The 7 Best Racing Movies Of All Time, From ‘Cars’ To ‘Fast & Furious’ 

There’s nothing quite like sitting down to enjoy a worthwhile racing film in person.

Offering viewers the chance to take in the fast-paced, death-defying experiences that come with competitive auto racing, racing films might be fairly niche – but they continue to live on as a dependably entertaining genre unlike any other in the cinematic landscape.

With the recent arrival of the Brad Pitt-led F1, we wanted to take a look back at some of the greatest racing films we’ve seen to date, ranking them each in order from worst to best.

7. Cars (2006)

To this day, Cars remains one of the most successful films from Pixar Studios yet, its fame and popularity rivalling other notable franchise releases like The Incredibles, Toy Story, or Inside Out. While its later legacy – including several sequels and multiple theme park attractions – speaks for itself, it’s also worth pointing out how singularly terrific the opening installment to the series is in its own right. A family-friendly comedy with plenty of heart and warmth, it’s a Pixar film we simply can’t recommend enough.

6. Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006)

“If you’re not first, you’re last.” Such is the simple, easy to understand, albeit wholly ridiculous mantra at the heart of 2006’s comedy, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. The racing equivalent to Anchorman, Talladega Nights delivers yet another exceptionally well-crafted comedy starring Will Ferrell, astounding viewers with its massive ensemble, vivid characters, and unwaveringly hilarious script.

5. Furious 7 (2015)

Truthfully, we don’t really know whether to categorize any entry in the Fast & Furious series strictly as either a racing film or a crime film, the entire franchise tending to blur the lines between the two clear-cut genres. For the sake of argument, however, it’s impossible to bring up the idea of high-octane car races without mentioning Fast & Furious or, at the very least, Furious 7. Arguably the best entry in the hit action franchise, Furious 7 is a certifiably entertaining gearhead film – one capable of appealing to every member of its prospective audience. 

4. Grand Prix (1966)

Baseball might have the World Series and hockey might have the Stanley Cup, but racing maintains its own fabled competition with Formula One. Often described as the highest-tier professional racing competition in the world of organized sports, numerous films have been made about the F1 competition, but to this day, few have successfully managed to Grand Prix. A high-impact sports drama with cameos from actual F1 World Champions like Phil Hill, Juan Manuel Fangio, and Jim Clark, it’s an immortal entry in the larger sports genre, remaining every bit as enjoyable today as it was in late 1966.

3. Senna (2010)

There are two main reasons to sit down for 2010’s awe-inspiring documentary, Senna. On the one hand, Senna’s unconventional approach to its genre format makes it a singular documentary unlike any other, as seen through the unique absence of commentary or “talking head” interviews. More importantly, however, this 2010 film offers a startling deep-dive into the life and tragic death of its titular subject: I.E., one of the most iconic racing drivers to ever perform in Formula One.

2. Rush (2013)

Like any organized sport, professional racing is chock full of legendary rivalries, from Earnhardt and Gordon, Senna and Prost to Alonso and Hamilton and Hunt and Lauda. Adopting the latter feud for its main narrative premise, Rush details the unbelievable relationship between Hunt and Lauda both on and off the race course, chronicling each man’s clear impact on each other’s respective careers.

1. Ford v Ferrari (2019)

Like all the best racing movies, Ford v. Ferrari’s fantastic story makes it a film that every viewer can enjoy, regardless of whether they have an intimate knowledge of all things mechanical or can barely turn the key in the ignition. Propelled by the remarkable performances of Christian Bale and Matt Damon, it’s an extraordinarily well-made racing flick that refuses to slow down throughout its fast-moving two and a half hour plotline (much like the Ford GT40 itself).