5 movie-famous Camaros from the ’80s to the aughts
With the Camaro nameplate retiring soon, we’re honoring the beloved two-door with a series of love letters, fun lists, and memories. Many performance cars, especially nowadays, aim for an anodyne version of perfection that only a few can afford. The Camaro is for the rest of us—and it’s always ready to party. Still, we can’t pretend the car we’re about to celebrate over the next week or so is perfect. That in mind, let down your hair and come with us for a deep dive into what, exactly, makes the Camaro so bitchin’.
The Camaro lived a fruitful life on our city streets and open highways, but its role on the silver screen was just as noteworthy. Whether or not they entered the theater as car buffs, moviegoers from around the world were introduced to Chevrolet’s take on the classic pony car, and its muscular roles in many movies often stole the show. So let’s dig into five such movies where the Camaro took center stage.
Better Off Dead (1985)
Is there a better car for the dark humor present in this unconventional “coming of age” story of a teenage boy in the American suburbs? Very few cars embody the youthful energy and aspirational performance of a Camaro, especially in the 1980s when the first-generation models were both plentiful and affordable for a middle-class teenager.
Picking a black 1967 Camaro RS/SS for Better Off Dead was casting perfection: Motoring out of the garage for the first time to a classic Muddy Waters song was the perfect analogy for a teenage boy coming out of his shell. It was a moment of swagger and success for Lane Myer (played by John Cusack) and the moment altered his trajectory in the movie. Though I wish the Camaro’s headlight doors opened as it left the house, this remains a scene that few of us will forget.
2 Fast 2 Furious (2003)
Here, we have the polar opposite of a darkly subtle comedy. The high-velocity action of 2 Fast 2 Furious wouldn’t be the same without a ’69 Camaro wearing racing stripes. Because the cars are truly the stars in this franchise, the film’s creators wisely crafted a first-gen Camaro with Yenko graphics inside and out for Brian O’Conner (Paul Walker). While the Yenko was demolished in an elaborate stunt, plenty of ’69 Camaros have met a similarly disastrous fate without exciting a single moviegoer. That’s gonna count for something, because there’s even a book chronicling how much effort went into preparing the cars in The Fast and The Furious movies.
Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)
Do Camaros and coming-of-age movies go hand in hand? Unfortunately, the 1981 Camaro Z-28 in Fast Times at Ridgemont High didn’t save the day like the Camaro in Better Off Dead. Instead, the ’81 was destroyed by careless Jeff Spicoli (Sean Penn) who clearly was a better surfer than he was a motorist. (Or not.) But the Camaro as a quintessential character-actor for movies about high school cannot be understated. It’s a pairing that endures, much like the popularity of the second-generation F-body in the darkest times of automotive performance.
Runaway Bride (1999)
I have a feeling that a romantic comedy like Runaway Bride is low on many of our movie lists, especially one with a 46 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. But the fiercely independent personality of Maggie Carpenter (Julia Roberts) only has one peer in the automotive world: a 1999 Camaro Z28 convertible in Light Pewter Metallic with an LS1 soundtrack. Perhaps a Firebird would suffice for the altar-jumping bride, but this Camaro is more of a sweet charmer, with that toothy smile above a set of chrome wheels. While it’s true that General Motors sold this car back in 2009 for an impressive $28,850, some problems—like GM’s bankruptcy ordeal—are too big for one Camaro to solve. It only makes sense this Camaro would flee before it got ensnared in a messy divorce.
Transformers (2007)
And who could forget the new, hard-core Bumblebee from the Transformers movie franchise? Originally a VW Beetle back in the 1980s, Bumblebee’s 2007 theatrical debut required him to be assertive enough to fit into the Michael Bay film formula. Clearly, a New Beetle would not cut it, even if it was a spicy RSi-like model in a bright yellow color. Morphing into the new Camaro (still a prototype at the time) was a great idea, especially since it really looks like General Motors paid to play in this blockbuster. The timing couldn’t be more perfect: a new, fifth-generation Camaro was just around the corner, and a new generation of Transformers fans would associate the next Camaro with this iconic character.
If only that iconic movie role were enough to keep the assembly line cranking out new Camaros for all to enjoy—but hey, at least we have the memories. Thanks for that, Chevrolet.
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Wasn’t there also some short lived Springsteen-esq New Jersey based TV drama in the ’80’s where the young protagonist was named Joey Camaro and drove one? Seems to me it may even been set in Asbury Park. And I’m not a big Bruce fan..
Since I’m a Mopar guy, how about the Camaro in Vanishing Point?
That was my first thought too… the stand-in for the Challenger that hit the bulldozer.
That was what I immediately thought of! Unfortunately, they destroyed the camaro in the 70s.
Isn’t Vanishing Point a 70’s movie? I might be wrong.
The mid ‘70s movie, Aloha Bobby and Rose, played big part in my buying my first Camaro after high school graduation in 1975. I was looking at Camaros, Novas, Chevelles, and came close to buying an early Mustang fastback. But after seeing that movie, I was hooked on the Camaro, and I bought my first ‘69 soon afterwards.
Should be at the top of the list. Earl Sceib has a cameo.
Yeah, that movie doesn’t get enough mention in the car movie conversations. It was a ’68 Camaro with cowl hood, big wheel-well flares with the tires to fill them, and header side pipes. It had a fun cruising and racing evening on the town with lit up gauges and Elton John music, and there was a conversation with a cop about the engine being built up from a 302. It was a pretty cool movie at the time, at least for me.
Will need to watch the movie. Thanks and Happy Thanksgiving.
Happy Thanksgiving to you as well!
Whenever I hear Carnevil 9 by ELP I feel the urge to speed! It’s on my playlist!
I liked the camaro that Christine destroyed …shame to see it “killed” by Christine but still..wow what a great Camaro!
Absolutely movieman!!!
You forgot Aloha Bobby and Rose – best film Camaro
At Close Range movie
https://youtu.be/Br0Kum6sxpI?si=g6hIkQwWF4rjlx2Y
Transformers would be my least favorite of this bunch.
There was never really a great Camaro film credit.
Too often it was abused and destroyed.
Transformers was about the best thing they ever had.
Corvettes, Trans Am and Mustangs have all had hero rolls but the Camaro just was a bit player in most movies.
I loved the car in Better off Dead. The Fast And was a joke, Ridgemont High it was a punch line.
Runaway bride chick flick.
Now TV shows we had some good roles and my favorite was the targa on Simon and Simon.
Billy’s car on Stranger Things. Etc.
Mr. Negativity strikes again.
Regarding the Transformers Camaro, originally a Mustang was going to be the hero car but because GM was about to bring back the Camaro they pumped a lot of money into the production of the movie, as a way to promote the new Camaro. The Mustang then became a villain car, and the new Camaro was to be Bumblebee. However, when shooting began GM didn’t actually have a running Camaro yet so Steve Saleen was tasked with building one for the movie. Yes, the guy that made his mark building killer Mustangs. Ironic huh?
The 1st one on the list is it for me. The Better Off Dead Camaro started it all for me, and is why I now own a ’67.
Same. Seemed like it was a character in the movie. What a great car.
Hi, Guess I’m a lot partial to the early bull dog stance of the SS model. The squatty stance and fat tires gives an aggressive and positive attitude to the viewer. Hideaway headlights are an added asset. The Camaro name will always have this mindset.
Hello? How about a little movie called “Aloha Bobby & Rose” ….? The Camaro was the star.
Hagerty…..I’m starting to wonder if you’re REALLY into cars………….
Aloha Bobby and Rose was released in 1976 and this article is centered around 1980 to mid 2000s movies so not exactly a glaring omission. Could be a head start to a second list that focuses on earlier movies though!
Better Off Dead – Hard to beat the original. Especially when you have a young guy that other than a pretty girl his goal is to fix it up and when a race.
That and the car started out just like mine. As a SS/RS Ermine White with Red Interior 4 spd 350 car.
My son would say the Transformer Camaro. The Z28 in Fast Times at Ridgemont High does it for me. Going back to the 70s, the 75 Camaro in Walking Tall Part 2. That car did it for me as a kid.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwir0ZfyztqCAxX1MjQIHUEQB5MQwqsBegQIDRAG&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Divagn-XHul8&usg=AOvVaw0mFe6q7H0GKCLSyWBgFU8O&opi=89978449
What about the yellow 71 camaro SS from the movie Gumball Rally?
that’s what i’m talkin’ about
That is my favorite of the movie cars. I have ha a few yellow muscle cars but now my favorite a 2019 shock/pearl white stripes 6 speed manual 1SS and drive it very fast ala gumball rally.
Dude, I love “Fast Times”…uh was there a Camaro in it? I only remember Spicoli falling out of the VW van.
They need side pipes ….. https://images.app.goo.gl/WP66Cqct2vR6j6ZR7
Those were some good looking Camaros, but the one in Fast Times was actually a 1979 and not a 1981 as noted in the article. Still doesn’t make it any less beautiful though!
Really? I thought it was a 1981 as well… I guess you learn something every day.
It is a 1979