Almost 50 Shows with Sentient Cars
by alden-ash | created - 27 Oct 2014 | updated - 16 Dec 2020 | PublicWith the American love of the automobile, it is no wonder that so many shows have been done with thinking cars - whether it is due to magic, or technology.
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1. My Mother the Car (1965–1966)
TV-PG | 30 min | Comedy, Fantasy
The story of the relationship between a man and his mother, the latter having been reincarnated as a 1928 Porter automobile.
Stars: Jerry Van Dyke, Maggie Pierce, Ann Sothern, Cindy Eilbacher
Votes: 754
2. Christine (1983)
R | 110 min | Horror, Thriller
A nerdish boy buys a strange car with an evil mind of its own and his nature starts to change to reflect it.
Director: John Carpenter | Stars: Keith Gordon, John Stockwell, Alexandra Paul, Robert Prosky
Votes: 92,513 | Gross: $21.20M
3. The Love Bug (1969)
G | 108 min | Comedy, Family, Sport
Down-on-his-luck race car driver Jim Douglas teams up with a little VW Bug that has a mind of it's own, not realizing Herbie's worth until a sneaky rival plots to steal him.
Director: Robert Stevenson | Stars: Dean Jones, Michele Lee, David Tomlinson, Buddy Hackett
Votes: 17,551 | Gross: $5.09M
4. Knight Rider (1982–1986)
TV-PG | 46 min | Action, Crime, Drama
A lone crimefighter battles the forces of evil with the help of a virtually indestructible and artificially intelligent supercar.
Stars: David Hasselhoff, Edward Mulhare, Richard Basehart, Patricia McPherson
Votes: 37,626
5. Wheelie and the Chopper Bunch (1974–1975)
TV-Y | 6 min | Animation, Comedy, Family
this animated comedy follows the misadventures of a car named wheelie.
Stars: Frank Welker, Judy Strangis, Paul Winchell, Lennie Weinrib
Votes: 180
6. Knight Rider (2008–2009)
TV-14 | 60 min | Adventure, Mystery, Thriller
A former Army Ranger, an FBI agent and a young woman search for the culprits who want the crime-fighting car KITT.
Stars: Justin Bruening, Deanna Russo, Paul Campbell, Smith Cho
Votes: 10,015
7. Herbie Fully Loaded (2005)
G | 101 min | Adventure, Comedy, Family
Maggie Peyton, the new owner of Herbie, Number 53, the free-wheelin' Volkswagen bug with a mind of its own, puts the car through its paces on the road to becoming a NASCAR competitor.
Director: Angela Robinson | Stars: Lindsay Lohan, Michael Keaton, Cheryl Hines, Breckin Meyer
Votes: 50,850 | Gross: $66.02M
8. Herbie, the Love Bug (1982)
60 min | Comedy, Family
Jim and Bo run a driving school with Herbie, a sentient VW Beetle who frequently lands them in comic misadventures. Jim's rival Randy was once engaged to Jim's girlfriend Susan.
Stars: Dean Jones, Patricia Harty, Richard Paul, Claudia Wells
Votes: 663
9. Herbie Rides Again (1974)
Passed | 88 min | Comedy, Family, Fantasy
The living Volkswagen Beetle helps an old lady protect her home from a corrupt developer.
Director: Robert Stevenson | Stars: Helen Hayes, Ken Berry, Stefanie Powers, John McIntire
Votes: 8,846 | Gross: $38.23M
10. Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo (1977)
G | 105 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy
Herbie, the Volkswagen Beetle with a mind of its own, is racing in the Monte Carlo Rally. Unbeknownst to Herbie's driver, thieves have hidden a stolen diamond in Herbie's gas tank, and are now trying to get it back.
Director: Vincent McEveety | Stars: Dean Jones, Don Knotts, Julie Sommars, Jacques Marin
Votes: 8,127
11. Herbie Goes Bananas (1980)
G | 100 min | Adventure, Comedy, Family
The adorable little VW helps its owners break up a counterfeiting ring in Mexico.
Director: Vincent McEveety | Stars: Charles Martin Smith, Stephen W. Burns, Cloris Leachman, John Vernon
Votes: 6,255 | Gross: $18.00M
12.
The Wonderful World of Disney (1997–2023)
Episode:
The Love Bug
(1997)
TV-G | 88 min | Adventure, Comedy, Drama
Herbie, the magical Volkswagen Beetle, is passed on to a new owner. Together, they must battle a dastardly racer and his devil-car "Horace", an evil Herbie.
Director: Peyton Reed | Stars: Bruce Campbell, John Hannah, Alexandra Wentworth, Kevin J. O'Connor
Votes: 1,498
13. The Transformers (1984–1987)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Two opposing factions of transforming alien robots engage in a battle that has the fate of Earth in the balance.
Stars: Frank Welker, Peter Cullen, Corey Burton, Christopher Collins
Votes: 23,558
14. Transformers (2007)
PG-13 | 144 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
An ancient struggle between two Cybertronian races, the heroic Autobots and the evil Decepticons, comes to Earth, with a clue to the ultimate power held by a teenager.
Director: Michael Bay | Stars: Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson
Votes: 675,241 | Gross: $319.25M
15. The Transformers: The Movie (1986)
PG | 84 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
The Autobots must stop a colossal planet consuming robot who goes after the Autobot Matrix of Leadership. At the same time, they must defend themselves against an all-out attack from the Decepticons.
Director: Nelson Shin | Stars: Orson Welles, Robert Stack, Leonard Nimoy, Norman Alden
Votes: 41,964 | Gross: $5.85M
16. Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011)
PG-13 | 154 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
The Autobots learn of a Cybertronian spacecraft hidden on the moon, and race against the Decepticons to reach it and to learn its secrets.
Director: Michael Bay | Stars: Shia LaBeouf, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Tyrese Gibson, Josh Duhamel
Votes: 432,244 | Gross: $352.39M
17. Transformers: Animated (2007–2009)
TV-Y7 | 20 min | Animation, Action, Family
Transformers crash land on present day Earth and inadvertently cause a technological revolution. They wake up 50 years later in a world where robots are used in everyday life. StarScream arrives looking for their AllSpark.
Stars: David Kaye, Jeff Bennett, Bumper Robinson, Tom Kenny
Votes: 2,590
18. Transformers Prime (2010–2013)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
In this new set of adventures the Autobots live on Earth and maintain their secret identity. They are joined by 3 teens as they battle the Decepticons.
Stars: Peter Cullen, Sumalee Montano, Jeffrey Combs, Frank Welker
Votes: 8,176
19. Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2000)
TV-Y7 | 22 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Optimus Prime and the Autobots defend Earth against Megatron and combined forces of the evil Predacons and Decepticons.
Stars: Neil Kaplan, Daniel Riordan, Jason Spisak, Peter Spellos
Votes: 597
20. Speed Buggy (1973–1983)
TV-G | 30 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Animated 'Saturday-morning' television cartoon about a race car.
Stars: Mel Blanc, Arlene Golonka, Chris Allen, Michael Bell
Votes: 801
21. Wonderbug (1976–1978)
15 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy
The adventures of a living clunker of a dune buggy that is able to become a superhero car.
Stars: David Levy, Carol Anne Seflinger, Jack Baker, Frank Welker
Votes: 208
22. Cars (2006)
G | 116 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
On the way to the biggest race of his life, a hotshot rookie race car gets stranded in a rundown town and learns that winning isn't everything in life.
Directors: John Lasseter, Joe Ranft | Stars: Owen Wilson, Bonnie Hunt, Paul Newman, Larry the Cable Guy
Votes: 470,568 | Gross: $244.08M
23. Cars 2 (2011)
G | 106 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Star race car Lightning McQueen and his pal Mater head overseas to compete in the World Grand Prix race. But the road to the championship becomes rocky as Mater gets caught up in an intriguing adventure of his own: international espionage.
Directors: John Lasseter, Bradford Lewis | Stars: Owen Wilson, Larry the Cable Guy, Michael Caine, Emily Mortimer
Votes: 218,260 | Gross: $191.45M
24. Planes (2013)
PG | 91 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
A cropdusting plane with a fear of heights lives his dream of competing in a famous around-the-world aerial race.
Director: Klay Hall | Stars: Carlos Alazraqui, Dane Cook, Stacy Keach, Brad Garrett
Votes: 48,682 | Gross: $90.29M
25. Mater's Tall Tales (2008–2012)
Not Rated | 36 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Cruise into the crazy adventures of Tow Mater as you watch him be a fire truck, daredevil, import drifter, and even an astronaut.
Stars: Larry the Cable Guy, Keith Ferguson, Lindsey Collins, Elissa Knight
Votes: 4,201
26. Pole Position (1984–1985)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Short, Action
A teen stunt car team secretly fights crime with the help of their artificially intelligent cars.
Stars: Lisa Lindgren, Kaleena Kiff, David Coburn, Jack Angel
Votes: 359
27. Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
PG | 104 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
When a cartoon rabbit is accused of murder, he enlists the help of a burnt out private investigator to prove his innocence.
Director: Robert Zemeckis | Stars: Bob Hoskins, Christopher Lloyd, Joanna Cassidy, Charles Fleischer
Votes: 216,997 | Gross: $156.45M
28. Turbo Teen (1984– )
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Adventure, Sci-Fi
The adventures of a boy who can physically transform into a living car.
Stars: Frank Welker, T.K. Carter, Pamela Hayden, Pat Fraley
Votes: 270
29. Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014)
PG-13 | 165 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
When humanity allies with a bounty hunter in pursuit of Optimus Prime, the Autobots turn to a mechanic and his family for help.
Director: Michael Bay | Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Nicola Peltz Beckham, Jack Reynor, Stanley Tucci
Votes: 331,768 | Gross: $245.44M
30. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)
PG-13 | 149 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Sam Witwicky leaves the Autobots behind for a normal life. But when his mind is filled with cryptic symbols, the Decepticons target him and he is dragged back into the Transformers' war.
Director: Michael Bay | Stars: Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson
Votes: 428,675 | Gross: $402.11M
31. Beast Wars: Transformers (1996–1999)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
The Transformers' war continues in an older time, through a new generation. On pliocenic Earth, the heroic Maximals and the evil Predacons battle for survival against each other and against a violent planet.
Stars: Scott McNeil, Garry Chalk, Ian James Corlett, Richard Newman
Votes: 8,641
32. Transformers: Cybertron (2005)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
The Autobots embark on a quest to locate mystical artifacts to save their homeworld of Cybertron from being sucked into a black hole. But the Decepticons want to get their hands on those artifacts too.
Stars: Garry Chalk, Sarah Edmondson, Sam Vincent, Richard Newman
Votes: 1,027
33. Transformers: Armada (2002–2003)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Action, Animation, Adventure
The Autobots and the Decepticons are going at it again, but this time the two factions are fighting over little transformers called the Mini-Cons. These Transformers gives their masters a ... See full summary »
Stars: Garry Chalk, David Kaye, Scott McNeil, Kirby Morrow
Votes: 1,648
34. Challenge of the GoBots (1984–1985)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Gobots are loosely based on the Tonka toy line. There are two warring factions: the Gaurdians, lead by the charismatic Leader-1, and the Renegades, lead by Cy-Kill, who is bent on dominating Gobotron and then the Earth and the galaxy.
Stars: Lou Richards, Bernard Erhard, Frank Welker, Marilyn Lightstone
Votes: 1,095
35. GoBots: Battle of the Rock Lords (1986)
G | 75 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
The Go-Bots fight to rescue the Rock People.
Directors: Don Lusk, Ray Patterson, Alan Zaslove | Stars: Margot Kidder, Roddy McDowall, Telly Savalas, Michael Bell
Votes: 555 | Gross: $1.34M
36. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)
G | 144 min | Adventure, Family, Fantasy
A down-on-his-luck inventor turns a broken-down Grand Prix car into a fancy vehicle for his children, and then they go off on a magical fantasy adventure to save their grandfather in a far-off land.
Director: Ken Hughes | Stars: Dick Van Dyke, Sally Ann Howes, Lionel Jeffries, Benny Hill
Votes: 50,739 | Gross: $7.50M
37. Transformers: The Headmasters (1987–1988)
TV-PG | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
With the aid of the Headmasters the mighty Cybertrons (Autobots) continue to wage war against their evil counterparts the Destrons (Decepticons). But with Convoy (Optimus Prime) now gone can the Cybertrons win?
Stars: Hideyuki Hori, Masato Hirano, Ryôichi Tanaka, Ikuya Sawaki
Votes: 806
38. Transformers: Super-God Masterforce (1988–1989)
30 min | Animation, Adventure, Family
A new threat to Earth arises when powerful giant Decepticon Pretenders shaped like Earth's beasts escape their ancient prison at the bottom of the ocean. Autobot Pretenders who can turn into human and live among them fight back.
Stars: Yumi Tôma, Keiichi Noda, Hiroko Emori, Yuriko Yamamoto
Votes: 254
39. Transformers: Victory (1989)
30 min | Animation, Adventure, Family
Transformers: Victory begins in the year 2025 when the Cybertron Leader Star Saber defeats the leader of the Destrons, Deszaras and traps his space headquarters in intergalactic dust. The ... See full summary »
Stars: Hideyuki Tanaka, Hiroshi Takemura, Miyako Endô, Kyôko Tongû
Votes: 349
40. Transformers: Zone (1990 Video)
TV-Y7-FV | 23 min | Animation, Short, Action
Its a Transformer battle royale when a evil demon named Vullinjir recreates six Destron gestalts (Giant robots composed of smaller ones) and pits them against the Cybertron Micromasters ... See full summary »
Director: Hiromichi Matano | Stars: Yûsaku Yara, Kaneto Shiozawa, Eiko Yamada, Naoko Watanabe
Votes: 159
41. Transformers Generation 2 (1992–1994)
TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Abridged version of the 1984 show with added CGI intros. Cybernet Space Cube is a Cybetronian learning tool that presents stories from the original show as history lessons.
Votes: 78
42. Beast Wars II: Super Life-Form Transformers (1998– )
30 min | Animation, Action, Family
A new generation of Maximals and Predacons appear on Earth to continue the Beast Wars.
Stars: Hozumi Gôda, Tetsuo Komura, Junko Takeuchi, Hiroki Takahashi
Votes: 157
43. Super Life-Form Transformers: Beast Wars Neo (1999)
30 min | Animation, Action, Fantasy
Big Convoy leads rookie Autobot Maximals against Magmatron and his Decepticon Predacons who are after energy source called Angolmois. However, when ancient evil transformer Unicron and his Blendtrons appear, everything changes.
Stars: Hozumi Gôda, Jun'ichi Inoue, Jun Uemoto, Junko Takeuchi
Votes: 102
44. Transformers: Rescue Bots (2011–2016)
TV-Y7 | 20 min | Animation, Short, Action
The Rescue Bots are Transformers that work with a family of heroes to rescue humans from disasters. These non-violent Transformer stories were aimed at pre-school viewers.
Stars: Lacey Chabert, Elan Garfias, Maurice LaMarche, Jason Marsden
Votes: 1,115
45. Transformers: Energon (2004)
TV-Y7 | 24 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Years after "Transformers: Armada", the Autobots continue to battle the Decepticons, but this time they must also prevent the resurrection of Unicron.
Stars: Garry Chalk, David Kaye, Matt Hill, Brad Swaile
Votes: 894
46. Heat Vision and Jack (1999 TV Movie)
30 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy
Astronaut on the run with special powers and his talking motorcycle must deal with a malevolent artificial life form that's possessing people and turning them into dust, as well as NASA's hitman and real life actor Ron Silver.
Director: Ben Stiller | Stars: Jack Black, Owen Wilson, Ron Silver, Christine Taylor
Votes: 1,781
47. Team Knight Rider (1997–1998)
TV-PG | 60 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Years after the adventures of Michael Knight and KITT, a new team of artificially intelligent super vehicles and their drivers continue the fight against evil wherever they go.
Stars: Brixton Karnes, Christine Steel, Duane Davis, Kathy Trageser
Votes: 1,122
48. Bob the Builder (1997–2018)
TV-Y | 10 min | Animation, Comedy, Family
Bob Builder and his machine team are ready to tackle any project. Bob and Can-Do Crew demonstrate power of positive thinking, problem-solving, teamwork,.
Stars: Rob Rackstraw, Kate Harbour, Neil Morrissey, Lorelei King
Votes: 5,610
49. Cars 3 (2017)
G | 102 min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy
Lightning McQueen sets out to prove to a new generation of racers that he's still the best race car in the world.
Director: Brian Fee | Stars: Owen Wilson, Cristela Alonzo, Chris Cooper, Nathan Fillion
Votes: 122,308 | Gross: $152.90M
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