Prestigious, critically acclaimed films and the Mercedes-Benz brand share many of the same standards when it comes to sophistication, refinement, and enjoyment. It’s no coincidence, then, that Mercedes-Benz and Hollywood have crossed paths several times throughout the history of cinema.
The total amount of times Mercedes-Benz have zipped across the silver screen is, at this point, too high to keep track of. Instead, here are the five iconic Mercedes-Benz film appearances that rank amongst the most memorable.
American Gigolo (1980)
After writing the screenplay for Martin Scorsese’s breakout Taxi Driver, director Paul Schrader knew how important the relationship between protagonist and vehicle was when he helmed neo-noir crime drama American Gigolo. The Blondie-infused intro to the film sees Richard Gere’s Julian Kay cruising the Pacific Coast Highway in a Mercedes Benz 450 SL convertible as “Call Me” blasts through the speakers. Before the first line of dialogue is spoken, the Benz-assisted intro is enough to convey that Julian is someone of importance with style to spare.
Ronin (1988)
If 1968’s Steve McQueen-starring Bullitt launched the car chase genre, it was gearhead director John Frankenheimer’s Ronin that sent it into overdrive. The film’s espionage-based plot may be convoluted, but you don’t need a full comprehension of what’s happening to appreciate the incredible car chase scenes featuring awesome automobiles. In one standout scene, Jean Reno’s gunman Vincent takes the wheel of a 1976 Mercedes-Benz 450 SEL 6.9, and his passenger makes use of its spacious sunroof to fire a rocket launcher at the vehicle they’re pursuing.
The Rookie (1990)
In this buddy cop picture, Clint Eastwood’s wily veteran detective takes Charlie Sheen’s rookie officer under his wing to infiltrate a car theft ring. The pair manage to escape the bad guys’ base of operations with a Mercedes-Benz 500 SL convertible, which they promptly drive through a second story plate-glass window at full speed as the warehouse explodes behind them. Not the ideal test drive, but Eastwood’s quips don’t cease regardless.
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Casino (1995)
Scorsese takes us back to the late 1970’s in this mid-90s Mafia thriller. Sharon Stone’s streetwise hustler Ginger McKenna is clearly making the most of the decade, as she drives a 1975 Mercedes-Benz 450 SL. The car-to-driver fit proves to be less than ideal, as McKenna proceeds to slam the Benz into Robert De Niro’s car, drive it over a lawn, and back it into the side of a Cadillac, all within the same sequence.
The Hangover (2009)
One of the highlights of this 2009 comedy is the self-styled Wolf Pack (Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, and Zack Galifianakis) cruising the Vegas Strip in a 1965 Mercedes-Benz 220 SE. This being a Hangover film, the car (like its protagonists) gets trashed quickly, but before succumbing to its fate, the convertible goes toe-to-toe with both a tiger and a Cadillac Escalade.
Bonus: Spaceballs (1987)
This 1987 Star Wars parody features a 2001 Mercedes Benz SEL Limited Edition… from another universe. In reality, Vespa’s Limited Edition, space-age-style Mercedes-Benz didn’t even have an actual engine, relying instead on Hollywood magic to give it the illusion of movement. But following the film’s production, designer Dean Jeffries took the vehicle home and equipped it with an engine that gave it a top speed of 100 mph, gifting the hovercraft a second life in film and television.
From the Big Screen to Your Garage
It doesn’t need to be Oscar season for you to join the Mercedes-Benz family today. Whether you’re looking to buy new or pre-owned, Mercedes-Benz of Macon will have you feeling like a star when you drive off our lot.
And while you should feel free to cruise around blasting 80’s tunes in your new Mercedes-Benz, we’d recommend not attempting to replicate the other moments on this list.
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