Top Movie Car Chases of All Time

[TimCollier]

Recently, a friend sent me an email linking to a story at CNN which listed what the author thought were the Top 10 Movie Car Chases of all time. While I thought 9 of the 10 were good calls, I thought they left a couple out that may have been better, so that's what this post is about.

First, let's start with the list from the article (I'm supplying a link to a movie if one's available):

10. Cannonball Run (1981) - Lamborghini Countach being chased by Pontiac Firebird Trooper.

9. Death Proof (2007) - Chase sequence involving a 1969 Dodge Charger and 1970 Dodge Challenger.

8. The Fast and the Furious (2001) - No mention was made over what sequence, but I'd bet it would be the final chase with the two motorcycles being sought by Vin Diesel in a black supercharged Dodge Charger and Paul Walker in a Nitrous Tuner.

7. Mad Max II: The Road Warrior (1981) - The final chase in the movie, where Mel Gibson is driving a gasoline tanker truck being pursued by a ton of nutjobs on anything that has a motor.

6. Vanishing Point (1971) - If you've never seen this movie, you're missing a great sequence of events that leads to the ultimate finale in car chases, using a Dodge Challenger R/T with a 440 Magnum V8...it was also re-done recently by the group "Audioslave" for their "Show Me How To Live" music video.

5. Gone in 60 Seconds (1974) - That's right, the original, not the Nic Cage remake. This one, starring a 1973 Ford Mustang Mach 1 being chased from one end of city to the other, and no stopping in between.

4. The French Connection (1971) - Gene Hackman chasing an elevated train in his 1971 Pontiac LeMans...intense!!

3. The Italian Job (1969) - Again, the original, not the recent remake. Michael Caine and mini-coopers, how could that not be entertaining!!

2. Ronin (1998) - Robert DeNiro and a mean Beemer car chase, great action and story, and brilliant camera angles.

1. Bullitt (1968) - Was there any doubt? Steve McQueen in a 1967 Ford Mustang Fastback chasing the bad guys in a 1968 Dodge Charger through the streets of San Francisco!! This was the best in my opinion!!


Now, the ones I felt were left off the list:

- The Seven-Ups (1974) - Roy Scheider chasing Rutger Hauer through the city streets for 10 minutes of breath-taking action. Shot and coordinated by the same team that did "Bullitt".

- The Blue Brothers (1978) - The final drive back to Chicago where the brothers deal with Chicago Cops, The Good Ole Boys, Illinois Nazis, and the SWAT team! It used to be a cop car...

- Vantage Point (2008) - Chase scene involving Dennis Quaid through the tight streets in Spain, very very intense, and some incredible moments of near misses (and NOT!). I don't want to post a clip as it would give away the story to those who haven't seen the movie.

[jogan]

nice list! i also enjoyed the car chases in the bourne movies.

[Tony Boynton]

I'm a Ronin fan, but haven't seen all the others. Ronin also had great gun scenes, for those of us who enjoy the more realistic depiction of same.

-Tony B.

[TimCollier]

One of the best shootout sequences in recent years was in "Heat" with DeNiro and Val Kilmer after the bank robbery...

[Packerjim2001]

I would add the chase sequence from Matrix Reloaded, and I am sure one or two Bond films should be listed as well, although his cars always end up totaled. License to kill yes, license to drive no.

[TimCollier]

I was thinking about the Bond film where he's being chased in Las Vegas and through a parking lot...think he was driving a Mustang too, but can't recall exactly, and can't remember which film it was...

The Matrix Reloaded scene on the Interstate was cool for sure, but more CGI than real which counts off points in my book

[jabber09]

I was thinking about the Bond film where he's being chased in Las Vegas and through a parking lot...think he was driving a Mustang too, but can't recall exactly, and can't remember which film it was...

The Matrix Reloaded scene on the Interstate was cool for sure, but more CGI than real which counts off points in my book

Diamonds are Forever is the one you are thinking of. What about the opening chase scene of Quantum of Solace? Doesn't feel like all the old Bonds, but shooting and blowing stuff up kinda makes up for it.

[TimCollier]

Haven't seen either of the Craig movies yet...just can't get the crappy ones out of my head and put them aside to give James Bond another chance.

Thanks for the movie link...I'll check it out tonight!

[Paul]

What about The Driver with Ryan O'Neal????

[john basara]

Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0xE-68P4ao

One of my all time favorite movies

John