What makes a car chase good? Strangely enough, that isn’t a simple question, since it highly depends on audience expectations and the genre the movie is set in. What we can all agree on, though, is that the best chases in cinema are something we can all enjoy. And they’re incredibly expensive, too.
We’ve compiled here a list of the best car chases for all speed fanatics out there. Some of these movies vary in genre quite a lot, but they all have incredible stunt work and driving showmanship. If you like your cars fast and your scenes destructive, this is the place for you.
Fast Five, The Vault Chase
This is the moment the series went from street racing to full-blown superhero mayhem. To film the insane vault-dragging sequence, the crew used multiple vault props, with 14 cars crashing head-on into them to make the impossible look real.
Baby Driver, Opening Getaway
Director Edgar Wright’s 2017 action flick is perfectly synchronized to its soundtrack. The opening getaway introduces us to Baby, a driver who wants out of the criminal life, and sets the tone with a flawlessly choreographed, music-fueled escape.
Mad Max: Fury Road, Final Convoy Chase
Many consider the film’s final chase a true masterpiece of action filmmaking. It’s a nearly perfect blend of incredible practical stunts and seamless CGI that creates a sequence of beautiful, non-stop chaos. What a lovely day for a car chase.
The Dark Knight, Armored Truck Attack
Everyone remembers the Joker’s 18-wheeler doing a complete flip on a city street. The craziest part is that director Christopher Nolan did it for real, using practical effects to cement this as one of cinema’s most legendary action scenes.
Mission: Impossible – Fallout, Paris Pursuit
Of course Tom Cruise is doing his own driving. As Ethan Hunt, he tears through the streets of Paris at high speed, weaving through traffic around the Arc de Triomphe. We all know he makes his own stunts, but being behind the wheel has to be out of his comfort zone.
No Time to Die, Matera Ambush
For Daniel Craig’s final outing as James Bond, the filmmakers went all out. To protect the classic cars in the opening chase, they used 8 replica Aston Martin DB5s alongside 2 real ones, ensuring no priceless vehicles were harmed.
The Bourne Supremacy, Moscow Chase
In this 2004 spy thriller, Matt Damon’s Jason Bourne gets into a brutal, gritty chase through Moscow. Director Paul Greengrass’s signature shaky-cam style puts you right in the car for every bone-jarring collision and desperate maneuver.
John Wick: Chapter 2, Mustang Retrieval
John just wanted his car back. Keanu Reeves, called “one of the best actor-drivers” by the stunt coordinator, did many of his own stunts to retrieve his 1969 Mustang. It was the last piece of his old life.
Ronin, Paris Freeway Chase
The car chases in this 1998 thriller are legendary for their realism. With no CGI, the film relied on incredible stunt drivers going at terrifying speeds, cementing its reputation among critics as a masterclass in practical action filmmaking.
Bullitt, San Francisco Pursuit
This is the one that started it all. Steve McQueen’s iconic 1968 chase through the hills of San Francisco in his Ford Mustang is still considered one of the most influential scenes in film history, setting the standard for decades to come.
The French Connection, Elevated Train Chase
You’ve seen plenty of cars chasing cars, but what about chasing a train? This iconic sequence is famous for feeling dangerously real, as Popeye Doyle frantically weaves through traffic under the tracks in a desperate pursuit.
Drive, Opening Getaway
Ryan Gosling’s nameless character in this 2011 film is a master of precision. The opening getaway isn’t really about speed, rather about tension and tactics, as he calmly outsmarts police scanners and helicopters in the dead of night.
The Italian Job, Mini Cooper Heist
How do you create a traffic jam and then get away with the gold? Use Mini Coopers, apparently. The 2003 remake starring Mark Wahlberg and Charlize Theron created a truly unique chase through LA’s subway tunnels and stairwells.
The Rock, San Francisco Hummer Chase
Director Michael Bay called this sequence “the biggest mess” of his career. It features Nicolas Cage’s Ferrari chasing Sean Connery’s stolen Hummer, destroying half of San Francisco before a cable car is launched 40 feet into the air.
Ford v Ferrari, Le Mans Final Lap
More of a race than a chase, but the intensity is there all the same. The 2019 film starring Matt Damon and Christian Bale perfectly captures the grit and danger of the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race.
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