Comingsoon.net is looking at movies that highlight what it means to be a gearhead—the need for speed. Check out our picks in the gallery below!
On numerous occasions in the Will Ferrell movie Talladega Nights: The Ballard of Ricky Bobby, the titular character expresses a desire to go fast. While that comedy does not make our list of dramas, the sentiment still stands. It epitomizes the type of meticulous mechanic who studies their craft in order to build the fastest machine possible.
The newest movie revolving around speed-hungry mechanics is James Mangold’s Ford v. Ferrari; the film has brought attention back to a genre (sometimes referred to as “Dad films”) that hasn’t been taken seriously in quite awhile. When it comes to films about racing, more often than not, they’re ludicrous. Those movies are fun (and necessary) but every now and again a good racing biopic comes along and highlights some of the hardest workers in the world. Here’s a list of some of the best movies about gearheads, and in turn racing, that have made that particular genre what it is today.
The Beat Movies About Gearheads
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Days of Thunder (1990)
Basically the equivalent of Top Gun in the world of NASCAR, except not as good. Tom Cruise plays rookie racer Cole Trickle who deals with rivalry, falling in love and racing in the Daytona 500.
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Gone in 60 Seconds (2000)
This fun movie about a car thief who has to steal 50 luxury cars in order to save his brother from a crime boss features a bunch of eccentric mechanics (and a castable Nicholas Cage).
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Le Mans (1971)
Taking place during the 24-hour Le Mans race in France, this drama follows Steve McQueen's Michael Delaney who is haunted by an accident from the previous year.
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The Fast and the Furious (2001)
The film that started it all. The more contained film in the franchise sees an undercover cop, Brian O'Conner, enter the world of underground street racing into order to infiltrate a heist crew.
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Grand Prix (1966)
Driver (James Gardner) is dropped by his sponsor in the 1966 Formula One Championship. In order to continue with the race, he joins a Japanese team.
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Vanishing Point (1971)
Vietnam war veteran and drug addict, Kowalski (Barry Newman), is a driver (of the questionable variety). After making a bet with a drug dealer that he can transport a car in less than 15 hours, his reckless driving results in an epic high-speed chase.
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McLaren (2017)
The only documentary to make our list revolves around the life of Bruce McLaren—the founder of the self-titled New Zealand racing team.
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Bullitt (1968)
This action thriller follows police lieutenant Frank Bullit (Steve McQueen again) as he navigates the drama between a mob boss, his brother, a senator, and two hitmen. Bullitt contains arguably one of the best car chase sequences of all time.
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American Graffiti (1973)
This nostalgic comedy about the last day of summer vacation follows a group of high school friends and the cars that they drive.
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The World's Fastest Indian (2005)
Burt Munro (Anthony Hopkins) takes his classic Indian motorcycle from New Zealand to Utah in order to break a world record for speed.
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Rush (2013)
Ron Howard's riveting drama about the legendary rivalry between James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth) and Niki Lauda (Daniel Bruhl) is exhilarating and smart.
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Ford v Ferrari (2019)
James Manigold's film about Ford hiring Carroll Shelby to try and take on Ferrari in the 1966 Le Mans is perhaps the most well-balanced motorhead-drama film of all-time.
