Buzz
The car chase is a time-honored and often-executed element of action cinema. The evolution of digital effects has only amplified its power on screen. For many film lovers, there’s nothing quite as thrilling as watching cars pushed to their limits, whether speeding along open highways or navigating through packed urban streets. While many films attempt to capture the excitement of a car chase, only a handful manage to do it at the highest level. Here are some of the finest car chases in cinematic history.
1. Bullitt (1968)
For countless movie buffs, Peter Yates’s Bullitt remains the definitive film when it comes to car chases. The legendary pursuit between Steve McQueen’s Ford Mustang and a Dodge Charger occupied by two hitmen continues to be a stunning display of 1960s muscle cars in action. What makes this chase particularly memorable is its break from convention. While it starts in the iconic hilly streets of San Francisco, the chase takes an unexpected turn onto an open road where the cars stretch their legs in full throttle, culminating in thrilling crashes. This contrast between the cramped, winding streets and the wide-open roads elevates the sequence to legendary status.
2. The Italian Job (1969)
Many car chases prioritize speed above all else, whether it's the rapid pace of the cars or the frantic editing to match. The Italian Job, a charming heist film about a group of British criminals (including Michael Caine) attempting to steal a large stash of gold bars and smuggle them into the Swiss Alps, certainly embraces speed. However, what truly makes its car chase stand out is its brilliant sense of humor. The sight of three Mini Coopers racing down stairs is funny enough, but toss in a wedding ceremony, a police car stranded on a rooftop, and drivers casually cruising through a pitch-black tunnel like they're enjoying a leisurely drive, and you’ve got a truly unforgettable sequence. While The Italian Job may not feature the fastest chase, it certainly offers one of the wittiest.
3. The French Connection (1971)
When producer Philip D’Antoni and director William Friedkin set out to create The French Connection, D’Antoni had one firm requirement: the film’s car chase had to surpass the legendary one in Bullitt, which he had also produced. The two filmmakers brainstormed and eventually came up with the thrilling concept of a car chasing an elevated train. After several weeks of shooting on the streets of New York City without permits, Friedkin had all the footage necessary for an unforgettable action sequence. From the intense first-person camera shots to the various obstacles beneath the train tracks, combined with Gene Hackman’s tense expressions, this chase still delivers as much heart-pounding excitement today as it did in 1971.
4. The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
James Bond films are renowned for their thrilling car chases, often showcasing the most stunning vehicles of the era. Each movie in the series features at least one chase that’s unforgettable. While a list could easily be filled with nothing but iconic Bond car chases, if we had to choose just one, the centerpiece chase in The Spy Who Loved Me stands out. In a stunning Lotus Esprit, Roger Moore’s Bond, with Russian agent Amasova (Barbara Bach) by his side, is pursued by a motorcycle with a deadly sidecar, a car driven by the menacing Jaws, and eventually, a helicopter. The helicopter presents a particular challenge, but Bond always has one more trick up his sleeve—his Lotus transforms into a submarine. Yes, this is the film where the car becomes a sub, and it’s a moment no one who saw The Spy Who Loved Me will forget.
5. Smokey and the Bandit (1977)
No list of great movie car chases would be complete without mentioning Smokey and the Bandit, the film that made the Pontiac Trans Am a pop culture icon. Directed by Hal Needham, this classic road film is filled with memorable car moments and stunning stunts, making it hard to choose just one standout scene. The task becomes even more difficult due to the immense charisma in Burt Reynolds’s performance and the confident direction from Needham. Even when the stakes are raised to their highest, the film’s breezy and lighthearted tone makes it feel like no one is ever truly in danger. The daring leap across Mulberry Bridge perfectly encapsulates the film’s blend of tension and humor, as Bandit quips, “that’s not good” when he spots a roadblock and “That’s worse” when he sees the police closing in. It’s a perfect mix of comedy and breathtaking stunt work.
6. The Blues Brothers (1980)
The Blues Brothers, starring John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd, is one of the most successful Saturday Night Live sketch-to-film adaptations of all time. The movie is known for its wild action sequences, particularly its outrageous car chases. The plot revolves around two well-meaning men trying to raise money to save their childhood orphanage, but along the way, they encounter explosions and high-speed chases that they navigate with surprising calm as they work to complete their “Mission from God.” The film features not one, but two memorable chases, with the first through a mall being a standout. However, it’s the absurdity of the final chase through the streets of Chicago that sticks with audiences—the sheer madness of it all is impossible to forget.
7. To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)
William Friedkin is the only director to appear twice on this list, having previously created the unforgettable car chase in The French Connection before returning a decade later with another unforgettable sequence. While To Live and Die in L.A. may not be regarded as a classic in the same league as The French Connection, its iconic chase scene is a hallmark of 1980s action filmmaking. In the sequence, two Secret Service agents flee from two gunmen after a botched operation, and what begins as a tense weaving through trucks in an industrial area quickly erupts onto the freeways of Los Angeles. The high-speed chase culminates in some of the boldest and most daring driving ever captured on film.
8. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
Car chases often thrive on the interplay between different vehicles, and while muscle cars racing each other are always a treat, The French Connection taught us that contrasts in chase sequences heighten the drama. James Cameron applied this lesson with skill in a gripping chase from T2, where the T-1000 commandeers a tow truck to chase John Connor, who’s riding a frail motorcycle, through a puddle-filled path. The sound design plays with contrasts, emphasizing the engine noise as the truck morphs into an unstoppable beast, throwing sparks as it barrels down the concrete path. The thrilling finale, featuring the T-800 on a motorcycle, only serves to amplify the scene’s dynamic contrasts in an exhilarating way.
9. Ronin (1998)
Sometimes, the most thrilling car chases are those that don't rely on flashy cars or larger-than-life characters, and for proof, look no further than John Frankenheimer's Ronin and its masterfully crafted chase. The two cars involved in the pursuit aren’t particularly remarkable, but Frankenheimer heightens the tension through clever use of tunnels, bridges, and even small details like hubcaps flying off during tight turns. More impressive than the chase itself is the way it serves as a character study, underscoring the real danger involved. No one in either car seems to be enjoying themselves, and Robert De Niro even appears genuinely scared in several shots. This constant feeling of imminent danger makes the entire sequence even more electrifying.
10. The Bourne Supremacy (2004)
When you picture a ‘spy movie’ car chase, you likely imagine sleek vehicles and suave characters. However, it’s this very expectation that makes the Moscow chase in The Bourne Supremacy so effective. With Matt Damon’s performance at the core and Paul Greengrass’s handheld camera style, the sequence becomes a frantic, raw experience. As Bourne, injured and on the run, escapes his pursuers in a battered taxi, the chase feels like a desperate fight against time. While we know Jason Bourne won’t die, the uncertainty lies in whether his body or the crumbling taxi will give out first.
11. Death Proof (2007)
Quentin Tarantino has built his career by remixing cinematic tropes and genres, and it was only a matter of time before he tackled the car chase. His ultimate chase sequence arrived in Death Proof, and what stands out is not just his ability to play with genre conventions but his adherence to them. The scene is very much a nod to classic 1970s car chases, and it’s pure adrenaline. Tarantino shoots it with an unwavering camera, refusing to cut away and reminding us that what we’re witnessing is as real, thrilling, and visceral as it gets.
12. Fast Five (2011)
The Fast & Furious series is famous for pushing the boundaries of car stunts in every installment, to the point where in the most recent film, the crew chased a submarine across the ice. Despite the increasingly outrageous set pieces, however, the epic vault heist from Fast Five stands as a high point for many fans. The concept is straightforward: Brian and Dom steal a massive vault and then drive it through the streets of Rio in matching Dodge Chargers. The brilliance of the scene lies in how it evolves in surprising ways, from the vault barreling through pylons to Brian’s daring move of reversing his car into the vault to keep it rolling. It’s just one of many unforgettable moments in the franchise.
13. Drive (2011)
While it might seem strange, sometimes patience is just as critical in crafting a great car chase as speed. The key is in the build-up, the context, and the moments that tell the story without uttering a word. Few films understand this as well as Nicolas Winding Refn’s Drive. The film’s opening sequence, where The Driver (Ryan Gosling) calmly explains his rules and then takes a pair of armed robbers on a getaway through the streets of Los Angeles, is a masterclass in tension. From the quiet anticipation to the stunning payoff, it’s all about holding back until the perfect moment arrives to let loose.
14. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
Until recently, George Miller’s The Road Warrior was the definitive Mad Max film known for its outrageous and gritty car chases. However, that all changed with the arrival of Mad Max: Fury Road, Miller’s fourth entry into the franchise and arguably the greatest action movie of the 2010s. The entire film unfolds as one extended car chase, taking only brief pauses to set up the next heart-pounding sequence. While it’s tough to pinpoint just one standout chase, the moment when Immortan Joe’s War Boys begin swinging down toward our protagonists from poles remains the most exhilarating part.
15. Baby Driver (2017)
A lot of films use pop music during their most intense action scenes, but few have woven it into their car chases as intricately as Baby Driver. Edgar Wright’s film about a getaway driver who thrives when his tunes are blasting blends the high-speed thrills of classic car chases with the stylized elements of a musical to create something truly unique. While Baby Driver boasts several thrilling chase sequences, none are quite as unforgettable as the instantly captivating opening scene, perfectly synchronized to “Bellbottoms” by The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion.
