Big Trucks On The Big Screen: Eight Iconic Films Featuring Peterbilt Trucks

Jan 15, 2025

When you think of places where you’ll see a Peterbilt, you often think of job sites, highways, or truck dealerships. The red oval is famous for being the best on highways, but they’ve also made an impact on screen, too. Over time, various Peterbilt models have been featured in movies, TV shows, music videos and even commercials. Whether the models featured are the focal point of a scene or blend into background, the iconic red oval is always easily recognized.

Peterbilt is not the only manufacturer seen on film. Nearly every truck serves the same purpose on screen. They are a visual representation of large-scale transportation which allows viewers to understand the scale of the scene. They also help set a scene; many people think of long highway hauls when they see tractor trailers, so there is a storytelling element that represents travel, long distance, and is often used to show characters on a journey.

We’ve listed eight iconic films (in no particular order) that feature any model Peterbilt. This list includes titles that are popular within our industry, achieved success, and are some of our lifelong favorites.

1. Duel – 1971. Featuring a Peterbilt Model 281.
Duel movie poster 1971

Film studio credit to Pigasus Pictures. Photo credit to https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/imagesq= tbn:ANd9GcSlhjjxYjjsmbO575pnOtrDJ37xCiY 1MDe4gHHCR3qQtv11rCrU

An electronics salesman, David Mann (Dennis Weaver), is driving cross country on a two- lane highway when he notices an old oil tanker is driving dangerously behind him. The crazy and unknown driver begins to chase David along the highway in an attempt to harm him. After a game of cat and mouse with Mann, he finds himself at the edge of a cliff, where the unknown driver and the Peterbilt 281 meet their end.

2. Convoy – 1978. Featuring Peterbilt Models 289,352, and 359.

Film credit to EMO Films and Robert M. Sherman Productions. Photo credit to: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077369/?ref_=ttpl_ov_i

While trying to escape being caught by the police, trucker Martin “Rubber Duck” Penwald, (Kris Kristofferson) and his friends Pig Pen, (Burt Young), Widow Woman, (Madge Sinclair) and Spider Mike, (Franklin Ajaye) use their CB radios to help warn each other about cops. Sheriff Wallace (Ernest Borgnine) is not unaware of their use of the CB radio and joins in to try and trick them into being caught. It doesn’t work in his favor as Rubber Duck and his friends use their radios to coordinate a convoy and take over the road.

3. Black Dog – 1998. Featuring a Peterbilt Model 379.
Black Dog Movie poster

Film studio credit to EUE/Screen Gems Studios. Photo credit to IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120610/

Ex-convict Jack Crews (Patrick Swayze) is fresh out of prison when he’s given a new ‘off the books’ job hauling illegal artillery from Atlanta, GA to New Jersey. Desperate to save his family’s house, Jack’s truck is none other than a Peterbilt 379 to help him complete the job and help his family.

4. National Lampoons Christmas Vacation- 1989. Featuring a Peterbilt Model 359.
National Lampoons Christmas Vacation scene with Peterbilt 359.

Film studio credit to Warner Bros. Ranch. Photo credit to IMCDb: https://www.imcdb.org/v028853.html

This Christmas classic not only shows us the antics of visiting family, but also a Peterbilt 359. Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) and family seek out the perfect Griswold family Christmas tree when they run into some trouble on the road along the way. This leads them to switching lanes and riding under the Peterbilt and flatbed trailer full of wood. Luckily, they escape unscathed and get the perfect Christmas tree.

5. Transformers 1 & 2- 2007, 2009. Featuring a Peterbilt Model 379.
Transformers 2007 Peterbilt 379 scene

Film studio credit to DreamWorks Pictures & Paramount Pictures. Photo credit to IMCDb: https://www.imcdb.org/v110958.html

When Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) buys his first car, an unsuspecting yellow Volkswagen Beetle, and later a Chevy Camaro he doesn’t expect it to turn into an Autobot and help save the world. Alongside Bumblebee is Supreme commander of the Autobots, Optimus Prime, a Peterbilt 379 that helps Sam, Bumblebee and other Autobots help defeat the Decepticons.

6. Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby- 2006. Featuring a Peterbilt Model 379.
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby Peterbilt 379 scene.

Film studio credit to Columbia Pictures. Photo credit to IMCDb: https://www.imcdb.org/v099190.html

NASCAR star, Ricky Bobby, (Will Ferrell) is at the top of his game with his best friend and racing teammate, Cal Naughton Jr. (John C. Reilly) when they are challenged by French Formula One driver, Jean Girard, (Sasha Baron Cohen). A Peterbilt 379 is seen on the track at the beginning of the final race at Talladega Super Speedway with an American flag on the back of it.

7. Smokey and the Bandit 1, 2, and 3, 1977, 1980, and 1983. Featuring Peterbilt Models 281 and 359.
Smokey and The Bandit 1977, PEterbilt 379 scene

Film Studio credit to Universal Pictures and Rastar Films. Photo credit to IMCDb: https://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_61083-Peterbilt-359.html

The Smokey and the Bandit franchise is beloved by many and features some iconic cars and trucks throughout the movies. Characters like Bo “Bandit” Darville (Burt Reynolds), Cledus (Jerry Reed), and Buford T. Justice (Jack Gleason) are seen in each film escaping the law in high-speed chases across state lines to deliver contraband that Big Eno (Pat McCormick) has tasked them with hauling. Throughout each film you can find a Peterbilt either on the road or in the background of the truck show scenes.

8. Cars – 2006. Featuring a Peterbilt Model 362.

We would be amiss if we didn’t include at least one animated movie on our list. Cars features young racing star, Lightning McQueen, (Owen Wilson) is headed to the Piston Cup Championship alongside two veteran cars but runs into trouble along the way. Lightning McQueen thinks he has found his lost hauler, Mack, but instead runs into a Peterbilt 362, Red, (Joe Ranft) who has no problem telling off McQueen that he’s a “Peterbilt for dang sake!”
Film studio credit to Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures. Video credit to: https://youtu.be/o9G5XkdRrm4?si=RczUhzWsXLFxi-p5

 

What do you think of our list of the top eight iconic movies that features Peterbilts?

While these are just a few of our top favorites, we feel there are some honorable mentions that deserve a shoutout, too. In the 1995 film, Die Hard: With a Vengeance, you can find Peterbilt models 362 and 379 in a few scenes throughout the movie. A Model 379 is featured in a scene in The Lost World: Jurassic Park, (1997). Lastly, Maximum Overdrive, (1986) which has no shortage of trucks throughout the movie, features models 362 and 359 in a highway scene.

Did we miss any of your favorites? Let us know what your favorite Peterbilt-featured movies are!

We owe a lot of credit to the Internet Mobile Cars Database that aided in our search for Peterbilts on film. They feature a massive variety of films that details which car, truck, or semi-truck seen on film. https://www.imcdb.org/   To see a conclusive list of Peterbilt’s on film, check them out!

Top Posts

HUNTER TRUCK

Keep up with the latest news!

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Recent Posts