Ford v Ferrari is an excellent 2019 sports drama about the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans race. It stars Matt Damon and Christian Bale as an auto designer and an eccentric driver who struggle to defeat the unstoppable Italian company. The film earned $225.5 million at the box office and claimed a 92% positive score on Rotten Tomatoes. It’s a thoughtful sports drama currently enjoying a powerful position on Netflix, and anyone who missed this project from five years ago should seek it out now.
Ford v Ferrari Races Up Netflix’s International Charts
Ford v Ferrari isn’t a great title. It sounds a bit like a racing game from the early PlayStation era. I can’t think of a better title off the top of my head, but foreign markets called it Le Mans ’66, which I’d call an improvement. If you’re anything like me, that title didn’t win your attendance at the theater, but you missed out. The film is a masterpiece. It’s a gripping true story about ambition, artistry, and competition. Every racing scene keeps the audience on the edges of their seats, but the dramatic back and forth between Damon and Bale livens up every moment. Director James Mangold delivers excitement, emotional catharsis, stellar performances, and hilarious comedic moments. Ford v Ferrari earned Oscar nominations for Best Picture and Best Sound Editing and won Best Film Editing. This is not an underground movie, but it did come out five years ago.
I strongly recommend Ford v Ferrari, but I’m sad to say it’s not available on Netflix in the United States. US audiences can only find it with a Live TV subscription to Hulu or FX or a VPN. The film owes its current boost in popularity to most of Europe, some of Asia, and a bit of Africa. Finland earns the highest credit, placing the film in second place nationwide. 28 countries handed Mangold’s excellent sports drama 3rd place on Netflix, but its international score lands at fourth place. It began its climb on March 16th. Most entries in the top ten disappear after a couple of days, so don’t expect Ford v. Ferrari to stay above the pack. It’s an excellent film and one of the best ways to spend two hours on Netflix, but nothing stays up forever. Anyone in the UK or Australia can enjoy the ride.
Ford v Ferrari is one of the best films of the last five years. It deserved the massive accolades it received. Finding it might be a struggle for some, but it’s worth a bit of a chase. Matt Damon, Christian Bale, and James Mangold came together in a story they felt passionate about. Even if you don’t love sports movies, track down Ford v Ferrari. It’s a race for the ages and a drive well worth taking.
