Image via Complex Original
Cars tell you something about the people who drive them, and that’s especially true of the movie Mercedes-Benzes that make up this list. Think of them as “character personality extensions,” because that’s what they are, no mere product placement here. Throughout its history, Mercedes-Benz has run the gamut from mind-blowing full-on racecars to understatedly elegant, luxurious sedans and estates that can still kick ass with a capable driver at the wheel. These are the coolest Mercedes-Benzes in movies.
Related: The 30 Best Mercedes-Benzes of All Time
25. 1990 420 SEL [W126]
Movie: Sin City (2005)
While we admit that this car is far from the most special Mercedes on this list, we like what Marv (Mickey Rourke) had to say about it when stealing it from a priest. "These keys say the padre drove a Mercedes. Or, at least, that's what they're passing off as a Mercedes these days. Modern cars. They all look like electric shavers."
24. 600 Pullman [W100]
Movie: The Last King of Scotland (2006)
Heads of state frequently ride in style in specially prepared bulletproof Mercedes limousines, like this one. That's especially important if you're one of the most hated and feared dictators the world has ever known: Idi Amin (Forest Whitaker).
23. 1998 SLK 230 [R170]
Movie: Bad Santa (2003)
This SLK only showed up briefly, but this time of year, we're always up for some Bad Santa.
22. 1969 280 SE convertible [W111]
Movie: Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001)
Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant) had this beautiful blue 280 SE convertible as his ride in this seminal chick flick. We’d have trouble remembering who Renee Zellweger is, too.
21. 2001 SEL Limited Edition (made for the movie)
Movie: Spaceballs (1987)
Built by the legendary Dean Jeffries, this Mercedes-Benz hovercraft originally had no motor, which is how it remained for filming. It was only after filming wrapped that a motor was installed and it was actually able to hover. We wish that's what Mercs actually looked like in 2001. It currently resides in the Justice Brothers Racing Museum, although it sometimes comes out for special events.
20. 1960 220 S [W111]
Movie: On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)
Tracy DiVincenzo (Diana Rigg) drives a fantastic Mercury XR7 on ice, a sure way to impress the likes of James Bond (George Lazenby). What chases her? This 220 S.
19. Gelandewagen [W463]
Movie: The Bourne Supremacy (2004)
The G-Wagen is truly one of the coolest cars Mercedes has ever built. It's a shame this one ended up destroyed by a pack of Volgas.
18. 1975 SL [R107]
Movie: Jackie Brown (1997)
This was Ordell Robbie's (Samuel L. Jackson's) whip in Quentin Tarantino's underrated Jackie Brown. Just look at that screen presence.
17. 1996 SL 500 [R129]
Movie: Liar Liar (1997)
Lawyer Fletcher Reede (Jim Carrey) took his SL 500 very seriously. Don't believe us? See what happened when it got damaged while it was impounded.
16. 1964 220 SE Convertible [W111]
Movie: Get Shorty (1995)
Harry Zimm's (Gene Hackman) ride really couldn't get any sweeter than this classic 220 SE.
15. 1986 560 SEL [W126]
Movie: Die Hard: With A Vengeance (1995)
What's better than Samuel L. Jackson showing up in a Die Hard film? This over-the-top chase scene in a hotwired 560 SEL.
14. 1976 450 SEL 6.9 [W116]
Movie: Ronin (1998)
The 6.9 has such a special place among Mercedes-Benz enthusiasts that it's called just that, the 6.9. Since Ronin is basically a love letter to the art of cars and chase scenes, it's fitting that this is what Vincent (Jean Reno) drives in the film. In our opinion, any time is a good time to watch this car in action.
13. 1991 SEL [W140]
Movie: The Transporter (2002)
Frank Martin (Jason Statham), the titular Transporter, is probably more closely associated with Audis due to second and third Transporter films prominently featuring them. But back in the day, he drove this SEL -- and he drove it well, of course.
12. 1998 CL 600 [C140]
Movie: Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999)
Say you're a successful hit man like Ghost Dog (Forest Whitaker). You'd want an understated, yet powerful car as your everyday driver. We can't imagine why you wouldn't want this car in that line of work. A CL 600 and a film score by the RZA. You can't go wrong.
11. 1980 450 SL Convertible [R107]
Movie: American Gigolo (1980)
This beautiful 450 SL convertible was high-priced call boy Julian's (Richard Gere's) ride throughout the entirety of American Gigolo. It's not hard to see why, either. In his line of work, it was absolutely essential to keep the ladies both attracted and interested. This car is easily capable of doing both. We're also pretty sure he didn't mind driving it. We wouldn't.
10. 1965 230 SL [W113]
Movie: Arabesque (1966)
Professor David Pollock (Gregory Peck) and the beautiful Yasmin Azir (Sophia Loren) tooled around exchanging one-liners and crazy plot twists in this gorgeous red 230 SL. What could be cooler?
9. 1969 280 S [W108]
Movie: The Driver (1978)
The Driver (Ryan O'Neal) specializes in driving getaway cars for robberies. In this scene, he showcases just what this uncharacteristically bright orange M-B can do.
8. 1959 220 SE Cabriolet [W128.030]
Movie: North by Northwest (1959)
Roger O. Thornhill (Cary Grant) is nearly killed in this stunning 220 SE cabriolet when he's mistaken for a man name George Kaplan in one of Alfred Hitchcock's film masterpieces. What's of greater importance to us, however, is the care that Hitchcock and crew took with the scene where it gets rammed from behind by a police car. A special rear bumper was fitted so the 220 SE wouldn't sustain serious damage.
7. 2004 C-Klasse [S203]
Movie: Mr. and Mrs. Smith (2005)
Jane Smith (Angelina Jolie) drives this seemingly unassuming silver C-Klasse wagon. We love that it's a station wagon, but she drives it like a complete badass.
6. 1975 450 SL [R107]
Movie: Casino (1995)
Ginger McKenna (Sharon Stone) drove "Der Panzerwagen" in one of Scorsese's best films. How did it get that nickname? The thing was apparently built like a tank, as evidenced in this memorable scene from the movie.
5. 1969 280 SE Convertible [W111]
Movie: The Hangover (2009)
A company called Cinema Vehicles built five of these cars for filming of this movie. Two “beauty cars” currently remain, with the others unfortunately getting destroyed during filming. At least one of them started life as a coupe, until Cinema Vehicles turned it into a convertible. We love it when cars are so important, they’re stars of a movie. But we hate seeing cool classics like this get destroyed, too. Here’s a video of this 280 SE arriving in Vegas.
4. 1957 300 SL Gullwing [W198 I]
Movie: Cannonball Run II (1984)
How do you outclass a couple of hot girls in a Lamborghini Countach? Like this.
3. 1972 600 LWB Limousine "The Red Baron"
Movie: Batman and Robin (1997)
This stately red 600 limousine, the only one ever made in this color, escorted the lovely Poison Ivy (Uma Thurman) around Gotham in this campy, pre-Nolan Batman film. It was originally special-ordered to cart Peanuts creator Charles Schulz around in Germany, but made it stateside sometime later. Off-camera, it has been ridden in by the likes of Elvis Presley, Bill Cosby, and Jack Nicholson. We only wish you got to see more of it than this in the movie.
2. 2011 SLS AMG
Movie: Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011)
Besides being driven by the beautiful Carly (Rosie Huntington-Whitely), this SLS AMG has a not-so-secret Decepticon identity as Soundwave. And it's an SLS AMG. As modern Mercedes-Benzes go, we defy you not to want a piece of rolling sculpture like this.
1. 1977 450 SEL 6.9 [W116]
Movie: Lost Highway (1997)
Gangster Mr. Eddy (Robert Loggia) drives his insanely powerful, 1,400hp, according to movie dialogue, 6.9 for both business and pleasure along Mulholland Drive. This car starred in one of the best and most memorable scenes from this David Lynch film. Here's a tip, from us to you: don't ever tailgate Mr. Eddy.
