Only a handful of films have been able to capture the adrenaline rush and adventurous spirit of motorsports, but those that have are nothing short of a thrilling, high-octane time at the cinema.
With F1 roaring into theaters, and Brad Pitt getting behind the wheel of a Formula One race car, we’ve scoured the past century for the best racing movies of all time, and the 15 finalists here represent a diversely entertaining collection of character dramas and contests of will.
Movies centered around cars date back to the 1920s when the U.S. was coming into its own as a car-filled nation. Cars and car films have come a long way since then, but they’re still as adrenaline-pumping as ever. Major Hollywood stars like Tom Cruise, Steve McQueen, Chris Hemsworth, and Matt Damon have headlined racing films over the past century, with the drama of that world creating a “sports film” unlike all the rest. The stakes can be personal glory, scientific innovation, or—you know—busting nefarious criminal syndicates, making car-racing flicks a truly captivating sub-genre.
Here are the 15 best racing movies of all time!
The Fast and the Furious (2001)
Considering where the Fast and Furious saga went, 10 films and one spinoff later, it’s easy to forget it all started with street racing in 2001’s The Fast and the Furious. Things eventually became the A-Team with cars, then James Bond with cars, and now… Star Wars with cars?… so it’s fun to look back at the original, which was, er, Point Break with cars. An undercover cop (the late Paul Walker) becomes part of a heist crew (led by Vin Diesel) in order to take down their hijacking ring. It’s weird to call this solid action film a “humble” beginning, but things just get nuttier from here.
Fast and the Furious bloomed into an MCU-rivalling mega franchise, and its next chapter arrives sometime in 2026 with an untitled Fast X sequel confirmed. See our guide on how to watch the Fast and Furious movies in order to catch up on the series so far.
Ford v. Ferrari (2019)
James Mangold (Logan, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny) crafted this Oscar-nominated story about a team of American and British engineers hired by Ford to build a race car that could defeat the famed Italian racing team of the ’60s. Matt Damon and Christian Bale are at the top of the bill for this one, supported by a great ensemble that includes The Punisher’s Jon Bernthal, Outlander’s Caitríona Balfe, and Josh Lucas. Ford v. Ferrari is a gripping tale, blending history, design, and character.
Days of Thunder (1990)
Tom Cruise reunited with Top Gun director Tony Scott for this effective, pulse-pounding early “Tom Cruise movie” (i.e. Tom Cruise starts aloof and cocky, gets humbled and learns to not be an a-hole). Days of Thunder also was big for Nicole Kidman, breaking her in with American audiences in this flashy, fast-paced story of racing rivals Cruise and Michael Rooker, who find friendship and redemption after a big accident. Robert Duvall, Randy Quaid, and Cary Elwes also star.
Speed Racer (2008)
The Wachowskis’ gonzo, hyper-color big screen adaptation of 1960s anime Speed Racer lights up like lightning, delivering a boisterous special-effects extravaganza. Emile Hirsch stars as Speed Racer, a young man whose life and love has always been racing. Born into the business, and at the helm of his Mach 5, Speed Racer turns down an offer from the head of Royalton Industries, along the way inadvertently uncovering a corporate plot to fix races. With Christina Ricci as Trixie and Matthew Fox as Racer X, this fantastical cartoon-o-lama is Formula One family fun.
Two-Lane Blacktop (1971)
A road movie and racing film in one, starring music star James Taylor and Beach Boys drummer Dennis Wilson, Two-Lane Blacktop now celebrates cult status decades later. This funny, poignant trek follows a mechanic and a driver, who race and maintain their 1955 Chevy, traveling across America with no particular destination in mind. In the years since its release, the film has also become notable as a time capsule for U.S. Route 66 during the pre-interstate highway era.
Senna (2010)
Tracking the life and death of Brazilian motor-racing champion Ayrton Senna, this documentary is a deeply engaging look at the Formula One career of the legendary racer, putting you in the driver’s seat for both genuine thrills… and genuine heartache.
Gran Turismo: Based on a True Story (2023)
The real-life story of British teenager Jann Mardenborough — a Gran Turismo player who became a professional racing car driver — made its way to the big screen for a solid underdog racing movie starring David Harbour and Orlando Bloom. Neill Blomkamp, replacing Joseph Kosinski (who’s now directed F1), helms this heartwarming story with authenticity and optimism.
Cars 3 (2017)
Cars 3 — which some fans like the best out of the Cars trilogy — sees (now) veteran racer Lightning McQueen in danger of being forced to retire, giving us a poignant story pulsing with dazzling animation. It’s the most Pixar-feeling of the Cars movies, filled with emotional depth, standing as a triumphant improvement over Cars 2.
Winning: The Racing Life of Paul Newman (2015)
This compelling documentary from Adam Carolla chronicles the 35-year racing career of iconic movie star (and voice of Doc Hudson in Pixar’s Cars movies) Paul Newman — and his racing life as both a driver and owner. It’s a loving, energetic portrait that shines a spotlight on a fascinating footnote to Newman’s storied career and legacy.
Driven (2001)
Sylvester Stallone wrote and starred in (and probably ghost directed) Driven, using many of his tried and true Rocky themes in the story of a veteran race driver coming out of retirement to help a talented rookie win an auto racing championship. Envisioned as a Formula One movie, Stallone pivoted to CART (Championship Auto Racing Teams), which folded not long after the movie opened. Despite having some truly thrilling racing scenes, the film was a box-office bust.
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006)
A lot of laughs can also be found on the racetrack, as demonstrated by Adam McKay’s Talladega Nights, one of comedian Will Ferrell’s magnificent, quotable “heyday” films. Ferrell stars as numbskull NASCAR idol Ricky Bobby — a simple, successful idiot who falls from grace after he finds defeat at the hands of a French Formula One champion (Sacha Baron Cohen). The film’s all-star ensemble includes John C. Reilly, Gary Cole, Michael Clarke Duncan, Leslie Bibb, Jane Lynch, and Amy Adams in one of the greatest comedy movies.
Rush (2013)
The MCU’s Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brühl star in this finely-tuned sports drama from Oscar-winning director Ron Howard, about the famed rivalry between James Hunt and Niki Lauda during the 1976 racing season. Strong performances and exciting, exhilarating racing scenes help push Rush past the finish line.
Check out more Chris Hemsworth movies.
Grand Prix (1966)
Winner of three Academy Awards, and directed by The Manchurian Candidate’s John Frankenheimer, Grand Prix includes real-life racing footage within its reels, adding to the authenticity of the story. Following four Formula One drivers — with an international cast including James Garner, Yves Montand, Brian Bedford, and Antonio Sabàto — Grand Prix takes viewers through a fictionalized version of the 1966 Formula One season. A visually vibrant film, Grand Prix presented racing on the screen in a way that had never been done before.
Death Race 2000 (1975)
From the pioneering authenticity of Grand Prix to a good ol’ time at the movies with Death Race 2000. David Carradine stars in this glorious Roger Corman spectacle of schlock about a dystopian future society where a casualty-filled Transcontinental Road Race entertains the masses, becoming our new national pastime. Maligned at first, Death Race 2000, which also stars Sylvester Stallone and The Karate Kid’s Martin Kove, is now considered a cult classic.
Le Mans (1971)
You’ve seen that much of this list focuses on the ’60s and ’70s racing scene, with even Speed Racer being based on a racing anime from that era. Le Mans, starring Steve McQueen, is like Grand Prix in that it contains real-life racing footage amidst a fictionalized story, though Le Mans also comes with supplemental viewing in the form of the 2015 doc Steve McQueen: The Man & Le Mans, about the actor’s drive (heh) to make a movie about his passion: race-car driving. Le Mans itself, too, is a must-watch for race fans.
That’s it for our picks of the best racing movies of all time! Has our list revved your engine, or has your favorite missed a place on the podium? Let us know in the comments.
Looking for more movies that define their genre? Take a look at our picks for the best spy movies and the best thriller movies of all time.
New Racing Movies in 2025
F1, starring Brad Pitt. F1 follows a driver who comes out of retirement to compete alongside a rookie in Formula One and is due for release on June 27, 2025.
Note: This list was updated on June 25, 2025, with even more picks for the best racing movies. It was originally published on May 12, 2023, as a top 10.
