For more than half a century, Porsche automobiles have been a part-and-parcel of global blockbusters and television series. Moreover, some screenwriters have given this car brand not just small cameo roles but made Porsche the protagonist of their screenplays.

The 1969 sports drama “Downhill Racer” with Robert Redford as the central character is widely seen as Porsche’s debut on the big screen. This film also became Silvester Stallone’s first cinematic appearance – he played the small part of a restaurant visitor. The film tells a story about a US team of skiers who travel to Switzerland to train. “Playing” alongside Redford is a 1968 Porsche 911 T, which the main character drives through the Alps.

It was after this film that twice Oscar winner Redford became a dedicated Porsche fan. He owns Porsche automobiles of several models, including a 1955 Porsche 550 RS Spyder. Notably, Redford had a role in one more film in which his character drove a Porsche – a 2001 action thriller “Spy Game”. In this film, his wheeled “partner” was a green 1969 Porsche 912.

Porsche Latvija offers you to learn also about other films and TV series featuring the legendary German sports automobiles!

 

Porsche’s role in classic car racing films

Topping car racing film charts in “Les Mans”, a 1971 film starring Hollywood legend Steve Macqueen. The film starts with a nearly four minutes long scene in which the main character drives a grey 1970 Porsche 911S through the streets of the French town of Les Mans. This scene contrasts with the rest of the film’s storyline depicting one of the famous 24 Hours of Les Mans motor races.

Once the film was shot, the automobile was delivered to the actor’s home in Los Angeles because Macqueen was a Porsche fan. The celebrated actor was also known as an amateur motor racer and owner of a collection of classic sports cars.

 

Porsche in 1980s action thrillers

“Risky Business”, a film starring Tom Cruise, was released in 1983. Cruise’s character Joel together with his friends drives a 1979 Porsche 928, trying to escape from their pursuers. At the end of a thrilling pursuit scene, he says: “Porsche… there is no substitute”, implying that the friends have successfully managed to get away from the pursuers.

Four years later, “No Man’s Land” was released with Charlie Sheen in the role of a professional car thieve specializing in stealing Porsches. The film’s protagonist would not even look at other car makes, not even the famous Italian brands: “Italian trash… I only steal Porsches”.

Since the film is specifically about Porsches, it features models like Porsche 911 SC Cabriolet, Porsche 911 Targa, Porsche 911 Flat Nose and Porsche 930. The film also includes one of the most spectacular pursuit scenes with a 1980 Porsche 911.

 

Porsche in 1990s blockbusters

 “Bad Boys”, a 1994 film, features a Porsche 964 Turbo 3.6 of the same year from director Michael Bay’s private collection. Unfortunately, the film studio’s managers did not allow to spend the film’s budget on renting an expensive car, but the director insisted on using an auto of the Porsche brand, so eventually Bey’s own Porsche appeared in “Bad Boys”.

The film begins with a glorious scene in which characters played by Wil Smith and Martin Lawrence drive a Porsche through the sunny streets of Los Angeles.  Smith tells his partner that this is a USD 105,000 limited-edition vehicle.  They are then suddenly stopped and encircled by a group of carjackers who try to steal the Porsche from them, but the “bad boys” manage to keep the automobile for themselves.

“Donnie Brasco”, a 1997 film starring Johnnie Depp and Al Pacino, features a 1975 Porsche 911 Targa.  In one of the scenes, Johnnie Depp’s character beats up a Porsche owner and steals his car. It definitely cost more than the USD 8 000 the car’s owner owed to the gangster played by Al Pacino.

 

Porsche in 2000s Hollywood films 

 German sports cars are still welcome guests in major Hollywood blockbusters. A 1978 Porsche 911 “996” Carrera, for instance, made quite a memorable “cameo appearance” in “Gone in 60 Seconds”, a 2000 film starring Angelina Jolie as a car thieve.

Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) from the popular 2001 film “Legally Blonde” had also chosen Porsche as her vehicle. The film features a 2000 Porsche Boxter 986, which the protagonist drives to Harvard University.

A 1989 Porsche 911 Carrera 964 features in the 2017 film “Atomic Blonde” starring Charlize Theron. The automobile appears in a thrilling chase scene just after the main character’s arrival in Berlin.

A 1974 911 Porsche Carrera can also be seen in a garage of Jordan Belfort, the main character in director Martin Scorsese’s film “The Wolf of Wall Street” played by Leonardo di Caprio.

 

Porsche in cult TV series  

The Porsche model driven by characters in “Friends” TV sitcom is a 1985 Porsche 911 Carrera. Monica Geller received it as a gift from her father. The automobile features in several episodes of the sitcom.

This, however, was not the only Porsche appearing in “Friends”. In the episode titled “The One with Joey’s Porsche” one of the friends, Joey Tribbiani, finds the keys from a red Porsche on a street not far from his favorite café “Central Perk”.

Joey returns the car keys to the auto’s lawful owner, but the desire to own a Porsche, or at least to pretend that he does remains. Joey therefore buys a hat and a jacket with the Porsche logos and pretends he owns the German sports car, but eventually his lies are exposed.

Automobiles of the Porsche brand appear also in several episodes of the popular sitcom “Two and a Half Men”, as well as on many other popular TV shows.

 

Porsche in cool Nordic TV series

A Porsche features also in one of the most popular Scandinavian TV series “The Bridge” (“Bron/Broen”), which has inspired a number of international remakes, including American and Russian, among others. The series’ protagonist, Saga Noren, an officer at the Malmo County Police Department, drives an olive 1977 Porsche 911 S Coupe. The vehicle perfectly fits with the character played by actress Sofia Helin.

This vehicle had been sold in the US, but in 2009 it ended up in Sweden. Three years later, a producer company purchased it for roughly EUR 8 500 to use it in shooting “The Bridge”. When the shooting of the TV series was finished, the auto was put up for auction in 2018, and the EUR 150 000 it fetched were given to WaterAid charity.

In “Deadwind” (“Karppi”), one of Netflix’s top Nordic shows currently in the third season, Sakari Nurmi also drives a Porsche. The producers chose one of the latest models – electric vehicle Taycan 4S. This is one of the first appearances of an electric Porsche sedan in a film or TV series. Notably, over 100 000 Taycans have rolled off the assembly line at the Zuffenhausen plant since 2019.

Obviously, Porsche can take pride not only in its fast and chic sports cars, but also an impressive filmography and solid place in popular culture. And there are all indications that the victory march of Porsche automobiles will continue both on small and big screens also in the future.

 

About LLC Baltijas sporta auto

The official Porsche representative in Latvia – LLC Baltijas sporta auto – takes pride in its dynamic and competent team, as well as an experience of 20 years in car dealing business. Baltijas sporta auto is the authorized Porsche dealer in Latvia ensuring reliable and customer-oriented trade and car maintenance.