Top 10 WORST Movie Chase Scenes

“X-Men Origins: Wolverine” (2009)
Unbelievable conflict is inevitable when dealing with a character who cannot be killed, but “X-Men Origins” does not even try to build realistic stakes. The film’s helicopter pursuit sequence has all the hallmarks of a bad chase scene: choppy editing, shoddy CGI, and unrealistic stunts. Among the most unbelievable is Wolverine knocking down a turret rifle right as they’re firing at him. Yikes! Hugo Jackman himself was disappointed with the final results, wanting more focus on Logan. The film itself underperformed, and future “Origins” films were canceled. Perhaps they should have eased up on the maniacal helicopters.

“Getaway” (2013)
Imagine plowing through the streets of Sofia, Bulgaria, police hot on your heels, and somehow getting away. The film, concerning a former race car driver desperate to save his wife from a mysterious figure called The Voice, is obviously just a thin excuse for the action scenes. Unfortunately, the action scenes are just as incoherent and preposterous as the plot. Since the movie itself is basically just one lengthy car chase, it’s hard to pick out a particular “worst” moment - though there is one decent sequence done all in one shot. But the other chase scenes are poorly edited and confusing to follow. In fact, the whole film is over-edited, featuring over 6,000 cuts, compared to an average of 1,600 for most films, and that “when in doubt, cut” mentality weakens the primary chase scene as well. Get away from this mess!

“Spectre” (2015)
Secret agent James Bond is many things, but dull and humdrum he isn’t. So why does this car chase scene in his 24th film feel so tame and soporific? This polite 6-minute game of follow-the-leader definitely errs on the side of caution. At the same time, it includes comic details like Bond getting stuck behind a slow car and nudging it into a parking space. Very thoughtful. The film is overall as risk-shy as its chase scenes, with some critics even calling it “disappointingly conventional” for a Bond film. Wake us up when he finishes the chase.

“Batman Forever” (1995)
“Is this for real?” “Is this necessary?” These are questions you may have asked while watching this old-school Batman film. Directed by Joel Schumacher, “Batman Forever” is known as one of the worst entries in the franchise. Sure enough, its chase scenes contribute to its low standing. In one especially memorable scene, after evading Two Face’s flamethrower, Batman manages to climb the Batmobile up the building by tying it to a gargoyle. Eschewing the dark, dystopian tone for a comic one was definitely a bad call. In the end, the film’s mixed reviews and this baffling chase scene may be its legacy.

“Escape from L.A.” (1996)
Surfer dudes, rejoice! Here is finally a film that vindicates you. This John Carpenter film may have developed a cult following, but it really goes into bonkers territory with this scene. Our protagonist Snake on a surfboard chases the antagonist in a car…and succeeds. Add in the dated CGI and this chase instantly enters on surreal territory. The ease with which Snake gets the car in his control is also disappointing. That said, it may be to the film’s credit that such a baffling chase scene was kept mercifully short. Your mileage may vary, but this is action camp at its worst.

“Wanted” (2008)
Some bad chase scenes are ridiculously unrealistic. Others are merely incoherent and dull. At least one is both. In this film’s chase scene, Angelina Jolie pivots her car and opens the passenger door to scoop up a flabbergasted James McAvoy. This was done at record speed and with perfect blink-and-you-miss-it timing. Naturally, the assailant’s ordinary van manages to keep up with Jolie’s svelte sports car. Add in the scene’s fast cuts and Jolie managing to shoot the van’s windshield without looking, and it’s a dud. This film chase scene was definitely not Wanted.

“Speed Zone” (1989)
Action comedy can be hard to pull off, and when it misses, it can be painful. This action comedy film begins with a car chase scene that is wrong in just about every way. It’s got car commercial-esque framing, police cars easily keeping up with sports cars, and stilted acting. Incorporating the opening credits, the sequence doesn’t win any points for being long and drawn-out. The scene finally ends with a cartoonish defiance of physics: the car skips over the lake’s surface like a rock. Unsurprisingly, the film was universally panned by critics for being venal and just plain unfunny.

“Ultraviolet” (2006)
Complete with cheesy special effects and over-the-top action, this chase scene is truly stretching things. Milla Jovovich stars in this impenetrable sci-fi film, complete with a physics-defying chase scene with motorcycles (and helicopters!) able to go sideways on tall buildings. Gravity is not the only law this film breaks: It breaks the laws of a good action chase scene. Some of these problems, however, must be due to the fact that the film was released only half-finished. Director Kurt Wilmer had stated that the released film was cut down significantly. The result is an incoherent, forgettable mess.

“Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” (2008)
One thing arguably worse than a bad chase scene is a chase scene interrupted. The “Indiana Jones” franchise has had its share of thrilling car scenes. Unfortunately, a cliffside car chase interjected with some monkey business—literally—isn’t one of them. Apart from the obvious CGI, there is the Tarzan swinging, gratuitous Russian, and deux ex machina via monkeys. Then there is the ridiculous collision with the villain’s vehicle landing on top of our protagonists’. Of course, our heroes are safe and sound without a scratch. Jumping the shark? More like jumping the vehicle with monkeys onboard. Or, er, just nuking the fridge.

“A View to a Kill” (1985)
What is it with terrible chase scenes and surfing? Bond again returns for the most bafflingly hilarious chase scene yet. This chase begins conventionally if not particularly exciting. The real magic happens with Roger Moore’s Bond using a piece of snowmobile as a snow-based surfboard to the Beach Boys’ “California Girls.” Complete with risible slow-motion and obvious stunt double work, Bond’s surfboard skips like a rock in water while the hapless villains drown. Many a logic-defying chase scene has made us feel real bad, but you just can’t beat those California girls.