List of auto racing films

This article contains a list of films relating to auto racing.

List Year Title Genre Type Notes1913The Speed KingsComedy8-minute silent film featuring Fatty Arbuckle.1914Kid Auto Races at VeniceComedySilent film starring Charlie Chaplin as a spectator who keeps getting in the way.1919The Roaring RoadRomanceCar salesman "Toodles" Walden becomes a racer.1920Excuse My DustComedyWife wants Toodles to give up racing in Roaring Road sequel.1924Young OldfieldComedyJimmy has to win a race to pay the mortgage on his shop.Sporting YouthComedyA rich man's chauffeur (Reginald Denny) accidentally ends up in a race.Kid SpeedComedyA race organizer drops hints that his daughter's time will go to the winner.1925Speed MadnessActionTo keep the old homestead from being foreclosed on, a mother agrees to have her daughter marry the deep-dyed villain who holds the mortgage. However, the daughter has a race-car-driving fiancé who objects, and sets about getting a patent on his new-and-improved automobile valve.1926The Checkered FlagDramaJack has to win the big race to save his girl.1928The Speed ClassicActionJerry Thornton is a wealthy playboy whose fiancée objects to him competing against professorial drives in the upcoming Speed Classic race.1929SpeedwayDramaSilent film about a father and son in Indianapolis.1930Burning UpDramaFirst talkie about auto racers.1932The Racing StrainDramaA driver who drinks tries to turn his life around.The Crowd RoarsDramaOpen wheelMotor racing saga featuring James Cagney.High SpeedDramaAn undercover cop races cars while he tries to catch crooks. 1933High GearDramaAfter a friend's death, an auto racer takes a job driving a taxi.1935Roaring RoadsComedyA rich boy craving excitement tries racing and encounters gangsters.Death Drives ThroughDramaBritish driver falls in love with woman whose father disapproves.1936SpeedDramaOpen wheelAn automotive test driver (James Stewart) struggles to develop a new carburetor by entering cars in the Indy 500 and speed trials at California's Muroc Dry Lake.Speed to SpareDramaChampion race car driver Tommy Morton is the eternal rival of less-ethical speed king Larry "Skids" Brannigan. What no one knows is that Tommy and Skids are actually brothers, separated at birth.1938Ten Laps to GoDramaMidget carsDiscovering a race is fixed, a new driver joins it with just 10 laps left.1939Indianapolis SpeedwayDramaOpen wheelThree-time Indy champ (Pat O'Brien) wants a young driver to go to college.Burn 'Em Up O'ConnorActionA series of identical accidents kills racing drivers, but a dim-witted mechanic (Dennis O'Keefe) suspects they were not accidents.1940Danger on WheelsThrillerDuring a test, a race car using an experimental oil-fueled engine blows up, killing the driver. Lucky Taylor, a stunt driver, is initially blamed for the accident, but is later cleared. He thinks the engine design has a real chance to win races, but the racing association has banned it since the accident.1941Blonde CometRomanceOpen wheelA woman (Virginia Vale) races against men, then falls for one of them.1947Born to SpeedActionJohnny Randall, a young race car driver, falls in love with Toni Bradley, who hates racing because her brother was killed in a midget car race.Buck Privates Come HomeComedyMidget carsAbbott and Costello aid a young midget-car racer.1949The Big WheelDramaOpen wheelMickey Rooney as a brash young driver out to win the Indianapolis 500.1950To Please a LadyDramaOpen wheelNewspaper columnist gets reckless racer Mike Brannan (Clark Gable) banned.1953JalopyComedyGoing backwards, the Bowery Boys win the big race.GenevieveMusicalVintage carsA British comedy about an automobile rally.Roar of the CrowdDramaOpen wheelIndy 500 contender vows to quit, becomes a sparkplugs salesman.1954Johnny DarkDramaDistance raceEngineer Tony Curtis enters car in Canada-to-Mexico race.A Race for LifeDramaMidget carsCar's owner wonders if driver (Richard Conte) has lost his nerve.1955The RacersDramaOpen wheelEuropean circuit racing drama starring Kirk Douglas.The WidowDramaA countess in Italy falls in love with a doomed racing driver.1956CheckpointCrimeRoad racingA criminal gets into a confrontation with British police at an auto race.1957The Devil's HairpinDramaRoad racingUndefeated champion (Cornel Wilde) is coaxed out of retirement. 1960Thunder in Carolina DramaStock carRivals vie in Southern 500, starring Alan Hale, Jr. of Gilligan's Island fame.1961The Green HelmetDramaRoad racingBritish film about racers competing in Italy, one of whom has lost his nerve.1962The Iron MaidenComedyTraction enginesAlan Hale, Jr. again, in a story about a steam-engine rally.1963The Checkered FlagActionThe wife of an aging, millionaire race car driver talks a young rookie into helping her dispose of her hubby. Lots of racing scenes.1964The Lively SetDramaA mechanic (James Darren) feels he's perfected a revolutionary turbine engine.24 heures d'amantDramaSports carClaude Lelouch-directed film set at the 24 Hours of Le Mans race.Viva Las VegasMusicalSports carElvis Presley is out to win the big race and romances Ann-Margret.1965The Great RaceComedyVintage carsJack Lemmon and Tony Curtis slapstick about long-distance car race.1966Grand PrixDramaFormula OneJames Garner and Yves Montand in fictional story of drivers' lives and loves.Red Line 7000Drama Stock carHoward Hawks-directed fiction, starring James Caan.Fireball 500Comedy Stock carFrankie Avalon and Annette Funicello vehicle.SpinoutMusicalOpen wheelElvis Presley has to decide between marrying Shelley Fabares and driving her dad's car in a prestigious race.1967Thunder AlleyRomanceStunt driver (Fabian), boss's daughter (Annette Funicello) team up in 500-mile race.Hell On WheelsRomanceMechanic, engineer fall for same dame. Marty Robbins stars.A Man and a WomanDramaOpen wheelFrench film about a woman who falls in love with an auto racer.Speed Racer: The MovieAnimatedSpeed Racer, his girlfriend Trixie and all the gang are in a desperate race to save hundreds of lives from the evil clutches of "The Car Hater."Track of ThunderDramaStock carTwo rival drivers end up involved with the same girl.1968Layer Cake / PrzekładaniecSci-fiRallyingThe story of a rally driver who undergoes so many transplants that it can no longer be determined which people have contributed to his make-up, based on the screenplay by Stanisław Lem.The Love Bug FamilyDemolition derby driver gets his hands on a magical Volkswagen Beetle; first in the Herbie seriesSpeedwayMusicalStock carElvis Presley is out to win the big race and Nancy Sinatra.The Wild RacersDrama Fabian now races on the European circuit.The Magnificent Tony CarreraDramaA Spanish-German film about a successful racer who is also a thief.Ho!DramaJean-Paul Belmondo plays a racing driver turned bank robber.1969Safari 5000 / Eiko e no 5000 kiroAdventureRallyingJapanese movie about an international group of drivers competing in Safari Rally.I'm waiting in Monte-Carlo / Czekam w Monte-CarloDramaRallyingIn the famous Monte Carlo Rally the Polish team consists of driver Piotr and his co-driver Jan. They compete with other teams as well as with one another - for the feelings of one woman.WinningDramaIndyCarPaul Newman and Robert Wagner as rival drivers.Monte Carlo or Bust!ComedyVintage carsa.k.a. Those Daring Young Men in their Jaunty JalopiesThe Racing SceneDocumentary A look at actor James Garner's involvement with auto racing.Pit StopDramaFigure EightA promoter sponsors drivers in a "new" form of race car driving called The Figure Eight1970DramaRallyingFinnish movie about two men and a woman, all rally drivers, who get too closely involved, competing in the race and in love.1971MotodramaComedyRallyingA strange coincidence makes an ordinary man get on a motorcycle and win the competition. Soon he becomes a pro-biker, a speedway star and a rally driver.Le MansDramaSports carSteve McQueen as a competitor in 24 Hours of Le Mans.Once Upon a WheelDocumentarySports carPaul Newman narrates an ABC television insider's look at auto racing.1972Gonshchiki / RacersDramaRallyingRussian movie about a conflict between two rally drivers: an aging master of sports and his ambitious student.Weekend of a ChampionDocumentaryFormula OneDocumentary directed by Roman Polanski chronicling Jackie Stewart's racing season.1973The Last American HeroBiographicalStock carFictional biography of Junior Jackson, starring Jeff Bridges as Elroy Jackson, Jr.1974Herbie Rides AgainComedySequel to The Love Bug.Funny Car SummerDocumentaryFunny CarDocumentary chronicling a summer in the life of funny-car driver Jim Dunn and his family.1975Flåklypa Grand PrixAnimationReodor Felgen decides that he will enter a car race to defeat his former friend who has stolen his plans for a car.Death Race 2000ActionScience-fiction about dangerous car race, starring David Carradine.1976Eat My Dust!ComedyRacing film starring Ron Howard1977Bobby DeerfieldDramaFormula OneAl Pacino as a famed driver who falls in love with a dying woman.Checkered Flag or CrashComedyOff RoadRace car driver Walkaway Madden signs up for the big Manila 1000 off-road race through the jungle in the Philippines.Greased LightningBiographicalStock carTrue story of stock-car trailblazer Wendell Scott, starring Richard Pryor.Herbie Goes to Monte CarloComedyRallyingThe third entry in the Herbie series.The Quick and the DeadDocumentaryOpen wheelA behind-the-scenes look at Grand Prix racing, narrated by Stacy Keach.1978Safari Rally / 6000 km di pauraAdventureRallyingTwo rally drivers are rivals in the race but not only: they also share feelings for the same woman.RallijsDramaRallyingDuring an international rally two contestants find a hidden painting in the door of their car. In order not to get excluded from the competition they do not report this fact to their team management.Gonki bez finisha / Racing Without the FinishDramaRallyingThe director of a large Russian automobile plant gives consent for the participation of factory drivers in a rally. He doesn't coordinate this decision with his supervisors.1979National ClassComedyRallyingYoung rally driver from Belgrade forgoes his relationship and military duties to solely train for the most important rally of his career.Fast CompanyDramaDrag racingAn up-and-coming drag racer and an aging star cope with a corrupt manager.DirtDocumentaryOff-roadFrom motorcycles to Swamp buggies, off-road racing competitions.1980Herbie Goes BananasComedyThe fourth entry in the Herbie series.1981The Cannonball RunComedyCross-countryBased on an actual cross-country race1982Six PackComedyStock carKenny Rogers stars and sings hit theme song.Safari 3000AdventureRallyingA 3,000-mile rally across Africa attracts a young American (David Carradine).Ferat VampireHorrorRallyingMima signs a contract with mysterious foreign car manufacturer Ferat to work as a rally driver. Rumors abound that the new Ferat rally car does not run on petrol...1983Heart Like a WheelBiographicalDrag racingBased on the life of Shirley Muldowney, played by Bonnie Bedelia.Stroker AceComedyStock carBurt Reynolds as a fictional NASCAR star.1984RaliulDramaRallyingRomanian movie about a young co-driver, who pursues her passion for cars and rallies, despite all the obstacles she faces.1985The Winning StreakDramaRallyingBritish TV series dealing with the intrigues of a family motor business and the world of rally driving.1988RallyDramaRallyingRAI TV series produced in Italy in 1988, directed by Sergio Martino and starring Giuliano Gemma, in the role of a successful rally driver competing in the World Rally Championship.Born to RaceDramaStock carFiction featuring Joseph Bottoms in lead role.1989Catch Me If You CanComedyStreet racingA hotshot car racer persuades the class president of a small Minnesota high school to gamble on illegal car races to raise money for their school facing closure.1990La Carrera PanamericanaDocumentaryHistoric sports carDocumentary starring Pink Floyd's David Gilmour, Nick Mason and manager Steve O'Ro