Batman pursues the
Joker through the streets of Gotham as a police escort tries to save Harvey
Dent. Armoured trucks, a Batmobile transforming into a motorcycle, and even a
helicopter get in on the action in a sequence that is marked by the sheer
physical weight of the forces involved.
Bullitt, 1968
This iconic Steve
McQueen film sees him take a Mustang on a chase with a Charger through the
streets of San Francisco. Buses, cars, and the laws of physics are threatened
in this classic chase.
The Blues Brothers,
1980
A film full of great
car chases, including a collapsing bridge, and a major pile up, The Blues
Brothers
also sees heroes Jake and Elwood evade the police in a shopping mall, crashing
through stores and windows in the process.
The Italian Job, 1969
Mini Coopers are the
star in this classic crime heist, with Michael Caine’s gang of bank robbers
converging on Turin for an extended race against the Italian police. The 2003
remake of the film took a similar approach with the new Mini Cooper S.
The French Connection,
1971
Detective Popeye Doyle
goes head to head with a speeding train in New York in this crime thriller,
trying to keep it in sights as he dodges obstacles below the raised tracks.
Terminator 2: Judgment
Day, 1991
Another great example
of practical effects mixing with CGI, Terminator 2 sees a three way chase
between John Connor’s dirt bike, the Terminator’s motorcycle, and the liquid
nitrogen T1000’s truck through the tunnels of Los Angeles.
Ronin, 1998
A car chase dominated
crime film reaches its high point as Robert De Niro and his gang embark on a
cross-Paris trip through tunnels and traffic, with director John Frankenheimer
using mostly practical effects. Most of the actors were also placed inside the
stunt cars.
The Bourne Identity,
2002
Another appearance for
the Mini Cooper, this time in the hands of Jason Bourne as he attempts to lose
the police on the streets of Paris, which includes driving down a flight of
stairs.
The Spy Who Loved Me,
1977
James Bond has been
involved in some memorable car chases, but few have matched the transformation
of a speeding Lotus into a submarine as it crashes into the ocean. Maybe not
the most realistic addition to the list, but there had to be a place for Bond
somewhere.
Vanishing Point, 1971
One
of the best road movies of all time sees a 1970 Dodge Challenger engage in a
movie-long race across American highways.
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