The Wheels Behind The Scenes
Welcome to a turbo-charged ride through some of cinema’s most unforgettable car chase scenes—and the wild, behind-the-scenes stories that made them legendary! From roaring muscle cars to nimble getaways, we’ll slide through the tire-screeching moments and also peek behind the camera—where all the chaos really happens. Buckle up!
The Blues Brothers
In The Blues Brothers (1980), the Bluesmobile—a run-down police cruiser—is the star of a jaw-dropping chase. With their Decommissioned Mount Prospect Dodge Monaco, Elwood and Jake weave through Chicago with reckless abandon. The car’s beat-up charm and over-the-top stunts capture the film’s comedic yet action-packed spirit.
Universal, The Blues Brothers (1980)
The Blues Brothers–Behind The Scenes
Behind the scenes, the production used a whopping thirteen different cars to portray the Bluesmobile. These were former California Highway Patrol cars customized for stunts, speed, and destruction—one even rigged to fall apart dramatically right on cue. In fact, the film set a then-world-record for the most cars destroyed in a single film, and a 24‑hour body shop was kept on standby to keep the chase rolling.
Universal, The Blues Brothers (1980)
Bullitt
Bullitt (1968) delivers what many consider the gold standard of car chases—Steve McQueen’s Mustang vs. a Dodge Charger across San Francisco’s hills. The chase’s gritty realism, tight turns, and pounding engine roars still put an adrenaline rush into viewers’ veins. It revolutionized how vehicle pursuits were depicted in cinema, making the city itself feel alive.
Solar Productions, Bullitt (1968)
Bullitt–Behind The Scenes
Behind the cinematic magic, two Highland Green Ford Mustangs were used: one for close-ups, one for stunts, both modified by Max Balchowsky. Filming entirely on location in San Francisco—with real traffic, winding streets, and no studio sets—made the sequence feel authentic. Editor Frank Keller’s bold cuts even saved an accidental explosion by making it look perfectly timed.
Solar Productions, Bullitt (1968)
Mad Max: Fury Road
In Mad Max: Fury Road (2015), nearly every frame is a high-octane spectacle. The car chases are a blistering blur of heavily modified rigs tearing across the desolate outback. It’s more than chasing—it's vehicular chaos at its most creative and visually stunning.
Warner Bros., Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
Mad Max: Fury Road–Behind The Scenes
Unlike most movies where stunt teams just tweak standard cars, Mad Max: Fury Road demanded an entirely new fleet for its post-apocalyptic world. Production designer Colin Gibson revealed that 88 custom cars were created, and with duplicates, about 150 were built in total. By the end of filming, only one survived the chaos.
Warner Bros., Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
Ronin
Ronin (1998) is a masterclass in precision driving—its chase scenes through Paris, Nice, and La Défense are tightly choreographed, intensely realistic, and nearly silent, letting engine growls take center stage. With Audi S8s and BMW M5s carving through narrow alleyways and market crowds, it’s a sleek thrill ride that feels dangerously real.
Ronin–Behind The Scenes
Director John Frankenheimer eschewed special effects, opting instead for real high-speed driving captured on wide-angle lenses and Super 35 film. Pro drivers—some doing 100 mph—took actors through intense training. The crew even put cameras into halves of cars mounted on Mercedes‑towed rigs, and filmed much of the chase at night to avoid disruption.
Fast Five
The concluding vault-heist car chase in Fast Five (2011) throws a massive safe onto the streets of Rio, with Dom’s Dodge Charger and others in wild pursuit. Chaos crackles as vehicles slam, spin, and collide—this electric, edge-of-the-seat stunt fest pushes the Fast & Furious franchise into overdrive.
Fast Five–Behind The Scenes
Stunt maestros Spiro Razatos and Jack Gill spent weeks prepping the climactic chase. They used creative camera platforms—a crane-mounted Porsche Cayenne and a caged Subaru Impreza—to capture every angle. Fun fact: accidental spark-filled collisions by the tracking Subaru ended up being cinematic gold and were left in the final cut.
Vanishing Point
In Vanishing Point (1971), a Dodge Challenger hurtles across the American Southwest in a mind‑bending, existential pursuit. Slow-motion filming tricks make 50 mph look like sonic velocity, and the endless open road brings meditative intensity to the chase.
Twentieth Century, Vanishing Point (1971)
Vanishing Point–Behind The Scenes
The filmmakers slowed camera frame rates to half-speed, making the car look much faster when projected at normal speed. Stunt coordinator Carey Loftin pulled real stunts, even encouraging actor Barry Newman to perform a sharp 180-degree turn himself—without the director knowing. In an extreme climax, a Camaro was towed into bulldozer blades for real—surprisingly, it stuck rather than flipping—adding gritty authenticity.
Twentieth Century, Vanishing Point (1971)
Smokey And The Bandit
Smokey and the Bandit (1977) sees Bandit’s black Trans Am leading a high-speed smuggling run, swerving through traffic and hauling across state lines with lawmen in hot pursuit. It blends Southern charm with breakneck fun—and the Trans Am became an instant symbol of cool.
Universal, Smokey And The Bandit (1977)
Smokey In The Bandit–Behind The Scenes
The creative use of real roads, stunt drivers, and car customization delivered a chase that’s as smooth as it is thrilling—earning the Trans Am a place in automotive pop culture. What’s most interesting about this, though, is that the Trans Am became so popular, there was a six month waiting list to get your hands on one!
Universal, Smokey And The Bandit (1977)
Baby Driver
In Baby Driver (2017), the rhythm of the chase matches the beat of the music. Baby’s getaway driving is choreographed to sync with the soundtrack, creating a seamless symphony of wheels and tunes. From drifts to tight escapes, it’s stylish, pulse‑pounding, and extraordinarily fun.
Baby Driver–Behind The Scenes
One of the wildest behind-the-scenes facts is that the famous highway chase in Baby Driver was filmed on an Atlanta road the city refused to shut down. Instead of closing it completely, authorities created a “rolling barricade” around the action while the stunt drivers worked their magic. Love or hate the soundtrack, you can’t deny the chase itself is pure cinematic brilliance.
Mission Impossible: Fallout
In Mission: Impossible–Fallout (2018), there’s an adrenaline-charged chase through the streets of Paris, on motorbikes and cars. The intensity is off the charts, with Tom Cruise driving—and crashing—live, sweat, and stunt‑worn, adding heart‑stopping realism to every corner.
Paramount Pictures, Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018)
Mission Impossible: Fallout–Behind The Scenes
Director Chris McQuarrie and star Hayley Atwell revealed that the Fiat car chase sequence was a “technical nightmare”. The tight streets, camera setups, and need for precision made it incredibly difficult—but they delivered something they were immensely proud of. It’s a testament to the crew’s daring and skill that it looks so effortless on screen.
Paramount Pictures, Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018)
The French Connection
The French Connection (1971) features a legendary chase with a Pontiac LeMans racing through crowded Brooklyn streets beneath an elevated subway. It’s raw, noisy, and unrelenting—one of the most visceral and gritty chases ever put to film.
Twentieth Century, The French Connection (1971)
The French Connection–Behind The Scenes
The street‑chase was filmed without permits in a bustling borough, using real authorities and unscripted chaos. Cameras were sometimes undercranked (18 fps) to exaggerate speed. Some collisions were genuine mistakes but kept in, fueling the intensity. Director Friedkin even paced editing to the rhythm of Santana’s “Black Magic Woman” (not in the film), giving the pursuit a musical heartbeat.
Twentieth Century, The French Connection (1971)
You May Also Like:
Mark Zuckerberg’s Surprisingly Modest Car Collection
Supercars That Were So Dangerous, They Probably Weren't Worth It
RV Maintenance Made Simple: Common Problems And Their Easy Fixes
Source: 1
