Ready to race? The Formula 1 World Championship returns to Malaysia this weekend, with the Sepang International Circuit set to host the relocated Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix as part of the 2026 season.
With F1 returning to Malaysia for the first time in more than nine years, there’s been plenty of excitement in the air. If all that racing action has got you in the mood for more, we’ve got you covered with recommendations for every kind of viewer!
For die-hard racing fans: F 1 (2025)
Where better to start than with a movie literally titled F 1 ? Directed by Joseph Kosinski, F 1 stars Brad Pitt as a former F1 driver, who makes a comeback after a 30-year hiatus in order to help out his team. It’s been praised as one of the most accurate on-screen portrayals of the sport yet, having been filmed at actual Grand Prix race tracks, using real F2 race cars outfitted with custom-built camera rigs.
For the whole family: Cars (2006)
If you’re looking for a racing movie for younger viewers, you can’t go wrong with Cars. Starring Owen Wilson, Paul Newman and Bonnie Hunt, Cars tells the story of Lightning McQueen, a superstar racecar who’s forced to slow down when he crashes into the sleepy town of Radiator Springs. There’s plenty of action and silly hijinks to keep kids entertained, as well as a surprisingly emotional life lesson about how winning isn’t always everything.
For anime enthusiasts: Redline (2009)
Here’s another animated film about racing, though this one’s aimed at a totally different audience. An original story from Madhouse, the studio behind Perfect Blue and The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Redline is a feast for the eyes, with wildly stylized animation and a fast-paced story about an intergalactic car race. Though it initially released to lukewarm reception, there’s a reason why it’s been re-evaluated as a cult classic in recent years.
For a look behind the scenes: Ford vs Ferrari (2019)
Though drivers are often at the centre of most stories about racing, the cars – and the engineers behind them – play just as much of a role in making or breaking a successful race. Directed by James Mangold and starring Matt Damon and Christian Bale, Ford vs Ferrari spotlights the inner workings of the racing industry, telling the true story of how the Ford Motor Company worked to build a vehicle capable of defeating Ferrari at the 1996 Le Mans.
For classic film buffs: Grand Prix (1966)
Finally, we’re closing out the list with a classic that was essentially the F 1 of its day, being the most realistic film about racing to be produced at the time. The movie was filmed at actual Grand Prix races at iconic European circuits, with director John Frankenheimer mounting cameras onto real vehicles in order to capture their genuine racing speeds, making it a fascinating snapshot of 1960s racing history.
