Finally got around to watching F1 with Brad Pitt this week. Cinematic masterpiece? Not even close. But damn, was it fun. Sometimes movies forget they’re allowed to just be fun. This one nailed it.
Which brings me to the question: what’s the best racing movie?
Here’s my Final Four: F1, Rush, Ford v Ferrari, Days of Thunder, and Le Mans.
And since my vote’s the only one that counts, here’s the order:
1. Rush
2. Ford v Ferrari
3. F1
4. Le Mans
5. Days of Thunder
If you haven’t seen all four, fix that immediately. Racing movies are the perfect cocktail of speed, competition, and raw human grit. I can’t get enough.
Rush
Rush (2013), directed by Ron Howard, is a gripping biographical sports drama that chronicles the intense rivalry between Formula One drivers James Hunt and Niki Lauda during the 1976 season. Portrayed by Chris Hemsworth as the charismatic, reckless British playboy Hunt and Daniel Brühl as the disciplined, calculating Austrian technician Lauda, the film contrasts their opposing personalities and approaches to racing—Hunt’s raw talent and thrill-seeking lifestyle against Lauda’s precision and risk assessment. Their rivalry ignites in lower formulas and culminates in a dramatic championship battle marked by Lauda’s near-fatal crash at the Nürburgring, his miraculous recovery, and a rain-soaked finale in Japan, highlighting themes of ambition, danger, and mutual respect in one of motorsport’s most legendary eras.
Ford V Ferrari
Ford v Ferrari (2019), directed by James Mangold, is an exhilarating biographical racing drama that depicts the true story of Ford Motor Company’s ambitious quest to defeat the dominant Ferrari team at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans. Matt Damon stars as visionary American car designer Carroll Shelby, while Christian Bale delivers a transformative performance as eccentric British driver Ken Miles, whose maverick style clashes with corporate bureaucracy. The film explores themes of innovation, rebellion against authority, and the pursuit of perfection amid high-stakes endurance racing, culminating in a thrilling depiction of the historic 1-2-3 Ford finish that reshaped motorsport history.
F1
F1 (2025), directed by Joseph Kosinski, is a high-octane sports action drama that follows aging racing legend Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt), who emerges from retirement after a devastating crash decades earlier to mentor a talented but arrogant young driver, Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris), at the fictional struggling APXGP team. Owned by Hayes’ former teammate (Javier Bardem), the underdog squad faces collapse unless they can turn their fortunes around on the grid. Filmed with unprecedented access during actual Formula 1 events, the movie delivers breathtaking race sequences, themes of redemption, generational clash, and teamwork, while capturing the adrenaline and glamour of modern F1.
Le Mans
Le Mans (1971), directed by Lee H. Katzin and starring Steve McQueen as American Porsche driver Michael Delaney, is a semi-documentary-style racing film that immerses viewers in the intensity of the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race. Shot on location with extensive real footage from the 1970 event, including actual Porsche-Ferrari battles, the minimalist plot follows Delaney’s return after a devastating crash the previous year that killed a rival, as he confronts personal demons, forms a quiet connection with the widow (Elga Andersen), and competes fiercely against a German Ferrari driver (Siegfried Rauch). Celebrated for its authentic sound design, breathtaking racing sequences, and sparse dialogue, the film captures the raw danger, passion, and purity of motorsport in a way that prioritizes visceral experience over conventional storytelling.
Side Note: McQueen is the f’n man! Legend.
Days of Thunder
Days of Thunder (1990), directed by Tony Scott, is a high-octane NASCAR racing drama starring Tom Cruise as hotshot rookie driver Cole Trickle, a talented but arrogant open-wheel racer recruited by cunning car dealer Tim Daland (Randy Quaid) and mentored by grizzled crew chief Harry Hogge (Robert Duvall). With Nicole Kidman as the neurosurgeon who treats Cole after a crash and sparks a romance, the film follows his rise in the Winston Cup series, fierce rivalry with veteran Rowdy Burns (Michael Rooker), spectacular wrecks, and triumphant comeback at Daytona, delivering adrenaline-fueled action, ’80s-style glamour, and themes of redemption and teamwork in the world of stock car racing.