Here are Cinephile Corner’s 10 recommendations for movies like Gran Turismo:
F1 The Movie
F1 The Movie is not in the same league as Top Gun: Maverick or Only the Brave, but it’s a clear step above Joseph Kosinski’s more uneven efforts like Tron: Legacy or Oblivion. It’s a little formulaic, a bit heavy-handed with its exposition, and sometimes hampered by one-note supporting characters. But when it’s in motion—when the cars are screaming down straights, weaving through chicanes, and risking it all on the final lap—it’s exactly the kind of summer movie spectacle we don’t get enough of anymore. Not a podium finish, but definitely worthy of a strong showing in the points.
Ferrari
Considering he hadn’t made a movie since Blackhat in 2015, Michael Mann’s long-awaited return to the big screen, Ferrari, is incredibly succinct and satisfying. It’s a scorching melodrama that burns with the intensity of its titular character’s relentless ambition. This isn’t anywhere near a sugarcoated biopic; it’s a raw, unflinching exploration of Enzo Ferrari’s inner demons, where the pursuit of automotive excellence takes a brutal toll on personal relationships and those around him.
Air
Adequately titled Air, Ben Affleck‘s newest directing effort sits in the clouds as it enjoys rummaging through the events that led to Michael Jordan’s lucrative “Air Jordan” shoe deal with Nike. Told from the perspective of blazing Sonny Vaccaro, Air enjoys living in the small details of nostalgia and sports branding.
Twisters
Twisters is a remarkable victory for theaters, summer blockbusters, and movie stars. Daisy Edgar-Jones and Glen Powell are certified mainstays in the industry after their recent successes, and Lee Isaac Chung remains one of the latest risers in a young camp of talented filmmakers.
Challengers
Luca Guadagnino directs one of his best movies with Challengers, which pairs his interests in yearning, miscalculated protagonists to the competitive world of tennis. It’s exhilarating and wild, with three prophetic performances from Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O’Connor that’ll challenge many of 2024’s best efforts.
Top Gun: Maverick
Top Gun: Maverick still feels fresh – for its direction, for its acting, and for its precise attention to emotion and payoff. Every moment feels important and finely tuned, and every actor and actress fits perfectly within this nostalgia-laden juggernaut. A real hit, and one of my favorite movie theater experiences of all time.
Ambulance
I have a confession to make. I did not see Ambulance on the big screen and it is easily my biggest regret of 2022 so far in terms of film watching. Every moment of Michael Bay’s newest heist, getaway, cocaine-driven anxiety trip is worth the price of admission, VOD rental, and 4k blu-ray bundle all sandwiched together into one.
Bullet Train
Despite Brad Pitt‘s best efforts, Bullet Train comes off as a movie with wonderful action and miserable storytelling. David Leitch tries to inject his usual tricks, but they don’t make up for heartless narratives and cheap jokes.
Creed
Reboots aren’t new in Hollywood, but good reboots are relatively difficult to come by. Not only is the first Creed a worthy reboot of the Rocky franchise – it sets the standard moving forward for sports movies and franchise entertainment.
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning may be Tom Cruise’s last run as Ethan Hunt, and while it’s far from perfect, it’s also everything that makes this franchise so enduring. Yes, the criticisms are fair: it’s unevenly paced, leans heavily on callbacks, and opens with more exposition and flashbacks than momentum. But once it locks into gear, this is another exhilarating entry in a series that has consistently redefined blockbuster action for nearly 30 years. For all its flaws, The Final Reckoning still delivers the kind of spectacle only Mission: Impossible can.
Read our full review of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
