Gareth Evans' Indonesian action film is celebrated for its incredibly intense and brutal martial arts choreography. While it features elements of characters pursuing others through a building, the primary focus and spectacle are on close-quarters combat and gunfights rather than high-speed vehicular or traditional chase sequences. It's a masterclass in action, but perhaps less aligned with the specific idea of 'chases' compared to the other titles on this list.

Kathryn Bigelow's action thriller features FBI agent Johnny Utah (Keanu Reeves) infiltrating a gang of bank-robbing surfers led by Bodhi (Patrick Swayze). While known for its surfing and skydiving, the film also includes notable chase sequences, including a famous foot chase through suburban backyards and a car chase. The pursuits capture a raw, kinetic energy that fits the film's extreme sports theme, pitting the law against thrill-seeking criminals.

While not dominated by car chases, The Fugitive is fundamentally a high-stakes pursuit film. Harrison Ford plays Dr. Richard Kimble, wrongly accused of murder and constantly on the run from Tommy Lee Jones' U.S. Marshal Samuel Gerard. The film excels in creating tension through the cat-and-mouse dynamic, featuring foot chases, escapes on trains, and near misses that keep the audience on the edge of their seat as Kimble tries to find the real killer while evading capture.

Christopher Nolan's epic superhero film includes a significant and impactful chase sequence involving Batman's Tumbler and Batpod pursuing the Joker's convoy. The destruction and scale of this scene were unprecedented for a superhero movie at the time, showcasing the power and resilience of Batman's vehicles. The transformation from Tumbler to Batpod mid-chase is a particularly cool moment, adding an extra layer of spectacle to the urban pursuit.

Nicolas Winding Refn's stylish neo-noir features a protagonist who works as a Hollywood stunt driver by day and a getaway driver by night. The film isn't filled with constant action, but the chase and driving sequences it does have are incredibly tense and meticulously crafted. The opening scene, where the Driver expertly evades police after a heist, is a masterclass in suspense and precision, using sound and timing to build palpable tension rather than relying on speed alone.

A film centered entirely around stealing a massive list of cars in one night naturally features plenty of driving and pursuit. Nicolas Cage plays a retired car thief pulled back for one last job, leading to numerous sequences of him acquiring high-end vehicles and attempting to outrun the police. The film culminates in a lengthy chase involving the prized Shelby GT500, showcasing a variety of driving stunts and escapes as the clock ticks down.

This remake features a standout sequence involving Mini Coopers speeding through the streets and subways of Los Angeles after a gold heist. The scene pays homage to the iconic chases of the original film while updating the scale and setting. The compact size and agility of the Minis are used creatively as they navigate tight spaces and unexpected routes, providing a fun and distinctive vehicular escape sequence.

Doug Liman's film redefined the spy thriller with its grounded, realistic approach to action. While known for its hand-to-hand combat, The Bourne Identity also features a tightly edited, high-stakes mini chase sequence through Parisian streets in a beat-up Mini Cooper. This scene, filmed with a raw, handheld style, influenced countless action films that followed, making the pursuit feel immediate and visceral rather than overly polished.

This German thriller is structured around a series of high-stakes races against time. Lola has twenty minutes to get a large sum of money or her boyfriend will face dire consequences. The film explores three different outcomes based on small changes in Lola's frantic dash across Berlin. Its innovative editing, use of animation, and pulsating techno soundtrack create a unique, stylized portrayal of pursuit and urgency, making the simple act of running feel like an intense, high-concept chase.

William Friedkin's classic features what is widely considered one of the greatest car chases in film history. Popeye Doyle's pursuit of an elevated train through the streets of New York City is gritty, chaotic, and utterly believable. Filmed without permits on real city streets, the sequence put Gene Hackman (who did some of the driving himself) in genuine peril, resulting in a raw authenticity that modern, CGI-heavy chases often lack. It set a benchmark for realistic, white-knuckle vehicular pursuit on screen.

While the Fast & Furious franchise is built on cars, Fast Five elevated the game significantly, culminating in one of the most audacious and incredible chase sequences in action history: the vault heist. Dragging a massive bank vault through the streets of Rio de Janeiro with two Dodge Chargers is pure, over-the-top spectacle, but it's executed with such commitment and scale that it becomes instantly iconic. This film solidified the franchise's shift towards large-scale, physics-defying action set pieces centered around vehicular mayhem.

Tom Cruise continues to push the boundaries of practical stunt work, and Fallout delivers some of the most ambitious and intense chase sequences ever put on film. The motorcycle chase through Paris is executed with incredible speed and precision, featuring Cruise himself performing daring maneuvers. The helicopter chase is equally astounding, showcasing complex aerial choreography. Director Christopher McQuarrie crafts sequences that feel grounded in reality, making the stakes feel incredibly high and the chases genuinely thrilling, proving that old-school action filmmaking is far from dead.

George Miller returned to his post-apocalyptic wasteland with a film that is essentially one long, relentless, and utterly spectacular chase sequence. Fury Road relies heavily on practical effects and jaw-dropping stunt work, creating a sense of real danger and kinetic energy that is unmatched. The sheer creativity in the vehicle designs and the chaotic symphony of destruction make the pursuits across the desert feel both primal and exhilarating. It's a non-stop adrenaline shot from start to finish, defining what modern action cinema can achieve through sheer, unadulterated motion.

Edgar Wright's action-musical is a masterclass in rhythm and motion, where every tire screech and gear shift is choreographed to the beat. Ansel Elgort plays Baby, a getaway driver who syncs his daring escapes to his personal soundtrack. The opening chase scene alone is a breathtaking ballet of precision driving and perfectly timed edits, setting the stage for a film where the action feels less like set pieces and more like a propulsive, unfolding symphony. You've never seen car chases quite like this, where the music isn't just background noise, but the engine driving the entire film.