If Brad Pitt’s summer blockbuster F1: The Movie lit a fire under your inner speed demon, you’re not alone—and the race is far from over. Directed by Joseph Kosinski, this sleek, high-octane ode to Formula 1 has shifted the sport from niche fascination to global cinematic spectacle.
But the world of racing on screen doesn’t stop at Pitt’s pit crew. In fact, F1 is just the latest lap in a genre rich with heart-pounding documentaries, underdog triumphs, and drama-fueled narratives that race well beyond the checkered flag. Whether you’re drawn to the roar of engines or the raw emotion beneath the helmet, these adrenaline-charged films like F1: The Movie promise to keep your pulse racing long after the credits roll.
Here are 8 movies to see if you loved F1: The Movie…
#1. Senna (2010)
Runtime: 1 hr 45 min
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 93%
If F1: The Movie gave you goosebumps, Senna will absolutely floor you—in the most breathtaking way. Told entirely through archival footage, this masterful documentary charts the meteoric rise and tragic fall of Brazilian racing legend Ayrton Senna.
More than just a driver, Senna was a spiritual force on the track—fierce, fearless, and fiercely principled. With no talking heads or glossy re-enactments, the film unfolds like a cinematic symphony of speed, soul, and staggering intensity. It’s not just essential viewing for motorsport enthusiasts—it’s a deeply human story that lingers long after the credits fade.
#2. Ford v Ferrari (2019)
Runtime: 2 hr 32 min
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 92%
Next up: Ford v Ferrari—or Le Mans ’66, depending on where you’re watching—a sleek, high-octane biopic that pits American muscle against Italian precision. Set in the adrenaline-fueled world of 1960s motorsport, it follows maverick car designer Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon) and hot-headed British driver Ken Miles (Christian Bale) as they race to dethrone Ferrari at Le Mans.
But this isn’t just a story about horsepower. It’s a gripping drama about ambition, ego, and the relentless pursuit of greatness. Packed with pulse-pounding sequences and emotional gut punches, Ford v Ferrari doesn’t just take you to the track—it puts you in the driver’s seat. If you’re chasing a story that moves as fast as it feels, this one’s essential.
#3. The Last Race (2018)
Runtime: 1 hr 15 min
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 93%
Shifting gears, The Last Race steers us straight into the grassroots. Imagine Fast & Furious filtered through Days of Thunder—only slower, more introspective, and deeply human. Set on a weathered Long Island racetrack that looks like it hasn’t passed a safety inspection since the Reagan era, this documentary trades speed for soul.
Here, it’s not about sponsorships or streaming rights. It’s about grit. The film follows a ragtag group of blue-collar racers—men and women who fix their cars with duct tape, not data, and race for love, not likes. The footage is raw and poetic, capturing the battered beauty of a dying world where the engines roar, the nostalgia hangs thick, and the fear of fading out is just as real as the checkered flag. It’s not glossy. It’s not glamorous. But it’s unforgettable.
#4. Logan Lucky (2017)
Runtime: 1 hr 59 min
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 92%
Logan Lucky is what happens when you crash a NASCAR race headfirst into an Ocean’s Eleven–style heist, and somehow, it works like a charm. Directed by Steven Soderbergh, this underdog caper stars Channing Tatum and Adam Driver as two blue-collar brothers plotting to rob the Charlotte Motor Speedway during one of its biggest race days.
The result? A fast-paced, offbeat thrill ride packed with laugh-out-loud moments, quirky disguises, and a healthy dose of Southern charm. But don’t let the hijinks fool you. Beneath the comedic chaos lies a surprisingly heartfelt story about redemption, resilience, and sticking it to the system, NASCAR-style. If F1: The Movie got your adrenaline going, Logan Lucky will leave tread marks on your heart—in the best possible way.
#5. Rush (2013)
Runtime: 2 hr 3 min
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 89%
Arguably the closest cinematic sibling to F1: The Movie, Ron Howard’s Rush dives headfirst into one of Formula 1’s most legendary rivalries: James Hunt vs. Niki Lauda. With Chris Hemsworth as the flamboyant, devil-may-care Hunt and Daniel Brühl as the icy, meticulous Lauda, the film captures the blistering tension of F1’s most dangerous era.
But Rush isn’t just about roaring engines and podium finishes—it’s about the fire behind the wheel. Hunt is all swagger and spontaneity; Lauda, a masterclass in control and calculation. Together, their story explodes with adrenaline, ego, and grit. If F1 left you craving more of the drama behind the speed, Rush is an absolute must-watch.
#6. Grand Prix (1966)
Runtime: 2 hr 59 min
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 91%
Long before drones, CGI, and GoPros, Grand Prix set the gold standard for racing cinema. Directed by John Frankenheimer, this 1966 epic broke new ground with in-car camera work filmed during actual Formula 1 races, putting audiences inside the cockpit like never before. It didn’t just capture speed; it invented how speed could be seen on screen.
The story follows four drivers locked in a high-stakes battle for the championship: Jean-Pierre Sarti (Yves Montand) and rising star Nino Barlini (Antonio Sabàto) for Ferrari, American ace Pete Aron (James Garner) for Yamura, and Scott Stoddard (Brian Bedford) for British Racing. With international rivalries, personal sacrifices, and breathtaking cinematography, Grand Prix remains a masterclass in old-school filmmaking and pure racing drama. For any F1 history buff, this isn’t just a film—it’s a rite of passage.
#7. Schumacher (2021)
Runtime: 1 hr 52 min
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 60%
If Senna is the soul of racing, then Schumacher is its steel—precise, unyielding, and built for domination. This Netflix original peels back the visor on Michael Schumacher, the seven-time world champion whose name is synonymous with Formula 1 greatness. Let’s be honest: you simply can’t talk about F1 without talking about this man.
What makes Schumacher essential viewing isn’t just the legendary race footage (though those iconic moments still hit like thunder). It’s the rare, unfiltered access to his personal world—intimate home videos, emotional interviews with family, and the quiet humanity behind the myth. For anyone drawn to grit, glory, and the price of unrelenting ambition, Schumacher lands like a perfectly timed overtake at Eau Rouge.
#8. Uppity: The Willy T. Ribbs Story (2020)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKwfDjfO9Pw
Runtime: 1 hr 46 min
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 97%
Before Lewis Hamilton shattered records, there was Willy T. Ribbs—blazing fast, fiercely fearless, and utterly unapologetic. Uppity tells the story of the first Black driver to qualify for the Indy 500, and it doesn’t ease off the throttle for a second. More than just a motorsport documentary, this is a civil rights chronicle wrapped in the roar of race engines.
Produced by Adam Carolla and directed by motorsport doc maestro Nate Adams, Uppity captures the raw intensity of a man who refused to be sidelined by racism, politics, or the establishment. Ribbs didn’t just want a seat at the table—he took the wheel and floored it. If you can, go in cold. The twists hit harder that way. Watch it for the racing, but stay for the revolution.
Final Lap: Honorable Mentions
Already raced through all 10? No worries. There’s still plenty of gas in the tank. Here are a few honorable mentions worth the ride:
- Le Mans (1971) – Steve McQueen’s brooding, bare-bones love letter to endurance racing. Minimal dialogue, maximum mood.
- Driven (2001) – Open-wheel mayhem meets Sylvester Stallone. It’s chaotic, over-the-top, and oddly unforgettable.
- Days of Thunder (1990) – NASCAR gets the Top Gun treatment, with Tom Cruise burning rubber and chewing scenery.
- Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006) – An absurd, quotable classic. “If you ain’t first, you’re last.”
Whether you’re in it for the roaring engines, the rivalries, or the raw emotion behind the visor, these films capture racing in all its glory. F1: The Movie may have lit the spark, but this lineup will keep your passion for speed in pole position.
Featured image: Apple
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