The Best Car Chase Movies Ever, Ranked by Fans

Ranker Film
Updated August 11, 2023 8.9K votes 1.1K voters 66.4K views
Over 1.1K Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best Car Chase Movies Ever, Ranked by Fans
Voting Rules
Movies that feature epic car chases.
Latest additions: Fast X
Most divisive: The Rock

You know what makes the best car chase movies kick ass? It's not just the excitement or the tension. It's the payoff of when the pursuer finally catches up with its target or when the car being chased gets away. It's a moment of catharsis that only happens after a tense scene. So what are the best car chase movies of all time? Fans have voted for their favorites below, so it's time for you to weigh in on the matter.

Plenty movies feature awesome car chases, and in fact some movies are actually just super car chases that last the entire film. Mad Max: Fury Road for instance, is just one giant car chase scene that lasts the entire length of the movie. But not all car movies do a great job showcasing jaw dropping car chases. Some are downright terrible.

Thankfully, this list is to only showcase the best car chases in cinema. Vote up your favorite car chase movies and be sure to add any that you don't see on the list. These may not be all the chase movies out there, but they are the best.  Also, if you enjoy car films try checking out Ranker's racing films list and most memorable T-bone car crashes. Now prepare to marathon some of the best car chase movies you haven't seen.

Ranked by
  • Bullitt
    1

    Bullitt

    Steve McQueen, Robert Vaughn, Jacqueline Bisset
    464 votes
    • Released: 1968
    • Directed by: Peter Yates
    Bullitt is a hard-hitting classic action thriller that has stood the test of time. Steve McQueen stars as Frank Bullitt, a gritty San Francisco cop who's unyielding in his pursuit of justice. When a witness under his protection gets assassinated, Bullitt defies his superiors and dives headlong into the murky underworld to find out who betrayed them. Known for its iconic car chase scene through the hilly streets of San Francisco, Bullitt won an Academy Award for Best Film Editing. Its raw intensity, coupled with Lalo Schifrin's pulsating score, makes this movie a riveting watch from start to finish.

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  • The Blues Brothers
    2

    The Blues Brothers

    John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, James Brown
    371 votes
    • Released: 1980
    • Directed by: John Landis
    In the eclectic comedy The Blues Brothers, Jake (John Belushi) and Elwood Blues (Dan Aykroyd) are on a mission from God. Paroled from prison, they set out to save the Catholic orphanage where they were raised from closure due to unpaid taxes. With a plan to reunite their old band and stage a big gig, they dodge police, neo-Nazis, and country singers in a madcap race against time. Director John Landis melds music, humor, and high-speed car chases in this cult classic that celebrates blues, soul, and R&B music.

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  • Ronin
    3

    Ronin

    Robert De Niro, Jean Reno, Natascha McElhone
    313 votes
    • Released: 1998
    • Directed by: John Frankenheimer
    In Ronin, an intricate dance of intrigue and deception unravels. A motley crew of former intelligence operatives, led by the stoic Sam (Robert De Niro), is assembled to intercept a mysterious briefcase. The team includes the enigmatic Vincent (Jean Reno), the sharpshooter Larry (Skipp Sudduth), and the tech wizard Gregor (Stellan Skarsgård). As they navigate through treacherous Parisian streets, their loyalties become questionable. Directed by John Frankenheimer, this thriller delights with its high-octane car chases and strategic mind games. Ronin is a masterclass in suspense, where not everything is as it seems.

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  • Mad Max 2
    4

    Mad Max 2

    Mel Gibson, Bruce Spence, Emil Minty
    171 votes
    • Released: 1981
    • Directed by: George Miller
    In Mad Max 2, the world has been ravaged by a catastrophic energy crisis, leaving society in shambles. Max Rockatansky (Mel Gibson), a former highway patrol officer turned survivalist, roams the desolate Australian wasteland. He reluctantly agrees to help a small, gasoline-rich community escape from a horde of bandits led by the merciless Lord Humungus (Kjell Nilsson). The film, brimming with high-octane action and post-apocalyptic imagery, won the Saturn Award for Best International Film in 1982. It's an adrenaline-fueled ride that explores themes of survival and sacrifice amidst chaos.
  • Mad Max
    5

    Mad Max

    Mel Gibson, Joanne Samuel, Hugh Keays-Byrne
    309 votes
    • Released: 1979
    • Directed by: George Miller
    In the dystopian, action-packed Mad Max, Max Rockatansky (Mel Gibson) grapples with a lawless, post-apocalyptic world. A former highway patrol officer turned reluctant hero, Max navigates a barren wasteland where fuel and water are scarce commodities. He contends with marauding gangs of ruthless, motorized vandals led by the vicious Toecutter (Hugh Keays-Byrne). Directed by George Miller, this Australian cult classic set new standards for on-screen car chases and stunts, winning six Australian Film Institute Awards. As Max battles to survive, he becomes an iconic symbol of grit and resilience in the face of chaos and despair.

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  • Vanishing Point
    6

    Vanishing Point

    Barry Newman, Cleavon Little, Charlotte Rampling
    266 votes
    • Released: 1971
    • Directed by: Allen Smithee
    Vietnam War hero Kowalski (Barry Newman) has become a pill-addicted driver for hire. Transporting a car from Colorado to California, he enlivens the journey by making a wager with his drug dealer: If the trip takes under 15 hours, Kowalski's latest amphetamine purchase is free. But Kowalski's recklessness on the road results in a much-publicized police chase. Radio jock Super Soul (Cleavon Little) covers the pursuit and turns Kowalski, who refuses to pull over, into a martyr for freedom.