Have you ever experienced that electrifying moment while watching a film? The kind where your heart races, and you find yourself on the edge of your seat, captivated by every twist and turn? It's the thrill of a well-executed chase scene that has the power to leave us breathless, regardless of how many times we've witnessed it on screen. In this article, we delve into the magnetic allure of cinematic pursuits, exploring why chase scenes are a timeless source of excitement and adrenaline for audiences worldwide.

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Raiders of the Lost Ark

Harrison Ford’s archaeologist Indiana Jones has run from all sorts of dangers across the franchise’s five movies, but the opening scene in Steven Spielberg’s 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' (1981), during which Indy, wearing his signature fedora and jacket, flees a Peruvian temple (and a giant boulder) after taking a valuable idol remains its most iconic.

The French Connection

 In William Friedkin’s 1971 thriller 'The French Connection,' Gene Hackman’s detective Jimmy ‘Popeye’  Doyle chases an elevated train by car, in hot pursuit of a hit man aboard the train. Brilliantly lensed by Oscar-nominated cinematographer Owen Roizman on location in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, the scene is widely considered one of the greatest car chase sequences ever filmed. 

Bullitt

Another sequence widely considered among the greatest car chases is the famous scene in Peter Yates’ 1968 thriller 'Bullitt.' Steve McQueen’s Lt. Frank Bullitt is at the wheel of a Ford Mustang GT for this iconic sequence that was filmed and set in and around San Francisco.

The Bourne Ultimatum

Paul Greengrass’ 'The Bourne Ultimatum' features Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) chasing a hitman through Tangier, including on a dirt bike and rooftops and after Damon jumps through a window, with hand-to-hand combat.

Terminator 2: Judgement Day

'Judgment Day,' the classic sequel to his breakout 'The Terminator' featured a high-octane scene: A groundbreaking digital T1000 chases a young John Connor (Edward Furlong) who is on a motorcycle with the Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) sent to protect him. 

North by Northwest

Cary Grant was at the centre of the famous crop duster chase scene in Alfred Hitchcock’s North by 'Northwest' (1959). As Grant’s character Roger Thornhill seeks cover from an unidentified crop duster plane in a cornfield, he runs into the road, halts an oil truck and hides underneath the vehicle. 

Mission: Impossible - Fallout

2018’s 'Mission: Impossible – Fallout' was Tom Cruise’s sixth instalment in his beloved action franchise, for which he is infamous for doing his stunts. In one scene, Cruise’s Ethan Hunt jumps from one high-rise building to another while chasing Henry Cavill’s August Walker.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2

Harry, Ron and Hermione endured their fair share of epic chase scenes across the eight Harry Potter films, but the dragon’s escape from Gringott Bank in the final movie (released in 2011) might be the most fun to watch.

The Wrong Trousers

The stop-motion antics of Wallace and Gromit are beloved across their many film and TV iterations, but the train chase climax of 1993’s 'The Wrong Trousers' is particularly impressive.

What's Up Doc

Barbra Streisand and Ryan O’Neal kick off the memorable chase scene in 1972’s 'What’s Up Doc' by hopping aboard a delivery bike in San Francisco, a move that subsequently sets off a chain reaction of events that grows more ridiculous with each cut of the camera.

Baby Driver

There are few better examples of how to open a movie with a bang than the first scene of 2017’s 'Baby Driver,' directed by Edgar Wright. Set to the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion’s 1995 single ‘Bellbottoms’, Ansel Elgort’s titular getaway driver facilitates the escape of three criminal associates after they rob a bank. The car chase that ensues could be considered a short film in its own right.

Mad Max: Fury Road

The sandstorm chase scene of George Miller’s 'Mad Max: Fury Road' (2015) is the film’s most involved VFX sequence, with flurries of sand that whisk vehicles into the sky. As Charlize Theron’s Furiosa drives into the storm, Nicholas Hoult’s Nux continues his pursuit of her with Tom Hardy’s Max tied to the car. 

-Sushmita Sarkar