It’s also a great encapsulation of its era.īased on the story of NASCAR driver Junior Johnson, The Last American Hero follows one of the most iconic racers of his era. As many films did at the time, it also includes the ever-important romance angle, where Newman’s wife was prepared to leave him for his rival. Where Formula 1 had Grand Prix, American open-wheel had Winning, a film starring Paul Newman as a driver dreaming of competing in the Indianapolis 500. It’s trying to be a silly, overblown comedy about a NASCAR racer trying to overcome his snooty Formula 1 competitor, and it’s a whole heap of fun.

Talladega Nights isn’t the most serious or complimentary portrayal of the NASCAR community, nor is it even all that accurate, but it earns a slot on this list nonetheless because it isn’t trying to be any of those things. Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006) It isn’t necessarily a great racing movie, but it’s still one of the most enjoyable to watch.

These 10 make for the perfect watches for this festive season!ĭays of Thunder, featuring Tom Cruise and produced by the dynamic duo of Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer, is the last big send-off for bombastic 1980s-style films that featured over-the-top action, high-powered soundtracks, and big-budget undertakings.

Some told compelling stories based on historical fact others are animated pictures that are designed for younger audiences.Īll of the following movies, however, have done well to capture the essence of what makes racing so great: the human angles, the racing action, and the impact on the audience. It can be difficult to truly quantify what makes something great, but the films on this list made it here for a variety of reasons. Motorsport may be thrilling to watch on the track, but it can be just as good up on the big screen - and these exceptional motorsport films highlight just how great those movies can be.

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