Top 12 Best Car Chase Scenes Ever

2009 is going to be the year of the Badass. And what’s more badass than car chases? No, not like that scene in Grease. We’re talking real chases people. No racing, no traveling to random accidents… You know, good guys chasing bad guys. Bad guys chasing good guys. Bad guys chasing each other. On earth vehicles, not X-Wing Fighters or speed boats. Just classic scenes with fast freaking cars. Yeah!

Catch the top twelve best chase scenes after the jump.

12.  C’était un rendez-vous (1976)

Cult classic French film that’s literally just a car chase. The Director made the film, released it, and then was arrested and jailed for it. No special effects and no dialogue. Not much of a plot, but dope to watch for our purposes. In this scene, speed through the streets of Paris and try to identify the landmarks as you careen past them. Arc de Triomphe? Check.  Champs-Elysees? Check Check.

11. Quantum of Solace (2008)

Tunnels, shooting, trucks flying off mountains and shit. Yes! Badass James Bond car chasing at it’s best for your viewing pleasure.

10. Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005)

Nothing wrong with a little mini-van action, especially when that mini-van is filled with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie in their underwear. In this hilarious chase scene, the two are arguing, shooting and maneuvering a freeway with assassins on their tail. Who says badass can’t be funny?

9.  Gone in 60 Seconds (1974)

40, count ‘em, 40 minutes of car chases in this movie. Will that satisfy your need for speed? This cult classic is not the best flick in the world but the crazy ambitious police car verses Mustang (named Eleanor) chase scene makes it worth your while.

8.  Dark Knight (2008)

Batmobile, bazookas and armored trucks all make for a badass chase scene in a badass movie! I mean, a helicopter even gets in on the action. Non-stop hip hop and awesomeness supreme. Heath Ledger is, of course, both hysterical and chilling in this scene.

7.  The Italian Job (1969)

What do you get when you combine three Mini Coopers, two Jaguars, a bus and an Italian gold heist? One of the most famous chase scenes ever filmed, of course! This is the apex scene of the film, where you realize you’re rooting hardcore for the bad guys and you don’t feel bad about it at all. Yes!

6. Ronin (1998)

High speed chases down the streets of Paris? Wrong way action on the freeway? Seeing oodles of expensive cars like Porches and Mercedes decimated before your very eyes? If this sounds awesome, you’ll enjoy this little scene as much as I did.

5.  Bullitt (1968)

Steve McQueen speeds around the streets of San Francisco in a Mustang chasing a Charger! Trolley cars, hills, taxi cabs and somehow the same green bug keep getting in the way but the chase it don’t stop!  Super fun classic scene.

4.  Matrix Reloaded (2003)

Trinity finally gets on the freeway in the best scene of the whole movie. 14 minutes of crazy driving, car crashes and shooting it up in the matrix. Nice. Plus, those twins are freaky-deaky.

3.  Death Proof (2007)

Car chases don’t get much better than this.  Kurt Russell and his murder-mobile decide to pick a fight with a trio of stunt chicks on a Texas highway. Ever seen a car chase where there’s a girl dangling off the hood? Better watch this pronto! Thank you Quentin Tarantino!

2. The Blues Brothers (1980)

Surely you’ve had a friend/brother/boyfriend quote this flick to you at some point in your life. Maybe, perhaps, during a trip to the mall? Well, you can blame this amazing iconic scene, in which Jake and Elwood are chased in a police car, by police cars through, yup, a mall. Pretty funny to watch them obliterate Toys R Us and Pier 1 Imports. “This place has got everything.”

1.  The French Connection (1971)

This is a treacherous, reckless pursuit that ends up pitting Gene Hackman against a train! Absolutely riveting, this scene has raised the bar for all chase scenes following it to this day. But, more than that, this stellar scene exists inside a movie that is also fantastic. Watch the whole thing. Bad. Ass.

*Honorable Mention: Smokey & the Bandit (1977), The Bourne Identity (2002), Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1981) and Terminator 2:  Judgement Day (1991) all had chase scenes that got my motor running.

Think you know better? Leave a comment and tell us what car chase scene you think is deserving of Badass Status.