Every week at SiftPop.com, we challenge our writers to come up with their favorite answer to a movie-related prompt tied to a recent release. This week, with the release of Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, we’re discussing some of our favorite movie cars! Let us know your favorites @SiftPop!
There have been many famous cars throughout the history of Hollywood, but you could make a solid argument that James Bond’s Astin Martin DB5 might be the most famous of them all. It’s the luxury sports car that so many others have been modeled off of, and it has even been featured in other movies with other characters wanting to buy, or drive, James Bond’s car. That’s next level notoriety. Introduced in Goldfinger with its famous ejector seat, the car has returned in more than half a dozen 007 flicks over the course of about five decades, most recently showing up in No Time to Die, with gatling guns mounted behind the headlights, bulletproof plates, and unbreakable glass. It’s been a beautiful luxury sports car while also being a lethal piece of warfare and visceral weaponry. The DB5 is legendary at this point, and we can’t wait to see it return yet again. (Heath Lynch)
If this were a discussion of the most practical movie vehicles, the Batmobile from 1989’s Batman wouldn’t sniff the list. But most iconic? There is no vehicle more iconic, popular or synonymous with its movie. Combining a 1967 Chevrolet Impala chassis with a 1970 Corvette body already sounds amazing, and that is before getting into the stretch limo aesthetic, the armor plating, and all those wonderful toys. The wings, the jet black color, and the jet exhaust all are as synonymous with Batman as the cowl itself. It is somehow simultaneously over-the-top and elegant. I would confidently bet that in a survey of random people, there would be more people who could identify what movie the Batmobile was from than any other vehicle. Toys modeled after this Batmobile were some of my favorites as a child, and I can’t think of a vehicle I’d be more excited to drive if given the chance. There was a great The Drew Carey Show episode based around that idea. The Christopher Nolan trilogy and 2022’s The Batman developed admirable versions which felt more grounded. They are certainly more practical and realistic, but neither is anywhere close to as iconic as 1989’s Batmobile. (Jason Mack)
As someone from Chicago, The Blues Brothers was always a must-watch. One of the most fun parts of the movie is the car chase that goes through a shopping area. The Bluesmobile is like a tank: not the best looking car, but a reliable one that can help whenever you need it. Perhaps one of the more iconic scenes is when Jake (John Belushi) and Elwood (Dan Aykroyd) say, “It’s 106 miles to Chicago, we got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it’s dark and we’re wearing sunglasses.” That scene wouldn’t hold as much weight if the audience didn’t spend so much time with the brothers in the car, attempting to get the band back together. Along with having a great car, The Blues Brothers is hilarious and has one of the greatest collections of musicians to be in a film. Belushi and Aykroyd embody these two so well, and this could perhaps be on of Saturday NIght Live’s greatest movie adaptations. (Mike Hilty)
When I was a kid, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was one of the movies I would watch whenever we visited family on my mom’s side. They loved its music and whimsical nature. Despite the fantastic nature of the movie, it also terrified me because of the Child Catcher. Everyone has a movie that they were slightly terrified of because there are either characters or moments that scarred them. When I was finally old enough to get over the Child Catcher fear, I realized Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is a fantastic movie and a great musical with a wonderful story. Dick Van Dyke is amazing as Caractacus Potts, one of the best characters Van Dyke has ever played. As for the car, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang can fly, and is one of the more unique movies in cinematic history. (Mike Hilty)
The DeLorean Motor Company was itself an ill-fated dream of visionary auto executive, John DeLorean, that went bankrupt in less than a decade. But the 1981 DeLorean DMC-12 was destined to emblazon its own trail across the roads of Hollywood and the silver screen. As a culmination of Doc Brown’s life’s work, the DeLorean time machine — the Giorgetto Giugiaro-designed stainless-steel body with gullwing doors — proved that if you’re going to build a time machine into a car, why not do it with some style? This particular movie car is inarguably the third star of one of the most successful and enduring film franchises of all time, with its functionality (or sometimes lack thereof) paramount to the plot of Back to the Future and its sequels. One could contend that it’s not only the greatest movie car ever, but also the coolest mode of time travel in all of science fiction. Only around 9,000 original DeLoreans were ever built, making its inclusion in such an iconic franchise all that more treasured. We can all remember the first time we watched the time machine paint the black asphalt of then Twin Pines Mall in flames, or the first time it took to the skies and actually flew. And we can all certainly remember the locomotive-crushing devastation we felt witnessing its destruction at the conclusion of the trilogy. Because we hadn’t just lost another movie car, we lost a movie car that can only appropriately be described as timeless. (Jonathan Fedee)
There’s no question Ferris, Cameron, and Sloane had some epic exploits during their “day off” roaming around Chicago, but I’m guessing the noble steed that got them there had an equally exciting time. Leaving Mr. Frye’s beloved, pristine Ferrari GT Spyder California in the hands of some less than integritous valets was just the beginning of what was surely a wild ride for the little red convertible. As Cameron said, Ferrari only produced 56 of the kicky coupe, but to stay under budget, John Hughes had Modena craft 3 lookalikes for onscreen action in his 80’s classic… whew… thank goodness no actual Ferraris were harmed in the making of this film. Nothing screams “fun” louder than a red convertible, and the GT Spyder California shouts it at the top of its… lugs. From the minute the trio first set eyes on it in the Frye garage, to the shock of seeing it fly through the window pane and into the ravine below, that glorious GT owns the screen. It’s slick and sassy, much like the adolescent who absconds with it. If only cars could talk, because I’m still waiting to hear the story about what it got up to venturing with the valets around town. (Patrice Downing)
Before cars had personality, were driven by superheroes, or went back in time, there was Herbie. The grandaddy of incredible movie cars, this little Volkswagen bug went to toe-to-toe with some of the greatest racers of his day and came out on top. With personality for days and style for miles, this car built a franchise. He was loyal, hardworking and funny. If there was any car you wanted in your corner it was Herbie. (Sam Nichols)
You are setting high levels of anticipation for a movie’s vehicle when the in-world characters are dangling it as a tease in front of your protagonist. Max Rockatansky of Mad Max is a highway patroller (the best around) in a period when civilization is falling, and gangs begin to rule the roads. If you were the employer of such a top performer, how would you convince them to stay? Better benefits? High pay? Flexible hours? Nope! Offer them the coolest vehicle on the road. The iconic Interceptor finally makes its debut in the third act, rolling out from the shadows with an intense and foreboding score in the background. You are just knew the Toe Cutter Gang was screwed at that point, after they killed Max’s family. This black-as-night Ford Falcon roared onto the highway with its engine sticking high above the hood. The Interceptor might get more rugged and cool in The Road Warrior, but it is Mad Max where it roars into the cinematic zeitgeist for the first time. (Shane Conto)
From the self-driving, custom painted Ford Explorers to the Pontiac convertible Ian Malcom (Jeff Goldblum) uses to evade a rampaging T-Rex in San Diego, there have been quite a few classic cars in the Jurassic Park franchise. However, none are more iconic to me than the Jeep Wranglers used by the staff to traverse the park in the original Jurassic Park film. With the park’s logo emblazoned on the door, and its sleek beige and red design, the Jeeps are recognizable to any fan of the franchise, in part to their design and in part to their inclusion in so many famous scenes. It is in these jeeps that Alan Grant (Sam Neill) and Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern) see living dinosaurs for the first time, that Ian and Robert Muldoon (Bob Peck) escape from the T-Rex, and that Dennis Nedry (Wayne Knight) has a fatal encounter with a pack of dilophosaurus. The Jeep Wrangler may not be the fanciest car on this list, but if I ever found myself needing to drive through a dinosaur-infested jungle island, I can’t imagine many cars I’d rather have. (Jake Hjort)
Oh, you want an iconic movie car? How about a car that has over 75 career racing wins, with seven of the venerated Piston Cups to his name? He is the definition of speed. Faster than fast, quicker than quick. He is Lightning. Lightning McQueen. Gifted with the voice of a Texas angel and a catchphrase that gets the juices flowing, it’s hard to argue that Lightning McQueen isn’t one of the greatest to ever set rubber to asphalt. With a sleek, custom built Piston Cup Race Car, Lightning was quite literally built for the track and, from the onset, the talent was clear. Winning Rookie of the Year in 2005, and his first Cup in 2006, the sky was the limit. But what truly sets Lightning apart from many of his contemporaries (I’m looking at you, Chick Hicks) is the development Lightning made off the speedway throughout his career. Starting as a somewhat arrogant youngster, Lightning made great strides within the racing community, working with fellow legend Doc Hudson to become one of the most respected names in athletics, bridging a gap from the past to the future of racing. As his career wound down, Lightning himself stepped into a mentorship role, channeling the lessons he himself learned into the next generation of young racers. Lightning McQueen is the definition of an icon. KA-CHOW! (Nashua Doll)
Sure, as an adult I know that manual transmission cars and I would go together like oil and water, but pre-driver’s license me didn’t know that the first time I watched F. Gary Gray’s remake of The Italian Job. Let’s be honest, pre-driver’s license me probably didn’t even register what type of transmission a Mini Cooper had — he just knew that final heist was cool. The film follows a team including Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, and Jason Statham, among others, as they look to get revenge on Edward Norton after he betrays them in the titular opening heist. Norton is so good as a villain you loved to hate — the mustache didn’t hurt — that you couldn’t help but root for our team of charismatic thieves. Pulling off the climatic heist with them behind the wheel of a trio of Mini Coopers automatically made them awesome, regardless of whether I’d ever actually be able to drive one. If you watched this movie as an impressionable youth, the Mini Cooper was probably cool to you too, but then again, so was Napster… (Jake Bourgeois)
If you are looking for not only an iconic car, but one of the greatest opening scenes in a movie ever, Wayne’s World should be towards the top of the list. The Mirthmobile is one of those cars that doesn’t look that great, but in which you know you’re going to have a good time. When Wayne (Mike Myers) brings out the cassette tape of Queen, magic happens. We’ve all been there, jamming with friends to an awesome song. What makes this scene so special, though, is that everyone gets into the mix. It’s not just Wayne and Garth (Dana Carvey). Alan (Michael DeLuise) and Terry (Lee Tergeson) are electric with supporting vocals, and even Phil (Sean Sullivan) doesn’t spew long enough to enjoy some of the back-and-forth parts of the song. The head banging scene is now iconic and one of the best parts of the movie. Now every time anyone hears “Bohemian Rhapsody” in the car, it’s almost standard issue to head bang like they do in Wayne’s World. It’s not just that scene though that makes the Mirthmobile special. There’s the Gray Poupon scene and the amazing cameo from the T-1000 (Robert Patrick). Wayne’s trusty 1976 is not just a great car, but it feels like a sidekick. (Mike Hilty)
Well, once more I use the BEC to take another movie of my list of shame, and this week I’m going full throttle on the 1977 film Smokey and the Bandit. This movie car is iconic purely for the fact that while the brand Pontiac has long since been shuttered, the Firebird Trans Am is, in my opinion, still one of the coolest cars, even some 50 years after the movie came out. Having not seen the movie before, even just seeing a Trans Am made me think of this movie, and seeing Burt Reynolds as the Bandit burning rubber running block for Jerry Reed’s Cledus “The Snowman” Snow bootlegging Coors beer (which, fun fact, at the time was not licensed east of Texas for sale), Sally Field’s Carrie “Frog” riding shotgun, all the while being chased by Jackie Gleason’s Buford T. Justice all but reignited the love I have for the second generation of the car. Sure, there are cars that make you think of class, of spies, but what other car makes you want to go out to the track in it and put the hammer down just by seeing it tear through the streets of rural America on the big screen? (Joseph Davis)
One of the greatest opening scenes of the 2010s is courtesy of Edgar Wright’s Baby Driver. If you don’t know if you’re watching a movie that’s “for you” by the end of the first six minutes, I’m not sure what else you need. Amidst a bank robbery, Baby (Ansel Elgort) is sitting in his bright red Subaru Impreza waiting for the rest of the crew to do the job so they can make a quick getaway. Set to “Bellbottoms” by Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, the Subaru drifts and skids through Atlanta, rushing through alleys and across intersections alike in a completely casual effort to avoid police cruisers left and right. The bright red car stands out among everything and everyone, yet Baby is never worried about getting out of this chase unscathed. It’s only the start of Wright’s crime film, and the car is abandoned as easily as it was driven, but that opening scene and the car itself leave a lasting impression long after the film is over. (Chris Bakker)