Want to know the best Racing Movies? How about the worst Racing Movies? Curious about Racing Movies did at the box office or which Racing Movies picked up the most Oscar® nominations and Oscar® wins? Need to know which Racing Movies movie got the best reviews from critics and audiences? Well you have come to the right place….because we have all of that information.
This page represents part 8 in a series of pages that are trying to identify the Top 100 Sports Movies. This page will look at the top 46 Racing movies. Movies are ranked by using a combination of box office results, reviews from audiences and critics and award recognition. For you horse racing movie fans, I realize that there are hundreds more movies that could have been included. I pretty much picked the ones that were mentioned the most when reading about the best horse racing movies. So movies like Julia Robert’s Something To Talk About, which has a horse competition at the end of the movie, did not make the list.
Racing Movies Movies Can Be Ranked 6 Ways In This Table
The really cool thing about this table is that it is “user-sortable”. Rank the movies anyway you want.
- Sort Racing Movies by the type of racing done in the movie
- Sort Racing Movies by actual domestic box office grosses
- Sort Racing Movies by adjusted box office grosses using current movie ticket cost
- Sort by how Racing Movies were received by critics and audiences. 60% rating or higher should indicate a good movie.
- Sort by how many Oscar® nominations and how many Oscar® wins each Racing Movie received.
- Sort Racing Movies by Ultimate Movie Score (UMR). UMR Score puts box office, reviews and awards into a mathematical equation and gives each movie a score.
| R | Movie (Year) | UMR Co-Star Links | Adj. B.O. Worldwide (mil) | UMR Score | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R | Movie (Year) | UMR Co-Star Links | Actual B.O. Domestic (mil) | Adj. B.O. Domestic (mil) | Adj. B.O. Worldwide (mil) | B.O. Rank by Year | Review | Oscar Nom / Win | UMR Score | S |
| 1 | Seabiscuit (2003) AA Best Picture Nom |
Jeff Bridges & Tobey Maguire |
120.3 | 215.0 | 265.20 | 17 | 77 | 07 / 00 | 98.6 | |
| 2 | National Velvet (1944) | Elizabeth Taylor & Donald Crisp |
11.9 | 399.7 | 634.60 | 7 | 79 | 05 / 02 | 98.4 | |
| 3 | Grand Prix (1966) | James Garner | 23.8 | 232.8 | 232.80 | 8 | 75 | 03 / 03 | 97.7 | |
| 4 | Ford v Ferrari (2019) AA Best Picture Nom |
Christian Bale & Matt Damon |
117.6 | 138.4 | 264.40 | 22 | 86 | 04 / 02 | 97.0 | |
| 6 | Breaking Away (1979) AA Best Picture Nom |
Dennis Christopher & Dennis Quaid |
27.1 | 116.4 | 116.40 | 34 | 90 | 05 / 01 | 96.3 | |
| 5 | Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006) | Will Ferrell & Amy Adams |
148.2 | 242.8 | 267.00 | 13 | 70 | 00 / 00 | 95.2 | |
| 7 | Days of Thunder (1990) | Tom Cruise & Robert Duvall |
82.7 | 210.7 | 402.50 | 13 | 54 | 01 / 00 | 90.7 | |
| 9 | Broadway Bill (1934) | Myrna Loy | 2.5 | 116.7 | 116.70 | 32 | 69 | 00 / 00 | 86.2 | |
| 8 | The Crowd Roars (1932) | James Cagney | 1.5 | 73.4 | 107.70 | 59 | 81 | 00 / 00 | 85.7 | |
| 11 | Winning (1969) | Paul Newman & Robert Wagner |
19.2 | 145.4 | 145.40 | 15 | 54 | 00 / 00 | 83.8 | |
| 13 | Riding High (1950) | Bing Crosby | 6.7 | 150.8 | 150.80 | 25 | 51 | 00 / 00 | 82.9 | |
| 12 | Le Mans (1971) | Steve McQueen | 16.7 | 108.9 | 108.90 | 18 | 64 | 00 / 00 | 82.8 | |
| 13 | Rush (2013) | Chris Hemsworth & Directed by Ron Howard |
26.9 | 35.7 | 119.70 | 96 | 84 | 00 / 00 | 81.6 | |
| 14 | Hidalgo (2004) | Viggo Mortensen | 67.3 | 116.8 | 187.70 | 42 | 58 | 00 / 00 | 80.7 | |
| 13 | Secretariat (2010) | Diane Lane | 59.7 | 81.6 | 81.60 | 58 | 68 | 00 / 00 | 80.1 | |
| 15 | McFarland, USA (2015) | Kevin Costner | 44.5 | 56.9 | 58.50 | 60 | 75 | 00 / 00 | 79.5 | |
| 17 | The Big Wheel (1949) | Mickey Rooney | 4.2 | 104.5 | 104.50 | 83 | 59 | 00 / 00 | 79.3 | |
| 20 | Greased Lightning (1977) | Richard Pryor | 20.5 | 99.3 | 99.30 | 39 | 57 | 00 / 00 | 76.7 | |
| 21 | The Racers (1955) | Kirk Douglas | 5.0 | 103.7 | 103.70 | 67 | 56 | 00 / 00 | 76.4 | |
| 20 | Gran Turismo (2023) | Orlando Bloom | 44.4 | 44.4 | 117.90 | 53 | 74 | 00 / 00 | 76.3 | |
| 19 | The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner (1962) | Tom Courtenay | 2.7 | 38.7 | 38.70 | 89 | 75 | 00 / 00 | 75.5 | |
| 22 | Sporting Blood (1931) | Clark Gable | 1.6 | 83.1 | 135.60 | 75 | 61 | 00 / 00 | 75.1 | |
| 24 | Six Pack (1982) | Kenny Rogers | 20.2 | 74.2 | 74.20 | 35 | 63 | 00 / 00 | 74.7 | |
| 24 | Phar Lap (1983) | Tom Burlinson | 2.9 | 9.9 | 9.90 | 104 | 83 | 00 / 00 | 74.0 | |
| 27 | To Please a Lady (1950) | Clark Gable | 5.9 | 132.2 | 187.50 | 43 | 43 | 00 / 00 | 73.1 | |
| 26 | Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story (2005) | Kurt Russell | 32.8 | 55.2 | 65.30 | 85 | 65 | 00 / 00 | 70.4 | |
| 27 | The World's Fastest Indian (2005) | Anthony Hopkins | 5.1 | 8.6 | 30.80 | 162 | 79 | 00 / 00 | 69.5 | |
| 29 | Speedway (1968) | Elvis Presley | 8.6 | 70.5 | 70.50 | 42 | 59 | 00 / 00 | 69.3 | |
| 29 | Dream Horse (2021) | Toni Collette | 2.4 | 2.6 | 2.70 | 89 | 80 | 00 / 00 | 68.4 | |
| 28 | The Art of Racing in the Rain (2019) | Kevin Costner | 26.4 | 31.1 | 39.70 | 87 | 71 | 00 / 00 | 67.9 | |
| 30 | Casey's Shadow (1978) | Walter Matthau | 9.6 | 44.0 | 44.00 | 61 | 66 | 00 / 00 | 67.3 | |
| 34 | The Boys In The Boat (2023) | Joel Edgerton & Directed by George Clooney |
52.6 | 52.6 | 55.40 | 47 | 62 | 00 / 00 | 65.6 | |
| 31 | The Story of Seabiscuit (1949) | Shirley Temple | 2.3 | 57.5 | 57.50 | 135 | 60 | 00 / 00 | 64.9 | |
| 32 | Spinout (1966) | Elvis Presley | 6.0 | 58.4 | 58.40 | 47 | 58 | 00 / 00 | 62.7 | |
| 33 | Heart Like a Wheel (1983) | Bonnie Bedelia | 0.3 | 0.9 | 0.90 | 146 | 72 | 01 / 00 | 57.0 | |
| 34 | On the Edge (1986) | Bruce Dern | 0.4 | 1.3 | 1.30 | 190 | 71 | 00 / 00 | 53.3 | |
| 37 | Hard Miles (2024) | Matthew Modine | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.50 | 143 | 69 | 00 / 00 | 49.8 | |
| 38 | Indianapolis Speedway (1939) | Pat O'Brien & Ann Sheridan |
1.6 | 60.7 | 74.70 | 145 | 49 | 00 / 00 | 47.9 | |
| 39 | Speed Racer (2008) | John Goodman & Susan Sarandon |
43.9 | 66.0 | 141.00 | 64 | 47 | 00 / 00 | 46.8 | |
| 38 | The Program (2016) | Ben Foster | 0.1 | 0.1 | 4.20 | 366 | 68 | 00 / 00 | 46.1 | |
| 40 | The Last American Hero (1973) | Jeff Bridges | 3.8 | 23.1 | 23.10 | 79 | 59 | 00 / 00 | 42.8 | |
| 40 | Fireball 500 (1966) | Frankie Avalon | 6.5 | 63.7 | 63.70 | 43 | 45 | 00 / 00 | 41.6 | |
| 42 | Pit Stop (1969) | Ellen Burstyn | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.40 | 172 | 65 | 00 / 00 | 40.4 | |
| 43 | 4 Minute Mile (2014) Film Festival Circuit Only |
Richard Jenkins | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 299 | 63 | 00 / 00 | 36.6 | |
| 43 | International Velvet (1978) | Anthony Hopkins & Christopher Plummer |
2.2 | 10.2 | 10.20 | 111 | 60 | 00 / 00 | 36.0 | |
| 45 | 3: The Dale Earnhardt Story (2004) ESPN Movies |
Barry Pepper | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 313 | 63 | 00 / 00 | 35.4 | |
| 47 | The Lively Set (1964) | James Darren | 1.6 | 17.9 | 17.90 | 121 | 55 | 01 / 00 | 32.1 | |
| 48 | 43: The Richard Petty Story (1972) | Darren McGavin | 0.8 | 4.8 | 4.80 | 149 | 60 | 00 / 00 | 32.0 | |
| 47 | American Flyers (1985) | Kevin Costner | 1.4 | 4.3 | 4.30 | 146 | 60 | 00 / 00 | 31.6 | |
| 50 | Snake & Mongoose (2013) | Tim Blake Nelson & John Heard |
0.2 | 0.2 | 0.20 | 220 | 61 | 00 / 00 | 31.1 | |
| 51 | Run, Fatboy, Run (2007) | Simon Pegg | 6.0 | 9.4 | 9.40 | 159 | 56 | 00 / 00 | 28.4 | |
| 52 | Bobby Deerfield (1977) | Al Pacino | 11.9 | 57.5 | 57.50 | 53 | 39 | 00 / 00 | 23.9 | |
| 53 | Shergar (1999) | Alan Barker | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.30 | 252 | 57 | 00 / 00 | 23.7 | |
| 54 | Endurance (1998) | Haile Gebrsellasie | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.30 | 235 | 56 | 00 / 00 | 21.8 | |
| 55 | Red Line 7000 (1965) | James Caan | 4.2 | 44.3 | 44.30 | 63 | 41 | 00 / 00 | 20.4 | |
| 56 | Track of Thunder (1967) | Tommy Kirk | 0.5 | 4.0 | 4.00 | 165 | 54 | 00 / 00 | 20.4 | |
| 57 | King of the Turf (1939) | Adolphe Menjou | 0.7 | 28.5 | 28.50 | 200 | 46 | 00 / 00 | 19.3 | |
| 58 | Race for Glory (1989) | Peter Berg | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.30 | 202 | 54 | 00 / 00 | 18.4 | |
| 59 | Driven (2001) | Sylvester Stallone & Burt Reynolds |
32.7 | 62.4 | 104.50 | 72 | 29 | 00 / 00 | 13.4 | |
| 58 | Silver Dream Racer (1980) | Beau Bridges | 0.4 | 1.5 | 1.50 | 171 | 49 | 00 / 00 | 11.9 | |
| 61 | Let It Ride (1989) | Richard Dreyfuss & Teri Garr |
5.0 | 13.5 | 13.50 | 108 | 44 | 00 / 00 | 10.7 | |
| 60 | Goldengirl (1979) | James Coburn & Leslie Caron |
1.2 | 5.4 | 5.40 | 136 | 46 | 00 / 00 | 10.6 | |
| 63 | One Fast Move (2024) Amazon |
Edward James Olmos | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 216 | 45 | 00 / 00 | 7.4 | |
| 64 | Stroker Ace (1983) | Burt Reynolds | 13.0 | 44.5 | 44.50 | 54 | 30 | 00 / 00 | 6.3 | |
| 65 | Shifting Gears (2018) | E. Emmet Walsh | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 388 | 43 | 00 / 00 | 6.1 | |
| 66 | Champions (1984) | John Hurt | 0.2 | 0.6 | 0.60 | 179 | 41 | 00 / 00 | 4.6 |
Stats and Possibly Interesting Things From The Above Racing Movies Table
- Six Racing Movie crossed the magical $100 million mark. That is a percentage of 13.04% of his movies listed. National Velvet (1945) is the biggest box office hit when looking at adjusted domestic box office.
- An average Racing Movie grosses $54.00 million in adjusted box office gross.
- Using RottenTomatoes.com’s 60% fresh meter. 24 Racing Movies are rated as good movies…or 52.17% of his movies. Highest rated Racing movie is Breaking Away (1979). Lowest rated Racing movie is Stroker Ace (1983).
- Eight Racing Movie (Hoosiers) received at least one Oscar® nomination in any category…..or 17.39% of the listed movies.
- Four Racing Movies won at least one Oscar® in any category…..or 8.69% of his movies.
- An average Ultimate Movie Score (UMR) is 39.86. 9 of Racing Movies’s movies scored higher that average….or 19.56% of the listed movies. National Velvet (1945) got the highest UMR….Champions (1984) got the lowest UMR Score.
My other Sports Movie Links
- Top 100 Biggest Box Office Grossing Sports Movies
- Top 100 Best Reviewed Sports Movies
- Top 400 Sports Movies
- Ranking Baseball Movies
- Ranking Basketball Movies
- Ranking Boxing Movies
- Ranking Football Movies
- Ranking Golf Movies
- Ranking Hockey Movies
- Ranking Olympics Movies
- Ranking Racing Movies
- Ranking Soccer Movies
- Ranking Other Sports Movies poker, surfing, rodeo, curling and others
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I just got through reading all your movie articles, impressive work and I will be back to see the final one.
Hey Ralphie, I am currently working on the final page….it is taking a lot longer than I thought, but I keep on working on it.
This is great Cogerson! I love being reminded of some of the movies that are older that my kids may not have seen. Last night we had a bunch of neighborhood kids over and I made real popcorn for the kids – served soda and watermelon and we showed a movie on the out door projector:) it was so much fun! They in fact, They watched The Great Outdoors with John Candy. I bet my kids would like Six Pack.
Hey Realhousewife, thanks for stopping by and reading my hub. If the kids liked the Great Outdoors then I think they would like Six Pack as well. The outdoor projector sounds like lots of fun and a great way to spend a weekend night.
I will have to list my top 3 movies from both lists combined, because I just can’t make a list from the second group. So here it goes.
In alphabetical order, here are my favourite racing films and other sports films:
The Great Race-full of great stars and scenery
National Velvet-not a big surprise coming from a classics fan
Seabiscuit (2003)-not usual for me to watch a recent film, but I did this one.
ey Flora, I understand about not being able to come up with a list from the second table….those movies are very very random….as for your list….nice list…The Great Race was much more popular than I thought it was….it was a monster hit…that received 5 Oscar nominations…Blake Edwards was a very underrated director…..I loved the parents in National Velvet….they were awesome to together…..I am surprised The Story of Seabiscuit with Shirley Temple lost out to the new Seabiscuit. As always thanks for your comments.
My favourite horse-racing movie is the Marx Bros A Day at the Races, good to see it on the list.
I watched Grand Prix a few weeks ago, some good racing sequences but away from the track the film is a humungous bore.
Days of Thunder was flashy and loud but Tom Cruise’s constant grinning makes it near unwatchable for me.
I enjoyed Speed Racer on a colourful cartoony level.
Hey Steve…thanks for the comments….I can tell you it was hard trying to find good surfing movies….lol. As for Grand Prix, it is much better than McQueen’s Le Mans. Yes there are no chariot racing movies….although we all know Ben-Hur would top the charts if that movie was included.
Another interesting list, glad to see one of my grandmother’s favorite movies do so well, National Velvet is a classic.
Thanks AlabamaGirl 86, my mom loves that movie as well, I just recently saw it myself, Donald Crisp is excellent as her father. Thanks for stopping by and reading the page.