Ryan O’Neal plays a tough stuntman in Walter Hill’s film, ‘The Driver’. The stuntman in the film also has a side hustle as a getaway driver. The film has also inspired the later feature, ‘Drive’. O’Neal’s stuntman makes sure not to get emotionally involved in his less-than-legal activities, but that proves to be easier said than done.
The stuntman/getaway driver, who never lets anyone into his head or heart, forms a special relationship with another person. The emotional cocoon he lives in slowly starts to crack. His relationship with his car is a beautiful analogy to that inner process.
The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
Before they became Hollywood stars, Australian actors Guy Pearce and Hugo Weaving were tearing it up down under in movies like "The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert." This comedy from the '90s sees the young duo playing two drag queens.
Along with a transgender woman (played by Terrence Stamp), the unlikely heroes go on a huge road trip across the Australian Outback in a tour bus they call "Priscilla." During this epic journey, this unlikely crew bumps into all kinds of strange and wonderful people, including a middle-aged mechanic by the name of Bob, who was abandoned by his wife.
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
It might not be the most car-centric movie on this list, but "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" deserves a mention because of the car that ends up stealing a few scenes in the second half. Matthew Broderick's main character skips school for the day and ends up stealing a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder from his friend's dad's garage.
From there, the friends embark on a road trip to Chicago and end up handing over the car to a couple of parking attendants, who proceed to take it for a little spin. When you think of '80s coming-of-age movies, "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" is right up there.
Joy Ride
This underrated film was released in 2001 and never got the praise that it is really due. Paul Walker and Steve Zahn play two brothers. Walker plays Lewis, the romantic, doing-the-right-thing kind of guy, while Zahn plays Fuller, the more dangerous type who plays a practical joke that goes a little too far.
Fuller's dangerous practical joke was done over CB radio and played on a mysterious trucker known as Rusty Nail. Rusty Nail himself turns out to be a psycho killer intent on getting his revenge on the man who pranked him. The film is worth watching even if you aren't fans of the genre, thanks to the wonderful chemistry between Walker and Zahn.
Diner
Unlike other films on this list, this one doesn't necessarily have cars as a meaningful part of its plot. Still, it has some motorized eye-candy you would love to see if you enjoy vintage vehicles. Seeing as the cars in the film are supposed to be owned by young people who don't have much money to spend, there are many cool old cars to see there.
The film enjoys a cast of Hollywood stars, such as Mickey Rourke and Kevin Bacon. There is also an impressive cast of cars starring in the film, like a Chevy Bel Air, a Cadillac 62, a Hudson Hornet, and a Nash Metropolitan, just to name a few.