Closing out the Year with Present Day Movies Featuring Footage of Vintage VWs

JBugs thought it would be fun to close out the year with a look back at the classic VWs that made it out of the cutting room floor and into the motion pictures.

draft: by last updated: September 19, 2023

VW History


Over the holiday break, JBugs surfed through the channels to find movies from today that feature classic Volkswagen models. Our past two blogs about VWs in motion pictures were from back in the day but now we've spotted the classics in films from the 2000's. We can't list them all, we don't have much time but we found some of our favorites and hope you enjoy!


1966 Volkswagen Squareback in The Mexican with Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts

Judging from the picture, it looks as though Jerry Welbach, in 2001’s The Mexican, is about to be crushed by an airborne 1966 Squareback. Not too sure what’s going on here but it’s another classic VW to check off our list.

1970 Volkswagen Beetle in Ted Bundy starring Michael Reilly Burke

Apparently, Beetles are the car of choice for murderers because yet again, someone who murdered another person or two (definitely more) uses a Beetle for transportation. In Ted Bundy, the infamous murderer drives around a yellow 1970 Beetle.

Volkswagen Baja Bug in Alpha Dog featuring Justin Timberlake, Olivia Wilde, Amanda Seyfried, Sharon Stone, Bruce Willis and the late Anton Yelchin

When Johnny Truelove tries to evade the law after masterminding a kidnapping and murder, he seeks refuge at his friend Buzz Fecske’s house where you will see Buzz working on a custom painted Baja Bug in the 2006 drama, Alpha Dog

VW Bus featured in Disney's Cars, voiced by George Carlin

We know some readers will be skeptical about our next VW but it was voiced by one of the most influential stand-up comedians of all time. In Disney’s Cars, George Carlin lends his chill vibe voice to the green and groovy Bus.  

Volkswagen Bus in Little Miss Sunshine starring Steve Carell, Abigail Breslin, Alan Arkin, Greg Kinnear, Bryan Cranston, Toni Collette and Paul Dano

In 2006’s Little Miss Sunshine, a family travels cross country in an old, beat down yellow Bus to get their daughter to a pageant where she kills her dance routine in a leotard that must be at least two sizes too small.

1966 Volkswagen Beetle featured in Cloud Atlas with Halle Berry

Even after reading the synopsis   and multiple reviews, we still aren’t too sure what Cloud Atlas is about but we do know that Halle Berry gets into a pretty bad accident after being hit while driving a 1966 Beetle.

Volkswagen Type 1 in Mad Max: Fury Road starring Charlize Theron, Tom Hardy, Nicholas Hoult, Zoe Kravitz, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Riley Keough

Last but not least, you will see some pretty trippy VWs in the latest installment of the Mad Max franchise, Mad Max: Fury Road. It takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where protection is necessary when entering the wasteland. Each vehicle, including a Type 1 and Beetle, is equipped with weapons, such as flamethrowers and machine guns, as well as outer armor.

You thought you saw the last of our Volkswagen appearances?! Think again and check out the following slideshow with more of the classic Volkswagens on the silver screen.

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”1973

”1974

”1972

”1971

”1976

”1973

”Classic

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