She did something women were forbidden to do, and became a World Champion.
Shirley Muldowney is determined to be a top-fuel drag racer, although no woman has ever raced them before. Despite the high risks of this kind of racing and the burden it places on her family life, she perseveres in her dream.
Heart Like a Wheel (1983) is a drama film directed by Jonathan Kaplan, released on April 1, 1983 with a runtime of 1h 53m. It stars Bonnie Bedelia, Beau Bridges, Leo Rossi and Hoyt Axton. Viewers rate it 5.9 out of 10 across 31 ratings.
Watch the official trailer for Heart Like a Wheel before you stream it.
Bonnie Bedelia
as Shirley Muldowney
Beau Bridges
as Connie Kalitta
Leo Rossi
as Jack Muldowney
Hoyt Axton
as Jack Roque
Bill McKinney
as "Big Daddy" Don Garlits
Anthony Edwards
as John Muldowney
Elliott Mason
as Young Autograph Seeker
Creed Bratton
as Photographer
Dick Miller
as Mickey White
Paul Bartel
as Chef Paul
Bruce Barlow
as Bass Player, Tex's Band
Missy Basile
as Angela
Directed by Jonathan Kaplan, written by Ken Friedman, produced by Charles Roven.
Average viewer score of 5.9/10 from 31 ratings.
Long before there was Ru Paul, there was Bonnie Bedelia delivering quite a gutsy performance here in her own drag racing biopic of pioneering driver Shirley Muldowney. Her racing involved cars but otherwise wasn’t a lot less catty as her attempt to establish herself in what was very much a man’s world proved difficult for her and those around her. Initially, her new husband (Leo Rossi) is supportive and encouraging…
Reviewed on June 22, 2025
**_Biopic of The First Lady of Drag Racing, Shirley “Cha Cha” Muldowney_** This is similar to “Coal Miner’s Daughter” from three years prior, just substituting drag racing for country musician. No, it’s not as good, but it ain’t bad. It starts with sequences reminiscent of the back road drag racing in “Rebel Without a Cause.” Didn’t we all do that as teens? Beautiful Bonnie Bedelia sold me on the movie, but the…
Reviewed on March 28, 2026
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The main cast of Heart Like a Wheel (1983) includes Bonnie Bedelia, Beau Bridges, Leo Rossi, Hoyt Axton and Bill McKinney. The film was directed by Jonathan Kaplan. You can see the full cast and crew list, with character names, further up this page.
Heart Like a Wheel was released on April 1, 1983 and runs for 1h 53m.
Heart Like a Wheel (1983) holds an average rating of 5.9 out of 10 from 31 viewer votes, and is a good pick if you enjoy drama films. Read the viewer reviews on this page to decide for yourself.
Yes. The official Heart Like a Wheel trailer is embedded in the trailer section of this page and plays instantly, no download or sign-up required.
