Racing movies come in many forms: a drama about the rivalry between two drivers, loud action on an oval track, night-time street races or a cartoon about little cars. We have gathered 12 films that are already out, from Grand Prix (1966) to F1 (2025). There is Formula One, NASCAR, rallying, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, a documentary and animation. Each entry gives the year, director, runtime and a reason to watch. No spoilers: only the setup. The facts come from Wikipedia pages checked on October 21, 2026. We do not list age ratings: they differ between countries and services, so check the rating on the film’s page before watching.
Grand Prix
Official trailer · “Grand Prix” (1966)Grand Prix follows four Formula One drivers through a fictionalized version of the 1966 season. Among them are a Frenchman who has twice been world champion and an American who wants to shake off his reputation as a reckless second-tier driver. The film features real racing footage and cameo appearances by world champions, and it was shot on Super Panavision 70 wide-format film. It won three Oscars for its technical achievements. Why watch: a classic that later Formula One films are easy to compare against.
Days of Thunder
Official trailer · “Days of Thunder” (1990)Days of Thunder is the story of young driver Cole Trickle, who is invited to join a NASCAR team, while veteran crew chief Harry Hogge comes out of retirement for him. Robert Towne wrote the screenplay from a story he came up with together with Tom Cruise; Robert Duvall and Nicole Kidman also star, and real NASCAR drivers appear on screen. According to Wikipedia, critics praised the racing scenes and Hans Zimmer’s score. Why watch: American oval tracks and loud early-1990s action.
The Fast and the Furious
Official trailer · “The Fast and the Furious” (2001)The idea for The Fast and the Furious grew out of a 1998 Vibe magazine article about illegal street racing in New York. Undercover police officer Brian O’Conner (Paul Walker) infiltrates a crew of street racers to investigate a string of truck hijackings and strikes up an uneasy friendship with its leader, Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel). To prepare for their roles, Walker and Diesel attended real street races. Why watch: the first film of the Fast & Furious franchise, still about night-time street racing in Los Angeles.
Cars
Official trailer · “Cars” (2006)Cars is a Pixar animated film set in a world inhabited only by automobiles. On his way to the deciding race for the Piston Cup, the self-absorbed race car Lightning McQueen gets stuck in the forgotten town of Radiator Springs on Route 66 and learns to make friends. Lasseter got the idea from his own cross-country road trip. According to Ukrainian Wikipedia, it was one of the first foreign feature-length animated films released in Ukrainian cinemas with Ukrainian dubbing. Why watch: racing for the whole family.
Speed Racer
Official trailer · “Speed Racer” (2008)Speed Racer is based on a 1966 Japanese manga. Eighteen-year-old driver Speed follows in his older brother’s footsteps and stays loyal to the family company, Racer Motors, even though the owner of a large corporation offers him a lucrative contract. It was shot in Potsdam and Berlin. According to Wikipedia, the film received mixed reviews on release but has since gained a devoted following among audiences and filmmakers. Why watch: bright, almost cartoonish racing from the directors of The Matrix.
Senna
Official trailer · “Senna” (2010)Senna is a documentary about Brazilian driver Ayrton Senna, from his Formula One debut at the 1984 Brazilian Grand Prix to the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, with particular attention to his rivalry with Alain Prost. There are no interviews recorded after the fact: the story is built mostly from archive footage of the tracks and TV news, voice-overs and the Senna family’s home videos. The film won two BAFTAs, for Best Documentary and for editing. Why watch: real racing with no actors.
Rush
Official trailer · “Rush” (2013)Rush tells the story of the rivalry between two Formula One drivers, James Hunt and Niki Lauda, in the 1976 season. Hunt is played by Chris Hemsworth and Lauda by Daniel Brühl, and the screenplay was written by Peter Morgan. The two men could not be more different in character or in their approach to racing, and that is what drives the plot. According to Wikipedia, critics praised the acting, the direction, the racing scenes and Hans Zimmer’s score. The film opened in Ukrainian cinemas on October 17, 2013. Why watch: a biographical drama about real rivals.
Ford v Ferrari
Official trailer · “Ford v Ferrari” (2019)Ford v Ferrari (released in some European countries as Le Mans ’66) is a biographical drama about a team of American and British engineers. Car designer Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon) and British driver Ken Miles (Christian Bale) have to build Ford a car capable of beating Ferrari at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans. The film received four Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, and won for Film Editing and Sound Editing. Why watch: a true story in which victory is prepared not only behind the wheel but in the workshop too.
Gran Turismo
Official trailer · “Gran Turismo” (2023)Gran Turismo is based on the Gran Turismo series of racing simulators and the story of British driver Jann Mardenborough, a teenager who played the simulator and became a professional racing driver. Wikipedia notes that the film presents the real events with exaggerations. Mardenborough is played by Archie Madekwe and his trainer, a former racing driver, by David Harbour, and the film premiered at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium. Why watch: for those who do some virtual racing themselves.
Ferrari
Official trailer · “Ferrari” (2023)Ferrari takes us to the summer of 1957: Enzo Ferrari (Adam Driver) is preparing his team for the Mille Miglia, a thousand-mile race on open roads, while going through a crisis at home and at the factory. His wife Laura is played by Penélope Cruz. The film is based on a 1991 biography by journalist Brock Yates and was shown in competition at the Venice Film Festival. Why watch: a drama about the man behind the famous brand, not just about speed.
Race for Glory: Audi vs. Lancia
Official trailer · “Race for Glory: Audi vs. Lancia” (2024)Race for Glory: Audi vs. Lancia is an Italian-British rally film based on true events. In the 1983 World Rally Championship, the Lancia team, with its Lancia 037 that drives only one axle, challenges the favorites from Audi and their four-wheel-drive Quattro. The lead roles are played by Riccardo Scamarcio, who also co-wrote the screenplay, and Daniel Brühl. The film opened in Ukrainian cinemas on February 1, 2024. Why watch: the only rally film in this selection.
F1
Official trailer · “F1” (2025)F1 is a sports drama starring Brad Pitt as driver Sonny Hayes, who returns to Formula One after 30 years to rescue the struggling team of his former teammate (Javier Bardem). Some scenes were filmed during real World Championship rounds in 2023 and 2024 with the support of the FIA, and Lewis Hamilton was one of the producers. The film received four Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, and won the award for Sound. Why watch: the newest film in the selection, shot at real Formula One circuits.
How we chose
We took films that are already out, have detailed Wikipedia pages and show motorsport in different ways: Formula One, NASCAR, rallying, endurance racing, street racing and even a world of cartoon cars. Five of the feature films are based on real people and events (Rush, Ford v Ferrari, Gran Turismo, Ferrari and Race for Glory: Audi vs. Lancia), and Senna is a documentary. This is not a ranking: we do not invent our own ratings or compare box office, and we take English titles from English Wikipedia.
What to choose by mood
| What you want | What to pick |
|---|---|
| Formula One | Grand Prix, Senna, Rush, F1 |
| American oval tracks | Days of Thunder, Cars |
| Street racing | The Fast and the Furious |
| Le Mans and road racing of the 1950s–1960s | Ford v Ferrari, Ferrari |
| Rallying | Race for Glory: Audi vs. Lancia |
| For the whole family | Cars, Speed Racer |
| From the virtual track to the real one | Gran Turismo |
If you want to see racing through a dog’s eyes, take a look at our selection of dog movies: it includes The Art of Racing in the Rain, a drama about a race car driver’s dog.
Tip. For a first evening, pick Rush or Ford v Ferrari: both are true stories of rivalry carried by two main characters. Grand Prix runs almost three hours (176 minutes), so it is better saved for the weekend.
Frequently asked questions
Which racing movies are based on real events?
Rush (the 1976 Formula One season), Ford v Ferrari (the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans), Ferrari (the summer of 1957), Race for Glory: Audi vs. Lancia (the 1983 World Rally Championship) and Gran Turismo (the story of Jann Mardenborough, told in the film with exaggerations). Senna is a documentary.
What can I watch with children?
Cars is a Pixar animated film that was released in Ukraine with Ukrainian dubbing, and Speed Racer is a colorful film based on a Japanese manga. Check the age rating on the service before watching.
Which film in the selection is the newest?
F1 (2025): it premiered in New York on June 16, 2025, and opened in the US on June 27.
Where can I watch these films?
Streaming catalogs change, so we do not list them. Check the page of the film you want on a service available to you.
Sources
- Rush (2013 film) (Wikipedia)
- Ford v Ferrari (Wikipedia)
- Senna (film) (Wikipedia)
- F1 (film) (Wikipedia)
- Cars (film) (Wikipedia)
Data was checked against Wikipedia on October 21, 2026.
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