Everyone knows that when movies are made, cars get damaged, some even destroyed. Today, a lot of the vehicular mayhem you see on-screen is created via CGI (Computer-generated Imagery) but when realism is needed, real cars are used. Sometimes a lot of real cars. Ever wonder how many? Here’s a few movies that destroyed dozens, even hundreds of cars.
Bullitt – More than 80 cars destroyed
Bullitt is a 1968 American thriller directed by Peter Yates and stars Steve McQueen, Robert Vaughn and Jacqueline Bisset. It was based on the 1963 novel: Mute Witness. The movie is famous for one of the most intense car chases ever filmed. The car driven by Steve McQueen is a brand new 1968 390 V8 Ford Mustang Fastback. Apparently, Ford Motor Company loaned 2 of the Mustangs to Warner Bros. as part of a promotional agreement. With speeds over 100 mph on the streets of San Francisco, the movie consumed over 80 cars during production.
Gone In 60 Seconds – 127 cars destroyed
Gone in 60 Seconds is a 1974 American action film written, directed, produced by Toby Halicki. The plot centers on a group of car thieves and the 48 cars they must steal in a matter of days. It is said to have cost $150,000 to make and to-date has grossed over $40 million dollars. The film was so low budget that some of bystanders were members of the public and many of the scenes were made in one take. The film is famous for having wrecked and destroyed 93 cars just in the 40-minute car chase scene. The grand total? 127 cars were destroyed in the making of the film
A Good Day to Die Hard – 132 cars destroyed
A Good Day to Die Hard is an American action film and the fifth installment in the Die Hard franchise. The film was directed by John Moore and stars Bruce Willis. The main plot involves McClane travelling to Russia to get his estranged son, Jack, an undercover CIA agent, out of prison. He is soon caught in the intrique of a global terrorist plot. Technically “only” 132 vehicles were destroyed but a further 518 automobiles were heavily damaged.
Fast & Furious 5 – 260 cars destroyed
Fast & Furious is an American film franchise based on street racing, theft and espionage. Our friends at www.robertssubaru.com were the ones who tipped us off to this one. The fifth installment of the film, Fast & Furious 5, is said to have laid some 260 cars to rest.
Matrix Reloaded – Over 300 cars destroyed
The Matrix Reloaded is the first sequel in The Matrix trilogy. It is a 2003 sci-fi action film written and directed by the Wachowski Brothers. The film was largely filmed at Fox Studios in Australia. The freeway chase and Burly Brawl scenes were filmed at the decommissioned Naval Air Station in Alameda, CA. The producers constructed a 1.5-mile freeway on the old runways specifically for the film.
The number of cars destroyed in the filming of the Matrix is technically unknown but the producers had to write-off over 300 loaned to them by General Motors.
