Since the dawn of the moving picture, cars have played an essential role in the history of film and television. From Charlie Chaplin to Bullitt to the entire Fast and Furious franchise, our obsession with the motorcar and the silver screen have often found each other in tandem.
And considering the Dodge Charger is one of the most American cars ever built (and probably the greatest of all time when it comes to the muscle car conversation), it’s only right that we highlight some of the best and most iconic Dodge Chargers to have ever graced the screen.
Dom Toretto’s Blown Charger
Jaws dropped around the globe when Dom first showed Brian his dad’s beloved 1970 Charger, replete with its blown motor shoved through the hood like a chrome whale cresting the surface of an otherwise placid sea in the now-classic 2001 movie, The Fast and The Furious.
And, of course, hearts were shattered when Dom (played note-perfectly by Vin Diesel) , after having overcome his fear of the car, races Brian in the film’s final quarter mile stretch, only to roll that black beauty, shattering it to a million pieces.
For many car and movie aficionados, Dom’s ‘70 Charger is the end all be all of movie star muscle cars. Unless, of course, you’re talking about this next one…
The General Lee
How many movies or television shows can you think of where the car had equal (or greater) notoriety than the stars?
It’s a list that is short and distinguished.
Knight Rider, Bullitt, and perhaps the A-Team’s van.
But rising above them all is the General Lee; that absolutely iconic orange ‘69 Charger that the Duke boys sent over so many jumps and outran Boss Hogg time and time again in the legendary television series The Dukes of Hazzard.
The Lee is a star unto itself. And that can only be said about a very few other cars.
Edward Bloom’s 1967 Charger
Probably the least-known film on this list, Big Fish has engendered a devoted fanbase and has, since its release in 2003, become something of a cult classic.
And one of the centerpieces of the movie, which starred Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney, and Billy Crudup, was the elder Bloom’s 1967 Charger, which is, for many muscle car enthusiasts, one of the first great muscle cars ever produced.
Dom’s ‘69 Charger Daytona
Yeah, sure, on its surface, the Fast and Furious franchise has always had a soft spot for tuners. But look a little closer and you’ll see that Dom Toretto is a tried and true MOPAR guy.
Throughout the series he can be spotted piloting the aforementioned blown Dodge Charger, a Road Runner, a few different GTXs, and, perhaps most impressively of all, a deep red and absolutely iconic 1969 Charger Daytona in 2013’s Fast and Furious 6.
That nosecone! That wing!!! All those horses!!!!!
And while nothing can match the black Charger from the original flick, the red Daytona comes pretty darn close. It also nabs Dom a second spot on our list!
This post may contain affiliate links. Meaning a commission is given should you decide to make a purchase through these links, at no cost to you. All products shown are researched and tested to give an accurate review for you.