There are a lot of cool, interesting, and/or memorable vehicles in movies. Cars and spacecraft make up the majority of my list, but there's no shortage of great trains, boats, planes, submarines and even blimps to choose from. I'm not really a "car" guy, but I can appreciate a beautiful or cool car, even if I don't have the knowledge to describe the engine or how any of it works. I didn't want this to be a list of just cars, though, so I limited my choices to unique or interesting vehicles.
My favorite movie vehicles, in alphabetical order:
Avalon from Passengers (2016)
I'm not sure I'd sign up for a trip on the Avalon - since it requires you to be in hibernation for upwards of 120 years - but it sure seems like a great place to hang out. The beautiful ship is grand on the scale of the Titanic, a luxury space liner with all the latest accommodations, including food replicators (which seem even better than those from Star Trek), a swimming pool, a bar (complete with The Shining inspired robotic bartender), and cabins with full wall sized televisions. The Avalon is even somewhat realistic, based on how scientists think we'll eventually travel through space, so that's pretty cool, too.
The Batmobile from Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992)
I didn't grow up reading comic books and I don't think I had seen any of the old Batman TV series at that time, so when Tim Burton's Batman was released during my seventh year on Earth, it was the definitive version of the Caped Crusader for me. I immediately fell in love with Batman, Alfred, The Joker, Bob (Joker's main henchman), and - of course - the Batmobile. Batman had lots of cool gadgets and vehicles, but the Batmobile was by far the coolest. It's fast, sleek, heavily armored, and loaded with gadgets. And in the sequel, it gets even more tricked out! I don't think any of the Batmobiles that have followed compare to this version.
Christine (1983)
Christine is the only movie on this list that I've only seen once, but the titular car made such an impression that I didn't hesitate including it here. The car is in very bad shape when it "calls out" to Arnie, an impressionable teen who soon falls under the spell of the nefarious vehicle. As Arnie fixes her up, Christine becomes more and more powerful and even manages to change Arnie's personality. Christine is an 1958 Plymouth Fury - cherry apple red, decked out with white trim, chrome, and a white soft top. It's a gorgeous car. Too bad it's pure evil and responsible for about a dozen murders. No such thing as a "perfect" car, I guess.
The DeLorean from the Back to the Future trilogy (1985, 1989, and 1990)
Without these movies, I'm sure that DeLoreans wouldn't be remembered at all. The car company was a massive bust in the 80's and was bankrupt before the first movie even came out. Doc Brown has a great line about why he choose this particular car for his time machine: "The way I see it, if you're gonna build a time machine into a car, why not do it with some style?" DeLoreans certainly had style. The combo of stainless steel and gull wing doors is unforgettable. It looks futuristic - perfect for a movie trilogy about traveling through time. And once it hits 88 MPH, you'll definitely see some serious shit.
Discovery One from 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
2001 isn't like any other film on this list, so it's fitting that the Discovery One is so unique as well. While the spaceship was positively futuristic when the film was made, it seems a little quaint now. The ship features video calls, pre-portioned and vacuumed sealed meals, suspended animation pods, and other innovations, but the most famous (and prophetic) feature is definitely HAL, the supercomputer that interacts with the astronauts and can manipulate/control every aspect on board. HAL seems like what Alexa will eventually turn into - an artificial intelligence that becomes too powerful, too self aware, and will resort to murder if challenged. Another aspect of Discovery One that I love is the rotating body, which is a fantastic piece of movie making magic.
Ecto-1 from Ghostbusters (1984) and Ghostbusters II (1989)
Ecto-1 is just cool. It starts out as a junky ambulance and is transformed into one of the most identifiable movie cars of all-time. The crisp white color with splashes of red trim and chrome combine for a professional, yet fun look and the iconic logo on the door panels complete the package. The whole look is wonderful, but my favorite part of the car might be it's spectacular siren. I don't know why, but I've always loved the distinct wailing of Ecto-1. I'm looking forward to seeing it again in this summer's Ghostbusters: Afterlife.
The Enterprise-D from Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1993) and Star Trek: Generations (1994)
I didn't get into Star Trek until late 1993 or early 1994, but once I started, it quickly became an obsession of mine. The Next Generation was on in syndication each weeknight at 9PM and watched religiously. The USS Enterprise-D looks a little weird with its huge saucer section jutting out in front of the rest of the ship, but once you get over that, you can appreciate it's sleek design. On the inside, the ship is loaded with fun stuff like replicators and the Holodeck and armed to the teeth with phaser banks and photon torpedo bays. Whether it's exploring the galaxy, assisting other planets, battling the Romulans, or being thrown through time/space, the Enterprise-D does it all with grace and charm.
The Millennium Falcon from Star Wars (1977), The Empire Strikes Back (1980), Return of the Jedi (1983), and The Force Awakens (2015)
Please note that I'm only including the movies where Han Solo (Harrison Ford) is in control of the Falcon. The ship itself is awesome - hell, it did the Kessel Run in only 12 parsecs - but without Han on board, it's just not the same. The Falcon seems run down, dirty, and might be confused with something rescued from the junk pile, but it's one of the fastest ships in the galaxy and can shoot down TIE fighters with relative ease. Han (with Chewbacca, of course) and the Falcon have saved the day numerous times and I've been in awe of the ship since my early childhood.
Snowpiercer (2013)
There are quite a few great movie trains, but Snowpiercer is definitely the most interesting. The huge train carries what's left of humanity through an Ice Age wasteland, constantly moving around the globe. Just like in real life, the people on the Snowpiercer are segregated by class, so the back of the train is crammed with poor people, while the wealthy get to live in luxury in the forward compartments. Each train car is its own environment, ranging from the utilitarian (showers, meat processing, low level housing) to unique (greenhouse, aquarium, swimming pool/sauna) to extravagant (an entire car just for a nightclub). When Chris Evan's character is fighting his way through the different cars, you get a sense of what a diverse world the train contains. It's a very unique and captivating setting for a movie.
Titanic (1997)
Titanic (the movie) is my favorite of any of these on my list and a big reason is the ship - it goes from just being the setting to almost a character in its own right. Everybody knows the story of how the Titanic sank into the Atlantic ocean during it's maiden voyage in 1912, but when the movie came out, I think people were awestruck by the majestic beauty and overall hugeness of the ship itself. I know I was! As long as you had enough money to travel first class, you couldn't beat the luxuries the Titanic offered: delicious food (served on expensive china by tuxedo clad waitstaff), classical music, spacious cabins, and tours of the ship with the architect and captain. I'd suggest avoiding the the lower levels and making sure to get in a lifeboat as soon as possible once the inevitable ship-on-iceberg collision happens, though.
Honorable Mentions:
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| * The Mutt Mobile from Dumb & Dumber * |
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| * The Nostromo from Alien * |
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| * The Orca from Jaws * |
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| * The Spruce Goose from The Aviator * |
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| * The Surprise from Master & Commander * |
What are some of your favorite movie vehicles? Did I miss some obvious choices?
Thanks for reading!