You love cars and the culture that surrounds them. You’re probably familiar with a few classic films like The Fast And The Furious or Bullitt, but what about the classics? Here are some of our favorite films and documentaries about car culture:

Top 10 Greatest Car Movies For Car Enthusiasts

Takeaways
Car culture is a diverse and multifaceted phenomenon that encompasses a wide range of vehicle types, activities, and communities.
Car movies and documentaries offer an engaging and entertaining way to explore car culture and learn more about the vehicles and people who make it what it is.
Some of the most iconic and memorable cars in history have emerged from car culture, from muscle cars to lowriders to concept cars and beyond.
While many aspects of car culture can be controversial or dangerous, they continue to inspire and captivate enthusiasts and casual observers alike.
Hybrid cars are a growing trend in the automotive industry, offering a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional gas-powered vehicles.

The Fast And The Furious (2001)

The Fast and the Furious is a 2001 American action film directed by Rob Cohen, produced by Neal H. Moritz and written by David Ayer. The film stars Paul Walker, Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez and Jordana Brewster.

The film follows an undercover cop who infiltrates a gang of street racers who are suspected of stealing expensive electronic equipment. As part of his cover, he enlists their help to race them in order to gain their trust so he can discover who is behind the crimes.

The movie made over $207 million worldwide at the box office on a budget of only $38 million.It was followed up with two sequels: 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003), which features most of the same cast but with no connection to its predecessor aside from some references; Tokyo Drift (2006), which focuses on new characters but brings back some old ones;

Fast & Furious (2009) which continues where Tokyo Drift left off; Fast Five (2011) which brings back most characters from previous films including Vin Diesel as well as introducing new ones such as Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson;*Fast & Furious 6 (2013)*and now we have Furious 7 coming out April 3rd 2015!

If you’re interested in learning about car culture, our Ultimate Guide to Understanding Car Culture and Its Subcultures is a great place to start. From hot rods to lowriders, this guide covers all the different types of car culture and what makes them unique.

Bullitt (1968)

While the car chase in Bullitt has been copied so many times that it’s become a cliché, there’s no denying that this film still holds up as one of the best car culture movies ever made. It stars Steve McQueen as a detective who is investigating the murder of a witness in a trial.

The plot is based on a real life incident, set in San Francisco and featuring an amazing performance from McQueen’s character Frank Bullitt (the name was changed from Joe Leland).

The movie was directed by Peter Yates and released in 1968 by Warner Bros Pictures Inc., meaning it’s now public domain–you can watch it online for free!

Le Mans (1971)

The 1971 film Le Mans is a classic. It’s the story of a group of drivers who compete in the 24-hour auto race at Le Mans, France. The movie stars Steve McQueen and features some incredible car scenes and stunts (including one where he drives through an outdoor market).

The director, Lee H. Katzin, was nominated for an Oscar for his work on this film and has directed several other great movies such as Smokey And The Bandit II (1980) and The Last Boy Scout (1991).

Brock Yates wrote a book called Enthusiasm!: How We Can Rekindle America’s Love Affair With Cars That Inspired The Movie “Le Mans.”

Rush (2014)

Rush is a 2014 biographical sports film about the rivalry between Formula One drivers James Hunt and Niki Lauda during the 1976 Formula One motor-racing season. It stars Chris Hemsworth as Hunt, a playboy who loves to party, and Daniel Brühl as Lauda, an intense perfectionist with a ruthless streak.

The film follows them from their first meeting at a kart race through to their battles on track (and off) in the 1976 championship that saw both men push themselves to new limits in order to win it all.

The film was nominated for three Academy Awards: Best Director (Ron Howard), Best Editing and Best Sound Mixing

Did you know that there are many different types of car culture beyond muscle cars and hot rods? Take a look at our article on Different Types of Car Culture to learn more about the history and characteristics of lowriders, rat rods, and more!

Senna (2010)

Senna is a documentary about Brazilian Formula One driver Ayrton Senna, who died in a tragic accident during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. It tells the story of his rise to fame and how he became one of F1’s greatest drivers. The film was directed by Asif Kapadia, who also wrote and produced it along with James Gay-Rees.

Senna was narrated by actor Leonardo DiCaprio (Titanic), who also served as executive producer on this project along with director Asif Kapadia, who wanted an actor for his film about Ayrton Senna because “he needs someone who can really bring him alive.”

Iconic Cars from Senna (2010)

Car	Brand/Make	Features
McLaren MP4/4	McLaren	Honda V6 engine, carbon fiber monocoque, active suspension
Lotus 97T	Lotus	Renault turbocharged V6 engine, active suspension, distinctive black and gold livery
Williams FW16	Williams	Renault V10 engine, active suspension, red and white livery
Toleman TG184	Toleman	Hart turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, distinctive yellow and white livery
Ferrari 156/85	Ferrari	Turbocharged V6 engine, aerodynamic front wing, red livery

This table lists some of the most iconic cars featured in the 2010 documentary film Senna, which tells the story of Brazilian Formula One racing driver Ayrton Senna.

The table includes the brand/make of each car and some of its unique features, such as the active suspension and distinctive liveries of the Lotus 97T and Williams FW16, and the turbocharged engines and aerodynamic features of the Toleman TG184 and Ferrari 156/85. The McLaren MP4/4, which won 15 out of 16 races in the 1988 season, is widely regarded as one of the greatest Formula One cars of all time.

Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016)

Kung Fu Panda 3 is a 2016 American computer-animated action comedy film produced by DreamWorks Animation, directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson and written by Jonathan Aibel, Glenn Berger and Michele Mulroney.

The film stars Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman and Seth Rogen. It is the third installment in the Kung Fu Panda franchise and was first released on January 29th 2016 in China before being released internationally in early March 2016 by 20th Century Fox.

The film tells us about Po’s long lost father who tries to teach him how to be a kung fu warrior like him so that he can defeat Kai (Angelina Jolie) who wants revenge on him after losing their fight years ago during which she was turned into an evil spirit due to her own hatred towards others because of her traumatic childhood memories caused during World War II when her family was killed by soldiers fighting against each other during battles between nations across Europe.”

Hybrid cars can be a great way to save money and reduce your carbon footprint. Check out our article on the 10 Most Affordable Hybrid Cars of 2023 to discover some of the best options available and learn about their features and prices.

Back To The Future (1985)

Back to the Future is set in 1955, but it’s about time travel. The film follows Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) as he travels back from 1985 to 1955 in order to stop his parents from breaking up and preventing him from being born.

He meets his mother Lorraine (Lea Thompson), father George (Crispin Glover), and future girlfriend Jennifer Parker (Claudia Wells).

The movie was directed by Robert Zemeckis and written by Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale, who also produced together with Steven Spielberg as executive producer.

The cast includes Michael J Fox as Marty McFly; Christopher Lloyd as Doc Brown; Lea Thompson as Lorraine Baines McFly; Crispin Glover as George McFly; Thomas F Wilson as Biff Tannen; Thomas Wilson Jr-Sylvania County Juvenile Corrections Center in Sylvania Ohio has developed a program called “Back To School With A Purpose.”

Cars (2006)

Cars is a Pixar film, so it’s probably no surprise that it’s a good one. The movie follows the racecar Lightning McQueen as he gets lost in a small town and meets many interesting characters along the way.

It’s got some great jokes about cars–my favorite being when McQueen asks what happens if he crashes into something and someone says “you’ll be fine”–and even better music: “Life Is A Highway” by Tom Cochrane plays throughout most of the movie!

Street racing has a long and complex history, and it continues to be a popular activity in some parts of the world. Take a deep dive into the subject with our article on the Fascinating History of Street Racing and Its Role in Car Culture to learn more about the drivers, cars, and culture behind this controversial sport.

Smokey And The Bandit (1977)

Smokey And The Bandit is a classic car culture film that stars Burt Reynolds, Sally Field and Jerry Reed.

It’s directed by Hal Needham (who also did Hooper, Cannonball Run and many more). The 1977 movie is based on the 1975 film of the same name which was written by two Georgia-based journalists named Pat Conroy and Tom Rickman.

The plot follows trucker Bo “Bandit” Darville who has been hired to drive an 18 wheeler full of beer from Texas to Georgia in 28 hours so he can win enough money to pay off his debtors before they come looking for him at his house or job site–which would result in them getting arrested if caught driving under the influence while carrying such a large amount of alcohol across state lines without proper documentation or taxes paid on it first!

Iconic Cars from Smokey and the Bandit (1977)

Car	Brand/Make	Features
Trans Am	Pontiac	Firebird body style, eagle decal on hood, forced-air hood scoop, rear spoiler
Semi-truck	Kenworth	W900A model, chrome bumper, 86-inch studio sleeper cab
Police car	Pontiac	LeMans body style, classic black and white paint job, siren and lights
Cadillac Eldorado	Cadillac	Convertible body style, white exterior, red leather interior
Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow	Rolls-Royce	Classic luxury sedan, iconic British design, wood veneer dash and door panels

This table lists the most iconic cars from Smokey and the Bandit (1977), including the famous black and gold Trans Am driven by Burt Reynolds’ character, the Kenworth semi-truck driven by Cledus, the police car chasing the Bandit, and two luxury cars driven by other characters in the film. The table also includes the brand/make of each car and some of its defining features.

Blue Velvet (1986)

Blue Velvet is a 1986 neo-noir film directed by David Lynch and written by Lynch, Barry Gifford, and Robert Getchell. The story follows an aspiring young man who discovers the dark underworld of his small town after getting involved with a mysterious woman.

The film stars Kyle MacLachlan as Jeffrey Beaumont, Isabella Rossellini as Dorothy Vallens and Dennis Hopper as Frank Booth.

MacLachlan’s real life wife at the time, Laura Dern makes an uncredited cameo appearance in one scene where she plays his onscreen wife Sandy Williams (to whom he gives a Golden Globe).

Car culture is full of iconic vehicles that have made a lasting impact on popular culture. From the Batmobile to the DeLorean, check out our list of the Top 10 Most Iconic Cars in Car Culture History to see which cars continue to inspire and captivate fans around the world.

Conclusion

So there you have it, my top 10 car culture films and documentaries. I hope that you enjoyed reading this post as much as I did making it! If there are any other films or TV shows that should be added to this list, please let me know in the comments section below.

FAQs

What are some classic car movies?

Some classic car movies include Bullitt, The Italian Job, and Vanishing Point. These films often feature high-speed chase scenes and showcase iconic vehicles that have become synonymous with car culture.

What are some more recent car movies?

Recent car movies include Baby Driver, Ford v Ferrari, and The Fast and the Furious franchise. These movies often feature a mix of high-speed action and character-driven storytelling.

What are some independent car movies?

Independent car movies include Rushmore, Little Miss Sunshine, and American Graffiti. These films often explore car culture from a more personal and nuanced perspective, focusing on characters and relationships rather than just high-speed chases.

What makes a great car movie?

A great car movie should have a strong sense of style and visual flair, interesting and well-realized characters, and thrilling action sequences that showcase the vehicles in dynamic and exciting ways.

What impact have car movies had on car culture?

Car movies have had a significant impact on car culture, influencing trends in car design and driving styles. They have also helped to popularize certain vehicles and fuel a love of automobiles in audiences around the world.