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.
L'autostop
Oscar-winning director Nikita Mikhalkov is the person behind this 1990 film. L'autostop was meant to be a short promotional video for Fiat, but it sort of blew out of proportion and became a lovely short film. The story here is that of an Italian racer who needs to drive a car to Russia from Italy.
During his road trip, the racer, who apparently has no real family, ventures into the Russian forests and creates himself a fully fictional family. What starts out as a road trip movie ends up being a cautionary tale about the choices we make in life.
The Driver
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.
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.
Back to the Future
We could never have a list of car movies and not include 'Back to the Future'. Many of you have probably heard about Marty McFly and the DeLorean he used to travel back in time with. Not many people, however, know that the car was a horrible mess, both sales-wise and in terms of performance. The car became widely known for its disappointing lack of power and performance, which was very disappointing considering its high price tag and Lamborghini-style appearance. The car was only sold for about 3 years and sold less than 10,000 vehicles before production stopped.
The car suffered from many technical difficulties, one of which was the horrible battery. When driving the car with all the lights and electrical options on, the battery wasn't able to supply enough power to charge the car, causing it to gradually discharge and eventually leaving the driver stranded on the road. The DeLorean has since gained a cult following. To this day, it is considered one of the best cars of all time by some slightly obsessed individuals who appreciated its attempts to make you feel like you’re driving inside a spaceship.