For decades, cars have played a key role in some memorable television shows and feature films and, while some have faded into obscurity, others have become iconic symbols in Hollywood. Whether featured as clever product placements by automakers or chosen for their unique characteristics, these vehicles often get their own dedicated fan base. Some achieve cult status simply because they are part of a particular series or movie, even if they are stock standard.
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It's a trip down memory lane for automotive enthusiasts and film buffs.
On the other hand, plenty of star cars share only a superficial resemblance to their original versions, often enhanced with rocket boosters or other mad features that can cause them to outshine the very actors they're meant to support. While there are countless contenders for a list of memorable movie cars, we've selected a group that continues to experience popularity long after their screen debuts.
Some movie franchises have so many great star cars that we could have filled our list with them. Instead, we picked some modern favorites and a few well-loved classics to spread the movie car love.
10 BMW E28 M5 Mission Impossible - Fallout Close
Engine
3.5-liter inline-six
Horsepower
256 hp (288 hp Euro Market)
Stock Or Not?
Stock
Years
1984-1988
Fans of classic BMWs must have had mixed feelings seeing Tom Cruise hustle and ultimately destroy a seemingly pristine E28 M5 in Mission Impossible - Fallout. In fact, around six cars were used for filming, one of which was rolled during rehearsals. The movie was also used to launch the new BMW M5 at that time, which was seen being driven rather more sedately in the film.
You may have noticed the interesting shade of green covering the old M5. It's called Smaragd Grün, and wasn't the original color intended, but stunt coordinator Wade Eastwood decided that it looked cool and painted all the stunt cars that way.
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9 DeLorean DMC Back to The Future Series Close
Engine
2.8-liter V6
Horsepower
130 hp + Flux Capacitor
Stock Or Not?
Not
Years
1981-1983
Not every iconic movie car is picked for its speed or performance, and the DeLorean DMC-12 is a perfect example. With just 130 horsepower, it was sluggish and far from agile. However, the futuristic stainless-steel design made it the ideal choice for a time-traveling vehicle. As for its clunky handling, that was hardly a concern -- after all, it had a Flux Capacitor and just needed a straight enough road to reach 88 mph.
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8 Dodge Charger The Dukes of Hazzard/The Fast And The Furious Close
Engine
6.3-7.0 liter V8
Horsepower
290-425 hp
Stock Or Not?
No
Years
1968-1970
The classic late '60s Dodge Charger first shot to fame on screen in the Dukes of Hazzard television series. While figures vary depending on where you research, the general consensus (see what we did there?) is that approximately 300 cars ended up in the crusher during its seven years of filming. When the Charger surfaced again in the first Fast and Furious movie, five vehicles were built. You may have noticed the massive supercharger sticking out the hood of Vin Diesel's car which was definitely not a factory option.
Three were stunt cars, and we can safely assume that they went to automotive heaven during filming. Its ability to perform massive wheelies and complete 10-second quarter-mile runs is more Hollywood fantasy than reality, but that's what makes the world of Fast and Furious so thrilling.
7 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder Ferris Bueller's Day Off Close
Engine
3.0-liter V12
Horsepower
280 hp
Stock Or Not?
Replica
Years
1957-1963
Ferris Bueller's Day Off is a cult classic that has aged rather well, but not quite as well as the stunning Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder. Ferris' day was pretty action-packed, but it wouldn't have been nearly as thrilling without the Ferrari as his ride of choice. Due to the car's immense value, most scenes featured replicas -- a smart move given the car's unfortunate fate at the film's end. RM Sotheby's recently had one at auction with a guide price between $16-18 million.
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6 Ford Falcon XB GT Mad Max Series Close
Engine
5.8-liter V8
Horsepower
600hp (Mad Max version)
Stock Or Not?
No
Years
1973-1976
Arguably the most iconic V8-powered movie car is the Ford Falcon driven by Max as he hunted down a biker gang in the original Mad Max trilogy. Described by the police station mechanic as "the last of the V8s," it was said to produce 600 horsepower thanks to its massive supercharger. The heavily modified Ford Falcon XB GT reappeared in the sequel and the more recent remake, each time looking more battered and worn, yet just as legendary.
5 Ford Mustang GT 390 Bullitt Close
Engine
6.4-liter V8
Horsepower
325 hp
Stock Or Not?
Yes
Years
1964-1973
The Mustang GT driven by Steve McQueen in the movie Bullitt became a legendary movie car thanks to its nearly 10-minute high-octane chase scene against a Dodge Charger. Despite being outmatched by the Charger's larger 375-horsepower engine, the 325-horsepower Ford Mustang hit speeds exceeding 110 mph as the cars tore through the harbor, city streets, and a stretch of highway. As a true car enthusiast himself, McQueen handled most of the Mustang's close-up driving shots.
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4 Lamborghini Miura The Italian Job Close
Engine
3.9-liter V12
Horsepower
345-380 hp
Stock Or Not?
Yes
Years
1966-1973
Had Lamborghini stopped building cars with the Miura, it would still be remembered as a legendary auto manufacturer. This low-slung Lambo is often referred to as the world's most beautiful car, and it was also the first mid-engined production car ever. It's featured in the opening scene of the original Italian Job, and comes to an untimely end under a bridge in the Swiss Alps. Two vehicles were used for filming, one a pristine production example used for the driving scenes, and another already crashed car that was at the Lamborghini factory.
3 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Smokey and the Bandit Close
Engine
6.6-liter V8
Horsepower
345-370 hp
Stock Or Not?
Yes
Years
1985-1990
Burt Reynolds may have been the heart of the Smokey and the Bandit movie, but the 1977 Pontiac Trans Am he drove was undoubtedly its soul. It was an integral part of the plot and featured in more scenes than many of Reynolds' co-stars. Four cars were built for the movie, three of which were destroyed, but the one you see in these images was faithfully restored and once owned by Reynolds.
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2 Porsche 964 Turbo Bad Boys Close
Engine
3.3-3.6-liter flat-six
Horsepower
316-380 hp
Stock Or Not?
Yes
Years
1990-1993
Dun dun dun dun dun duuun. It might not really have been the fastest production car in the world, as Mike Lowry claimed in the first Bad Boys movie, but the black Porsche 911 Turbo was undeniably cool. The specific model was a 1994 964, featuring a turbocharged 3.6-liter flat-six engine producing 355 horsepower. With a 0-60 mph time of just 4 seconds and a top speed of 180 mph, it had all the power needed for high-speed chases and even held its own when pursuing an AC Cobra.
1 The Tumbler Batman Close
Engine
5.7-liter V8
Horsepower
500hp est.
Stock Or Not?
Batman Stock
Years
2005
Over the years, the Batman franchise has showcased numerous versions of the Batmobile, with varying degrees of success and realism. The Christian Bale era introduced the Tumbler -- a massive, functional assault vehicle that could actually be driven. Equipped with a 500-horsepower GM-sourced V8 engine, it wasn't just imposing but impressively fast as well.
Sources: RM Sothebys , Ferraris-online , GM , Porsche , BMW