Since 2001, the Fast & Furious films have been the go-to for racing action spectaculars. They’re wildly popular, and justifiably so, though not to everyone’s taste. Maybe you’re riding the high of the latest, F9, or maybe you’re looking for a racing movie with something different to offer.
Even within the series, there are hints and homages to the different styles of car movies that have been popular for decades. Starting out as a series specifically about street racing, F&F evolved first into heist capers, and then into action spy dramas, and then into something approaching science fiction—all while keeping a focus on fast cars and product placement, and never afraid to veer into a little soap-y drama just to mix things up.
As moviegoers, we love fast cars (the faster the better), and we’re not at all averse to seeing fast cars destroyed in front of us, especially knowing that we (generally) don’t have to worry about anyone actually getting hurt. In the very best car movies, the off-the-road drama is at least as compelling as the driving action, but there’s also a special artistry in movies that keep things simple: speed, slick cars, and the occasional well-choreographed crash to keep the stakes up. The point being: there’s no one type of car flick.