Best movies like Days of Thunder
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
Talented but unproven stock car driver Cole Trickle gets a break and with the guidance of veteran Harry Hogge turns heads on the track. The young hotshot develops a rivalry with a fellow racer that threatens his career when the two smash their cars. But with the help of his doctor, Cole just might overcome his injuries-- and his fear.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 95000
Genere: Action, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 107 min
Plot tags: exciting, inspirational, intense, serious, realistic, suspense, psychological, romantic comedy, cult classic, action adventure
Best tv shows and movies like Days of Thunder (1990):
Similar in 85%
Six Pack (1982)
Plot Summary:
Stopping briefly in a small Texas town, an itinerant race car driver finds that his stock car, on a trailer behind his motor home, has just been quickly and expertly stripped. He chases down the miscreants, who turn out to be six orphan children. He has no recourse to the law, for the corrupt local sheriff takes most of the proceeds of their thievery in exchange for not putting them in an orphanage. They are charming rogues who are in turn charmed by him. Disliking their arrangement with the sheriff, they stow away with him, and he finds himself becoming a reluctant stepfather. Thanks to their enthusiasm and incredible mechanical know-how, he begins to make a name for himself on the racing circuit. But the sheriff doesn't take kindly to losing his extra income.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 108 min
Plot tags: humorous, exciting, sentimental, touching, realistic, semi serious, light, romantic, road movie, sexy
Similar in 86%
Stroker Ace (1983)
Plot Summary:
Stroker Ace, a champion NASCAR driver, is standing at the top of his career, but is getting fed up with having to do as he's told. In between rebelling against his sponsor (a fried chicken chain)'s promotion gimmicks (like making him dress up in giant chicken suit) he spends the rest of the movie trying to bed the buxom Pembrook.
IMDB Rating: 4.9
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Action, Comedy, Romance, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: feel good, humorous, realistic, not serious, fast, cult film
Similar in 80%
Cannonball Run II (1984)
Plot Summary:
The original characters from the first Cannonball Run movie compete in an illegal race across the country once more in various cars and trucks.
IMDB Rating: 5.0
IMDB Votes: 17000
Genere: Action, Comedy
Country: Hong Kong, USA
Duration: 108 min
Plot tags: road movie, parody, humorous, spoof, cult classic, offbeat, feel good, not serious, fast, hilarious
Similar in 75%
Cannonball Fever (1989)
Plot Summary:
An illegal race that takes place over the United States and nothing will stop this bunch of racers except for the occasional cop or a damsel in distress. Jackie Chan's car is not in this one, but many new cars make up for that. Who will win? Who will crash? Who will not even finish? Sit down and buckle up for the ride of your life.
IMDB Rating: 4.4
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Action, Comedy, Sport
Country: Canada, USA
Duration: 94 min
Plot tags: humorous, road movie, independent film, realistic, semi serious, fast, feel good, unusual plot structure, surreal, splatter
Similar in 89%
Fireball 500 (1966)
Plot Summary:
Stock car racer Dave Owens plays into the hands of whiskey runners by agreeing to drive in a cross-country road race.
IMDB Rating: 5.1
IMDB Votes: 598
Genere: Action, Comedy, Drama, Musical, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: grindhouse, independent film, exciting, rough, humorous, realistic, semi serious, psychotronic
Similar in 75%
Thunder Alley (1967)
Plot Summary:
Stock car racer Tommy Callahan is forced to join Pete Madsen's thrill circus after his blackouts cause a fatal accident that gets him thrown off the circuit.
IMDB Rating: 5.3
IMDB Votes: 354
Genere: Action, Drama, Romance, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 89 min
Plot tags: psychotronic, grindhouse, independent film, exciting, realistic, semi serious
Similar in 85%
Snake & Mongoose (2013)
Plot Summary:
The untold story of how Southern California drag racers, Don "The Snake" Prudhomme and Tom "The Mongoose" McEwen combined with corporate giants to change the face of sports and ultimately became the most famous rivalry in racing history.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 747
Genere: Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: serious, captivating, realistic, independent film
Similar in 85%
Need for Speed (2014)
Plot Summary:
The film revolves around a local street-racer who partners with a rich and arrogant business associate, only to find himself framed by his colleague and sent to prison. After he gets out, he joins a New York-to-Los Angeles race to get revenge. But when the ex-partner learns of the scheme, he puts a massive bounty on the racer's head, forcing him to run a cross-country gauntlet of illegal racers in all manner of supercharged vehicles.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 177000
Genere: Action, Crime, Thriller
Country: USA, India
Duration: 132 min
Plot tags: exciting, realistic, road movie, serious, suspenseful, humorous, entertaining, intense, suspense, absurd
Similar in 81%
Supercross (2005)
Plot Summary:
Faced with the suspicious death of their father, two brothers must motivate one another to get back on their bikes and take the Las Vegas Motocross Championships by storm.
IMDB Rating: 4.3
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Action, Drama, Romance, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 80 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, tense, captivating, independent film, saga
Similar in 88%
Speed Racer (2008)
Plot Summary:
Speed Racer is the tale of a young and brilliant racing driver. When corruption in the racing leagues costs his brother his life, he must team up with the police and the mysterious Racer X to bring an end to the corruption and criminal activities. Inspired by the cartoon series.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 77000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Family, Sci-Fi, Sport
Country: USA, UK, Germany, Japan
Duration: 135 min
Plot tags: stylized, exciting, entertaining, futuristic, visual, cult classic, visually stunning, light, intense, semi serious
Similar in 87%
Carquake! (1976)
Plot Summary:
Coy "Cannonball" Buckman (David Carradine) and his blazing red Pontiac enter the Trans-America Grand Prix, an underground road race spanning the continent in which there are no rules, no speed limits and no heed for the law. En route, Buckman jockeys with an international ensemble of racers for a $100,000 purse. But there are none more important than Cade Redman (Bill McKinney), his direct competition for a guaranteed spot on the elite Modern Motors racing team.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Action, Comedy, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: Hong Kong, USA
Duration: 93 min
Plot tags: road movie, cult classic, humorous, psychotronic, independent film, exciting, realistic, semi serious, fast, poliziottesco
Similar in 85%
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006)
Plot Summary:
Lifelong friends and national idols Ricky Bobby and Cal Naughton Jr. have earned their NASCAR stripes with their uncanny knack of finishing races in the first and second slots, respectively, and slinging catchphrases like "Shake and bake!" But when a rival French driver coasts onto the track to challenge their records, they'll have to floor it to retain their top-dog status.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 196000
Genere: Comedy, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 108 min
Plot tags: funny, humorous, slapstick, exciting, parody, spoof, cult classic, satirical, feel good, epic
Similar in 83%
Born to Race: Fast Track (2014)
Plot Summary:
Danny Krueger is a twenty-year old drag racer who plays by his own rules. After winning a scholarship to the prestigious Fast Lane Racing Academy, Danny finds himself competing against some of the fiercest young drivers in the world. Tension soars on and off the track, and a terrible incident leaves Danny without a racing partner. Facing dismissal from the academy, Danny is forced to team up with an old rival. The pair must learn to set aside their differences as they vie for rookie spots on a professional racing team.
IMDB Rating: 5.2
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Action, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 94 min
Plot tags: exciting, serious, realistic, tense, captivating, action thriller, feel good, independent film
Similar in 86%
Dirt (2018)
Plot Summary:
In search of a lifeline for his struggling off road racing team, a man takes on a young car thief looking for a second chance, but as their worlds collide, they must struggle to forge a successful alliance.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Action, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: inspirational, thought provoking, captivating, suspense
Similar in 78%
Never Back Down (2008)
Plot Summary:
Rebellious Jake Tyler is lured into an ultimate underground fight Scene at his new high school, after receiving threats to the safety of his friends and family Jake decides to seek the mentoring of a veteran fighter who trains him for one final no-holds-barred elimination fight with his nemesis and local martial arts champion Ryan McCarthy.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 105000
Genere: Action, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 113 min
Plot tags: inspirational, serious, exciting, entertaining, intense, suspenseful, teen, motivational, cult classic, realistic
Similar in 89%
Michel Vaillant (2003)
Plot Summary:
Michel Vaillant is # 1 of pilots, undisputed champion in rallying in all circuits in the world. His success arouses admiration and envy. Ruth Wong, director of Team Leader, is determined to break his streak and avenge the memory of his father, founder of Leader. She is capable of anything to achieve her goal.
IMDB Rating: 5.3
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Action, Sport
Country: France
Duration: 103 min
Plot tags: exciting, realistic, serious, suspenseful, action thriller, stylized
Similar in 75%
Grand Prix (1966)
Plot Summary:
Grand Prix driver Pete Aron is fired by his team after a crash at Monaco that injures his teammate, Scott Stoddard. While Stoddard struggles to recover, Aron begins to drive for another team, and starts dating Stoddard's wife.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 10000
Genere: Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 176 min
Plot tags: retro, cynical, technicolor, exciting, tense, serious, captivating, realistic, suspenseful, epic
Similar in 87%
Red Line 7000 (1965)
Plot Summary:
The story of three racing drivers and three women, who constantly have to worry for the lives of their boyfriends. Jim Loomis and Mike Marsh drive for Pat Cassarian. Jim expects his fiancée Holly, but before she arrives, he dies in a race. Since she hasn't got the money to travel back, she stays. The young and very ambitious talent Ned Arp joins the team and immediately starts wooing Pat's sister Julie. Third in the team is womanizer Dan McCall, who brings with him his current girlfriend Gabrielle from Paris. So the basic theme of this soap is "Who with whom?" Written by Tom Zoerner.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Action, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 110 min
Plot tags: spaghetti western, exciting, rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful
Similar in 87%
Heart Like a Wheel (1983)
Plot Summary:
Shirley Muldowney is determined to be a top-fuel drag racer, although no woman has ever raced them before. Despite the high risks of this kind of racing and the burden it places on her family life, she perseveres in her dream.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Romance, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 113 min
Plot tags: inspirational, uplifting, touching, serious, realistic
Similar in 82%
Le Mans (1971)
Plot Summary:
Steve McQueen is ideally cast as a champion race car driver, participating in the famed 24-hour race headquartered in Le Mans, France. Though dedicated to Going for the Gold, McQueen finds time to romance widowed Elga Andersen. The dramatic angle to this plot wrinkle is that McQueen may well have been responsible for the death of Andersen's husband during a previous car pile-up. Director John Sturges, who'd previously helmed Steve McQueen's legendary motorcycle chase scenes in The Great Escape, was originally slated to direct Le Mans, but withdrew from the project; it was then taken over by Lee H. Katzin.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 12000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 106 min
Plot tags: exciting, realistic, serious, road movie, entertaining, independent film, atmospheric, thought provoking, clever, enigmatic
Similar in 85%
Redline (2007)
Plot Summary:
A gorgeous young automobile fanatic--and front to the hottest unsigned band on the West coast--finds herself caught up in illegal drag-racing competitions organized by exotic car fanatics.
IMDB Rating: 4.0
IMDB Votes: 9000
Genere: Action
Country: USA
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: exciting, suspenseful, sentimental, feel good, entertaining, serious, realistic, fast
Similar in 88%
The Last American Hero (1973)
Plot Summary:
A backwoods bootlegger decides to put the driving skills he developed evading the law to good use. He becomes a race car driver, and eventually, one of the fastest drivers in history.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: exciting, realistic, serious, sincere, fast
Similar in 87%
Winning (1969)
Plot Summary:
Frank Capua is a rising star on the race circuit who dreams of winning the big one - the Indianapolis 500. But to get there he runs the risk of losing his wife Elora to his rival, Luther Erding, and strains the relationship with his stepson.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Action, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 123 min
Plot tags: realistic, semi serious
Similar in 85%
Born to Race (2011)
Plot Summary:
Born To Race is the story of Danny Krueger, a rebellious young street racer on a collision course with trouble. After an accident at an illegal street race, he is sent to a small town to live with his estranged father, a washed up NASCAR racer. When Danny decides to enter the NHRA High School Drags, he's forced to seek his father's help in taking down the local hot shot.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 7000
Genere: Action, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: exciting, realistic, tense, captivating, independent film, fast, serious
Similar in 87%
Greased Lightning (1977)
Plot Summary:
This film is based on the true life story of Wendell Scott, the first black stock car racing champion in America.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Action, Biography, Comedy, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: black comedy, exciting, realistic, semi serious
Similar in 81%
Driven (2001)
Plot Summary:
Talented rookie race-car driver Jimmy Bly has started losing his focus and begins to slip in the race rankings. It's no wonder, with the immense pressure being shoveled on him by his overly ambitious promoter brother as well as Bly's romance with his arch rival's girlfriend Sophia. With much riding on Bly, car owner Carl Henry brings former racing star Joe Tanto on board to help Bly. To drive Bly back to the top of the rankings, Tanto must first deal with the emotional scars left over from a tragic racing accident which nearly took his life.
IMDB Rating: 4.6
IMDB Votes: 43000
Genere: Action, Drama, Sport
Country: USA, Canada, Australia
Duration: 116 min
Plot tags: intense, serious, realistic, stylized, fast, freeze frame, exciting, romantic, sexy, feel good
Similar in 75%
Friday Night Lights (2004)
Plot Summary:
A small, turbulent town in Texas obsesses over their high school football team to an unhealthy degree. When the star tailback, Boobie Miles, is seriously injured during the first game of the season, all hope is lost, and the town's dormant social problems begin to flare up. It is left to the inspiring abilities of new coach Gary Gaines to instill in the other team members -- and, by proxy, the town itself -- a sense of self-respect and honor.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 66000
Genere: Action, Drama, Sport
Country: USA, Germany
Duration: 118 min
Plot tags: inspirational, intense, sincere, serious, captivating, realistic, motivational, sentimental, philosophical, emotional
Similar in 87%
Top Gun (1986)
Plot Summary:
For Lieutenant Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell and his friend and Co-Pilot Nick 'Goose' Bradshaw being accepted into an elite training school for fighter pilots is a dream come true. A tragedy, as well as personal demons, threaten Pete's dreams of becoming an Ace pilot.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 490000
Genere: Action, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 109 min
Plot tags: exciting, entertaining, suspense, intense, serious, cult classic, action packed, retro, inspirational, epic
Similar in 84%
Rush (2013)
Plot Summary:
A biographical drama centered on the rivalry between Formula 1 drivers James Hunt and Niki Lauda during the 1976 Formula One motor-racing season.
IMDB Rating: 8.1
IMDB Votes: 504000
Genere: Action, Biography, Drama, Sport
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 123 min
Plot tags: inspirational, realistic, motivational, tense, suspense, exciting, atmospheric, scenic, intense, captivating
Similar in 81%
Southpaw (2015)
Plot Summary:
Billy "The Great" Hope, the reigning junior middleweight boxing champion, has an impressive career, a loving wife and daughter, and a lavish lifestyle. However, when tragedy strikes, Billy hits rock bottom, losing his family, his house and his manager. He soon finds an unlikely savior in Tick Willis, a former fighter who trains the city's toughest amateur boxers. With his future on the line, Hope fights to reclaim the trust of those he loves the most.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 254000
Genere: Action, Drama, Sport
Country: Hong Kong, USA
Duration: 124 min
Plot tags: touching, inspirational, dramatic, sentimental, rough, intense, emotional, serious, exciting, suspense