Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows FanStore News Showtimes

Heart Like a Wheel

Play trailer Poster for Heart Like a Wheel PG Released Sep 15, 1983 1h 53m Biography Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
100% Tomatometer 10 Reviews 82% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
During the 1950s, housewife Shirley Muldowney (Bonnie Bedelia) talks her mechanic husband, Jack (Leo Rossi), into letting her street race his sports car. She quickly discovers she has a true talent and begins pursuing a career as a professional driver. At first, Shirley is met with skepticism among the racing community and is denied the license necessary to drive professionally. But when she's finally given the chance to prove herself, she shows that racing isn't always a man's game.

Critics Reviews

View All (10) Critics Reviews
Gary Arnold Washington Post Heart Like a Wheel goes a little spongy by failing to let the protagonist force enough of the action... A charismatic leading performance remains this film's tantalizing intangible - it might have put a good movie over the top emotionally. May 9, 2018 Full Review Duane Byrge The Hollywood Reporter Heart is an often enthralling film of determination, heartbreak and triumph. Apr 3, 2018 Full Review Susan Jhirad Sojourner It manages without sentimentality or overstatement to tell a true story of liberation. Aug 20, 2019 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com This charming movie further expanded the roles allotted to women, chronicling the career of Muldowney (splendidly played by Bonnie Badelia), the only race driver (male or female) to have won three times the National Hot Rod Association World Championship Rated: B+ Dec 7, 2006 Full Review Chuck O'Leary FulvueDrive-in.com A solid entry in the overcoming-great-odds-to-become-a-champion biopic. Rated: B- Oct 2, 2006 Full Review Philip Martin Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Rated: 3/5 Jul 8, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (35) audience reviews
steve d Surprisingly great sports film with a fantastic performance from Bonnie Bedelia. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member The best sports movie ever made! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Audience Member 4.0/5.0 stars - Grade: B+ Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/19/23 Full Review Audience Member True story about a female hot rod driver and her attempts to escape sexism and stereotypes in the male dominated racing world. Based on a true story, this drama tries to be a voice for female empowerment but ultimately falls short due to its weak script and mediocre direction. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/12/23 Full Review Audience Member A "must see" for drag racers that understand the sport and the tragedies that can and will happen to most involved, including me. Shirley Muldowney is a legend in drag racing and I saw her beat "Big Daddy" Don Garlits. The movie takes you from how drivers get the racing bug, join the NHRA, and start a career that takes you to the top. Pitfalls along the way are expected, but overall "Heart Like A Wheel" is a winner! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/12/23 Full Review Audience Member Been looking to get this flick on DVD for years - hard to come by. But definitely worth it. Just a great, great movie. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/07/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Heart Like a Wheel

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

Show Less Cast & Crew Show More Cast & Crew

More Like This

View All Best Movies to Stream at Home
Cross Creek 61% 77% Cross Creek Watchlist The Buddy Holly Story 100% 77% The Buddy Holly Story Watchlist Bound for Glory 81% 76% Bound for Glory Watchlist Joe Hill 50% 90% Joe Hill Watchlist Stavisky 85% 59% Stavisky Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More
View All Heart Like a Wheel photos

Heart Like a Wheel

Heart Like a Wheel (1983) Heart Like a Wheel (1983) Heart Like a Wheel (1983) Heart Like a Wheel (1983) Heart Like a Wheel (1983) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis During the 1950s, housewife Shirley Muldowney (Bonnie Bedelia) talks her mechanic husband, Jack (Leo Rossi), into letting her street race his sports car. She quickly discovers she has a true talent and begins pursuing a career as a professional driver. At first, Shirley is met with skepticism among the racing community and is denied the license necessary to drive professionally. But when she's finally given the chance to prove herself, she shows that racing isn't always a man's game.
Director
Jonathan Kaplan
Producer
Charles Roven
Screenwriter
Ken Friedman
Production Co
Aurora, Twentieth Century Fox
Rating
PG
Genre
Biography
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 15, 1983, Original
Release Date (DVD)
Apr 8, 2014
Runtime
1h 53m