There's Driving and Then There Are Driving Movies

Are you so obsessed with driving that you even want to watch movies about it? Well, you're clearly not along as many great films have been made about it. From getaway drivers to race car drivers, there are so many stories to be told about the passionate, dangerous, and thrilling endeavour of driving. Here are the 20 best movies about drivers for those of us who simply can't get out of their petrol heads.

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1. Ford v Ferrari

This film tells the amazing underdog story of race car driver and mechanic Ken Miles who joined forces with car designer Carroll Shelby to create a revolutionary car for Ford to race in Le Mans, going neck-to-neck with Ferrari. The film stars Matt Damon and Christian Bale and has you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

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2. Rush

Rush tells the incredible true story of Formula 1 driver Niki Lauda and his intense rivalry with fellow racer James Hunt. While driving for Ferrari, Lauda crashed and sustained permanent burns all over his face and body. Only taking six weeks to recover, he went on to complete the championship, finishing second.

3. Talladega Nights

A parody centered around NASCAR, Talladega Nights stars Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, and Sacha Baron Cohen. It hilariously tells the story of a cocky American driver whose life is changed when a French Formula 1 driver comes into the picture. It's bound to have you in stitches.

4. Baby Driver

Baby Driver is a comedy about a young getaway driver who is forced to participate in a heist bound to fail. It's action-packed entertainment fuelled by a killer soundtrack. 

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5. Drive

A film about a mysterious stunt man who works as a getaway driver at night, Drive is a slow-burning neo noir. The plot quickly escalates after the main character tries to help his neighbor's husband rob a pawn shop. If you like highly stylized crime flicks with some great driving and cool cars, this is the film for you.

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6. Days of Thunder

This quintessential 90s flick starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman tells the story of the firey rivalry between two NASCAR drivers, Cole Trickle and Rowdy Burns. That is until they both get badly injured, and a plot twist ensues. 

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7. Easy Rider

This 70s classic starring a very young Jack Nicholson is a must-see for motorheads everywhere. It's centered around a couple of Harley-riding hippies, cruising through life, encapsulating the era and the drifter lifestyle.

8. The Transporter

This action-packed thrill ride tells the story of an ex special forces agent who offers his services as a "transporter," moving illegal goods. He gets in a spot of trouble when he's hired to kidnap a mob boss's daughter.

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9. Le Mans

Steve McQueen stars as Formula 1 driver Michael Delaney in this 1971 classic. It focuses on the 24-hour Le Mans race in which he goes neck-to-neck with his nemesis from Ferrari.

10. Taxi Driver

This haunting classic movie is centered around a NYC cab driver who takes night shifts, exposing himself to the city's underbelly. He becomes increasingly detached from reality and begins obsessing over "cleaning up the city." It's an early Martin Scorsese classic that's a must-see for any film lover. 

11. Taxi

Taxi is a French action-comedy written by Luc Besson and set in Marseille. It's a highly entertaining and hilarious story about a taxi driver who's determined to help an incompetent cop track down a German gang. 

12. Vanishing Point

Vanishing Point, about a reckless race car driver's cross-country expedition to deliver a sports car, garnered a cult following since its release in 1971. In the movie, the driver sets a wager to deliver the car in record time, only to attract a frantic police chase.

13. The Bikeriders

This recent film starring Austin Butler and Tom Hardy follows the Midwestern motorcycle club who are at once a group of bike enthusiasts and vandals. Set in the 60s, The Bikeriders captures the era's counterculture movement that had an everlasting effect on America.

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14. Redline

Another film to gain recognition as a cult classic, Redline is the story of a man determined to win a race that only happens every seven years, but falls for an alluring woman in the process. Set in the distant future, the film is renowned for its stunning animation. 

15. The Fast and the Furious

This extremely popular movie franchise is perhaps the best-known of all the driving movies. The series is mainly focused around heists and speed racing and features many beautiful cars from classic to cutting-edge. Plot aside, just the cars are enough to keep the petrol heads watching happy.

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16. Greased Lightning

This 1977 film is about NASCAR driver Wendell Scott's struggle to overcome racism. It's the inspiring true story of the sport's first Black driver and is both action-packed and genuinely comedic, albeit a little dated.

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17. Hit and Run

Hit and Run is a comedy about a former getaway driver who leaves the witness protection program to drive his girlfriend to LA, only to find they're being followed by both a cop and the mobster he testified against. It's the perfect fun and lighthearted driving movie. 

18. Senna

Senna is an award-winning documentary about the Brazilian Formula 1 driver Ayrton Senna. Often considered one of the best Formula 1 drivers of all time, his life was tragically cut short at the age of 34 during a race. The movie is a must-watched for seasoned Formula 1 fans and novices alike. 

19. Speed Racer

Speed Racer is an action comedy based on the manga series of the same name. It's about a talented young driver whose goal is to win the cross-country race The Crucible which claimed the life of his brother. It's a unique and stylized film that any fan of racing or Japanese comics should watch. 

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20. Gran Turismo

Gran Turismo is a 2023 film based on a true story. The film is about a racing team that recruits the top simulation driving gamers to become real race car drivers. It's a riveting film with an inspiring storyline that anyone with an interest in sports would love.