Popcorn Time: 6 of our favorite classic car chase scenes

Six movies with the best car chase scenes to binge watch during the Christmas break

Car chases in cinema have always played a huge role in the success and popularity of any blockbuster movie. It highlights the main character, reinforces the plot and simply makes for great entertainment. Thanks to Hollywood, we’ve witnessed the most epic car chase sequences ever shot on film. But apart from the cars, what are some of the most important factors needed to make a great car chase scene? These would be the dangerous stunts, the choreography of the chase, and the cinematography. Looking back at some of the best car chase sequences ever made, there’s hardly any dialogue and a minimal amount of acting involved. Everything really weighs on the director’s cinematic skill to make each sequence exhilarating. In order to achieve this goal, he must be able to put the moviegoer right smack in the driver’s seat of every chaotic scene, giving them a sense of everything that’s happening.

There’s no written formula as to what makes a great car chase scene as it varies from how dangerous the chase ensues, the speed at which the cars move against one another, the number of cars crash, and so on. However, the most important factor is the realism of the chase. This is something that seems to be lacking nowadays as most chase sequences rely on special effects and Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI). Not just the visuals, but the audio as well as the loud music soundtrack totally drowns out any engine/exhaust noises and tire squeal.

Here’s the thing though, for any gearhead, it’s totally fine if the car is unable to fly, swim, or jump over mountains. Realistically capturing the limits of both car and driver in a well-choreographed sequence and great cinematography is all that’s needed to come up with an unforgettable car chase scene. Read on and hang on tight, as we list down six movies with the best car chase sequences ever shown on the silver screen.

The Italian Job (1969)

1967 Austin Mini Cooper S (Red, White & Blue)

This British comedy film features criminal mastermind Charlie Croker (Michael Caine) who steals a load of gold bullion and loads it onto three Mini Coopers to transport it out of the city. In an effort to elude the police chasing after them, Croker leads the trio of Minis by following an ingenious route around the gridlocked city of Turin. The famous chase scene saw the three Minis executing precision driving maneuvers over stairs, sidewalks, pedestrian streets, and shopping centers. Greatly adding to the excitement, the Minis also jump over rooftops and go through huge drainpipes and sewers. What's great about all this is that it was all done in a seemingly choreographed sequence involving three small, identical cars with actual driving control and skill. What's more, they even got to drive on the now historic, rooftop test track of the Fiat factory building that was built in 1923. 

Ronin (1998)

1991 BMW 535i and 1996 Peugeot 406

John Frankenheimer's spy thriller doesn’t rely on CGI or camera tricks, just talented stunt drivers and practical effects. It necessitated mounting cameras on the car’s hood to achieve the sense of high speed and going out of control. The 8-minute chase between a BMW 535i driven by Natasha McElhone and a Peugeot 406 driven by Robert De Niro with Jean Reno as a passenger is just epic. The chase scene is set in Paris on a winding mountain road and ends in the chaotic streets of Nice. A total of 80 automobiles were destroyed, and 300 stunt drivers were involved. It’s definitely a driver's film as it revolves around two understated, six-cylinder, powered executive cars. Which by the way performs and handles just the way they should. The display of incredible car control under the hands of a capable driver in a perfectly executed chase sequence makes it a must-watch. The end result being realistic and believable, something the audience and gearheads can relate to.

Gone in 60 Seconds (1974)

1971 Ford Mustang Mach 1 and way too many police cars

This is the original film that was remade by Nicolas Cage in 2000. Now it may not garner any film nomination for editing and cinematography, but it is so jampacked with actual car mayhem. The highlight is the 40-minute car chase ending that’s considered as one of the longest in movie history. A total of 93 cars were destroyed during the making of this film which lasts 97 minutes long and was shot on public roads in Long Beach and Los Angeles. What makes it one of the best car chase scenes in cinema is that all the car crashes and collisions were real and there were absolutely no special effects. This included the final “big jump” scene that saw the Mustang jump 30 feet high and clear 128 feet. Even more amazing is the fact that H.B. “Toby” Halicki wrote, produced, directed, and starred as the main character, including doing his own stunt driving that left him with a compressed spine.

Bullit (1968)

1968 Ford Mustang GT390 and 1968 Dodge Charger R/T 440

If there’s a granddaddy of car chase scenes, this is probably it. Ranked number one on every gearhead’s list of car chase sequences. It was filmed at speed through the undulating streets of San Francisco. The chase develops into a game of cat and mouse with spectacular jumps and lots of oversteer through the corners. Another reason for its popularity has to do with the driving as it was all done by McQueen himself, nothing was faked or sped up. So real, they didn’t even bother to remove the scene where McQueen overshot a corner and had to back out in a smoky burnout as the rear suspension hopped around. The almost 11-minute chase scene used different shots just to show what the experience would be like. Aside from Steve McQueen the film also stars a 1968 Ford Mustang GT and a Dodge Charger R/T driven by a pair of thugs. Still in its original beat-up look, the same Mustang GT was brought out of hiding and sold for $3.74 million during a Mecum auction in 2020.

To Live and Die in L.A. (1986)

1985 Chevrolet Impala (9C1) and Chevrolet Caprice

This film stars William Petersen and John Pankow as Secret Service Agents who rob someone at gunpoint for his cash. Something that instantly goes south, as not only does the bag man get shot by armed goons, but they also become the next target. They quickly scoot off in their getaway vehicle which is a Chevrolet Impala that happens to be an actual LAPD cop car. This marks the start of the great car chase sequence in this movie. They zoom past busy streets, alleyways and the familiar L.A. Flood Basin (Flood control project as seen in countless movies) while being chased by the goons driving a Chevrolet Caprice and a few more cars. After finding themselves trapped in gridlock traffic, a wrong way sign flashes. With nowhere to go, they crazily drive towards oncoming traffic at speed. This results to more crash and mayhem, but eventually leads them to their escape. This ten-minute car chase sequence actually took six weeks to shoot, but the end result certainly looks and feels real. This is because nothing was faked or made with special effects.

Against All Odds (1984)

1983 Porsche 911 SC Cabriolet and 1982 Ferrari 308 GTSi Quattrovalvole

One of the most realistic car chase scenes comes from this romantic thriller from the eighties. This features a red 1983 Porsche 911 SC Cabriolet driven by James Woods as Jake Wise with a white dog in the passenger's seat and a black 1982 Ferrari 308 GTSi driven by Jeff Bridges as Terry Brogan. The scene starts out casually as they engage in a casual conversation that soon sees both cars and drivers in a stoplight for an impromptu street race. An exhilarating car chase ensues as they weave in and out of slower cars and counterflow through LA’s Sunset Boulevard and the dense streets of Bel-Air. At the stoplight, Jake taunts: "Let's see if you still got balls, Terry." Even though the entire car chase scene is barely three minutes long, the fact is that it featured two awesome open-top, sports cars, driven with extreme precision by talented stunt drivers and done with great cinematography. These elements really made up for one unforgettable car chase sequence that continues to resonate well with car enthusiasts.