Ranking the Top 10 NASCAR Movies (Part 2)
NASCAR is a thrilling and widely followed motorsport that excites fans with its high-octane races, charismatic drivers, and exhilarating atmosphere. Hollywood has always been eager to capture the excitement and intense action of the sport on the silver screen, producing numerous memorable films that effectively convey the essence of NASCAR.
Audiences around the world witnessed comedic talent Will Ferrell delivering an unforgettable performance as the immature lead character in "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby," a film that quickly became a classic and added to Adam McKay's impressive body of work. Owen Wilson played a pivotal role in launching a beloved franchise as he voiced the confident race car Lightning McQueen in "Cars," a role he reprised in two highly acclaimed sequels. Here, we rank the top 10 NASCAR movies.
5. Red Line 7000
Renowned director Howard Hawks enlisted the talents of the sophisticated James Caan to take the lead in his 1965 action sports drama "Red Line 7000." The film delves into the lives of three aspiring racing drivers and their supportive but constantly anxious romantic partners. Their conflicting personalities and dispositions jeopardize the longevity and success of their racing team. In addition to Caan, the movie features a cast of emerging talents, including James Ward, Laura Devon, and John Crawford, as Hawks deliberately opted for Hollywood newcomers in his project.
The production of the drama received assistance from NASCAR driver Larry Frank, who facilitated the mounting of cameras on his car for the film crew, enabling them to capture footage during his actual races. "Red Line 7000" also showcased well-known racetracks such as Atlanta Motor Speedway and Daytona International Speedway, much to the delight of racing enthusiasts worldwide.
4. The Last American Hero
In the 1973 sports drama "The Last American Hero," Jeff Bridges takes on the role of a rebellious Southern man and exceptionally skilled driver. He portrays Junior Jackson, a former moonshiner who transitions into a NASCAR racer. Jackson's goal is to rise through the ranks in this beloved motorsport and prove the skeptics in his small North Carolina town wrong by becoming the greatest stock car racer in history. When his father is sentenced to a year in prison, Jackson steps up to provide for his family and is determined to make an honest and lucrative living pursuing his greatest passion.
This captivating film draws inspiration from the real-life experiences of racer Junior Johnson as well as Tom Wolfe's Esquire essay "The Last American Hero Is Junior Johnson. Yes!" Despite not achieving significant success at the box office, the movie received critical acclaim. Jeff Bridges was particularly praised for his compelling performance, and the film was commended for its inspiring and uplifting themes of determination and perseverance.
3. Logan Lucky
In the 2017 heist comedy "Logan Lucky," Channing Tatum, Adam Driver, and Riley Keough take on the roles of the main family members who devise a plan to rob the Charlotte Motor Speedway. Facing financial difficulties, the Logan family hatches a daring scheme to carry out the heist during a major NASCAR race, enlisting the help of an eccentric criminal, portrayed by Daniel Craig, known for his safe-cracking skills. The Logans' audacious mission becomes more complicated when a shrewd FBI agent, played by Hilary Swank, is assigned to investigate the robbery, which is humorously referred to as "Ocean's Seven-Eleven."
"Logan Lucky" received both critical acclaim and commercial success. Director Steven Soderbergh, who had initially intended to come out of retirement after his 2013 film "Behind the Candelabra," returned to filmmaking after reading the script. He described the movie as an "anti-glam version of an Ocean's movie." The comedy was praised for its humor, clever storytelling, and enjoyable plot twists and turns.
2. Cars
The perpetually charming Owen Wilson provided his distinctive and laid-back voice for the 2006 highly successful animated sports comedy "Cars." In the film, he portrayed Lightning McQueen, a talented yet exceedingly self-absorbed rookie race car.
McQueen's journey takes an unexpected turn when he finds himself stranded in the dilapidated and isolated town of Radiator Springs. During his time there, he undergoes a series of transformative experiences that teach him valuable lessons about the significance of friendship and humility. McQueen encounters a variety of vivid characters, including the easygoing rusty tow truck Mater (voiced by Larry the Cable Guy) and the spirited Porsche 911 Sally Carrera (played by Bonnie Hunt), both of whom play pivotal roles in reshaping the ambitious racer's attitude.
"Cars" was a massive hit at the box office, raking in an impressive $462 million in revenue. This success paved the way for a highly profitable and long-lasting film series, resulting in the creation of two direct sequels and two spin-off films. In a favorable review by Decent Films, they remarked, "Cars stands out as Pixar's most unlikely triumph thus far, a movie that had the potential to go awry but miraculously did not."
1. Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
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