Top 10 Car Racing Movies & Series To Watch During Coronavirus Pandemic: Curfew & Lockdown

10. Speed Racer (2008)
Speed Racer is an action comedy that includes arcade (think video games) style elements that add to the thrill of high speed racing. The film offers a glimpse of the future of racing where cars achieve impressive speeds of over 300kmph on straights and in corners.

Speed Racer is an 18-year old boy who wins the Grand Prix while racing his home-built "Mach 6". The car is loaded with technology and gadgets. The movie keeps you at the screen right from the get go, and maintains that same speed as it progresses. Netflix is the place.

9. Death Race (2008)
Death Race is basically the 'concept vehicle' in the on-screen racing world. The phrase "Drive to Survive" has been adapted to the T, and the action packed film brings its share of deception, destruction, and demolition, making it a fantastic pick.

The ready-to-go-to-war cars that one sees include a 2006 Ford Mustang GT, a 2007 Dodge Ram 3500, a 1966 Buick Riviera, and a 1979 Pontiac Trans-Am among others. Place your bets at YouTube Movies.

8. Fast & Furious (2001)
Fast and Furious introduced an entire generation about car mods and street racing. The movie brought the rebellious side of racing as a sport and created some of the best known movie characters of all time. Many believe that the movie was the inspiration for what was at one point EA Sports' best-selling video game, Need For Speed Underground.

The Fast and Furious has a pacey storyline revolving around Drag Racing. The film is full of superstars that include the Mitsubishi Eclipse, the Mazda RX-7, the Honda S2000, the Toyota Supra and the 1970s Dodge Charger R/T. You can catch all the action at YouTube Movies.

7. Cars
Cars is an animated movie that has a large fan-base across the globe. What resonates with most are the charming characters, and a story that revolves around Nascar.

The newbie racer "Lightning McQueen" finds himself at a sleepy little town called Radiator Springs. Through the course of the film, he recruits legendary racer The Doc Hudson to help him win the Cup. We're unsure if Lightning McQueen got his "Rolling Like A Cadillac, Stinging Like A Beamer" motto from Muhammad Ali or from his new best friend, Mator. A family entertainer you can watch on Netflix.

6. Le Mans: Racing Is Everything (2017)
This gives viewers unprecedented access to six teams competing for glory. Held in France, 'Le Mans' takes from Steve McQueen's "Mount Everest" all the way to the checkered flag.

The documentary features many world-class motorsport drivers including Australian Formula 1 legend Mark Webber, three-time Le Mans champion André Lotterer from Germany, and an English teenage gamer Jann Mardenborough, who was given a spot on Team Nissan after winning an e-Sports racing competition at age 19. Prime Video subscribers rejoice!

5. Grand Prix Driver (2018)
Grand Prix Driver is a docu-series airing on Amazon Prime and it gives viewers access to the workings of one of Formula 1's best teams, McLaren. The documentary reveals the highly secretive world of Formula 1.

The four part docu-series also has team members and drivers Fernando Alonso, and Stoffel Vandoorne share highs and lows that the sport offers.

4. A Life Of Speed: The Juan Manuel Fangio Story (2020)
A Life Of Speed is a documentary on the famous Formula 1 driver Juan Manuel Fangio. The documentary takes us through Fangio's achievement in the sport. The Argentine racing driver won the Formula 1 World Championship five times, and has raced with four different teams through the course of his career. The documentary is available on Netflix.

3. Senna (2010)
The documentary displays the awe-inspiring journey of Formula 1 legend, Ayrton Senna. The documentary highlights his technical, and often aggressive driving skill set. It also captures the love and adoration that fans and the media had for him on and off the track.

Ayrton Senna passed away on the Imola race track during the third race of the 1994 F1 season. He was racing for Williams at the time. Senna left a lasting impact on people's lives including mine with his compassionate nature. Ayrton Senna, said, "If You No Longer Go For A Gap That Exists, You No Longer A Racing Driver." The documentary is available to watch on YouTube Movies.

2. Formula 1: Drive To Survive (2019)
Formula 1: Drive To Survive takes the viewer on a journey behind the scenes of the sport. The series displays an almost superhuman nature of Formula 1 drivers, and explores the efficiency that a team's crew members, technicians, and strategists bring to every season.

The two-season documentary has been produced by, and is available on Netflix. The show has been produced in association with Formula 1 with the idea of bringing to fans an opportunity to experience the Formula 1 team behind the scenes.

1. Ford Vs Ferrari (2019)
One of the biggest hits of 2019, Ford vs Ferrari revolves around both companies wanting to win the 24-Hour Le Mans in the 1960's. Performances by the cast are almost as powerful as the legendary Ford GT40.

The movie focuses on Ford's effort to take on the Ferrari at the endurance race. The perfect combination of Henry Ford II, Carol Shelbey, and the racer Ken Miles who were responsible for Ferrari's defeat at the 24-Hour Le Mans in 1966 is shown in the movie. The movie is available on Apple TV for streaming.

Honourable Mentions:

1. The Gentleman Driver
The Gentleman Driver has elements of Batman to its story because it revolves around four businessmen who moonlight as race car drivers at the highest levels of the sport. The documentary follows Ed Brown, Ricardo Gonzalez, Mike Guasch, and Paul Dalla Lana as they divide time between racing and running successful businesses.

The documentary showcases how these businessmen are affected by work while racing, and vice-versa. The Gentleman Driver is currently racing at Netflix.

2. The Gymkhana Files
The Gymkhana Files is an unscripted series featuring Ken Block who is known world over for his high octane stunts with the car and to have perfect car control. The documentary mainly revolves around the making of 'Gymkhana 10', which gives fans an insight into the trials, the frustrations, and rather epic skill set that Ken brings to the motorsport world.

The eight part docu-series also brings with it new stories, and never-seen-before footage from Block's Gymkhana 1 through Gymkhana 9. Prime members get access to The Flies.

3. The Fast & Furious: Tokyo Drift
Sean, Han, and the Donkey Kong. We mean Drift King. Released in 2006, Tokyo Drift was way ahead of time, and introduced to most of the world one of Japan's teenage pass-times - Drifting.

The film brings refreshing locations, characters, and cars to the Fast & Furious franchise. The film stars the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX, the Mazda RX7, the Nissan Silvia S15, the Nissan 350Z, a 1970 Plymouth Road Runner GTX, and a 1967 Ford Mustang. Tokyo's Drifting at YouTube Movies.

Movies That We'd Like On A Streaming Service

1. Rush
Based on legendary Formula 1 racing drivers James Hunt and Niki Lauda, Rush recreates the rivalry between the two during the 1970s. It also brings to light how shockingly difficult it was to drive with 510 horses at disposal, without electronic aids.

Starring Daniel Bruhl and Chris Hemsworth, the film was streaming on Prime Video India until recently.

2. The 24-Hour War (2016)
As the title suggests it was a war indeed but soldiers used spanners instead of guns. During the 1960s the 24-hour Le Mans Endurance race was fought by two powerful and competitive auto, Ford and Ferrari. The film was streaming on Netflix in India until recently removed.

3. Need For Speed
The only reason Need For Speed is on our list is because of the cars that were featured. The film features the 2013 Shelby GT500, the Lamborghini Sesto Elemento, the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, and the Koenigsegg Agera.

Well, that's our list of the top 10 car racing based films and documentaries currently streaming, and we can't think of a better way to spend a 'Janta Curfew'. So grab your poison, and take a pick!

DriveSpark supports the Janta Curfew in light of the currently developing COVID-19 situation and urges you to stay home, and stay safe. Godspeed.