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The Most Furious Car Chases in Film History
When you talk about furious car chases in films, a few of them instantly come to mind. I know that I’ve sat at the edge of my seat while watching quite a few of these.
When you talk about furious car chases in films, a few of them instantly come to mind. I know that I’ve sat at the edge of my seat while watching quite a few of the ones which I am about to list.
The Bourne Identity (2002)
I sat glued to my seat for most of this movie, but when that mini darted up and down pavements, drove the wrong way up a one way street, and came rushing down a set of stone steps, my heart was beating so fast, that I became almost breathless.
The French Connection (1971)
This movie won 5 Oscars for best editing, largely due to the car chases in the film. The chase included real crashes and was heralded as the best (or at least one of the best) of its time.
The Man With The Golden Gun (1974)
After stealing an AMC Hornet from a car dealership in Bangkok, “James Bond” crashes through the glass windows of showroom and into the busy street. He chases the bad guy who ends up on the other side of the river. Bond then makes a 360-degree turn around in the air, and lands smack - wheels down - on the other side of the river from where he started. All this was done with no special effects, in one single take.
Lethal Weapon 4 (1998)
I watched this one with my mouth open wide. The chase involved a Pontiac Gran-Am and a Mercedes. So, Riggs is busy swearing and chasing one of the baddies. A fight moves from a mobile home which is being dangerously towed in the middle of the freeway (motorway), then to a massive battle between the Grand Am and the Mercedes. It all comes to a head with a mind-boggling crash through an office building.
Gone in 60 Seconds (1974)
The ingredients: (The original, not the 2000 remake with Nicolas Cage) A band of car thieves, a tight budget, no stunt doubles, destroying 93 cars, almost half the movie spent setting up the chase, then a 40 minute chase scene Could you ask for more?
Ronin (1998)
The definitive car chase sequence, A multiple car chase through the impossibly narrow streets of Nice, then a chase up the wrong way against the traffic, through the tunnels under the Seine (Paris). No one watching this could stop their pounding heart from racing until the end.
Bullitt (1968)
Probably one of the best car chase sequences of all time. Steve McQueen did a lot of the stunts himself. The cars went up and down the streets of San Francisco at more than 110 miles per hour. The big sequence lasts for nine minutes and it took two whole weeks to put together. Apparently, McQueen liked to lean slightly out of the window while filming so that the camera picked up that it was him and not a stunt man behind the wheel
Smoky and the Bandit (1977)
Delivering a truck load of beer from Texas to Georgia on a tight schedule has never been more fun. However, when the Sheriff takes chase to get back his run-away prospective daughter-in-law (a hitchhiker the “Bandit” picks up on his way), a chase ensues. Dirt roads, freeways and back-lanes are all involved at high speed, pulse-racing chases.
The Blues Brothers (1980)
This was a terribly expensive car chase, the most expensive, at that time. About 300 cars were destroyed in the sequence, including 60 police cars. The chase starts inside a previously abandoned shopping centre, which the filmmakers re-built from scratch. After the filming ended, the centre was re-opened again to the public.
Casino Royale (2007)
It was painful to watch an adorable Aston Martin rotating and slamming into the road at a break-neck speed. This movie made the Guinness book of World Record when the car rotated seven times while being filmed. Because of the low centre of gravity of the car, an air cannon was inserted behind the driver’s seat to propel the car to roll at the time of impact.
This one was special to me, so I added pictures of the opening sequence foot-chase. This was the best chase on foot that I had ever seen in a movie, so I thought it deserved to be added here along with the Aston Martin’s amazing flip.
Whether you like furious car chases or not, I don’t think that anyone who’s seen these films managed to keep a steady, relaxed heart-rate while the sequences were played out before them. Car chases in films these days are like a basic part of the menu, but I’ve tried to include here, the ones which relied mostly (or wholly) on skill and brilliant cinematography rather than computer generated gimmicks. I’m sure you’d agree that these are some of the ones which have stood out through the years.
47 Comments
Wow..this brings back memory! The only one that I haven’t seen is Bullit! Great collection!
I like watching car chases in movies and have seen some of these images. great article…
amazing………
I remember most of these movies, great memories.
Wow incredible,
awesome car chase, i had watched all those films,thanks Anne
Love cars, love films, love speed! Love your article!!
Ronin, definitely one of the best car-chase films of all time!
ronin is the best, why didn’t you mention theMatrix scene with Trinity on the motorbike, surley one to remember…
great car races… too bad i never saw any of the movies!
What about The Italian Job (1969)?
what about The Kingdom(2007)? That final car scene was much better than Casino Royale in my opinion
What about the Matrix II? That was an awesome chase!
Don’t forget “To Live and Die in L.A.” 1985, directed by the same guy as “French Connection,” William Friedkin…
Death Proof, anyone? Done without any major contribution from special effects, and with real people. I’d say it at least deserves honorable mention.
It’s a new one, but Pineapple Express should be up there.
I am one of those who sits right on the edge of the chair as if it was the real thing. My husband threatens to have me committed!! lol
The mall used for the Blues Brothers chase was never reopened. It was abandoned again after filming and is still abandoned. In fact there are still tire marks on the floor of the building from the chase.
You forget Mad Max the Road Warrior. When he goes after the Bikies and in the beginning of the film when they (the MFP) are chasing the Toe Cutter and his floosie.
One of my favourite ‘on foot’ chases was in the French movie ‘Precinct B13′ or something like that, the movie with the French ‘Free Running’ guy running through apartments and out windows, down balconies, across buildings, etc etc!
Great list! I’m with Tarantino on Death Proof. It was filmed where I used to live and I saw part of the car chase being filmed! Awesome fun! Also, not really a car chase but what about Transformers? Other than those, my favorite is Gone in 60 Seconds! Great article!
French connection hands down…
Real time on unclosed streets!! The cars are going as fast as it looks with no tricks or CGI … Pure driving skill.
Very cool article.
Another site did a list just like this. Could have been more original… like the Italian Job, or Death Proof like Tarantino said..
Great article. I love car chases.
brilliant WHAT AABOUT BULLET thats the best in my opinion
FAIL. You forgot the car chase scene in Matrix Revolutions. I know Matrix has been seen and reviewed to death, but that chase scene down the freeway was one of the coolest car chase/action sequences I’ve ever seen.
u 4got the chace scene in the Italian Job!!!
I agree with Jrad (but it’s actually from Matrix Reloaded not Revolutions). I’ve seen a couple of these lists made about the greatest car chases in film history and it never mentions this one. Unbelievable. I understand people not liking the movie but it’s hard to argue that it’s not one of the greatest chase ever (let alone one of the top ten)…
Ronin is my pick as the best ever. Simply awesome.
The Matrix: Reloaded doesn’t count. Read what the author said about CGI gimmicks.
Great article.
Yeh some awesome car chases here Anne. I have got to say that in Gone In Sixty Seconds (the remake) when Nicholas Cage aka Rhino Raines, steals the Ford Mustang Shelby GT 500 and outruns many foes, has to be my favourite car chase of all time.
Among those I’d watched, Ronin remains the best. Thanks, Anne.
Police Story? I did all my own stunts
Wow! Interesting….
Hi everyone. Thanks for the involvement!
I realise that there are many favorites out there, but I tried to include the ones which made a lasting impact on me. Not only this, (and maybe more importantly) I wanted to include the car chases with as few computerized gimmicks as possible (like I’ve already said in the article).
Wanted is not in there, neither is Matrix Reloaded. There are a few others which are favorites, but I couldn’t include them all here. If I had, would there be need for a discussion?
Thanks again, for all the comments and involvement.
The TV series Heist which was later cancelled had a great chase scene with, I think, John Leguizamo. The vehicle spun around and slid backwards underneath a semi, taking the top part of the convertible off.
you forgot to include “Batman Begins” otherwise, good choices
amazing…..
Do you have any trouble with copyright infringement? Did you get permission to use these images and titles or is it acceptable because you gave credit to whome credit was due, by listing names??? Just curious for my own benifit. Thanks!
Nicole, I’ve listed all my sources for the pictures. These links take you directly to the sites from which I got the pictures. I get to use them, they get the credit.
Hope this helps.
Good review! I really should learn something
I really disliked the car “chase” in Casino Royale, way too short. That, and a car would never do that. Other than that, awesome.
If you liked Casino Royale’s foot chase sequence, definitely check out District B-13. That’s the definitive Parkour “Free Running” chase scene that made the “sport” famous.
Thanks guys, for the involvement and all the comments.
I am not in cinema oft enogh, it seems
Really interesting article, I’m new to Triond and have just had an article about the American Road movie published, was cool to read something else about films and cars!