Rush

In 1970s Formula 1, two very different drivers push one another harder than anyone else could. James Hunt rides on instinct and flair, chasing fame with equal parts charm and recklessness, while Niki Lauda prefers meticulous preparation and cool calculation. As they win and lose on the world's fastest circuits, their rivalry shapes careers, romances, and reputations. The film follows their escalating competition and the toll that speed and spectacle take on family, friends, and the drivers themselves. It builds toward a crisis that tests limits and loyalties, without giving away how the story resolves.

Released in 2013, Rush was directed by Ron Howard from a screenplay by Peter Morgan. It stars Chris Hemsworth as Hunt and Daniel Brühl as Lauda, with Olivia Wilde, Alexandra Maria Lara, and Pierfrancesco Favino in key supporting roles. The film draws on real events from 1970s F1.

The movie found a solid audience in theaters, buoyed by word of mouth about its racing sequences and period detail. It earned respectable returns internationally and helped bring a mainstream spotlight back to classic motor racing stories.

Rush left a mark on how modern films portray on-track action, with many viewers noting its visceral, camera-close racing scenes and sound design. Fans of motor sport appreciated the period accuracy and the focus on rivalry as spectacle. The film renewed interest in the 1970s F1 era and reinforced Niki Lauda and James Hunt as icons of that moment.

Critics and audiences tended to like the movie, reflected in a vote average of 7.73 out of 10 from 7,598 votes. Reviews singled out Hemsworth and Brühl for strong, contrasting performances, and praised the way the film balances adrenaline with quieter moments about choice, risk, and personal cost. Themes include obsession with victory, the price of daring, and how two opposing temperaments can shape a sport.