Used Cars (1980)

In this manic black comedy, when the owner of a struggling used car lot is killed in a hilariously staged "accident," it's up to the lot's hot-shot salesman, Rudy Russo (a perfectly charismatic Kurt Russell), to save the property from falling into the hands of the owner's ruthless twin brother and used-car rival, Roy L. Fuchs (Jack Warden, brilliantly playing both brothers). To keep the business afloat long enough to prevent Roy from inheriting it, Rudy and his crew resort to an escalating series of illegal and morally bankrupt schemes. Their antics range from hiding their boss's death to hijacking a presidential address and a live football game to air their own outrageous, high-stakes commercials. *Used Cars* earns its place as one of Robert Zemeckis's best films because it's a perfect showcase of his early, unfiltered genius. Co-written with his creative partner Bob Gale, the film is a masterclass in controlled chaos, packed with the same intricate plotting and kinetic energy that would later define their masterpiece, *Back to the Future*. While Zemeckis would become known for more polished, family-friendly blockbusters, *Used Cars* reveals his raw, cynical, and ruthlessly funny side. It's a fearless, fast-paced satire of American consumerism, driven by precise comedic timing and ambitious practical stunts that announced Zemeckis as a major directorial talent on the verge of superstardom.