Five Famous Toyota Trucks in the Movies
Toyota trucks aren’t just go-to rigs for hitting the trail or getting things done, they also make frequent appearances on the silver screen!
Over the years, Toyota vehicles have been featured in loads of films, including tent-pole franchises like the James Bond and the Fast and the Furious series. And while I’ve always had a soft spot for the 2000 GT roadster from You Only Live Twice, my personal favorite cameo is the AE86 Corolla that Kristin Wiig drove in Bridesmaids. Because even though it was portrayed as a hoopty? Plenty of gearheads would jump at the chance to restore it.
But given that this is YotaTech, we’re going to focus on some of the famous Toyota trucks which have made the jump to the silver screen. Of course, unless you’ve somehow missed watching any media for the last three or four decades, a couple of these are going to be familiar. And technically, one of the examples listed here is from a television show that would spawn a movie. So with that out of the way, here we go…
Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic the Hedgehog was released in 2020, there’s already been one sequel, and another is in the works. So it’s safe to call it a success. That said, for folks who don’t play video games or have children, the most interesting thing about this flick is that when fans got their first look at Sonic, they hated his design. That sent the production team scrambling to respond, and they eventually revealed a re-tooled version that fans were happy with.
Baywatch
After just one season of Baywatch, NBC executives were over this series about the lives and loves of a Los Angeles lifeguard squad. Unfortunately, the move was boneheaded, as once it went into syndication, the David Hasselhoff vehicle would go on to become the most popular television show in the world, eventually gaining an audience of over a billion weekly viewers. In this clip, we get to see “the Hoff” send his duty vehicle straight off a cliff.
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
When it comes to the Terminator franchise, the best approach is to watch the first two installments, then skip to Terminator: Dark Fate, which is exactly what the third Terminator flick should have been. Instead, we got Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, a messy installment that foreshadowed the disasters — see Terminator: Salvation — to come. Fun fact: there was actually a Tundra T3 Edition to tie in with the film.
Toy Story 2
Not only does this yellow Toyota pickup make an appearance in Toy Story and Toy Story 2, it also makes a cameo appearance in every Pixar movie. By my highly scientific count, that makes it the longest-running character in any of the studio’s films, and if history is any indication, the plucky little rig will appear in two more films this year. So keep your eyes peeled!
Back to the Future
Unquestionably, the Toyota Pickup SR5 from Back to the Future is the most famous Toyota truck in cinematic history. Because not only does it make a cameo in the film, that film is an absolute masterpiece, and beloved by basically everyone. If you’re looking to build your own version, check out this awesome post by YotaTech’s own Tyler Linn. Fortunately, co-writer and producer Bob Gale says there will never be a Back to the Future reboot — because “you don’t sell your kids into prostitution.”
Have a favorite Toyota cameo that didn’t make the list? Hit me up and let me know!
Photos: YouTube