The film, starring Chris Hemsworth, is available on iPlayer for the next 22 days. (Image: Getty)
A Formula One film based on the real-life story of racing legends has been branded a ‘masterpiece’ and is now available to stream for free on BBC iPlayer. The rivalry-fuelled film stars actors Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brühl as well as actresses Olivia Wilde and Game of Thrones’ Natalie Dormer.
Rush follows the on and off-track relationship between James Hunt and Niki Lauda, two F1 drivers who notoriously battled against each other throughout their racing career during the 1970s. The film is available on BBC iPlayer for the next 22 days. Rush was released in 2013 and was directed by the award-winning American filmmaker and actor, Ron Howard.
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Rush was released in 2013 and was directed by award-winning filmmaker, Ron Howard (Image: Getty)
The biographical sports drama explores the dynamic rivalry between the racing drivers with contrasting personalities. While Chris Hemsworth plays a British playboy in Hunt, Daniel Brühl portrays a methodical and dedicated Austrian driver.
The synopsis adds: “Driving vehicles that are little more than gas-filled, rolling bombs, Hunt and Lauda burn up the track, all the while pushing themselves to the breaking point of physical and mental endurance.”
While Niki Lauda passed away recently, in 2019, James Hunt passed away from a heart attack at the age of 45, in 1993.
The film incorporates significant moments in the drivers’ careers like Lauda’s near-fatal crash to smaller details like Hunt’s race-day rituals. Ultimately, Rush portrays Lauda and Hunt’s dramatic battle to win the 1976 Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship, with Lauda driving for Ferrari and Hunt for McLaren.
Rush saw great success after its release, earning an impressive 89% on Rotten Tomatoes and 8.1 out of ten on IMDb.
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One reviewer wrote: “The script was smart, acting top class, the action complimented the story well and the direction showed real love for the subject matter.”
Several fans applauded Daniel Brühl’s portrayal of Lauda. One Reddit user said: “I’ve recently started watching F1, and Lauda is in a lot of interviews since he’s with Mercedes.
“His mannerisms and accent, even the inflections in his voice are SO spot on.”
One fan praised the film’s music score, composed by Hans Zimmer. They said: « Hans delivered a masterpiece in Rush better than the one he delivered in F1, the movie », referencing the new 2025 film.
A Reddit user user labelled the film as “painfully underrated”, praising its “correct amount of drama, action, and tension, whilst mixing in the notion of tragedy quite nicely.
While one fan described Rush as a « masterpiece for racing fans », the Reddit user added, “It’s the kind of sports film that people who are not fans of Formula One can genuinely enjoy.”
A Rotten Tomatoes reviewer agreed, writing: “Absolutely fantastic, no matter if you’re a fan of this sport or not. A must watch and rewatch every couple of years.”
