The Five Most Underrated Car Chases of all Time

Film and cars go hand-in-hand. Over the past 70 years, we've seen them play key roles in the plots or as driving aids. There have been many incredible car chases in cinema over the years. All of us can recall the intense Bullit and The French Connection, as well as the absurdity of Fast and Furious. There are many other car chases that are often forgotten or not talked about. This is our list of the five most underrated car chases from cinematic history.

The Bourne Identity (2002, 2002)

The Bourne Supremacy is often cited when great chase scenes are mentioned. Personally, I don't like the'shaky camera' style of shooting and prefer its predecessor The Bourne Identity. This scene is a perfect combination of large frames and close-ups that give us a sense of the action but keep us close to it. It doesn't get any better in choreography. Who doesn't like a Mini Cooper speeding through Paris?

Against All Odds (1984).

This 80's romance-thriller will be a distant memory. Even fewer will recall the thrilling chase scene at the beginning. It was jaw-dropping to see the two main characters race down Sunset Boulevard in a Porsche 911 or Ferrari 308 and it's audience of people who had seen the film before, but then would return to watch the chase and then go home. Arguably the greatest ever stuntman/stunt-coordinator Cary Loftin designed the chase and was behind the wheel of the Ferrari. He was 70 years of age at the time of filming.

Mad Max (1979).

Many things are associated with the Mad Max franchise. It was Mel Gibson's first movie role, introduced the iconic Mad Max car and demonstrated to the world that Australia can make films comparable to Hollywood. It was the opening scene that changed the rules of how chase scenes can be shot. Director George Miller worked on a very small budget and relied solely on "guerrilla filmmaking" by closing roads and not using permits. He also avoided walkie-talkies that could have been picked up on police frequencies. Few car chases in Melbourne's West have been as authentic and yet managed to get you close to the action.

Death Proof (2007)

Quentin Tarantino is one the most controversial filmmakers of all times. One reason being that he relies so heavily on homage that many feel his films lack originality. Death Proof's infamous finale pays tribute to some of the most iconic 80s and 70s road movies like Dirty Mary Crazy Larry and Vanishing Point. This, in my opinion, only makes the chase between the 1970 Dodge Challenger and 1969 Dodge Charger even more fun. Tarantino isn't trying to reinvent the wheel, but he does use elements from movies of the past that make it extremely entertaining.

Duel (1971).

While Steven Spielberg is today a household name, he was still an aspirant auteur in 1971 when he filmed Duel. It's a long chase scene that makes up the entire movie, which is why this TV movie isn’t getting the attention it deserves. Here we get to see Spielberg's early work. His ability to make the chilling Peterbilt 351 a character is amazing. The dramatic backdrop of the California desert makes it the ideal setting for the drama. While we don't know what the motivations or reasoning behind the events we are seeing, Spielberg manages to create tension so that our attention is always on the action. It's not just one of the most overlooked chase films, but the best film of all time.

These are five of the most action packed car chase scenes of all time. Although I didn't mention all of the most famous scenes, for any car enthusiast, these scenes are definitely can't miss cinema.