Even after 25 years since its release, the 1998 thriller 'Ronin' takes gold for featuring the greatest car chase of all time. And here’s why...
BY SAM MAIN
VIA HOTCARS
PUBLISHED MAR 3, 2023
Just over halfway through John Frankenheimer’s 1998 action-thriller ‘Ronin’, an incredible 8-minute-long car chase erupts featuring sports sedans immersing viewers in a realistic and gritty experience. A chase that traverses the landscape of Paris and gradually goes from 0-100 in tension and thrills! When the film debuted, little did audiences know just how iconic the car chase would become.
And 25 years after its release, the car chase scene remains unrivaled. ‘Ronin’ is best known for its action sequences. So much so the film features not one but two car chases. In the first act, a heist-gone-wrong sees a 1996 D2 Audi S8 go up against a 1995 Citroen XM in what is a visceral chase.
The cars are put through their paces, racing at break-neck speeds along open roads, narrow ancient streets, and dirt tracks that resemble a rally stage. Combined with an epic soundtrack, the chase is up there with one of the greats. However, this was only the appetizer. Then came the Paris pursuit involving a BMW M5, which is the film’s enduring legacy.
Ronin’s Cars Of Choice: BMW Versus Peugeot
Unlike the Fast and Furious franchise, ‘Ronin’ features 2 ordinary sedans in its signature chase scene. Not a bunch of extravagant, over-the-top supercars. It aims for realism. The villains lead in a 1991 BMW E34 M5 spec’d in a gorgeous metallic black color with turbine alloys. There is some debate as to what actual car was used in filming. Some say a 535i; others claim a standard 520i for damage-inducing stunts.
But what is certain is that one of the greatest analog sports sedans features heavily in this chase sequence. The viewer gets to hear its glorious straight six-engine echo throughout the Parisian streets. And the cinematography perfectly captures the car’s gorgeous styling. It’s a sight to behold.
On the other hand, the protagonists – DeNiro and Reno’s characters – pursue the M5 in a 1996 Peugeot 406, specifically, the 3.0 liter V6 variant. Like the BMW, debate continues to this day as to which model was used in filming.
But director John Frankenheimer lets the V6 engine roar and sing, even though the car struggles to keep up with the M5’s momentous power. It makes for an interesting chase sequence. The M5 could easily lose its tail, but when facing obstacles and busy Parisian traffic, the 406 manages to keep up.
Behind The Scenes Of The Ronin Car Chase
When Paris’ chief of police gave the film crew permission to do whatever they wanted, with no restrictions, it was as if the stars aligned for the perfect chase scene to happen. The behind-the-scenes making of the sequence is worthy of awards in itself. Led by stunt-car coordinator and race car driver Jean-Claude Lagniez, ‘Ronin’ saw only professional race car drivers be used for the 8-minute car chase.
From ex-Formula 1 to Champ Car series drivers, the results speak for themselves. The Paris chase saw over 100 race car drivers be tested to the limits. The M5 and 406 often broke 100 mph through the narrow city streets, dodging civilians, police cars, and other traffic. The list of risks to avoid was endless.
The toughest part of the chase saw the two now classic cars speed into and dodge oncoming traffic on a busy highway. While the traffic traveled at 35 mph, both the BMW and the Peugeot zipped past them at 75 mph. If something went wrong, such as a driver changing lanes at the wrong moment, the accident would have been catastrophic.
But, thanks to ruthless preparation and safety (such as installing each car with racing safety harnesses for the drivers), no such accident happened. Instead, a truly intense and exhilarating stunt sequence was successfully shot within 5 hours! The audience is put right in the driver’s seat and is made to witness every gear change, every turn, as each car is pushed to the limit.
What Makes Ronin's The Best Car Chase Of All Time?
After all the painstaking challenges that shooting the cat-and-mouse chase brought, the result is that ‘Ronin’ features the greatest cinematic car chase of all time.
There are other honorable mentions, such as ‘Bullitt’ and ‘Vanishing Point’, all of which are worthy of being in the hall of fame. But ‘Ronin’ is in another league of its own.
The chase puts 2 ordinary vehicles in an incredibly dangerous situation, building tension and suspense as the chase progresses. We get to hear the screeching of tires and the engine notes of BMW’s gorgeous inline-6 and Peugeot’s ferocious V6 as they roar across the city.
And seeing them drift and slide around corners, displaying incredible car control, you really get a sense that ‘Ronin’ is a film for petrol heads and car enthusiasts alike.
Frankenheimer’s film is now 25 years old, but its centerpiece car chase has remained unmatched and unrivaled even to this day. And to see what is in effect, two sleeper cars, the E34 M5 and the 406 battle it out across a busy city landscape is a sight to behold.
It’s a driver's film, a gearhead's vision of a perfectly executed chase sequence with two understated ordinary sedans. In that sense, it's accessible to the audience and makes the chase believable. And it's that grounded, down-to-earth style that helps make it the greatest cinematic car chase of all time.
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