Top Ten Best Movie Car Chases

The chase scene has been a staple of movies since the days of D.W. Griffith and the Keystone Cops. A lot has changed since the Silent Era of moviemaking, but one thing has remained - the chase. With such a long, rich history of chase scenes, it became increasingly difficult for filmmakers to create new ways to generate the same visceral excitement. But enough talk, let's cut to the chase and look at a few car chases that did just that and more.

10. The Fast and the Furious (2001) Directed by: Rob Cohen
An undercover cop goes behind the scenes of the Asian import street racing scene, this movie spawned two sequels and a slew of aftermarket add-ons to small, inexpensive Japanese imports. It's also the movie that launched Vin Diesel's acting career.

A sample of some of the inspired racing scenes can be seen HERE.

9. The Rock (1996) Directed by: Michael Bay
This one may be a bit controversial, but you just got to love San Francisco car chases. This one, shot in Bay's frenetic style loses some of it's impact, but is still exciting enough to make the top ten. Besides, Nicholas Cage in a Ferrari chasing Sean Connery in a Hummer makes any chase worth watching. The original script did not call for the car chase. It was Michael Bay's idea. He may have regretted it later. According to Bay the car chase scene was a nightmare, requiring months to get the signatures of the 5000 residents of the two blocks used for shooting.

You can watch this chase HERE.

8. Ronin (1998) Directed by: John Frankenheimer
The story here is of a team of former intelligence agents who come together to steal a mysterious metal case (the contents of which are never revealed). The movie, starring Robert DeNiro features a number of excellent car chases, one of which you can watch HERE.

7. The French Connection (1971) Directed by: William Friedkin
Typically cited as one of the best car chases in movies, this chase involves Gene Hackman corralling a bystander's car and chasing an elevated train (carrying a fleeing hit man) through the streets of New York. Many of the shots in this chase were totally real, with Hackman actually driving at high speeds through uncontrolled traffic. The realism shows in this gritty chase scene that's goal was to outshine the chase in Bullitt.

Whether it succeeds or not you can judge HERE.

6. Grindhouse (2007) "Death Proof" Segment Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
Grindhouse is the collaboration of Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino. Tarantino's segment, "Death Proof", is an homage to all the car chase movies of the 1970's, of which a number are featured in this article. This car chase is intense.

You can watch it HERE.

5. Terminator 2 (1991) Directed by: James Cameron
John Connor being chased by the semi (tow truck) in the canal. Watch it HERE.

4. The Blues Brothers (1980) Directed by: John Landis
Although most of the movies on this list are thrillers or action films, this comedy delivers plenty of great car chases as Jake and Elwood take the Bluesmobile on their mission from God. Besides any car that has a cop motor, cop tires, cop suspension and cop shocks can't be all bad. Although the chase through the mall is a classic, the final chase scene of the movie deserves a place in the top ten if not for anything other than the sheer number of cars destroyed, including the Bluesmobile's last stand. Take this and add Illinois Nazis in a Red Pinto and you have the makings of a classic car chase.

You can watch this chase HERE.

3. Gone in 60 Seconds (1974) Directed by: H. B. Halicki
This is a really bad movie with a really good car chase. But then it must have had something going for it to be remade as 2000's Gone in Sixty Seconds.

Halicki wrote, directed, produced and starred in this tribute to car thieves. Many of the scenes were not scripted, they were improvised and it shows - except for the first-rate car chase that encompasses 40 minutes of the film. This chase is simply one of the best car chases in movies. Check it out HERE. Watch for the lady with the umbrella. She's hilarious.

2. Bullitt (1968) Directed by: Peter Yates
Okay, the plot involves something about Steve McQueen protecting a mob informant, but the story takes a back seat to the real star of the show -- the chase scene between McQueen in his Highland Green 1968 Mustang G.T. 390 Fastback and two hit men in a Tuxedo Black 1968 Dodge Charger R/T 440 Magnum. The chase starts out in downtown San Francisco and quickly races to the outskirts of the city.

Often emulated, seldom duplicated, Bullitt's chase scene lasts a little under ten minutes, but is widely considered the best car chase in movie history.

You can judge that for yourself and watch this famous chase scene HERE.

1. Smokey and the Bandit (1977) Directed by: Hal Needham

Okay, so the car chases may not be the most visually exciting ever filmed, but for sheer entertainment value, nothing beats this quintessential Burt Reynolds movie - besides, the whole movie is essentially one big car chase.

Although the selected chase is not the best in the movie, it's the final one and a fitting way to end this article. You can watch it HERE.