Hammer down: The 25 greatest car movies of all time

In "Ford v Ferrari," Matt Damon and Christian Bale star as Carroll Shelby and Ken Miles, a pair of drivers and designers who pour their love of speed into machines designed to face off against the strongest race team in the world. Our love affair with cars naturally progresses into films that depict the relationship people have with their cars, so in honor of that enduring devotion on-screen, buckle up, drop the hammer and enjoy our list of the 25 greatest car movies of all time.

A long time ago in a galaxy pretty close to home, Mark Hamill traded in his lightsaber for a custom-made Corvette in the adventure comedy "Corvette Summer." The film, released right after "Star Wars," capitalized on Hamill's new-found stardom as he hit the road in search of his stolen car, picking up a prostitute with a heart of gold (Annie Potts) in the process.

An early vehicle for the tiger-blooded Charlie Sheen, the real star of "The Wraith," an action horror film about a mysterious driver on a mission of vengeance, was the car, Dodge's M4S Turbo Interceptor, a prototype created to showcase technological advancements. The car never made it to mass market, but it's still a cult figure 30 years later on the auto show circuit because of its appearance in this film. 

The first in a long series featuring Herbie, an anthropomorphic Volkswagen Beetle, "The Love Bug" is a classic example of turning the tables on our love of cars, as here, we finally have a car that loves back. Starring Disney journeyman Dean Jones as well as Buddy Hackett and Michele Lee, the film spawned five sequels and one TV series.

Although most people know about the DeLorean from its appearance in the classic 1985 film "Back to the Future," the story behind the car itself and its creator, John DeLorean, end up being far more interesting and ultimately tragic than any work of fiction. "Framing John DeLorean" depicts the rise of the former GM executive, who risks it all to make what he believes to be the greatest sports car ever, through his spectacular fall as he's set up in a drug sting, effectively bringing his lofty dreams to a screeching halt. The film takes an interesting and sometimes weird docudrama angle to deliver an engrossing look at a man who balanced legend and infamy to varying degrees of success and failure.

Taking only its name from a 1955 Roger Corman film, "The Fast and the Furious" signaled a new age for car films, in the process creating a worldwide phenomenon franchise that's still going strong today as the release of the latest film in the series,"The Fate of the Furious," thunders into theaters. The cast has gone through changes, including the tragic death of star Paul Walker in 2013, and the films have less of a focus on cars these days. But the 2001 original remains a time capsule and love letter into the underground world of street racing.

Forget the flashy 2000 remake starring Nicolas Cage and Angelina Jolie, because the 1974 original is the real deal. The film, financed, directed and starring virtual unknown H.B. Halicki, is an ode to fast cars and car crashes. While the film is poorly acted, the plot takes a back seat to the action, featuring stunts galore and the longest car chase in film history (40 minutes). Halicki was killed in 1989 while filming a "Gone in 60 Seconds" sequel when a stunt went horribly wrong. While it was a sad ending for a gonzo filmmaker in love with cars, that level of devotion appeared in practically every frame of the original film.

Based on the Stephen King novel, "Christine" takes the familiar "boy and his car" trope and turns it on its ear, as a 1958 Plymouth Fury endears itself to a young social outcast who becomes influenced by a deadly car that seems as if it will stop at nothing to get its way. While reception for "Christine" upon its release was tepidly received, it has since gone on to become a cult classic in its own right. 

The first of two Steve McQueen films on our list, "Le Mans" may be the lesser-known one, but it's not for lack of being an awesome car movie. Long before "Ford v Ferrari" hit screens, McQueen made this depiction of the 24 Hours of Le Mans his personal passion project. By far, the true stars of "Le Mans" are McQueen’s iconic Gulf Team Porsche 917 and a Ferrari 512LM. Despite the film being a work of fiction, "Le Mans" provides a more than accurate glimpse of an endurance race unlike any other.

Ron Howard's deep dive into the real-life rivalry between Formula One drivers Niki Lauda and James Hunt just so happens to be one of the more beautiful cinematic tributes to cars ever filmed. While the film headlines Chris Hemsworth as the talented but hedonistic James Hunt, the real star here is Daniel Brühl, who shines in his portrayal of tragic yet determined Lauda. The film shares common themes about the will to race and the desire to be champions, but there also exists a heart that is both surprising and refreshing.

Quentin Tarantino may consider "Death Proof," the second half of the ambitious "Grindhouse" experiment and collaboration with Robert Rodriguez, his worst film, but even the lowest films on Tarantino's resume are better than most other films. So it is for this film about a sadistic stuntman (Kurt Russell) who uses his "death proof" stunt car to terrorize and later murder women. Featuring practical effects and classic car stunts, "Death Proof" — for that alone — is a car film that absolutely belongs on a list of best car films.

Hollywood never gave us a cargo driver quite like Jason Statham, which is why we have the French to thank for the beginning of one of the more no-nonsense (well, plenty of nonsense when it came to elaborate stunt work) franchises in the "Transporter" series. The series is directly responsible for turning Statham's career into overdrive as he segued from an everyman in Guy Ritchie's Brit gangster films to a bona fide full-blown action hero.

While Edgar Wright’s "Baby Driver" is on its surface a film of various genres all meeting at the center, the heart of it is about the love of driving very, very fast. Ansel Elgort stars as Baby, a precocious getaway driver with a heart of high-octane gold, who works to break free from mob boss Kevin Spacey, who uses him for his extreme skills behind the wheel. Wright matches a seemingly mutually exclusive love of cars and music to create a raucous and entertaining film with insane car chases and a level of poignancy unique within its genre.

Never mind its three Academy Awards for editing, effects and sound, true gearheads look at director John Frankenheimer's "Grand Prix" as the grandaddy of car movies. Frankenheimer and cinematographer Lionel Lindon took on a master's task of creating the camera equipment necessary to not only film the action at the racetrack but also set a tone for filming that defines the genre to this day. Chock full of cameos from iconic drivers like Dan Gurney, Phil Hill, Bruce McLaren, Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Chris Amon, Juan Manuel Fangio, Jochen Rindt, Jack Brabham, Richie Ginther, Joakim Bonnier, Jo Siffert and starring James Garner in his most exciting role, this depiction of the 1966 Formula One season stands as a hallmark for the genre as a whole.

The only documentary on our list, Eric Bana's "Love the Beast" is a humorous and touching real-life account of his 25-year love affair with his 1974 Ford Falcon XB as he races it, wrecks it and ultimately puts it back together. It's rare when anyone who is considered a Hollywood star opens up about something so much, but Bana's connection to the car he bought when he was just 15 years old is a mirror into our own obsession with cars.

Before he struck gold with "Star Wars," director George Lucas took audiences back to the days of the rock 'n' roll and car culture of the early 1960s in "American Graffiti." Lucas accurately depicts how cars were an indelible part of teen culture, with souped-up drag racers serving as avatars of identity for their drivers as they cruised the streets of small town America looking for any kicks they could find.

James Mangold's "Ford v Ferrari" takes some of the high-octane themes first depicted in Steve McQueen's "Le Mans" and manages to successfully expand the heart and drama into a film that manages to entertain even non-gearheads. Matt Damon stars as designer and former racer Carroll Shelby, tasked by executives at Ford Motor Company to build a race car that could beat Ferrari. To do that, he enlists fellow driver and friend Ken Miles (Christian Bale) to create the ultimate machine. Miles' pride and temper often get in the way, but the pair combine to create something special, which is perfectly conveyed on screen in a crowd-pleasing film that could easily be considered an instant classic.

Hold That Tiger! Francis Ford Coppola and George Lucas joined together for this one-of-a-kind look at the little car company that tried to compete with Big Detroit. Preston Tucker (Jeff Bridges), was an independent automaker who built a car that was "too good," and the film takes us through a hero's journey of how all his hopes and dreams were effectively destroyed. Even though many of Tucker's innovations, like the seat belt, eventually saw light of day in other cars, in the end, his love of cars left him ruined and penniless. Great movie though.

Rudy Wurlitzer penned a script that treated the open road like an ode, so it was only fitting that the lead be a singer. Laid-back folk singer James Taylor made for a surprisingly good lead in this movie about a trio racing a man in a GTO (Warren Oates) cross-country. "Two-Lane Blacktop" is a criminally overlooked film that doesn't offer the sort of glitz or mayhem you see in films like "Gone in 60 Seconds" or "Death Proof," but it's every bit as potent as a car fetish classic. 

"Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry" is nothing short of a car fetishist's dream. Featuring Chevy Impalas and Dodge Challengers in a cavalcade of stunts, the film is a righteous throwback to the days of automotive mayhem. But don't think the cars are the only attraction, as Peter Fonda and Susan George give the film significant weight as part of a trio who can barely decide to pull robberies or endlessly bicker.

Notorious quiet man Ryan Gosling glides his way through Nicolas Winding Refn's neo-noir classic. As Driver, Gosling says little but manages to effectively convey a range of emotions that always begin and end with time spent behind the wheel. Coupled with a surreal soundtrack and slickly psychedelic lighting, "Drive" is an instant classic of mood and motors. 

Of all the films that made the list, none, including our No. 1 film, is as fun as "The Cannonball Run." Based on the real-life, coast-to-coast illegal auto race created by Brock Yates (who drew inspiration from "Two-Lane Blacktop"), the film is a virtual party for actors from Burt Reynolds to Roger Moore all the way to an, at the time, unknown Jackie Chan. Whether it's the all-star cast hamming it up or the super cool variety of cars (and cleavage) to gawk at, this is a car classic anyone can love.

While it may not be the best film in the series (that distinction goes to "Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior") the original "Mad Max" must be recognized as the spark that lit the dystopian car thriller for generations to come (no offense to Roger Corman's 1975 mayhem-filled "Death Race 2000"). Mel Gibson's Max Rockatansky is still young and fresh-faced, but inside he's every bit the road warrior he's destined to become, and combined with his Ford Falcon "Pursuit Special," you have a classic car duo for the ages.

Much more than a simple car movie, "Bullitt" makes it to No. 3 on our list for one simple reason: The Chase. Steve McQueen wouldn't settle for letting a stunt driver have all the fun, so when you see what is largely regarded as one of the most influential car chases in film history, it's McQueen behind the wheel in every inch of footage. Ford owes a great debt to this film, as it's a virtual love letter to the Mustang — one that feels every bit as fresh now as it did in '68.

Let's be honest: Director Richard Sarafian’s road movie is more a happening than anything else, but this psychedelic ode to speed (both real and chemical) is a can't-miss for car enthusiasts and film fans. Whether it's the white Dodge Challenger or the blind radio DJ who gives viewers a surreal play-by-play of the action, "Vanishing Point" is a classic that can't be ignored.

The No. 1 film on our list, "Smokey and the Bandit," is a comedy that defined a generation of Pontiac Trans Am lovers. The first of three films in the series, the black muscle car, emblazoned with a firebird on the hood became an icon almost as big as its stars, if not bigger. Forty years later, it remains a prime example of our love for cars.