Racing movies are making a comeback in America, and there’s likely more to come

In recent years, Hollywood has been keen to deliver racing fans plenty of entertainment, and it shows no signs of slowing down.

It seemed like there weren’t any big racing-centric blockbusters for a while, at least ones that broke into the mainstream. 2013’s “Rush” (the story of F1 title rivals Niki Lauda and James Hunt) is the only one that really stood out from the last decade until 2019’s “Ford v Ferrari” arrived — a biographical drama centered on racer Ken Miles and Carroll Shelby’s mission to build a car that could defeat Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The film made over $200 million worldwide and went on to win multiple Academy Awards.

As we moved into the 2020s, and with the resulting F1 boom in the United States, there was growing momentum in developing new films/shows focusing on the world of racing. “Drive to Survive” was a massive success for Netflix, documenting the F1 season through a series of episodes, strategically released just before the new season begins. NASCAR followed suit with its own docuseries, as did IndyCar.

And more recently, Prime Video has produced some great content as part of its new deal with NASCAR, including “Earnhardt” and “American Thunder: NASCAR to Le Mans.” The deeply riveting and emotional documentary on the life and death of Dale Earnhardt was actually the streaming service’s No. 1 series in the US during the month of May. The list goes on with Netflix’s recent miniseries on F1 legend Ayrton Senna (“Senna”) and HBO’s tear-jerking documentary on late Indy 500 champion Dan Wheldon (“The Lionheart”).

But the best way to reach the casual fan or someone who has never even watched a race before is through the realm of big screen blockbusters. 2023’s “Gran Turismo” was a valid attempt to tap into that, following the sim-to-reality story of Jann Mardenborough. In 2023, we also got the biographical drama “Ferrari,” starring Adam Driver as Enzo Ferrari.  

However, the movie that truly broke the mold and reached mainstream audiences came out earlier this year, produced by Apple TV+ and starring Brad Pitt and Damson Idris.

“F1: The Movie” was filmed on site at several race tracks during the F1 season, using footage of real race cars and scenes from the paddock, all while utilizing an all-star cast. It made over $600 million worldwide and became the most successful original film of the year. IMSA even ‘guest-starred’ via a spectacular opening scene, taking place at the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona.

So, after the success of “F1: the Movie,” what’s next? 

That remains to be seen, but there continues to be whispers about a new NASCAR film creeping towards development with the star power of Tom Cruise behind it — Days of Thunder 2. Now, for those who don’t know, Cruise starred as fictional driver Cole Trickle in a 1990 film described by many as Top Gun with race cars. Jerry Bruckheimer, who produced this summer’s hit F1 film, also produced the original “Days of Thunder.”

Days of Thunder filming

Photo by: ISC Archives – Getty Images for NASCAR

It’s become clear that Cruise is keen to make a sequel to the popular NASCAR film, as confirmed by both Bruckheimer and NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon. Despite turning 35 years old this year, the original film remains very relevant to modern day NASCAR fans. And after seeing what “F1: The Movie” did with filming on race weekends and knowing 1990’s “Days of Thunder” used similar tactics, imagine a sequel with modern technology and the action star behind the thrilling “Mission Impossible” franchise spearheading such a project.