These Car Movies Every American Should Watch: Our Top 5 Picks

Looking to dive back into a world of engines, speed, and fierce competition? We’ve put together a list of must-watch films every car enthusiast should have on their radar. Below are some of the best car movies ever made—perfect for an evening in front of the screen.

Ford v Ferrari

Production: USA, France / 2019
Genre: Action, Drama, Biography, Sports
Starring: Christian Bale, Matt Damon, Caitriona Balfe, Jon Bernthal, Josh Lucas, Noah Jupe
Director: James Mangold

The film follows visionary car designer Carroll Shelby and fearless driver Ken Miles as they join forces to challenge the dominance of major automakers. Their mission is bold and simple: build a race car capable of beating Ferrari on its own turf.

That goal leads them to the legendary endurance race in France in 1965, where innovation, rivalry, and human determination collide at full throttle.

Baby Driver

Production: UK, USA / 2017
Genre: Action, Thriller, Crime, Drama
Starring: Ansel Elgort, Kevin Spacey, Lily James, Eiza González, Jon Hamm, Jamie Foxx
Director: Edgar Wright

The story centers on a young man stuck in a rough chapter of his life. Without thinking too far ahead, he gets pulled into the criminal underworld and ends up working as a getaway driver for a crime boss.

At first, the job seems straightforward—just driving. But once a bank heist enters the picture, everything spirals out of control. Realizing he’s been set up, the driver goes on the run, hunted by both the police and dangerous criminals.

Taxi

Production: France / 1998
Genre: Action, Comedy, Crime
Starring: Sami Naseri, Frédéric Diefenthal, Marion Cotillard, Emma Sjöberg, Bernard Farcy
Director: Gérard Pirès

Daniel lives for speed and can’t imagine life without it. He works as a taxi driver in Marseille, but his Peugeot is anything but ordinary. Outfitted with racing-grade modifications, the car turns every ride into a high-speed adventure—often making passengers uneasy and leaving police radar useless.

When Daniel befriends a police officer, the two team up to help law enforcement take down a gang of criminals driving high-performance cars.

Need for Speed

Production: USA, India, UK, France, Philippines / 2014
Genre: Action, Thriller, Crime
Starring: Aaron Paul, Dominic Cooper, Imogen Poots, Dakota Johnson, Michael Keaton, Ramón Rodríguez
Director: Scott Waugh

Inspired by the iconic video game franchise, the movie follows street racer Tobey Marshall. He runs a family-owned auto shop and dreams of something bigger, but ambition requires money.

To move forward, Tobey partners with former pro driver Dino Brewster. The deal seems promising—until betrayal lands Tobey in prison. Once free, he has only one goal in mind: revenge, delivered at top speed.

Italian Race (Veloce come il vento)

Production: Italy / 2016
Genre: Drama, Sports
Starring: Stefano Accorsi, Matilda De Angelis, Giuseppe Gaiani, Lorenzo Gioielli, Paolo Graziosi
Director: Matteo Rovere

The Martino family lives and breathes racing. Speed and engines are part of their DNA. When the father decides to step away from the sport, he hands the wheel to his daughter, Giulia.

Her brother, a former racing prodigy, has fallen into addiction, ending his career. Still, his instinct for racing lines and deep mechanical knowledge remain intact. To win a crucial race, Giulia and Loris must trust each other and rediscover what made their family special in the first place.