Bullitt (1968)

Walter Chalmers: Frank, we must all compromise.
Bullitt: Bullshit.

Bullitt = The Best Car Chase Ever. Period. What about The Transporter you say? Please, there is enough corrective CGI in that it would make even George Lucas blush. Ronin? The Dukes of Hazzard had more intelligent camera work. Smokey and the Bandit? Now your getting closer, but still not there. The Fast and the Furious? Man, do I have to punch you in the neck?

Bullitt: Look, Chalmers, let’s understand each other… I don’t like you.
Bullitt is 90 minutes and 42 seconds of pure, unadulterated, high octane bliss. (Oh, and there is a plot line, some acting, and Jacqueline Bisset in the remaining 104 minutes as well.) What you get is a no CGI, no camera tricks, no Hollywood bullshit car chase. Just a pony car and a muscle car duking it out on the streets of San Fransisco (and Brisbane). In one corner a 1968 Mustang Fastback driven by rebellious and borderline-insubordinate police officer, Lieutenant Frank Bullitt. In the other a 1968 Dodge Charger wheeled by the bad guys. Reaching actual speeds up to 110 mph they pulverised the city streets, scared the hell of the film’s insurers, and set a new standard for car chases. McQueen was limited to only about 10% of the driving thanks to complaints from the suits and his wife. So the real heroes where the stuntmen legends Bud Ekins, Loren Janes, and Bill Hickman. They took the risks that gave us the greatest car chase ever, and successfully upstaged the King of Cool himself.

Many have tried to surpassed it and failed. Nothing comes close to Bullitt.