To celebrate the cool thriller Drive, starring Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan, finally hitting UK cinema screens today, we thought it would be the perfect time to run down the 10 Greatest Cinematic Car Chases!
If there’s one thing that makes an action/thriller movie great, it’s an all out car chase. I’m talking explosions, wrecked vehicles, impossible stunts, policemen who can’t drive, villains who can shoot and drive, heroes that can shoot, drive, escape the clutch of the bad guys and save the day all from one indestructible vehicle…basically, we want carnage! Whilst this week’s theatrical release of Drive may not offer all of this, there are plenty of films that do.
Read on to discover what we think are the 10 best movie car chases…
10. 2 FAST, 2 FURIOUS (2003)
Ok, so this is one of my ‘guilty pleasures’ films, which I can’t help but enjoy. I’m not going to stand on my soapbox and demand that you consider it one of cinema’s greatest productions…because it’s not, I know! But it does have a chase scene that is literally one of the coolest ones I’ve seen. Ok, so it’s more of a race really, but essentially Paul Walker finds himself in competition with a host of other supercars in one hell of a showdown of engine power…
The sequence is edge of your seat viewing, as one by one Walker whizzes past the competition in a display of craftsmanship driving and mind-blowing stunts. This sequence is so much more about the cars than the actual race, with each fitted with its own kick ass modifications including nitro and turbo boosters, sick alloy wheels, funky custom paint jobs and LED under-body lighting systems! There’s literally a car for everyone’s taste and I can guarantee that I wasn’t the only one in the cinema lusting after each and every one… Right, I’ll stop sounding like a boy racer now!
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12 Comments
Great list.
One of my favourite “chase” sequences – which while not a pure car chase – is in RAISING ARIZONA. That had cars, on-foot, dogs in pursuit and a child involved.
I’m just gonna say you’ve forgot because not including the car chase in the original Italian Job is just not acceptable!
It’s definitely my favourite anyway.
I must admit, this is first top 10 I have seen on this pathetic website that isn’t shockingly ignorant. I applaud you, sir.
death pröof is my favourite QT film.he is genius
death pröof is my favourite QT film.he is genius. But u forgot to mention ‘duel’
How about Peter Fonda’s ‘Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry’? Entire movie is a car chase! Lots of carnage, beautiful Yellow Charger…
Thanks for all the comments guys – some great suggestions from you! I’ll be honest and say that I haven’t seen Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry, although have heard that the chase sequences are superb – will definitely be checking it out though! The Italian Job and Raising Arizona are good shouts – the only reason The Italian Job didn’t make it is because I just don’t think it’s as great as what’s on the list. It’s good, but certainly not the best in my honest opinion.
Thanks again for the comments and shout if you can think of any more great movie chases!
The Dirty Harry sequel, Magnum Force, had the best car chase in the series followed by The Dead Pool.
However you feel about the Matrix sequels, you can’t deny the awesomeness of the highway chase sequence in Reloaded
In terms of more recent movies, I like the chase scene in Batman Begins, with Batman in his Tumbler being trailed by a bunch of hapless cops, destroying walls, roofs and other cars along the way.
You do know that the picture you have for the French Connection is from Bullitt, right? Other than that, good list, I’m always excited when someone gives the original GI6S a little recognition, as bad as the rest of the movie was…
Any car chase list without the inclusion of Bad boys 2 and Matrix Reloaded is just unacceptable (Add Fast5 to those 2 also)
I hate that everytime, it’s freakin’ French Connection and Bulllit. They are slow as hell in modern filmmaking era and they don’t even cut well. Nostalgia is not a good thing