Iconic Car Movies to Watch During Christmas

We bet many of you have marked December 28 on your calendars. Imagine being able to see up to 8 friends again! But before Singapore heads into Phase 3, we have Christmas to contend with, and you can bet your bottom dollar we’ll be making it as cozy and festive as possible. Here’s how we’re celebrating Christmas with our nearest and dearest––by curling up on the sofa with our favourite car movies.

The films below are some of our favourite car movies. They might not be traditional Christmas films, but they meet the all-important criteria for movies at Yuletide: they’re all great fun to watch. Whether you’re looking for an action-packed thriller or a family-friendly comedy, you’re sure to find one to suit your mood.

Cars (2006)

No list of car movies is complete without this animated Pixar film about, well, cars! Set in an alternate universe where everyone’s a different kind of vehicle, this heartwarming movie revolves around hotshot race car Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) and his journey to competing in the Piston Cup championships. The characters also double as a crash course (pun 200% intended) for kids in different kinds of vehicles, from Sally the Porsche 911 Carrera to Mater the tow truck.

The film spawned a few sequels and spin-off cartoon series, but the original film is still the best by far. A fun, feel-good, family-friendly movie for the Christmas holidays.

Almost Every James Bond Film, Ever

Sean Connery may have passed on this year, but the legacy of his role as the original super-spy James Bond lives on. (The less said about his appalling record on domestic violence, the better.) And for car lovers, the whole Bond franchise is worth watching for its array of sleek, glamorous cars alone. Consider the iconic 1963 Aston Martin DB5 from Goldfinger (1964) cruising through the Scottish mountains, the wacky tricked-out Lotus Esprit S1 that turns into a submarine in The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), or the sexy 2011 Jaguar XJ in Skyfall (2011), and tell us you haven’t fantasised about driving one of these models.

Die-hard fans will notice that Aston Martins are a particular favourite with the franchise. In the most recent film, Spectre (2015), the film crew wrecked a stunning $37 million worth of Aston Martins. Try not to think too hard about the waste.

Any Fast & Furious Film

Let’s face it, you don’t watch any of the Fast and the Furious films if you want a ‘good’ film. Oscar-worthy it is not: the entire franchise is the cinematic equivalent of shovelling several boxes of cheap pizza down your gullet at 3am. The acting is crap and the storylines are thin. But there are good-looking people, sexy cars, explosions, heart-pumping heists, crazy stunts, and high-octane illegal street racing. We love the thrill of watching gorgeous cars like the Maserati Ghibli and Toyota Supra race through the cities. And the movies are just great fun to watch. What more can you ask of an action film series?

(If you have to pick just one, Tokyo Drift is probably the most iconic of the series.)

Drive (2011)

Take Ryan Gosling and make him a Hollywood stuntman. Give his character top-notch driving skills and a side gig moonlighting as a getaway driver for criminals. Throw in a flashy 1973 Chevelle and a dozen thrilling car chases accompanied by a heart-pounding soundtrack, and you have the perfect action-packed car movie for Christmas. Best of all, you can stream this on Netflix. What’s not to like?

The Love Bug film series

Vintage car lovers will find lots to love about this comedic film series starring Herbie, the white Volkswagen Beetle with a mind of its own, who teams up with its owners to win their races. We’re willing to bet Cars was heavily inspired by this anthropomorphic racing car! Start from the original 1968 film The Love Bug and work your way to the present day with the 2005 reboot starring Lindsay Lohan. Funny, heart-warming and sometimes corny, this series is particularly family-friendly and is sure to put a smile on your face.

Risk (2013)

If the thrill of Formula 1 racing isn’t enough to get you to watch Risk, Chris Hemsworth as a hunky F1 driver will probably sweeten the deal. Set in the 1970s, this biographical sports drama depicting the fierce rivalry between F1 drivers James Hunt and Niki Lauda has it all––fast cars, deep insights into F1 racing, conflict, sex, death, and chaos. It was a box office hit on release, and Niki Lauda noted that the film was “very accurate.”

Back to the Future (1985)

Back to the Future is a cult classic in the sci-fi film pantheon, and for good reason. Who hasn’t wondered about the consequences of time travel? The theme has been explored in countless books and films, but this film’s special and memorable take comes in the form of a tricked out, time-travelling DeLorean automobile built by the protagonist’s eccentric scientist friend. Marty may have gotten his parents back together by the end of the film (this is hardly a spoiler) but the real star of the film is this snazzy time-travelling car.

Gone in Sixty Seconds (2000)

If you liked Ocean’s 11, you’ll love this film. A retired master car thief has to steal 50 luxury cars in a single night from the king of the criminal underworld, or his brother dies. Can he convince his former comrades-in-crime to help him pull this heist off? This film will have you on the edge of your seat. The car eye candy doesn’t hurt either: among the lineup are a Shelby Mustang GT500, the 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB4, a 1962 Aston Martin DB1 (similar to the iconic Bond car), and a 1987 Ferrari Testarossa.

If you don’t like Nicholas Cage, watch the original 1974 movie. We promise the super-long (over 30 minutes), ultra-destructive car chase makes for an epic finale to it all.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)

Arguably the most famous musical in existence starring a car, this kid-friendly classic is one of the best picks for a heartwarming Christmas watch. Bert from Mary Poppins (okay, Dick Van Dyke) stars as the oddball inventor Caractacus Potts, whose car comes to life as a magical flying machine. Alongside his children, and the charming Truly Scrumptious, Caractacus must fly to the fictional land of Vulgaria to rescue the kidnapped Grandpa Potts from the tyrannical Baron Bomburst. Hijinks, comedy, and catchy songs ensue, plus a healthy dose of green screen effects. Who could fail to love this fine four-fendered friend?

Be warned: prepare to find yourself humming every single song in the film for the subsequent week, as they’re all earworms of the highest order.

Grease (1978)

It’s systematic… hydromatic… automatic… why, it could be Greased Lightning! Decades later, the foot-tapping appeal of John Travolta gyrating his hips to a song about a jazzed up Ford De Luxe (and more) is still as strong as ever. There’s a reason Grease remains a favourite musical rom-com even with modern audiences! While the romance between Sandy and Danny takes center stage, the backdrop of it all is 1950s greaser subculture and hotrod culture (souped up classic cars). Come for the songs, stay for the Scorpions’ jet-black 1949 Mercury Custom.

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

Considered one of the greatest action films of all time, Mad Max: Fury Road more than delivers when it comes to heart-pounding action and body-bending stunts. Max Rockatansky (Tom Hardy) navigates a post-apocalyptic desert wasteland, aiding warrior Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron) as she flees the tyrant Immortan Joe, having helped his five wives escape. This is basically a two-hour car chase punctuated with numerous explosions, jumps, and crashes. Many of the custom-built cars were destroyed during filming, very little CGI effects were used. Impressive.

If you enjoyed the films, why not give our cars a try? ST Auto has a wide range of new and second hand cars available for leasing or buying. Call +65 6464 9098 or email us at enquiry@stauto.com.sg