It’s the time of year to gather with family. A movie night makes for a classic way to spend time together and have fun. We’ve picked out 6 of our favorite trucker movies for you to enjoy this holiday season. Whether you’re looking for action, thrills, comedy, something heartwarming, or all of the above, we have something on this list you’re sure to love.
Trucker Watching Holiday Movies with his Family
Christmas Comes to Willow Creek (1987)
We’re going to start our list with this holiday gem. It’s a Hallmark classic, so you know it’s going to have a heart-warming ending. The movie stars John Schneider and Tom Wopat (The Dukes of Hazzard county themselves) as two truckers hired to bring presents up to Willow Creek, Alaska, a town going through a depression after the local cannery shut down.
Smokey and the Bandit (1977)
We could have nostalgia on this list without including Smokey and the Bandit. Bandit (Burt Reynolds) and Cledus (Jerry Reed) accept a dare to pick up a truckload of beer from Texas and bring it back to Georgia in 28 hours. The pair pick up Carrie (Sally Field) when she jumps into Bandit’s car, unwittingly gaining the ire of Sheriff Buford T. Justice (a name impossible to read without hearing the legendary Jackie Gleason’s voice).
Over the Top (1987)
Sly Stallone stars in this 80’s flick about a struggling trucker, Lincoln Hawk, trying to rebuild his life. When he reconnects with his young son following the death of the boy’s mother, Hawk enters an arm wrestling competition to win $100,000 and a truck to start his own business with. The movie is classic Stallone with action, family struggles, and, of course, that truck.
Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
It’s like old Jack Burton always says: When you need a good movie to watch with the in-laws, you need Big Trouble in Little China. Kurt Russell stars as Jack Barton, a trucker who is perhaps a little more convinced of his own legend more than the people around him are. Jack assists his friend Wang when Wang’s fiance, Miao Yin, is kidnapped by a Chinese street gang. The duo team up with Gracie Law (Kim Cattrall) and sorcerer apprentice Egg Shen to rescue Miao Yin and stop the evil Lo Pan from regaining his power. In addition to Kurt Russel and Kim Cattrall, this movie – directed by John Carpenter – also stars legends like Victor Won, James Hong, and Carter Wong.
Maximum Overdrive (1986)
Stephen King wrote, wrote, and directed this movie. Based on his short story “Trucks”, Maximum Overdrive stars Emilio Estevez as an ex-con who tries to lead a group of survivors to safety when trucks, brought to life by a rogue comet, take over a truck stop. The movie is about as silly as the premise makes it sound. It is also campy, funny, and just plain fun to watch. Plus, you get the charming Yeardly Smith (Lisa Simpson).
Did we mention that the entire soundtrack is AC/DC?
Black Dog (1998)
We round off our list with thrills from the late, great Patrick Swayze. Ex trucker Jack Crews (Swayze) takes on a job to save his family. Little does he know, he’s hauling illegal artillery that Red, played by Meatloaf, is determined to get his hands on. As if Patrick Swayze and Meatloaf weren’t enough for this flick, it also includes Randy Travis, playing Earl, who teams up with Jack to make the delivery and help him save the day.
Have a safe and happy holiday season from all of us here at REY Logistics!