Overview
A high-speed drama unfolds on the racetracks of Europe, where ambition and rivalry collide.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- propulsive
- visceral
- glamorous
- classic film night
- motorsport marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film's groundbreaking, exhilarating racing photography and editing while finding its romantic and character drama conventional.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Grand Prix uses driver point-of-view footage, car-mounted perspectives, fast editing, and split-screen panels to make Formula One competition physically immediate.
The Monaco crash injures Scott Stoddard, while the drivers repeatedly face hazardous racing conditions and the lethal risks of their profession.
The story follows Pete Aron, Scott Stoddard, Jean-Pierre Sarti, and Izō Yamura across racing and relationship conflicts.
Pete Aron's involvement with Louise Frederickson complicates his connection to injured driver Scott Stoddard and the racing community around them.
Films like Grand Prix, and why
Le Mans
visceral motorsport spectacle, dangerous competition, and emotionally heightened racing drama
Rush
high-speed racing imagery combined with rivalry, ambition, and personal sacrifice
The Last American Hero
stylized automotive action and adult relationship drama organized around professional racing
The Color of Money
classic sports drama emphasizing competitive pressure, masculine identity, and cinematic spectacle
Movie Details
- Director
- John Frankenheimer
- Release Date
- 1966-12-21
- Runtime
- 176 min
- Rating
- 7.3 / 10 (240)
Cast
- James Garner
- Eva Marie Saint
- Yves Montand
- Toshirō Mifune
- Brian Bedford
- Jessica Walter
- Antonio Sabàto
- Françoise Hardy
- Adolfo Celi
- Claude Dauphin
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Grand Prix about?
- A fiercely immersive Formula One epic where rival drivers pursue victory, love, and survival across the perilous 1966 racing season.
- What is Grand Prix like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Grand Prix as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Grand Prix violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Grand Prix as moderate.
- What did critics think of Grand Prix?
- Critics broadly praised the film's groundbreaking, exhilarating racing photography and editing while finding its romantic and character drama conventional.
- Which films are like Grand Prix?
- Films with a similar feel include Le Mans, Rush, The Last American Hero, and The Color of Money.
- How long is Grand Prix?
- Grand Prix runs 176 minutes.
- Where can I watch Grand Prix?
- In United States, Grand Prix is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
