The Fast & Furious franchise has been going strong since 2001, evolving and elaborating to no end. And with the Hobbs & Shaw spin-off release just around the corner, there’s no signs of slowing any time soon. The movies have transformed into general action movies now, rather than existing as mere car shows. It’s hard to believe the series started off about thieves. The upcoming spin-off is about a cybernetic villain and the fate of all humanity. But even though Fast & Furious currently wears the crown as the vehicular franchise to beat, there’s plenty more out there. So, here are some alternatives to the franchise if you need a break from the same characters after 18 years.
The Italian Job (2003)
The Italian Job is a pretty underrated movie, a family-friendly heist story with an all-star cast. Mark Wahlberg plays—you guessed it—a likable criminal. But when Edward Norton double-crosses his crew of gold thieves, at the cost of Donald Sutherland, revenge is in order. This movie is pretty cheesy, but it knows that. The most memorable thing about it is the Mini Coopers, which are an integral part of the heist. It’s a recognizable model from the original film too, but this update gives you plenty more car action. The heist itself relies on it for the entire finale of the film, zooming through Los Angeles with a high budget. Overall, it’s a breezy movie with easygoing comedy and a terrific payoff.
Death Race
Death Race is certainly a timely selection, given that Jason Statham is front and center. It also has Tyrese Gibson, which can’t be accidental. Now, the original Death Race 2000 is just a little too dated to be included here. This remake is actually one of Paul W.S. Anderson’s better movies. Even though he treats it like yet another video game adaptation. The supporting characters are all plain and disastrously clichéd. But Statham’s protagonist has a sympathetic enough plight, and Joan Allen brings a lot of charisma and validity to the film. More importantly, the car action is frequent and hard-hitting. The deaths aren’t afraid to be satisfyingly violent, and there’s enough escalation to avoid redundancy.
Vanishing Point (1971)
Here’s a movie that has incredible style, but not a whole lot of substance. The protagonist Kowalski does have an intriguing history—he’s even a Vietnam veteran. So, this 1971 film was probably meant to have a message at some point. And there’s a lot of interesting characters that Kowalski runs into, resulting in conflicts that provide a very cynical point of view. That’s further reinforced by the ending. But ultimately, everything is tossed aside in place of indulgence. For example, there’s literally no reason for a completely naked woman riding a motorcycle. And yet, that excess is what makes Vanishing Point such a high bar for car films. The 1970 Dodge Challenger is a beauty, and the stunts in the film are top-notch.
Death Proof
Quentin Tarantino is truly one of the ultimate fans of cinema, living the dream. Every new movie he delivers is a love letter to one genre or another. This time, Death Proof is a nod to classic car movies. It even goes out of its way to borrow the exact same car from Vanishing Point. But Tarantino wields a novel stunt to deliver an extraordinarily satisfying finale. There isn’t a whole lot of action in this one, mainly resorting to quippy dialogue that doesn’t go anywhere. But it still crackles with wit, and the movie’s genuinely funny. It’s also mostly a road trip movie, which should fit the bill until the thrilling set piece in the end.
Gone In 60 Seconds (1974)
Gone in 60 Seconds has one of the longest extended car chases on film. It’s practically forty-five minutes of the movie, and although the overall plot is simple, it works. Someone’s hired to steal an impossible number of cars, forty-eight total. With only one left to go, a car named Eleanor, the protagonist decimates dozens of vehicles across six cities.
It’s a truly unbelievable feat to have on film, and the grainy 70’s aesthetic works to the movie’s advantage. If you want vehicular chaos, there’s no better place to get it. Especially if you’re into classic cars, rather than the newer models. On that note, we can all agree to ignore the remake.
Dirty Mary Crazy Larry
Rather than simply racing for kicks, Dirty Mary Crazy Larry is about a couple of guys who want to get into NASCAR. So, they end up on the run after stealing some money for a car that could get them in. What helps this selection score a rank so high is its good performances. Generally speaking, those aren’t really a prerequisite. The cars are the stars. But you definitely get those here, and the action is more immersive than you might expect for such an older film. Unfortunately, the ending is clearly just a blatant, needless homage to Vanishing Point. But overall, the stakes and the acting are surprisingly superior.
Duel
This was actually a television movie, directed by Steven Spielberg himself. The man’s been known for creating some of the best action on screen, from Raiders of the Lost Ark to Saving Private Ryan. Here, the majority of the film takes place on a lonely freeway. An everyman is tormented by a psychotic trucker, resulting in a movie that’s one long chase scene. The suspense is remarkably well-crafted for anyone’s first film. Clever camera techniques are established that Spielberg would use throughout his career. And similar tactics would be used for a certain shark just four years later. You can feel the hot weather through the screen. With tight shots of the vehicles, and a great showdown, this movie will appeal to anyone.
The Driver
This is essentially the movie Drive, but with more emphasis on the driving itself. The director was fresh off of Hard Times, another movie that subverted its genre well. But this selection also features two terrific stars, in Ryan O’Neal and Bruce Dern. They keep the drama and contest refreshingly convincing. Just a decade afterwards, this is the closest thing you could get to Bullitt. That film almost made the list, just for having a single chase scene. As far as crime goes, both movies are very similar. But this is more of a cat-and-mouse competition, and that delivers more action.
Baby Driver
There’s something about getaway drivers that fascinates this sub-genre. It’s a true shame that the film was marred by the Kevin Spacey scandal. Director Edgar Wright waited so long to realize his vision, and it’s a spectacular one. This movie is full of non-stop comedy, the likes of which you could only find in the Cornetto trilogy. It also has brilliant action set pieces that are innovative and engaging. Their kinetic energy rivals most of the stunts in any Fast & Furious film. But the core of Baby Driver is actually the romance, just like Shaun of the Dead. The relationship is both heartwarming and exciting. This actually makes it an ideal gateway film for couples who want to share a love for cars.
Mad Max: Fury Road
This is one long apocalyptic chase scene, a visual feast with no story but enough mythology. The original trilogy of Mad Max was always effective, although the third was lacking. They were equal parts campy fun and crushing bleakness. But The Road Warrior’s finale escalated the action to an exhilarating new degree. And after years, director George Miller was finally able to outdo himself. The last entry in this incredible series has the most immersive, creative, and exciting car scenes ever put to film. This movie will chain you to its grill and drive you around at top speed for sport. It’s all sound and fury, but it’s of the highest order—that which only Miller can imagine.
