7 Best Asian Racing Movies for Petrolheads

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - When people think about racing movies, names like The Fast and the Furious, Ford v Ferrari, or Rush usually come to mind. These are big Hollywood films with huge budgets and global audiences. For a long time, Western cinema has led the way in bringing high-speed stories to the big screen. But if you only watch those films, you are missing out. Asian racing movies have their own long history of exciting stories full of fast cars, big risks, and real passion for speed.

Here are seven of the best Asian racing movies worth watching, from classic Hong Kong action films to life action adaption of famous manga and anime.

Starring Jackie Chan, this movie follows the story of Chan Foh To, a mechanic and part-time racer in Hong Kong. After helping the police catch a dangerous German street racer named Cougar, Chan's garage is destroyed and his sisters are kidnapped. To get them back, he must beat Cougar in a professional race in Japan. Directed by Gordon Chan, the film is packed with real motorsport action, featuring a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution III at its center.

Based on the popular Japanese manga, the story follows high school student Akio Asakura, who finds a heavily modified Datsun Fairlady Z called the "Devil Z" in a junkyard. The car is said to be cursed, with a dark history of deadly crashes involving its past owners. Akio takes it anyway and begins racing on Tokyo's Shuto Expressway, where he clashes with the city's fastest drivers. Directed by Atsushi Muroga, it is a must-watch for fans of Japanese car culture.

Pop star Jay Chou plays Takumi Fujiwara, a quiet student who has spent years delivering tofu up a mountain road in his father's Toyota AE86 without knowing he has become a master of drifting. When rival street racing crews start challenging local drivers, Takumi's hidden talent is discovered and he is pulled into a world of high-stakes mountain pass battles. Directors Andrew Lau and Alan Mak bring the beloved anime to life, with co-stars Anthony Wong and Edison Chen rounding out a strong cast.

A young man dreams of becoming an F1 driver and sets out to break a legendary speed record on Tokyo's Shuto Expressway. All he has is his car, his skill, and one shot at a dangerous curve known as the "Devil's Curve." Directed by Katsuji Kanazawa, this Japanese film was actually banned from theaters at the time of release for showing illegal street racing. That controversy only adds to its status as a cult classic.

Ekin Cheng plays Sky, the top street racer in Hong Kong. After being framed for drug possession by his rival Tang Fung, played by Simon Yam, Sky flees to Thailand. There, he reconnects with his legendary racing father, who trains him to become not just a faster driver, but a better person, preparing him for a final showdown against Tang Fung. Directed by Andrew Lau, the same director behind Initial D, the film also stars a young Cecilia Cheung in an early role.

This Taiwanese racing film, directed by Jem Chen and produced by Jay Chou, follows Du Jieke, a video game racing champion with zero real-world driving experience. He joins the struggling Lions Racing Team to get closer to their talented female driver, Lu Lili, played by Hannah Quinlivan. What starts as a crush quickly turns into a serious motorsport journey, as the team faces fierce rivals both on and off the track.

Andy Lau plays Joe, one of Hong Kong's best motorcycle racers. After a serious crash puts him in a coma, he wakes up full of fear and doubt and struggles to get back on the bike. Directed by Derek Yee, the film is as much about grief and courage as it is about racing, following Joe as he tries to rebuild his confidence and face the personal losses that come with living life at full speed.