Key Takeaways

  • The best overall movie for gearheads is Rush (2013) because of the intense racing, drama, and rivalry.
  • The other great gearhead movies include Ford V Ferrari, Drive (2011), Fast & Furious Franchise, Days Of Thunder, Gone In Sixty Seconds, Mad Max: Fury Road, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, and Need For Speed (2014).
  • To find more gearhead movies, use online Reddit communities, IMDb lists, and tools like BestSimilar.
  • The best platforms to watch gearhead movies include Amazon Video, Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, and Vudu.

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One of the best ways to embrace a passion and become a better expert is to consume media. So gearheads should consider some of the best movies to learn more.

The nine best movies for gearheads include the following films:

  • Rush (2013)
  • Ford V Ferrari
  • Drive (2011)
  • Fast & Furious Franchise
  • Days Of Thunder
  • Gone In Sixty Seconds
  • Mad Max: Fury Road
  • Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
  • Need For Speed (2014)

As an avid car lover and gearhead, these are my favorite movies focused on this genre. Each of them has something to learn, and I’ve seen all of these films multiple times, so this is accurate for anybody searching for their next watch.

Table of Contents

9 Best Movies For Gearheads

Gearheads are the people who love cars and everything related to them. They are the ones who love to work on their vehicle, play with it, and talk about it. And there is no better way to become more informed than watching a related movie.

The best movies for gearheads are those that make them feel like they're in a car chase scene or race against time. They could also be movies about repairing cars, elite drivers, and anything.

Gearheads are also people who are passionate about cars and other mechanical objects. They are people who can spend hours browsing websites for car parts or watching car-related videos.

Below are the nine best movies for gearheads worth watching today.

1. Rush (2013)

Rush is the perfect movie for any gearhead because it tells the true story of two competitive Formula 1 racers and the rise of their rivalry. Both James Hunt and Niki Lauda are well-known for their F1 success.

For fast car lovers, this movie has it all. But beyond just the speed and intensity is an inside look at the spirits and lives of these two drivers. It became much more significant than just racing, and this movie has viewers on the edge of their seats.

Both the audience and critics are in agreement too. This movie received an 8.1 rating on IMDb and an 88% score on Rotten Tomatoes. We love this movie as one of the best sports dramas out there.

This movie also does a fantastic job of telling an inspirational story that leaves viewers wanting more. Streaming channels are constantly changing, but currently, this movie is available on the following platforms.

  • Netflix
  • Vudu ($3.99)
  • Google Play Movies ($3.99)
  • YouTube ($3.99)
  • Apple TV ($3.99)
  • Amazon Prime Video ($3.99)

2. Ford V Ferrari

The Ford V Ferrari movie is a biographical film about the rivalry between Henry Ford and Enzo Ferrari. It is directed by James Mangold and stars Matt Damon, Christian Bale, and Jon Bernthal.

This movie was released in 2019 and received mixed reviews from critics. However, they are primarily positive, with an impressive 92% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes and an 8.1/10 score on IMDb.

The Ford V Ferrari movie is based on the true story of Henry Ford II teaming up with Carrol Shelby and Ken Miles to design a Ford race car that could compete with Ferrari. This movie depicts the intense feud and rivalry between the two automakers.

The drama unfolds around Henry Ford II, who, after taking over as president from his father, sets out on a quest for revenge against Enzo Ferrari. He wants to win at any cost, even if entering an American car in one of Ferrari's most cherished events: Le Mans.

This movie has a lot to learn about cars as an avid gearhead. This is more than just an entertaining movie between the actual historical facts and an in-depth explanation of the physics of racing.

This movie is currently available on a few different platforms for streaming.

  • Hulu
  • Sling TV
  • YouTube ($3.99)
  • Apple TV ($3.99)
  • Amazon Prime Video ($3.99)
  • Vudu ($3.99)
  • Google Play Movies ($3.99)

3. Drive (2011)

Drive is my personal favorite on this list, but I couldn’t rank it ahead of Rush and Ford V Ferrari because of pure film quality. However, Drive tells a much different story than any movie on this list with a neo-noir theme.

The movie starts with Ryan Gosling's character, Driver, getting into his car and going to work. He drives a white 1978 Ford Mustang and is a stuntman by trade, but his side hustle is a bit more intense.

We never learn the name of Ryan Gosling’s character either, giving this movie an eerie feeling. But the action scenes are intense, and after falling for his neighbor, the driver finds himself in a bad situation.

The other thing this movie does is make the viewer feel awkward through extended silence. But intense getaways and chase scenes make this an excellent film for gearheads to enjoy.

This wasn’t a major studio film, but it’s still available for streaming on the following platforms.

  • Vudu ($2.99)
  • Amazon Prime Video ($2.99)
  • YouTube ($3.99)

4. Fast & Furious Franchise

The Fast and Furious franchise is a film series that has been around for more than 16 years. Universal Pictures started it in 2001 with the first movie, The Fast and Furious.

This franchise has been one of the highest-grossing film series, with box office earnings worth billions worldwide. One of the most famous movie franchises in the world, Fast & Furious movies have entertained people for over two decades.

The Fast & Furious franchise is based on action films primarily about illegal street racing and heists. Ranking the best movies is impossible because they are so entertaining, but here is the list of each movie.

  • The Fast And The Furious
  • 2 Fast 2 Furious
  • Tokyo Drift
  • Fast & Furious
  • Fast Five
  • Fast & Furious 6
  • Furious 7
  • The Fate Of The Furious
  • Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw
  • F9 The Fast Saga (2021)

The film series has endless adventure and drama, with the famous Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) leading the way. We recommend starting with the first movie and working through each film because invaluable car knowledge is shared along the way.

5. Days Of Thunder

Days of Thunder is a fun sports drama that tells the story of Cole Trickle (Tom Cruise) and his rise through the NASCAR ranks. This isn’t based on a true story, but the film's premise is loosely based on Tim Richmond and Geoff Bodine.

Cole was also named in honor of Dick Trickle, another famous American race car driver. This movie pulls a lot from real life and feels intense throughout the viewing.

This is one of the best car movies for gearheads. It has many scenes about cars and racing, so this is the perfect film for viewers who enjoy car expertise and fast driving.

This movie was released in 1990, and many newer movies today steal a lot of ideas from this film. It also shows the rivalry between Cole Trickle and Rowdy Burns, where they both show they’ll do whatever it takes to win.

To watch this movie, head over to one of the following platforms. It’s widely available for streaming and rental.

  • HBO Max
  • The Roku Channel
  • YouTube ($2.99)
  • Vudu ($2.99)
  • YouTube TV
  • Hulu
  • Amazon Prime Video
  • Google Play Movies ($2.99)
  • Apple TV ($3.99)

6. Gone In Sixty Seconds

Gone in Sixty Seconds is a 2000 American action-crime thriller film. It is an adaptation of H.B. Gilmour's 1974 novel Gone in 60 Seconds. The film stars Nicolas Cage and Angelina Jolie, with William Fichtner, Robert Duvall, and Bryan Cranston among the supporting cast.

This movie is about a man named Memphis who is a car thief. He has a dream to own his car and be able to call the shots, but when a plan goes wrong, he's dragged into completing an impossible task.

It is about a retired car thief who sets out to steal fifty cars within one night to save his brother's life after he was framed for stealing the cars himself. The movie shows the thrilling adventure of Memphis to beat the deadline.

Not only is this movie entertaining, but there are some amazing cars on display too. One of my favorites is the Ford Shelby GT500.

This movie can be viewed on the following platforms today.

  • YouTube ($3.99)
  • Google Play Movies ($3.99)
  • Apple TV ($3.99)

7. Mad Max: Fury Road

Fury Road is a 2015 post-apocalyptic dystopian action film. The fourth installment in the Mad Max franchise features Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron.

But this might make many readers wonder why this movie is suitable for gearheads. The film is full of modified vehicles that can make any avid car lover drool, and the film depicts an intense and continuous car chase.

The film features many post-apocalyptic settings and vehicles and an exciting storyline about female empowerment. It's not just for gearheads but also has excellent action sequences and emotional moments.

The film's premise is that petrol and water are scarce, causing epic battles as the fight for survival looms. It is an action-packed movie that has a lot of drama and suspense.

Not only was this loved by viewers, but it was also a massive hit with critics. The film won six Oscars, mainly focused on the fantastic editing, visuals, and design.

This movie is also available for streaming, and the following platforms have it available for rental.

  • Google Play Movies ($3.99)
  • Apple TV ($3.99)
  • Amazon Prime Video ($3.99)
  • Vudu ($3.99)

8. Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby

This movie is a 2006 film directed and co-written by Adam McKay, starring Will Ferrell, with a loaded cast that embraces the comedy and action this movie provides.

This is one of the most unique movies mentioned so far and the only true comedy film we’ve listed. But no list of movies for gearheads would be complete without this film because of the focus on racing and fast cars.

The film is about a race car driver named Ricky Bobby, a champion in the NASCAR series. He has many friends, but he doesn't have a lot of respect for anyone else.

His best friend is Cal Naughton Jr., and they are both drivers. Ricky Bobby's problem is that he thinks he can do anything better than anyone else, including racing.

However, this success has also given him an inflated ego, and he begins to believe that he's better than everyone else. After losing everything, the film depicts the comeback journey of Ricky Bobby.

This movie is currently available for streaming on the following platforms.

  • Vudu ($2.99)
  • YouTube ($3.99)
  • Apple TV ($3.99)
  • Amazon Prime Video ($2.99)
  • Google Play Movies ($3.99)

9. Need For Speed (2014)

Need For Speed (2014) is based on a video game series and stars Aaron Paul as Tobey Marshall, who races cars in underground street races to make ends meet while keeping his father's garage afloat.

This movie is a perfect combination of speed, cars, and drama. The film depicts the journey of Tobey Marshall trying to succeed in racing to make his father proud.

At the movie's start, a race goes wrong, and one of Tobey’s best friends is killed, setting the scene for the rest of the film. There is a lot to love about this movie, between the drama and action, but also the car knowledge.

The film has some great features that make it worth watching. The plot is well-developed, with an exciting storyline and characters that are easy to relate to. It also has some beautiful cinematography and stunning visuals that make it more enjoyable to watch.

It won’t be the highest-rated movie by critics, but all car enthusiasts love it.

To stream this movie today, head over to one of these platforms.

  • YouTube ($3.99)
  • Apple TV ($3.99)
  • Amazon Prime Video ($3.99)
  • Google Play Movies ($3.99)

Where To Find Other Movies For Gearheads

Gearheads are people who are interested in cars and anything car related. So it is no surprise that they would also be interested in watching movies about cars. But what kind of movies?

Well, there are quite a few films out there that gearheads will enjoy watching. If none of these films seem like the right one, there are other places to look to find movie inspiration.

We have compiled a list of the three five best places to find similar movie suggestions for gearheads so you can decide which one is the best for you.

Reddit Communities

Reddit communities are underrated for many things, including finding relevant movies for a specific topic. The most popular one is r/MovieSuggestions, where members ask questions, and other users post movies.

Gearheads can come here and ask for movies about cars and get loads of answers from the active community. Do this if any of the movies on this list aren’t good enough.

IMDb Lists

There is a feature on IMDb that most people don't know exists. This is where lists are created by users ranking movies based on a specific genre, topic, or passion.

A list of the best gearhead movies of all time can be viewed to find other similar film choices. Other similar lists can be found by searching through the IMDb website too.

BestSimilar

Another amazing tool to find movies under specific topics is BestSimilar. This allows users to look up a movie they watched or the type of movie they want to watch.

Doing this will generate a list of the most similar movies to the movie mentioned. So using any movie on this list on BestSimilar will generate another list of similar movies for gearheads to consider watching.

Best Places To Watch Movies For Gearheads

Watching movies is a great way to relax and take our minds off of things. And as a gearhead, we can do so while still being involved with the passion.

These movies are perfect for people who love cars, motorcycles, and anything with an engine. The best place to watch these movies include Amazon Video, Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, and Vudu.

Amazon Video

Amazon Video is one of the best platforms to use to find movies for gearheads. This is because they offer Amazon Prime members access to a movie library with lots of new, relevant, and popular films.

They also have a Prime Only section with Amazon Original content, including some cool car shows. There is an option to dig even deeper to rent movies for $2-$5 per movie.

Netflix

Netflix is another obvious choice for all streaming needs. They have a lot of original content productions, shows, and movies based on cars, including some of the films listed above.

Getting Netflix access only requires a small monthly membership, and there’s no need to spend additional money on movie rentals here.

Hulu

Hulu has continued to grow and currently stands as one of the best streaming platforms. It was once considered a TV show-only place, but they have gotten into producing original movies and expanding the movie library.

We recommend a Hulu membership because the monthly cost is low and can also work as a central platform where other subscriptions are linked.

HBO Max

HBO Max is similar to Hulu and Netflix, but the movie library is larger, and they have regular releases of original content too.

Between these shows and the continuously updated movie library, gearheads will never run out of something to watch.

Vudu

Lastly, we love to pair Vudu with these platforms because it gives you access to just about every movie ever made. But to watch them, there is a small rental fee or the option to watch the movie with ads.

Best Movies For Gearheads

About The Author

Charles Redding

Charles Redding

I've spent many years selling cars, working with auto detailers, mechanics, dealership service teams, quoting and researching car insurance, modding my own cars, and much more.

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