Films have long been able to give us a glimpse into another life. One that only movie stars can access but, deep down, we all secretly wish that one day we too will be able to live out.
There are literally hundreds of driving films – some that will stay in your mind forever and some that should be consigned to the bargain bucket, never to be seen again. To make a great driving film – the sort to inspire you to want to learn to drive yourself – you need to have serious gear-heads on board, classic motors, fast cars, car chases and a spectacular storyline.
Here, we sort through the movies to remember and those better off forgotten.
The Good
Rush (2013) – Ron Howard’s biopic about the ‘70s rivalry between Formula One racers Niki Lauda and James Hunt is over the top in all the right ways. The two main characters played by Daniel Bruhl and Chris Hemsworth are excellent, and they keep the somewhat predictable tale of obsessive competition grounded.
Thelma and Louise (1991) – The ultimate driving movie. Running away from their oppressive lives, Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon take on a journey of liberation with a feminist kick. Directed by Ridley Scott, it takes in big skies, open roads and a wonderful soundtrack as they travel between Arkansas and the Grand Canyon in Louise’s 1966 Ford Thunderbird convertible. The movie’s ending has become an iconic classic.
Collateral (2004) – A thriller about a Los Angeles cabbie played by Jamie Foxx and his hit-man passenger Tom Cruise. Foxx’s character is just a regular guy getting on with his life until he takes on this passenger who quickly turns into the cab ride from hell. The cab represents a safe bubble for Foxx which keeps him from seizing the life he could be living – until today. It’ll keep you on the edge of your seat with a gripping storyline.
The Bad:
Days of Thunder (1990) – Tom Cruise features again, this time in a film on the other side of the list. While an amazing actor and an absolute legend playing a pilot in Top Gun, when he tried his hand at being a NASCAR racing driver he epically fails with a dodgy script and ‘cheesy’ dialogue. Although the car scenes are quite good these are few and far between.
Driven (2001) – Another great actor who isn’t at his best behind the wheel is Sylvester Stallone, who actually wrote and produced this film. The driving scenes are extremely unrealistic with car chase scenes through downtown Chicago at nearly 200mph.
Grand Theft Auto (1977) – Happy Days star Ron Howard directs and stars in this film. This is a classic ‘rich girl and poor guy’ storyline where the families do not agree with their off-spring’s choices of partner. The pair rebel and steal a Rolls Royce to run away to Las Vegas and get married and all sorts of automotive mayhem ensues. It’s predictable and dull throughout.dood and bad driving films that you will remember forever and ones thta ourself a step
David M Paggi
Aug 8, 2016 at 7:29 am
I take it that for you “driving” is a considerably broader category than “racing,” which merited only one entry in each list. Otherwise I believe you should have included John Frankenheimer’s Grand Prix (1966) starring Jim Garner and many great F1 drivers. This and Rush are great movies about great driving while others in your list are great movies in which driving is a key element.