrison Ford, Charles Martin ...more

More American Graffiti ❯

#128 of 194 Musical Movies With the Best Songs #366 of 1,646 The Most Rewatchable Movies #213 of 1,138 The Absolute Funniest Movies Of All Time

The Blues Brothers is listed (or ranked) 14 on the list The Greatest Car Movies Ever Made

The Blues Brothers Carrie Fisher, Aretha Franklin, Steven Spielberg

Released: 1980

Directed by: John Landis

The Blues Brothers is a 1980 American musical comedy film directed by John Landis and starring John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd as "Joliet" Jake and Elwood Blues, characters developed from ...more

More The Blues Brothers ❯

#38 of 194 Musical Movies With the Best Songs #43 of 522 The Greatest Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked #99 of 1,646 The Most Rewatchable Movies

MangoStarkey added The Italian Job Michael Caine, Benny Hill, Noël Coward

Released: 1969

Directed by: Peter Collinson

The Italian Job is a 1969 British caper film, written by Troy Kennedy Martin, produced by Michael Deeley and directed by Peter Collinson. Subsequent television showings and releases on video ...more

More The Italian Job ❯

#780 of 1,138 The Absolute Funniest Movies Of All Time #16 of 80 The Best Con Movies #93 of 163 The Best Movies of the '60s

looksharp added Rush Chris Hemsworth, Daniel Brühl, Olivia Wilde

Released: 2013

Directed by: Ron Howard

Rush is a 2013 biographical sports film directed by Ron Howard. The merciless 1970s rivalry between Formula One rivals James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth) and Niki Lauda (Daniel Brühl).

More Rush ❯

#141 of 182 The Best Sports Movies Ever Made #45 of 144 The Best Films Directed by Famous Actors #4 of 24 The Best Chris Hemsworth Movies

The Gumball Rally Gary Busey, Casey Kasem, Raúl Juliá

Released: 1976

Directed by: Charles Bail, Chuck Bail

The Gumball Rally is a 1976 film directed and co-written by Charles Bail about a coast-to-coast road race. It was inspired by the Cannonball Baker Sea-To-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash run by ...more

Cars Tom Hanks, Billy Crystal, Sheryl Crow

Released: 2006

Directed by: John Lasseter, Joe Ranft

Cars is a 2006 American computer-animated comedy-adventure sports film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. Directed and co-written by John Lasseter, it is ...more

More Cars ❯

#73 of 568 The Best Animated Films Ever #963 of 1,646 The Most Rewatchable Movies #781 of 1,138 The Absolute Funniest Movies Of All Time

Need for Speed Michael Keaton, Dakota Johnson, Imogen Poots

Released: 2014

Directed by: Scott Waugh

Need for Speed is a 2014 action film written by George Nolfi and to be directed by Scott Waugh.

More Need for Speed ❯

#60 of 178 The Best Video Game Franchises of All Time #313 of 560 The Greatest Guilty Pleasure Movies #221 of 315 Movies with the Best Soundtracks

Gran Torino is listed (or ranked) 20 on the list The Greatest Car Movies Ever Made

Countermoon added Gran Torino Clint Eastwood, Dreama Walker, Scott Eastwood

Released: 2008

Directed by: Clint Eastwood

Gran Torino is a 2008 American drama film directed and produced by Clint Eastwood, who also starred in the film. The film co-stars Christopher Carley, Bee Vang and Ahney Her. This was Eastwood's ...more

More Gran Torino ❯

#29 of 276 The Top Tearjerker Movies That Make Men Cry #366 of 553 The Greatest Epic Movies Ever Made #26 of 481 The Greatest Movies for Guys

Countermoon added Le Mans Steve McQueen, Luc Merenda, Carlo Cecchi

Released: 1971

Directed by: Lee H. Katzin

Le Mans is a 1971 action film directed by Lee H. Katzin, starring Steve McQueen. It features footage from the actual 24 Hours of Le Mans auto race in June 1970. Released in June 1971 and given a ...more

Transporter 2 Jason Statham, AnnaLynne McCord, Amber Valletta

Released: 2005

Directed by: Louis Leterrier

Transporter 2 is a 2005 French action film directed by Louis Leterrier and produced by Luc Besson. It is the sequel to The Transporter. It is followed by Transporter 3. The film stars Jason ...more

More Transporter 2 ❯

#115 of 158 The Best Movie Sequels Ever Made #151 of 560 The Greatest Guilty Pleasure Movies #39 of 74 The Best Action Movie Sequels

looksharp added Mad Max 2 Mel Gibson, Bruce Spence, Vernon Wells

Released: 1981

Directed by: George Miller

Mad Max 2 is a 1981 Australian post-apocalyptic action film directed by George Miller. The film is the second installment in the Mad Max film series, with Mel Gibson starring as Max Rockatansky. ...more

More Mad Max 2 ❯

#81 of 522 The Greatest Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked #347 of 1,646 The Most Rewatchable Movies #6 of 154 The Best Dystopian And Near Future Movies

Christine Kelly Preston, Alexandra Paul, John Madden

Released: 1983

Directed by: John Carpenter

Christine is a 1983 American horror thriller film directed by John Carpenter and starring Keith Gordon, John Stockwell, Alexandra Paul and Harry Dean Stanton. It was written by Bill Phillips and ...more

More Christine ❯

'Christine’ Is One Of The Most Underrated Adaptations To Come Off Stephen King’s Assembly Line #161 of 522 The Greatest Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked #70 of 784 The Best Horror Movies Of All Time

Vanishing Point is listed (or ranked) 25 on the list The Greatest Car Movies Ever Made

Vanishing Point Charlotte Rampling, Cleavon Little, Dean Jagger

Released: 1971

Directed by: Richard C. Sarafian

Vanishing Point is a 1971 American action road movie directed by Richard C. Sarafian and starring Barry Newman, Cleavon Little, and Dean Jagger. The film is notable for its scenic film locations ...more