It's Oscar season. Beyond Smokey and the Bandit, how many scene-stealing trucks in movies can you name? Deborah Lockridge shares top picks in her All That's Trucking blog.
It's Oscar season, and our friends at Today's Trucking recently put together a list of "Reel Wheels: 50 scene-stealing trucks in the movies."
Very few people (at least those of us old enough to remember Burt Reynolds with hair) think of trucking and movies without recalling Smokey and the Bandit, from 1977. With the cops in pursuit, Bandit and his truck drivin' pal hauling a load of contraband beer ask a convoy of trucks to run interference. Because he’s got a long way to go, and a short time to get there. (Bet you're humming that theme song now.)
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But here are my personal top five movies from John Law's list where trucks play a lesser role:
The Matrix Reloaded (2003) – Fans may forever dismiss this sequel, but there’s no denying the visual thrill of the (almost) climactic freeway chase which culminates with Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) trading kung fu moves with one of the agents atop a speeding tractor-trailer. If only the movie ended there.
Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) – The fourth film in the epic series is essentially one long truck sequence, with Max (Tom Hardy) and new partner Furiosa (Charlize Theron) sharing time behind the wheel. You’re exhausted by the time of the climactic race back to the Citadel, but director George Miller somehow manages to crank up the tension in a whirlwind of ingenious stunts and breathless pacing.
Breakdown (1997) – Near the end of this terrific ’90s thriller, Kurt Russell battles the slimy trucker (J.T. Walsh) who kidnapped his wife on board a rig hanging perilously over a bridge. When the fall doesn’t kill our bad guy, the truck finishes the job.
Live Free or Die Hard (2007) – If you’re going to go completely over-the-top with your Die Hard, you might as well have a truck vs. fighter jet scene on the freeway. Of course, Bruce Willis ends up on top of the plane before it’s over.
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Logan (2017) – In between the action and brutal violence, the final go-round with Wolverine for Hugh Jackman also offered an intriguing peak into the future with autonomous trucks. In this case, one runs a family’s horse trailer off the road. Still some bugs to work out.
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HDT Editor and Associate Publisher Deborah Lockridge is a longtime Girl Scout leader and loves to connect her passion for inspiring girls with her love of the trucking industry.
No matter who wins the election, trucking continues to work to educate the people who pass the laws and make the rules that affect the industry. HDT's Deborah Lockridge shares insights from two major trucking associations in her All That's Trucking blog.
Skimping on vacation may be the worst thing you can do for your business, your career, and your mental health. In her All That's Trucking blog, Deborah Lockridge writes about the importance of giving your brain what it needs to be innovative.
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HDT's Deborah Lockridge talks about key themes that emerged during sessions, conversations, and on the show floor during the American Trucking Associations' annual management conference.
In her All That's Trucking blog, Deborah Lockridge shares a follow-up to last year's story about a FedEx Ground contractor who was very publicly challenging the company about alleged unfair treatment of its contractors.
Curiosity about how Girl Scout cookies get from the factory to the customer drove the development of a supply patch program. HDT's Deborah Lockridge, a Girl Scout herself, writes about it in her All That's Trucking blog.
