Our 10 Must-Watch Car Films

Unsurprisingly, here at Kwik Fit, we’re big fans when it comes to car films. By ‘car films’, we mean movies that everyone loves, featuring cars front and centre to the plot, often portrayed in ways that are unusual, experimental, or just downright funny.

In this blog, we’ll be talking about the ways in which cars have been pushed to their theatrical limits on the big screen, shown off in their most stylish liveries, or have a character entirely of their own. These are the films we go back to time and again, either for those late, popcorn and beer movie nights or as fun viewing for the whole family.

We love all of the films on this list, but read on to find out our top pick at number 1.

10. “The Fast and Furious” Franchise

Already starting strong with this one! The franchise is a favourite for many and it would be almost impossible to choose one out of the twelve mainline features. In fact, we could probably do a list just focusing on this franchise alone.

But, we would recommend ‘Fast Five’ as our top pick, right in the middle of the franchise, it was a much-needed renewal of the series. All of the films are adrenaline-pumping, action-packed, exaggerated, and wild, but ‘Five’ really turns up the ridiculousness and pacing. Racing through Rio with a bank vault, brawls, rooftop chases… It’s so fast it might just make you sweat. It’s also the first entry which brought in the beloved Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson as Luke Hobbs.

We also love it so much because, much like Vin Diesel’s Fast and Furious crew, we’re also a family here at Kwik Fit and well… we’re big on cars.

9. “The Blues Brothers”, 1980

Perhaps not the first film that comes to mind when thinking about cars, the Blues Brothers is a classic American comedy with the great John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd. It features a whole list of A-list cameos and is a punchy title with an absurd premise. Yet it has stood the test of time and is carried, in part, by the hilarious and mind-boggling car chases which punctuate the movie.

The big feature is the Dodge Monaco as the ‘Bluesmobile’ - A classic American cop car. The famous final chase scene shows the two main characters; shades on, faces stern, lights dashing across the windscreen as they flee. It’s a lot cooler than you expect from a comedy.

8. ‘Drive’, 2011

This is a classic, partly because of Ryan Gosling’s ascension to near godhood by certain subsections of the internet. However, this film could have been easily missed by the larger popular culture scene but persisted because of its iconic imagery, meme-ability, and strong performances.

The film is violent, and so is definitely for the less squeamish adults. However, the opening scene alone is a winner, throwing you right into the action with a getaway scene featuring a Chevrolet Impala. We're met with the sound of screaming tyres and screeching brakes — both core components that the experts at Kwik Fit recommend you maintain regularly in order to keep your vehicle's performance high.

7. ‘Bullitt’, 1968

‘Bullitt’ defined the car chase in many ways, and most modern car chases in films are compared to this classic, featuring the beloved Steve McQueen from ‘The Great Escape’. The film holds up incredibly well, and the scenes are exhilarating and well-shot, all taking place in the hills of San Francisco.

It’s also certainly a great film for those who love classic cars and the 1960s, with the iconic 1968 Ford Mustang GT 390 Fastback in that instantly recognisable Highland Green colour.

6. ‘Vanishing Point’, 1971

Another timeless classic which has a plot entirely dedicated to cars. The premise of the film is focused on the delivery of a muscle car cross-country whilst being chased by police. The main car used in the film is a 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T 440 cubic-inch V-8 model, which is a beauty to watch on the screen.

As expected for a film with this premise, it is dizzyingly fast-paced and adrenaline-fuelled. It is also a messy film, one which struggles to find a stable style, theme, narrative or even soundtrack. It bombed at the box office when it was released but has since built a considerable cult following.

For tips on how to drive smoothly and safely (much unlike the drivers in Vanishing Point), why not check out our blog on motorway driving? Feeling nervous behind the wheel? We’ve got a blog for you.

5. ‘Ronin’, 1998

Similarly to Bullitt, Ronin adds to the list yet more car chases (a dangerous driving style we don't endorse) which have been compared to those in Bullitt. The car chases, which take place on the streets of Paris in the ‘90s, are considered some of the best to have ever been depicted on film and the story itself is gripping. The film’s genius is in using regular cars for the chases as opposed to the American muscle cars featured in the previous entries here. We’re talking a Peugeot 406 struggling and grinding away as it chases a BMW E34 5-series. The sound of screeching tyres and heavy revving becomes this film’s soundtrack and a pleasant sound to any petrolheads watching.

4. ‘Cars’, 2006

You were either completely expecting this entry or are currently staring at this page in disbelief. Yes, it’s a Pixar cartoon and a complete left-of-field diversion from the violent, action-packed flicks in the rest of the list, but it’s still one which has its place in the pantheon of car films.

This one's for kids, yes. But, like most Pixar movies, it appeals to all ages and is full of easter eggs and visual clues. As an idea it originally raised a lot of eyebrows, people couldn’t possibly imagine a story about talking cars being taken seriously in any way. Yet, in true Pixar fashion, it became a beloved film. This is a classic, and definitely one for a family movie night.

3. The ‘Herbie’ series

Another timeless treasure for families. It’s an anthropomorphic, lovable classic car. Visually, Herbie is instantly recognisable — from his windscreen wipers to his tyres — and the stories told over the many years have become staple viewing in many homes. The original, ‘The Love Bug’ 1969, is the great classic featuring the iconic David Tomlinson of ‘Mary Poppins’ fame. However, ‘Herbie Rides Again’ 1974, is considered the best of the best.

There is also the modern remake from 2005, ‘Herbie Fully Loaded’. This is a beloved classic for those who had their childhood in the early 2000s, featuring Lindsey Lohan at the height of her career. Whether it’s the 1960s and 70s versions, or the 2005 remake, you’re going to get nostalgic.

2. ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ 2015

Look, it’s a film about cars in the desert, dressed up in the most outlandish modifications, in post-apocalyptic Australia, with Tom Hardy as the main character. It features a man strapped to the top of a truck as he plays the electric guitar with a stack of speakers behind him and people who paint their teeth chrome. It’s insane, stylised beyond comprehension and fun. Of course, it also features that iconic Pursuit Special, the black GT Falcon muscle car.

And 1. ‘The Italian Job’ 1969

There are few films with quite as many iconic scenes and visuals as ‘The Italian Job’. Firstly, it stars Michael Caine, a British actor who is an icon in his own right, and his quote: “You’re only supposed to blow the bloody doors off”! Secondly, there is the bus teetering on the edge of the cliff, and thirdly, of course, there are the Minis.

The Mini Coopers are the most memorable vehicles in the film, in their iconic colour schemes during those chaotic chase scenes, but there are other cars - The famous Lamborghini Miura which, contrary to popular belief, was not destroyed on set. There is the Aston Martin DB4 convertible, two Jaguar E-types, Fiat Dino Coupes, a Land Rover, an Austin A60 Cambridge, and a Thames 10cwt van.

So, yes, a lot of vehicles for a single film, and all classics. You can’t get much better than ‘The Italian Job’.

Don’t let your car look like a movie prop

There are so many other films we could list here but these are just some of our favourites here at Kwik Fit. Much to our dismay, a lot of the films on this list feature cars which end up beaten and broken by the end of the runtime. So, we often have to watch between our fingers as we see a classic vehicle burn out its tyres or crash into a wall.

If you’re worried your car’s starting to look a little beaten and bruised, or the tyres are getting too worn, or maybe some of the lights on the dashboard come up a bit too often, why not bring it into your nearest Kwik Fit centre for a check-up? Book a Free Vehicle Health Check today and give your car the TLC it deserves, helping to keep it looking like the star of the show.