10 Movies Where Cars Were the Stars
6) Cannonball Run (1981)
Loosely based on the real life cross country Gumball Rally, Cannonball Run took the event and turned it slapstick, with a bunch of buffoons all sprinting across the country to see who could hit the other ocean first. The movie is largely dismissed as ridiculous, seeing as it has characters like Roger Moore playing a guy who thinks he’s Roger Moore and Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. driving a Ferrari. But what more could you ask for in a movie?
7) Death Race (1973, 2008)
The original Death Race was one of the first movies to predict the dissolution of civilized society into monstrous autos toting weapons, and the remake? Well, it had Ian McShane, so it wins. People came to see Death Race for the car on car mayhem that resembles something out of Twisted Metal on Playstation, but with less serial killing clowns and more Jason Statham.
8 ) Gone in 60 Seconds (2000)
Sure, this was a pretty solid movie all around, but the cars were the main eye candy, and that’s saying something considering Angelina Jolie was in it. Fifty gorgeous cars sat ripe for the picking, including one that had a personality all her own. Eleanor remains one of cinema’s favorite autos, and if you’re lucky you might pick her up at a Barret Jackson auction for 500G or so.
9) Mad Max (1979, 1981, 1985)
Death Race may have been fine and good, but if you want futuristic death cars, look no further than the Mad Max series. Post apocalyptic earth left its inhabitants to squabble over gang territory and gasoline, so the only solution is to armor up your car and kill everyone you meet.
10) Transformers (2007, 2009)
The greatest trick product placement ever pulled? Convincing the world it didn’t exist. What GM ad? These are just the robotic stars of the movie that all happen to morph into cars resembling those that may be GM subsidiaries! Transformers is without a doubt the definition of a movie where the cars play lead roles, and to such an extent that I can’t even fathom would be possible in any other movie. What better way to promote your new Camaro then to have it transform into a four story robot who proceeds to shoot missiles at your competition’s five story evil Mustang robot? None, the answer is none.
Yeah I know I left out Cars. I hate that movie.
how about “The General Lee”
good list but you forgot the death proof cars
What about Back to the Future?
Shouldn’t #1 be Christine?
There was an original “Gone in 60 Seconds”, from 1974 … http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071571/
Herbie? (Minus the Lindsay Lohan crap)
blues brothers?
The cars in the Transporter films were Audis, were they not? A8, I believe.
vanishing point,,great car,grear movie!
oldbear.
what about…………. CARS?!?!?
Only the first Transporter (and the one that didn’t suck) had a BMW. The others were Audis. Also, the first movie barely had the car in it. It was most definitely about the guy until the second movie. Then it was just about the sucking.
What about Gumball Ralley? Eat My Dust, The Car, Dirty Mary Crazy Larry?!
wut about 2 Italian jobs 🙂
love them both
No Deathproof… Really? The whole thing really WAS about the cars!!!
Check out Steven Spielberg’s first movie ‘Duel’. List should also include Smokey And the Bandit.
Oh and in the Transporters film there’s no Mustang. It’s Selene.
http://www.insideline.com/chevrolet/camaro/2011/inside-the-cars-and-trucks-of-transformers.html
What about the Italian job new and old the mini were stars
I know why this wasn’t in the list, as it isn’t well known outside New Zealand, but “Goodbye Pork Pie”. It was a film in which two losers with no money try to travel the length of NZ in a 1968 Mini, selling parts of it to raise gas money as they go. Its funny watching a guy, stoned as mary, driving a mini with no doors, bumpers, exhaust, interior, chrome, roof etc.
Oh you also forgot Herbie