15 Motorsport movies based on car racing 

If you are interested in watching car races and find yourself drawn towards Formula 1 races, then you might want to watch some car racing movies to satisfy your appetite. The fascinating world of Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren, and so many others portrayed in these car racing movies draws you in. They even provide you with an insight into the background of these racing events. They give you an idea about what goes on behind the scenes of these thrilling races. Here is a list of 15 motorsport movies based on car racing.

15) Redline (2007)

Released in 2007, Redline is a movie about an auto mechanic who, due to some mishap, finds herself involved in illegal street car racing. Her father was a NASCAR driver who lost his life competing on the tracks, and due to this traumatizing past, despite her talent, she avoids racing. But suddenly, she finds herself pulled away from her aspiration of becoming a singer and pushed into the racing world of Las Vegas.

14) Born to Race (2011)

Born to Race is another movie about car racing. Danny loves driving, but after an accident caused due to his recklessness, he is sent to live in a small town with his father. However, the town, opposite Danny’s expectations, turns out to be a focal point in his life, making him a more disciplined driver. In fact, he even finds a rival driver who pushes him to give his best performance.

13) Racing Dreams (2009)

Racing Dream, directed by Marshall Curry, is a feature documentary about three young children who are very talented in go-karting and possess the potential to make it to the top leagues. This movie shows how much pressure young drivers face from their families and friends and how demanding this world of racing can be. It deals with competition and family pressure issues and how one can find balance in this chaos.

12) The 24 Hour War (2016)

The 24 Hour War is a documentary-style movie about the 1960s when the war between Ford and Ferrari happened. This movie quite accurately tries to portray the events that led to Henry Ford II wanting to buy FaFerrarii only to have the deal fail. In riveting detail, the movie showcases how politics and personal rivalry played a role in this war between two racing giants.

11) McLaren (2017)

McLaren, 2017, as the name suggests, is a movie about the life of Bruce McLaren, the founder of the legendary McLaren racing team. This movie gives background information about the life of Bruce McLaren, who was born in New Zealand, and how he founded this car company. It provides deep insight into the innovation and engineering of McLaren Racing cars and his tragic death during a test drive at a very young age. It is a respectful and vivid portrayal of the life and legacy of Bruce McLaren.

10) Speed Racer (2008)

The movie Speed Racer is directed by the same director who directed the iconic Matrix Series. It is about a race car driver who wants to win a grand Prix and can even put his life in line for that win. But in every Grand Prix, behind the scenes involves corruption and manipulation. The story deals with how this talented driver deals with these issues, especially with the help of his family and friends.

9) Ferrari (2023)

The 2023 movie – Ferrari is a biographical movie about Enzo Ferrari, the founder of one of the biggest brands of cars – Ferrari. This movie is set in 1957 when Enzo Ferrari's son passed away. As it is, he was struggling with financial difficulties. On top of that, this tragedy made this period of his life an absolute hell. It is about him and his wife devoting their grief into chasing their passion and making Ferrari the brand it is today.

8) Days of Thunder (1990)

Starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, Days of Thunder is a movie set amidst NASCAR racing. This movie is about Cole, a rookie driver, and when he gets the opportunity to race in NASCAR, his life takes a turn. He has delved into a world full of pressure and competition, and to succeed, he needs to adopt a fearless attitude. This movie was a big commercial success and has been praised for its thrill-inducing scenes.

7) Schumacher (2021)

Michael Schumacher, the German Formula 1 driver, is considered one of the most talented people to be involved in the sport. This movie is a documentary film about his life. It focuses on how he became one of the most successful drivers, his challenges, and his work ethic, which made him push the limits. It also showcases his accident and its impact on him and his family. This movie truly manages to capture the legacy of Michael Schumacher.

6) Senna (2010)

Another legendary driver of Formula One is Ayrton Senna. The movie – Senna is a documentary film about his life. This Brazilian driver had one of the most iconic careers in Formula 1. The movie captures all the important moments of Senna's life, starting with his first victory in the Brazilian Grand Prix in 1989 to his death a few years later in 1994. This movie is particularly famous for perfectly capturing the rivalry between Senna and fellow Formula 1 driver Alain Prost.

5) Gran Turismo (2023)

Gran Turismo was released in 2023, and it is the real-life story of Jann Mardenborough. Jann was a video game player recognized by Nissan for his excellence in video games and found himself in a real-life racing environment. It is about his journey from virtual to real-life racing and how, in every phase of life, there are certain obstacles that you need to overcome to prove yourself and grow as a person.

4) Cars (2006)

Almost every person who is interested in motorsport racing was once an avid watcher of the 2006 Pixar Disney production of the movie – Cars. This movie is about the legendary Lightning McQueen, a race car that wants to win the Piston Cup Championship. This movie also teaches the importance of humility and how your relationship should matter to you more than fame and fortune. If you love racing, you will for sure love this movie.

3) Rush (2013)

Featuring Chris Hemsworth, the movie Rush, released in 2013, is based on the life of two legendary Formula One drivers – James Hunt and Niki Lauda. The film portrays real-life events in a manner that manages to instill in the viewers the importance of resilience. This movie is an excellent take on the rivalry and competition between the two drivers and aptly portrays their contrasting personalities. The film captures the physical and emotional challenges racing drivers face in their careers.

2) Ford v Ferrari (2019)

The movie Ford v Ferrari, released in 2019, is also about the iconic war between the companies. The movie is about Ford developing a high-performing car to beat the legendary Ferrari in the Le Mans. It is a movie about how passion and perseverance lead to greatness. It also shows how friendship and teamwork are more important than money and resources. The film stars Matt Damon and Christian Bale in lead roles.

1) The Fast and The Furious Saga (2001–present)

When we think about car racing, the most popular movie that comes to our minds is The Fast and the Furious Saga. Since its first installment in 2001, it has had 11 sequels and several spin-offs. It is about an undercover cop who tries to mix in with a street racing gang, gain their trust, and turn them in. The movie stars Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Charlize Theron, John Cena, and many more iconic actors. It has given us a fantastic soundtrack and has crossed over $7 billion.