Favorite Racing Movie of All Time

Anyone remember Two Lane Blacktop?

 

One of my all time favorites. I've been camping where they film the scene next to the pile of rocks (in the Mojave)

Car Chases - Hot Rods to hell (1967) - YouTube

But I did vote for Grand Prix, awesome photography and the film actually had a plot! Unlike Le Mans (which I do like) where McQueen didn't let any silly plot get in the way of the movie.

Not a racing film but pretty awesome anyway. No, it's not what it seems but pretty cool anyway. And "supposidly" includes a Ferrari

Getaway in Paris Ferrari 275 GTB racing (vintage footage, 1976) - YouTube

 

Here's the ironic thing, it's a pretty cool movie.

 

Speed Racer directed by the Wachowskis

 

I liked Ferrari Race to Immortality


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Le Mans for me. That movie was the event that got me into cars. The Gulf Porsche 917 is beautiful. I did like Driven and Ford v Ferrari too. Senna and Enzo movies too sad.

 

I vote Grand Prix (how can you not? The filmmakers got a GT40, strapped a 65mm FILM camera to it, lined up at the back of the grid at Spa and took the green flag?!? When the camera car passes through those scattered hay bales, that was actual crash debris from the first lap mayhem that nearly killed Jackie Stewart--you can even see the hole in the side of the barn that his car went into from the helicopter shot...Phil Hill was driving the GT40 and those are actual Belgian GP competitors that he is passing in the rain! I mean, c'mon!). One of the top film experiences of my life was an invitation from a friend at the Eastman House in Rochester, NY to watch an immaculate 65mm print on the big screen. Incredible detail (look for the film crew's staging area at Monaco, with all the F3-turned-F1 cars parked over the tunnel on the helicopter shots).

But someone should mention "The Racing Scene" (1969). Very hard to find--the only DVD I've seen is a very poor transfer, but TCM (I think? or the Speed Channel?) broadcast a pristine print years ago, and it looked (almost) as good as Grand Prix. A true documentary that follows James Garner as he launchers his racing team, AIR (American International Racers). The opening montage where Garner is co-driving the Baja 500 in one of the first-gen Broncos is, for this Garner fan, one of my all-time favorite film openings. If memory serves, his team gets a (couple?) L88 Corvettes for Daytona and Sebring, and a Lola T70 spyder for CanAm. One hair-raising crash is captured. A lot on trying to put the team together. Tons of period flavor and many driver cameos. Worth a look if you can find it....

 

thank you for making me think of it! love your post!

 

All the usual suspects have been discussed above. For pure pop- Elvis Presley in Speedway. As for car chase movies don’t forget the Seven - Ups.
And for motorbike racing -there is nothing like the TT- TT3D: Closer to the Edge.


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If you are not 1st you're last!

Let's go to Applebee's!

 

Also for good/great chase scenes add "Ronin" to the list; directed by John Frankenheimer who also directed "Grand Prix." Frankenheimer was a car guy, racing enthusiast, and also had a great model car collection (1:43 scale).

And....there are still a number of other 1950s - '60s racing movies...the list is pretty big.

 

I voted Rush, because it's a great script, beautifully shot, etc. Great movie with appeal beyond racing enthusiasts. Niki Lauda was simply heroic.

Le Mans is a personal favorite for the racing sequences, and the timeless slate grey 911 opening scene . But the script borders on non-existent, and it's not a film I'd inflict on non-car people.



Grand Prix is fascinating because it was shot in period, with great production by Frankenheimer. It does feel a bit long between races, whereas Rush is intense all the way through.

But I've seen all of them multiple times and will do again.

 

"I don't know what to do with my hands ...."
"I'm on fire! I'm on fire! Help me Tom Cruise"

 

Awesome responses and dialogue everyone! Most appreciated and flattered by the response. I am purposely only jumping in from time to time (humor mostly) or hitting "Like" for posts that are really cool or informative (not that any are not) but staying out of the way since the thread is generating a lot of fun and I don't want to junk it up with a bunch of "OP" responses

I also discovered several movies I was not aware of or my memory was jogged by your posts so thanks again .

Have fun - Cheers

 

Gumball for the win..

 

Can't watch this.

 

Speed tribe. Background all the time.

 

AIR had two L-88 Corvettes and two Lola T70 IIIs(coupe) for endurance racing, 1968-9. No CanAm IIRC.

 

Everyone knows the greatest racing movie of all time is Initial D .

 

More recently Ford vs Ferrari comes to mind. Of course LeMans with McQueen is a classic.

 

What about The Racers with Kirk DOuglas in 1955!

 

Two Lane Blacktop
And who can forget Duel- not a race movie- more a race for your life and you can almost hear a banjo playing in the background [emoji4]


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The only reason you like this flim is plan Alpha! It has absolutely nothing to do with cars!

 

Rendevous C'était un Rendez vous 1976

 

My vote is Grand Prix - clearly the best racing movie so far.

Le Mans is good as well, then Rush.

I think Rush is more about the people vs racing the racing is pretty bad.

Same for Ford v Ferrari…. Grand Prix is filmed at legit speed- and on the most fearsome tracks in history… Monaco old Spa and Monza with the Banking…. It can never get any better than that.


As for documentary on racing One I think is the best.


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