There's no arguing that three strong factors of a great film can include a strong protagonist, a leading lady, and an attractive but fast car. The first car chase recorded on the big screen was in the 1903 film Runaway Match. Now, almost a century and a half later, cars can be seen participating in fast chases, dangerous stunts, and explosive scenes.

These vehicles perform stunts through vicious gasoline-pumping sites that leave viewers in awe. Not only that, but some of them even come with multiple weapons and mechanical functions that make them some of the coolest cars around. For example, not only does the Batmobile help Batman to get around, but it also comes with various armed and mechanical functions: shooting, driving on its own, and having a speed boost. It’s so sturdy that it can withstand attacks from enemies. If the Batmobile is too high-tech for you, then think about an old-timer classic, like James Bond’s Aston Martin 1964.

Unlike the usual list of auto categories, below are some of the coolest cars recorded in films that are sometimes more than just vehicles but partners for the main protagonists (and even the sidekicks).

August 30, 2023: In honor of the release of Gran Turismo, this article has been updated with even more great movie cars.

12 1969 Mustang Boss 429 - John Wick (2014)

John Wick
Lionsgate Films

Known as the rarest high-valued car to date, the 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 has a horsepower of up to 375 hp and a top speed of 206 km/h. During its production, approximately 1,359 of the original Boss 429s were created by the Ford Motor Company.

In John Wick, the Boss 429 is John Wick’s most prized possession. In one scene, a hoard of thieves (Iosef Tarasov and his goons) break into his house, kill his puppy, Daisy, and steal the car. Although he wanted revenge for Daisy, he was especially angry at the thieves for stealing his beloved motor vehicle. During one of his chase scenes, the Boss 429 is shown to have extreme power. It’s enough to smoothly make a 360-degree turn, drifting maneuver, and move the bad guys out of the way. One of the most surprising facts about the car used in the movie, is that it’s actually a 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1.

11 Aston Martin DB5 - Goldfinger (1964)

James Bond Aston Martin DB5

Everyone knows that James Bond loves his Aston Martins, but while there are numerous Bond movies, which highlight impressive cars, the Aston Martin DB5 holds a very special place in the franchise. The DB5 marks the beginning of an ongoing hype since it was the first car, which was featured in the first spy movie about James Bond called Goldfinger. Many different models followed, but the classic Aston Martin DB5 can be seen in six other Bond movies as well. Needless to say that the DB5 will always be the coolest of them all, and it will continue to shine with its cult status.

10 1958 Plymouth Fury - Christine (1983)

Christine 1958
    Columbia Pictures

This 1983 horror film Christine, is based on Stephen King’s novel of the same name. It narrates the relationship between a jealous car and her owner. Arnie is a geek that finds an old, classic Plymouth and decides to restore it to its original form. However, behind that red and sleek metallic body is a vengeful spirit. In fact, "she" has a history of getting jealous and killing her previous owners. She also has a number of supernatural abilities, which include restoring herself after being destroyed, choking a person with her seatbelts, and silently showing off emotions to the protagonist.

In reality, the 1958 Plymouth Fury was manufactured by Chrysler. It has the horsepower of 290 and can run up to 230 km/h.

9 Subaru Impreza WRX - Baby Driver (2017)

Baby Driver

Even though Edgar Wright's action movie Baby Driver was released only a few years ago, it still deserves a spot in this list. The movie's iconic opening scene consists of Baby's epic drive in a Subaru Impreza WRX, showing off his insane skills in front of his criminal companions. Unexpectedly, however, Baby is always seen with earphones on, constantly listening to music to put him in the right mindset.

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Getaway driver Baby casually races through the streets like no other and has people admiring his bright red Subaru. While it doesn't look like much from the outside, Baby certainly manages to reveal the car's awesome features. He manages to escape the police with ease, leaving the crew members shocked by his and his car's skills.

8 Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
United Artists

As a Ford customized vehicle, this car from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was inspired by four different aero-engine cars under the series called Chitty. In reality, these series of vehicles were created by Count Louis Zborowski, who was an English racer and inventor. The two inspired author Ian Fleming to produce a similar vehicle, but with a quirky, memorable, and magical appearance. In the film, the car was invented by Caractacus Potts, who was a British inventor. He found the car in a junkyard and restored it in a way that it could make it float, fly, and drive on both land and in the sea.

According to the cast, six distinct versions of the car were made for the film. Among them, only one was able to come on-screen. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang has a horsepower of 140 hp and a top speed of 160 km/100 mph. Today, the car sits in a privately owned establishment owned by Peter Jackson, creator of the Lord of the Rings.

7 Lotus Esprit S1 - The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)

The Spy Who Loved Me
United Artists

The Lotus Esprit S1 is a sports car manufactured by Lotus in America from 1976 to 1978. It has a horsepower of 160 hp and a speed of 221 km/h. The car gained international fame after its first appearance in the 1977 James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me.

In the film, The Lotus Esprit is part submarine and part car that helps James Bond carry out his mission. Referred to as ‘’QST / A117 Submersible’’ by Bond, this vehicle is equipped with a CCTV system, an ink sprayer, a protective metal screen, and 2.3-inch rocket launchers.

6 Chevrolet Camaro - Transformers (2007)

Camaro - Tranformers
Paramount Pictures Studios

No cool car list is complete without mentioning the Transformers classic: Bumblebee. The yellow Chevrolet Camaro is a gorgeous automobile that has captured the attention of fans around the world, thanks to the quirkiness of Bumblebee. Due to this, Chevrolet had an army of customers waiting to purchase the look-a-like of their favorite transformer. The Camaro has a horsepower of 426 hp and a speed of 250 km/h.

In the film, the Camaro is the body of Bumblebee, an extraterrestrial life form and member of the Autobots. The car is adorned with sleek black strips and an impressive motor that makes it iconic.

5 The Mach Five - Speed Racer (2008)

Emilie Hirsch as Speed Racer in Speed Racer
Warner Bros

An adaptation of the popular anime series Speed Racer is, of course, going to have a bunch of great cars, but none is better than the franchise's signature vehicle, The Mach Five. While Speed's normal racing car for the professional circuit is The Mach Six, The Mach Five is used in the film's signature action scene in an illegal off-road race with the most dangerous drives. With an array of defensive weapons to protect the driver, this is the ultimate fantasy car come to life that anyone who has ever dreamed of going fast wishes they could get behind the wheel of.

4 Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R - The Fast and The Furious (2001)

Fast and Furious Nissan Skyline Brian O'Connor

It is nearly impossible to list cool cars and skip one of the most epic franchises, which kicked it off in 2001 with the legendary movie The Fast and The Furious. While there is already an insane amount of 12 films, which feature incredible cars and are packed with lots of action, the first movie set the foundation for what followed. Next to Vin Diesel as Dominic Toretto, the late Paul Walker stepped into the role of Brian O'Conner. Walker, himself, had an admiration for all kinds of cars, and surely got to live his dream during the time he spent on set. There are multiple cars, which remind of Brian right away, but the silver Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R with blue stripes has to be the coolest and most iconic one.

3 1970 Dodge Charger - The Fast and The Furious (2001)

Fast and Furious Dodge Charger Dominic Toretto

It is not only Brian O'Conner's Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R, which can be considered as one of the coolest cars of all time, but in The Fast and The Furious (and in later movies), Dominic Toretto is also in the possession of an impressive car. His 1970 Dodge Charger seems to perfectly fit his personality, as it radiates a certain nonchalance, of which Toretto definitely is the king. The Dodge Charger is of emotional value, since Dom and his late father built it together. With an impressive 900 horsepower, Toretto's car is simply made for the crew's undertakings.

2 1981 DeLorean DMC-12 - Back to the Future (1985)

Back to the Future
Universal Pictures

Dr. Emmett Brown’s time machine from Back to the Future is probably one of the most popular cars among the '90s kids. It’s best known for teleporting the main character Marty (Michael J. Fox) and Doc (Christopher Lloyd) back in time or to the future. It’s also the first of the three cars that Doc invented for time traveling.

From the light flux capacitor to the folding seats at the rear end, this 20’’ long metal body is adorned with an array of cables and lights that make it unique. Due to this, it’s considered to be one of the most famous cars in film history. In reality, the DeLorean was created by Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale. The DeLorean has a horsepower of 130 hp and can travel up to 142 km/h.

1 The Batmobile (Tumbler) - The Dark Knight Trilogy

The Tumbler
    Warner Bros. Pictures

When it comes to having a mechanical partner that comes to the rescue every time the protagonist is in a pinch, the Batmobile would be the answer. Growing up, it was the superhero's dream to have a car as cool and mechanically armed as the Tumbler. In Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, this automobile was featured as Batman’s trusty ride. Not only is this car as sturdy as a full-sized tank, but it also harbors ammunition and weaponry. In one of the scenes, the car can be seen jumping from high points to landing on the road without hurting Bruce. Moreover, it can also sustain damage after breaking through a concrete wall.

The Batmobile Tumbler was designed by Nathan Crowley and Christoper Nolan. It has a horsepower of 500 hp and a top speed of 257 km/h.