The American film industry was still in its infancy when Ford first began breaking down automotive barriers. At the dawn of the twentieth century, crowds gathered at nickelodeon theaters to see moving pictures, with accompanying sound still a distant dream. As American cinema evolved, Ford developed a close relationship with Hollywood, which has only continued to strengthen.
Today, you can find Ford vehicles in multiplexes everywhere, from summer action flicks like the Fast and the Furious franchise to awards-season bait such as Ford Vs. Ferrari. And now, All American Ford presents our featured presentation: five film appearances where Ford stole the show.
Bullitt (1968)
No blog about Ford's role in film – or about automobiles in movies, generally – should begin with anything other than Bullitt. This influential Steve McQueen-led action flick is credited as the godfather of the modern car chase sequence. Cruising through the hilly streets of San Francisco in his 1968 Mustang Fastback, McQueen helped reshape the preconception of what cars were capable of in Hollywood. This Mustang wasn't just an accessory to Bullitt’s iconic chase sequences – it was the star of them.
Grease (1978)
To best depict a nostalgia-lensed summer of 1958, this 1978 classic prominently featured a 1948 Ford De Luxe. Still following? Grease endures today for several reasons: its iconic soundtrack, detailed set design, and the charisma of stars John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, to name a few. But it’s the greasers and their accompanying hot rods that serve as the beating heart engine of the film, inserting classic American muscle into this classic American tale of summer love. To answer Sandy’s friends’ inquiries of “Tell me more – did he have a car?” Oh yeah. He certainly did.
Men in Black (1997)
Agent J (Will Smith) and Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones) keep tabs on Earth-inhabiting aliens in this 1997 hit blockbuster. They do so from a custom 1987 Ford LTD Crown Victoria (in black, naturally). It’s customized with rocket boosters to keep up with extra-terrestrial shenanigans, but honestly, the choice of vehicle might have been counterintuitive to their mission. If you’re an alien seeing the Crown Victoria in motion, how could you not want to pull up stakes for Earth?
Gran Torino (2008)
The titular 1972 Gran Torino in this 2008 Clint Eastwood film serves as the plot’s catalyst. Eastwood plays Walt Kowalski, a recently widowed Korean War veteran who isn’t happy about the economic state of his Rust Belt neighborhood. When a teenage gang member attempts to steal the Gran Torino as part of his initiation, Walt is inadvertently drawn into his life. A surprise box office hit at the time, Gran Torino doesn’t really hold up as essential viewing today. Yet it marked the rare moment where Ford got the marquee all to itself.
Ford Vs. Ferrari (2019)
One of the most recent films to sport the Ford name is also one of the most critically acclaimed. It's centered around a team of Ford engineers and their mission to dethrone the perennially dominant Ferrari team at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans race. The film went on to receive four Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. Starring Matt Damon as Ford GT40 architect Carroll Shelby and Jon Bernthal as Lee Iacocca, Ford Vs. Ferrari is liberal with its use of historically significant Ford names. And yes, (nearly-60-years-old spoilers), Ford did defeat Ferrari in 1966 (and ‘67, ‘68, and ‘69).
Get Five Star Results at All American
Here at All American Ford, we’ll find you the perfect co-star to help tell your story. Drive into Springville’s most trusted Ford dealership today and we’ll help you drive out in a new or used Ford vehicle from our expansive inventory. Discover the exceptional comfort and performance of the all-new 2025 Ford Explorer, or go green with the Ford Mustang Mach-E. At All American Ford, we’ll help you write your script so that you can get to work on producing your masterpiece.