THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS movies have brought us some of the best action car chases that have ever been committed to that thing we call film. I think back to try to remember the very first memory of a car chase that I saw up on the big screen, and it’s CANNONBALL RUN PART II that stands out. It was one of the very first action films that I was allowd to watch as a kid, and possibly one of the first VHS tapes that I ever owned. I remember it’s orange cover. I remember Jackie Chan. I remember Dom Deluise (God rest him). I remember Jaws. I remember Roger Moore, but most all, I remember Burt Reynolds, who also just happens to be the most famous person that I have ever met (closely followed by Johnny Depp). CANNONBALL RUN PART II hasn’t made my top ten list for the Movies Greatest Car Chases, as it was [let’s face it] – shit.

I have trawled through my DVD, VHS, LASERDISC and Blu-Ray collection, plus the vaults of YouTube, Daily Motion and various other video streaming websites to bring you, through the haze of alcohol, the THN all time Greatest Movie Chases.

Strap in.

#10 – RONIN (1998)

“What colour is the boathouse at Hereford? How the fuck should I know”, says a double hard Robert De Niro to the passive Sean Bean in RONIN. The film wasn’t amazing, but what was amazing were the superb car chases littered throughout the John Frankenheimer directed movie. My best mate Steve always whacks this on when I stay over at his after a night on the ales back in Gloucestershire. We site back and let the testosterone build with this one. Amazing.

#9 – VIEW TO A KILL  (1985)

Possibly the best Roger Moore James Bond movie with the best James Bond villains of the 007 flicks of the 80’s. A VIEW TO A KILL starred a blonde-haired Christopher Walken, and a scantily-clad Grace Jones, but I always remember it for the superb car chase that takes place just after Grace does one off the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Again, I remember this from my childhood and was probably THE 007 adventure that got me all excited for Bond. Genius. Strangely, this clip features music from THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS, but it’s the only one I can find…

#8 – TAXI (1998)

Now, not the awful American remake with Queen Latifah. No, this is the original Luc Besson produced French movie, which features some amazing set pieces throughout, and are surely some of the best car chases caught on film. What follows is the film’s climatic chase which contains a few minor spoilers. I love this movie, and if you haven’t seen it, look out for it. Please don’t let the launguage barrier get in the way!

# 7 – BEVERLY HILLS COP (1984)

Again, I remember seeing this when I was younger in the original TV cut where it was a little different…  A few years later I got my greasy mitts on a VHS copy of BEVERLY HILLS COP where I was shocked to find that Eddie Murphy is swearing his tits off throughout the entire cigarette chase scene at the beginning of the movie. The thing that I love the most about this movie is the damn music… For those wondering, it’s the Pointer Sisters’ Neutron Dance, and this is amazing! How many police cars get fucked up during the set piece? A lot.

# 6 – QUANTUM OF SOLACE (2008)

Probably the most recent of movies to be featured on the definitive THN Greatest Movie Car Chases list, QUANTUM OF SOLACE opened with a thrilling set piece where it felt like to were actually in the car next to Daniel Craig gripping his gear stick. You have dust, falling cars, cliff edges and some henchmen trying to bash Bond’s back doors in while firing at him with machine guns. This is quite possibly the best Bond car chase ever, hence the reason for it’s inclusion just outside the top five. The chase serves as the opening scene to the movie, and it’s so good that every darned clip on YouTube is disabled from embedding. You can watch it right here though.

#5 – THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS series (2001-2011)

It had to be included on the list right? Can you believe that this franchise has five movies to its name now (with a sixth already planned)? For me, the original is still the best but it’s very difficult to narrow down my choice to a specific clip. So, because of that I have included all of the movies and embedded a montage of clips featuring many car chases throughout the years below. The series redefined the action genre and the movies keep getting better and better…

#4 – SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT (1977)

A controversial choice but hey it’s my list, and I love Burt Reynolds. Smokey is one of Burt’s best; well, the original is anyway and Sally Field has never looked hotter.  Again, I’m having trouble narrowing the choice down to one specific chase, so I will celebrated them all. That Bandit is one crazy Sumn-bitch! Here’s a fan made tribute the moustached legend. Damn you Bandit!

#3 – THE BLUES BROTHERS (1980)

Weird that essentially a comedy has made it to the number three position on my chart, but just for the sheer carnage that Jake and Ellwood unleash in THE BLUES BROTHERS warrants its inclusion. The film is by no means my favourite and it took everything in my worldly might to refrain myself from including BAD BOYS II instead of this, but boy, this is one awesome car chase. Again, I couldn’t find a clip that was embeddable, so here’s a link to one of John Landis’ finest.

#2 – THE ITALIAN JOB (1969)

One of my favourite Michael Caine movies of all time is also one of his classics. THE ITALIAN JOB was th essence of cool back in the late 1960s and the film was defined by the iconic Mini-Cooper car chase at the end of the movie. What’s more cool than three Minis speeding through the streets of Turin? Oh, that would be Michael Caine in one of those three Minis speeding through the streets of Turin. The remake was crap though.

#1 – BULLITT

So, we make it to the number one spot. Yes, there really is only one person more cool than Michael Caine, and that person was Steve McQueen. BULLITT had everything. The perfect chase set to the perfect (Lalo Schifrin) score. The cool streets of San Francisco and that car.

Sit back and watch the genius in full.

Other notable mentions include… THE ROCK, TERMINATOR 2, BAD BOYS II, THE FRENCH CONNECTION, THE BOURNE IDENTITY, VANISHING POINT, DUEL, GONE IN 60 SECONDS, THE DARK KNIGHT, DEATH PROOF, TO LIVE AND DIE IN LA…. all great, but don’t vide with me as much as the above.

Don’t forget to check out FAST AND FURIOUS 5: RIO HEIST  – in cinemas now! It’s a corker!