According to the cinema, the life of a truck driver is full of thrilling and dangerous adventures. Do filmmakers romanticize life behind the wheel, or is it really like that? We’ve compiled a list of seven iconic films about truck drivers to explore this question.
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The Ice Road
IMDb: 5.6/10
2021, Action, Adventure, Thriller
USA, PG-13
Director: Jonathan Hensleigh
Top cast: Liam Neeson, Marcus Thomas, Laurence Fishburne
Truck drivers face a daunting task: they must embark on a dangerous journey to deliver equipment needed to rescue trapped miners. The route takes them over fragile April ice. Nearly thirty workers are buried after an explosion in a diamond mine, with oxygen rapidly depleting, and their lives now depend entirely on the success of this operation. Jim Goldenrod, the owner of a transport company, has assembled a team of four people, each with their own story. The journey is a trial by fire, and it soon becomes clear that there is a saboteur in the group, which is more dangerous than the cracking ice beneath their wheels. The Ice Road was filmed in the Canadian province of Manitoba. Director Jonathan Hensleigh was adamant about avoiding CGI, so what you see on screen is a real ice road, a snowstorm, and even temperatures as low as -40°C.
Snitch
IMDb: 6.4/10
2012, Action, Drama, Thriller
USA, PG-13
Director: Ric Roman Waugh
Top cast: Dwayne Johnson, Susan Sarandon, Jon Bernthal
Snitch is a film not only about the life of a truck driver but also about the role of a father. The plot revolves around a father who makes a deal with the police to save his son, who is facing jail time for drug dealing. To do this, father must infiltrate the heart of the drug cartel. The film is based on a true story: James Settembrino agreed to cooperate with the authorities and provide information on drug suppliers in exchange for a more lenient sentence for his son.
Joy Ride
IMDb: 6.6/10
2001, Action, Mystery, Thriller
USA, R
Director: John Dahl
Top cast: Steve Zahn, Paul Walker, Leelee Sobieski
The plot of Joy Ride might seem familiar. Two brothers, bored on a road trip, decide to install an old radio in their car to eavesdrop on truckers' conversations for fun. Tuning into the frequency of a trucker nicknamed Rusty Nail, they play a prank on him by arranging a meeting under the name Candy Cane. It seems harmless enough, but what started as a silly joke turns into a real tragedy involving a chase, kidnapping, and even murder. Joy Ride is a fast-paced film that begins as a comedy but gradually transforms into a sinister thriller with a chase through scenic night streets.
Sueurs
IMDb: 5.5/10
2002, Action, Adventure, Crime, Thriller
France, Unrated
Director: Louis-Pascal Couvelaire
Top cast: Jean-Hugues Anglade, Joaquim de Almeida, Cyrille Thouvenin
Four French guys, including the truck driver Harvey, get involved in a crazy scheme. They have a huge van full of gold, and their goal is to deliver it to an unknown buyer waiting for them somewhere on the ocean shore. If everything goes well, they’ll receive a handsome reward. But to get there, they must cross the vast sandy expanse of the Sahara, where there’s no hiding from the scorching sun or their own inner demons. In such heat, you start to doubt even yourself, let alone the partners you’re only connected with by a shared goal. The film is memorable for its impressive depiction of the blazing desert, against which human passions boil over. It keeps you on edge — every second brings either a new plot twist or another captivating scene of the brutal wilderness, ready to devour anyone who refuses to play by its rules.
Convoy
IMDb: 6.3/10
1978, Action, Drama
USA, UK, PG
Director: Sam Peckinpah
Top cast: Kris Kristofferson, Ali MacGraw, Ernest Borgnine
Convoy' is set in the 1970s in the United States. A state sheriff constantly harasses truck drivers, issuing fines for the slightest and often imaginary violations. When the truckers' patience runs out, they organize a protest by driving in a massive convoy of trucks, continuously adding new participants. Quickly gaining momentum, the protest becomes a genuine social movement that the local governor can no longer ignore. The film was inspired by a song written in 1975 by William Fries, which topped the charts in many countries. The movie captures the essence of American protest in the 1970s. It initially attracted people affected by specific social injustices — such as police corruption — but as the conflict escalates, more people join in, each with their own reasons.
Smokey and the Bandit
IMDb: 7/10
1977, Drama, Dark Comedy, Action
USA, R
Director: Sam Peckinpah
Top cast: Kris Kristofferson, Ali MacGraw, Ernest Borgnine
Once, a wealthy Texan needed to transport a large shipment of contraband beer. Time was short — it had to arrive before the start of a race for which the beer was intended. Drivers and partners Bandit and Snowman take on the job. Their plan is simple: Bandit will drive a black car and do everything he can to distract the police, while Snowman follows with the cargo. Everything goes according to plan until Bandit picks up Carrie, a professional dancer and the fiancée of the sheriff’s son, who has just run away from her wedding. Now, besides the police, the sheriff is also after Bandit, determined to catch the runaway bride. The entire film is a wild chase filled with stunts, shot without the use of a green screen.
Black Dog
IMDb: 5.5/10
1998, Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
USA, UK, PG-13
Director: Kevin Hooks
Top cast: Patrick Swayze, Randy Travis, Meat Loaf
Black Dog tells the story of Jack Crews, who accidentally hit a person and, after serving two years in prison, now works as a simple auto mechanic, leading a quiet and peaceful life. One day, the owner of the garage offers him a deal: if Jack transports an illegal load from Atlanta to New Jersey, he will receive not only a generous reward of ten thousand dollars but also his revoked driver’s license. After much hesitation, Jack agrees. He will later regret this decision, but there will be no turning back. Black Dog is impressive with its numerous thrilling chases involving massive trucks: they race at high speeds, crash into each other, explode, and destroy everything in their path, keeping the audience engaged and on the edge of their seats.
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