'Ford v Ferrari': From 'Le Mans' to 'Rush' here are 5 of the best motorsport movies to catch up on
The action-packed 'Fast and Furious' franchise gave the world a glimpse of some insanely fast cars while 'Rush' chronicled the famous James Hunt vs. Niki Lauda rivalry that spiked adrenaline like no tomorrow. And looking at the upping the ante is 'Ford v. Ferrari' slated to hit screens this year. Ever since the announcement that an action biographical drama would be made on the legendary battle between Ford and Ferrari, fans can't seem to wait for their first glimpse at the Matt Damon and Christian Bale starrer.
Ahead of the movie release on November 15, we made a list of the best car racing flicks to catch up on while we wait.
'Days of Thunder'
The Tom Cruise-starrer hit the screen in 1990 and was about a rookie stock-car driver who gets a go at the Daytona 500. The movie gave America the first glimpse of life in the fast NASCAR lane. The cast included Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Robert Duvall, Randy Quaid, Cary Elwes, Caroline Williams, and Michael Rooker. The film also features appearances by real-life NASCAR racers, such as Rusty Wallace, Neil Bonnett, and Harry Gant.
While the movie was neither based on a true story, nor a biographical film, the main character Cole Trickle was very loosely based on the career of Tim Richmond, and several scenes referenced real-life stories and personalities from NASCAR history.
'Le Mans'
The 1971 classic shows 24 hours of the arduous Le Mans race in France and features actual footage captured during the 1970 race. It stars Steve McQueen as titular hero Michael Delaney. McQueen had intended to race a Porsche 917 together with Jackie Stewart, but the #26 entry was not accepted. The actor's quest to make this film was detailed in the 2015 documentary, 'Steve McQueen: The Man & Le Mans'.
'Rush'
The film dealt with the '70s rivalry between British driver James Hunt and Niki Lauda, the Austrian. Ron Howard's gripping race drama features Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brühl in the lead roles. The film is a visual treat as it captures the addiction to speed and the dangers that come with it. Hunt and Lauda appear as themselves, in the 1970s and 1980s, in archive footage at the end of the film.
Rotten Tomatoes saw the movie rated a healthy 89% based on 223 reviews with an average rating of 7.5/10. The website’s critical consensus reads, "A sleek, slick, well-oiled machine, Rush is a finely crafted sports drama with exhilarating race sequences and strong performances from Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brühl."
'The Cannonball Run'
The 1981 American comedy film had boasted of a star-studded ensemble cast featuring Burt Reynolds, Roger Moore, Dom DeLuise, and Farrah Fawcett. It is based on the 1979 running of an actual cross-country outlaw road race beginning in Connecticut and ending in California. Sequels followed suit with 'Cannonball Run II' (1984), and 'Speed Zone' (1989). This and the 1984 sequel were the final film appearances of actor Dean Martin, and also featured Jackie Chan in his second Hollywood role.
'Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby'
The movie behind the eminently quotable "Shake and Bake". The 2006 film starring Will Ferrell follows the story of a top NASCAR driver who faces stiff competition from a French Formula One driver (Sacha Baron Cohen as Jean Girard). The comedy classic has appearances by 'Saturday Night Live' alumni and cameos by NASCAR drivers Jamie McMurray and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
What are some of your racing movies of all time?
