Is Gone In 60 Seconds Based On A True Story?

The 2000 film "Gone in 60 Seconds" starring Nicolas Cage is a loose remake of the 1974 H.B. Halicki film of the same name, though neither film is based on any specific incident. In fact, the original movie reportedly didn't even have an official script, as the independent production instead used improvised dialogue. 1974's "Gone in 60 Seconds" was, however, greatly inspired by Halicki's love of cars and a few auto theft charges that were eventually dropped (via Hagerty).

To save money, most of the actors and professionals on the set of "Gone in 60 Seconds" were actually family and friends of Halicki, a junkyard owner already known for his collection of antique automobiles (via Street Muscle Mag). When Halicki began production on the film in 1973, he not only wrote, directed, produced, starred, and did stunt work for the movie, but he also supplied most of the cars stolen as part of the plot. A total of 127 automobiles were destroyed during production, but the movie's lengthy car chases made it a cult hit for the amateur director, grossing $40 million on a very low budget (via Chronicle).

Sadly, Halicki was killed while filming a stunt for "Gone in 60 Seconds 2" in 1989, but his legacy as an action filmmaker and car enthusiast endures through the original 1974 film and its remake. You can currently stream both versions of "Gone in 60 Seconds" film on Tubi.