6 Best Truckers and Highway Thriller Movies

By Vlad Zakh · May 30, 2026

Action intense

The open highway and the truckers who rule it has powered some of cinema’s most rollicking chases and white-knuckle thrillers. In Smokey and the Bandit (1977): A daredevil trucker races across state lines to smuggle beer while evading a relentless, furious sheriff. Worth seeking out is Breakdown (1997): A stranded motorist’s wife vanishes after accepting a ride from a friendly trucker, forcing him to uncover a sinister conspiracy.

Joy Ride (2001) 01

Joy Ride (2001)

TMDB ★ 6.3

Two brothers' prank call to a trucker over the CB radio spirals into a deadly, relentless pursuit.

Directed by John Dahl · 1h 38m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd
Breakdown (1997) 02

Breakdown (1997)

TMDB ★ 6.7

A stranded motorist's wife vanishes after accepting a ride from a friendly trucker, forcing him to uncover a sinister conspiracy.

Directed by Jonathan Mostow · 1h 33m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Paramount Plus Essential, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd
Black Dog (1998) 03

Black Dog (1998)

TMDB ★ 5.2

An ex-con trucker is blackmailed into hauling a shipment of illegal firearms across state lines.

Directed by Kevin Hooks · 1h 28m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd
Convoy (1978) 04

Convoy (1978)

TMDB ★ 5.8

A trucker's roadside clash with a corrupt sheriff snowballs into a massive convoy of rebellious truckers.

Directed by Sam Peckinpah · 1h 52m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, Philo, Midnight Pulp, Midnight Pulp Amazon Channel, MovieSphere+ Amazon Channel, Cineverse Amazon Channel · Rent: Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd
Smokey and the Bandit (1977) 05

Smokey and the Bandit (1977)

TMDB ★ 6.9

A daredevil trucker races across state lines to smuggle beer while evading a relentless, furious sheriff.

Directed by Hal Needham · 1h 36m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Stream: YouTube TV · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd
White Line Fever (1975) 06

White Line Fever (1975)

TMDB ★ 5.9

An independent trucker's refusal to haul illegal cargo puts him at war with a corrupt shipping conglomerate.

Directed by Jonathan Kaplan · 1h 30m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Stream: Howdy Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

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Vlad Zakh

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix, built to fix a specific annoyance: most recommendation sites are just algorithm-driven noise. Our lists are researched and organized by who's in a film, where it's from, and the mood you're actually in tonight.