If you are anything like me you couldn’t wait to get behind the wheel of a car. I remember being lucky enough to get my first car before I was even old enough to learn to drive (thanks to my parents). Most of that excitement was based on growing up watching classic driving movies and wanting to experience the thrill of the open road.
Of course, the reality of driving is very different and staying safe and knowing the laws of the road were very important for mine and my friends’ enjoyment. This is the important groundwork needed to make the dream comes true.
If anything the dream of the driving movies spurs you on to do all that important work. So, where should you look for inspiration that will stick with you? Here are some of my greatest driving films of all time:
1) Fast and Furious – This hugely profitable and successful car movie franchise now spans seven films with the eighth currently in production. Fast 8 will be released in the spring of 2017, featuring the late Paul Walker. The high-speed chases, amazing stunts, fist fights and big scams are present throughout every film and help to make this a great driving film series with a dash of drama as well.
2) The Italian Job – The classic 1969 movie starring Michael Caine and the modern remake in 2003 starring Mark Wahlberg were both smash hits. The theme centres around the main players completing their big heist with the aid of classic Mini Coopers to evade capture. Check out IMDb for some fun trivia facts from the 2003 remake.
3) Gone In 60 Seconds – As the title suggests it’s a fast paced high intensity movie. You will see every type of car that you’ve ever dreamed of in this film where Memphis (played by Nicholas Cage) guides his team (including Angelina Jolie) to steal 50 cars in 72 hours to save Memphis’ brother.
4) Cannonball – This was one of two movies released in 1976 (The other being The Gumball Rally) based on a real life illegal cross-continent road race. A version of the Gumball Rally (The Gumball 3000) still runs today. For car enthusiasts watch out for the TV reporter in the helicopter who identifies the black Dodge Charger taking part in the race as a ’71 model when it was in fact a ’68. Tut tut.
5) Herbie Goes Bananas – the 1980 film and the fourth of a series of films made by Walt Disney Productions, this features a lovable but mischievous white Volkswagen racing Beetle with a mind of its own. Herbie: Fully Loaded brought the film franchise up to date in 2005, starring Lindsay Lohan. It was fun but for me the old ones remain the most slick and the best.
6) The Hitcher – If you fancy a good scare then The Hitcher is the one for you. A young guy, Jim, travelling alone across Chicago to San Diego decides to pick up a hitch-hiker. I won’t spoil the ending but let’s just say it doesn’t quite go to plan…
7) Taxi Driver – A mentally unstable Vietnam war veteran works as a night-time taxi driver played by Robert De Niro in New York City, where decadence and sleaze feeds his urge for violent action. He also attempts to save a young girl played by Jodie Foster in the process. This film is directed by the award-winning Martin Scorsese.
https://youtu.be/0aIsNl6XwEk?list=PL18yMRIfoszEaHYNDTy5C-cH9Oa2gN5ng
Originally published January 26, 2016. Updated November 12, 2018.
