18 Iconic Cars Featured in Popular Movies and TV Shows

Iconic cars, objects, quotes, songs, etc., make movies famous and memorable. With so many movies and TV shows being produced globally, the ones that are worth remembering not only have great storylines and perfect visuals but also have little Easter eggs.

As the automobile industry expanded and grew, interest in cars among the general public also increased. This meant that the entertainment industry wanted to use great vehicles as hooks to make their productions more interesting.

These are unforgettable cars, even if you haven’t seen the movie in a long time.

1. Batmobile (The Batman, 1943)

The first Batmobile was a 1939 Cadillac, developed for the 15-part movie serial The Batman, which premiered in 1943. Although the vehicle changed through the years, it’s still a badass centerpiece for all of Batman’s lore.

The car has since transitioned into a gadget-packed, multifunctional vehicle that allows Batman to fight off all the goons. It’s housed in the Batcave and this tactical assault car is a fan favorite for DC geeks.

2. Aston Martin DB5 (Goldfinger, 1964)

In the third film of the James Bond series, the Aston Martin DB5 was equipped with some of the coolest upgrades, making it the most popular Bond car.

The vehicle was packed with spike strips, a smoke screen, a revolving license plate, an oil sprayer, and an ejector seat. It was so popular it reappeared in Skyfall in 2012.

3. The Mystery Machine (Scooby-Doo, 1969)

Scooby-Doo made our childhood by teaching us life lessons, providing unlimited entertainment, and setting the bar high for what it means to be friends.

The blue-green panel van the gang travels in is splattered with flowers and has a big, bold font that’s still imprinted in our minds. Even though it belonged to Fred, this van was also Velma’s, Shaggy’s, Scooby’s, and Daphne’s ride to solve mysteries together.

4. Herbie the Love Bug (The Love Bug, 1969)

The car is the main protagonist in this movie, and we’re all for it. The film stars the sentient Volkswagen Beetle named Herbie and its driver, Jim Douglas (Dean Jones).

Herbie has distinct red and white stripes and a unique personality that shines throughout the film. This racing vehicle made Volkswagen Beetles commonplace on roads, making it a legendary American pop icon — even though it’s a German-built vehicle.

5. Ecto-1 (Ghostbusters, 1984)

Have a ghost problem? Call the Ghostbusters, and they’ll arrive in their Ectomobile to save the day.

This white ambulance, with a giant logo on the door, was converted from a 1959 Cadillac Miller-Meteor. It starred in the 1984 film, the sequel, and the 2016 reboot with some additions. It’s safe to say that the Ecto-1 is unforgettable.

6. DMC DeLorean (Back to the Future, 1985)

The DMC DeLorean was sold on the commercial market but didn’t fare well and was only available from 1981 to 1982. However, what makes this vehicle memorable is the Back To The Future trilogy, in which Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) modifies this car into a makeshift time machine to move Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) across time.

The Ford Motor Company offered the filmmakers a Mustang to use in the movie, but the producer wasn’t interested

7. Ferrari 250 GT (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, 1986)

Ferris Bueller has many great moments, and one of the most memorable is the bright red, smooth, shiny Ferrari 250 GT that makes you want to sell a kidney to buy it.

This teen comedy starred Matthew Broderick and Jennifer Grey and was the tenth-highest-grossing film of 1986. It’s the cream of the crop when it comes to its plot and quotable lines.

8. Jurassic Park Explorers (Jurassic Park, 1993)

The Ford Motor Company gave Steven Speilberg seven Explorers to star in the Jurassic Park movie, and they’re easily recognizable.

These bad boys are painted yellow, red, and green and sport a giant Jurassic Park logo. You can spot them throughout the movie when the squad heads into forests and tries to escape dinosaurs.

9. Mutt Cutts Van (Dumb and Dumber, 1994)

Picture a commercial van wearing a fuzzy dog costume traveling across the globe. That’s the Mutt Cutts Van. The movie’s storyline follows two best friends with an incredible lack of common sense who find a purse and decide to go on a road trip to return it.

While other filmmakers wanted the most remarkable vehicles, this movie focused on cute, stupid, and funny ones, producing the iconic vehicle we still remember.

10. Toyota MK Supra (The Fast and the Furious, 2001)

The Fast and the Furious franchise has produced the best and the worst movies. Love or hate them, they’ve made their mark on film history. The cars were stars in the movie too, and one of the most infamous was the Toyota MK Supra.

This bright orange sports car was driven by Brian O’Connor (Paul Walker) and is one of the most notable vehicles in the movie.

11. The Flying Ford Anglia (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, 2002)

Ron Weasely breaks Harry out of the Dursley’s home while in the 960 Ford Anglia 105E, aka the Flying Ford. However, this is no ordinary car because it’s been enchanted to allow it to fly.

Author J.K. Rowling explained why she chose this turquoise car. She said it represented her teen years when she didn’t have to ask for a lift from her dad anymore. While Harry Potter was iconic in itself, this car represents a memorable scene that touched our hearts.

12. Baby (Supernatural, 2005-2020)

Supernatural was a series starring two brothers, Sam and Dean Winchester. This duo hunted everything, from demons to monsters, ghosts, and gods, making them the ultimate otherworld-fighting pair.

Baby is their 1967 black Chevy Impala, passed down from their father to Dean. It is one of his most precious possessions. All the adventures and demon-slaying wouldn’t have been possible without Baby.

13. Bumblebee (Transformers, 2007)

Who needs a regular car when you can have a vehicle that transforms into your friendly robot companion? Sam Witwicky finds Bumblebee as a 1977 Chevy Camaro, but to his surprise, it transforms into an entire robot.

With its bright yellow and black stripes, this robot car made for some mind-boggling, action-packed storylines.

14. Audi R8 Model 2008 (Iron Man, 2008)

Everyone has heard about Marvel and Iron Man, but only true geeks can remember the phenomenal beast that Tony Stark drove. The Audi R8 suited Tony because it showcased his lavish lifestyle and his tech brain, which led to the fantastic Iron Man suit.

This car perfectly matched the actor’s personality and Iron Man wouldn’t be Iron Man without it.

15. Pontiac Aztek (Breaking Bad, 2008-2013)

Walter White was a simple man with a regular job as a teacher, a regular house, and a regular marriage until he was diagnosed with cancer. To match his nice-guy personality, he drove a  2004 Pontiac Aztek.

However, once his empire of illegal activities expanded and he earned a ton of cash, he started driving a Chrysler 300 SRT-8. Nonetheless, the Pontiac was an iconic vehicle in the series.

16. 1969 Ford Mustang (John Wick, 2014)

Keanu Reeves played John Wick, who drove an incredible 1969 Boss 429 Ford Mustang.

While Ford Mustangs have often starred in action-packed on-screen moments, this was a limited edition and rarely available model that was soon associated with the film series. The legendary hitman has to have a legendary vehicle.

17. 2006 Subaru WRX (Baby Driver, 2017)

Baby Driver stars Ansel Elgort and is a movie about a former getaway driver recruited for a heist. However, not all goes to plan.

Initially, the car Ansel was supposed to drive was a Toyota Corolla because they are so common in parking lots, which made it a good getaway vehicle. However, the studio wanted more spice, so the Subaru WRX came in and stole the film.

18. Ford GT40 (Ford v Ferrari, 2019)

Based on real-life events, Ford V Ferrari is about race car driver Ken Miles (Christian Bale) and car designer Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon). The narrative centers around fighting corporate interference and defying physics to build a vehicle that would defeat a Ferrari. The most legendary car featured in the movie was the 1965 Ford GT40, which added magic to the screen.