The film was shot in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
The film concerns "Memphis" (Nicolas Cage), a former master car thief forced to return to his former trade and steal fifty specified cars for crime boss Raymond Vincent Calitri (Christopher Eccleston), who is threatening to kill Memphis' brother, Kip (Giovanni Ribisi), because Kip had taken a contract but failed to fulfill it (a stolen Porsche Carrera was chased to Kip's warehouse and the collected cars were impounded).
Memphis now has to fulfill the contract and so reassembles his old crew, also joined by Kip's crew.
With Detective Castlebeck (Delroy Lindo) breathing down their necks, they decide to steal all the cars in one night, to reduce the chances of being caught.
But, the police already know about the boost and, after cracking a bloke at the Mercedes dealership, who had earlier supplied Kip's crew with the special laser cut keys for a Mercedes, set a trap to catch them in action. It thus turns out to be a high action drama of a very long night.
Also featured are Angelina Jolie as "Sway", Robert Duvall as "Otto", and former footballer Vinnie Jones as "Sphinx".
| Car Number | Cars listed from DVD booklet | Car listed from sources in the movie |
| 1 | 1999 Aston Martin DB7 - Mary | 1999 Aston Martin DB7 - Mary |
| 2 | 1962 Aston Martin DB1 - Barbara (The DB1 was discontinued in 1950. The car in the film is actually an Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato) | 1962 Aston Martin DB1 - Barbara |
| 3 | 1999 Bentley Arnage - Lindsey | 1999 Bentley Arnage - Lindsey |
| 4 | 1999 Bentley Azure - Laura | 2000 Bentley Azure - Laura |
| 5 | 1964 Bentley Continental - Alma | 1964 Bentley Continental - Alma |
| 6 | 1959 Cadillac Eldorado - Madeline (It is actually a Series 62 Cadillac Coupe de Ville) | 1959 Cadillac Eldorado - Madeline |
| 7 | 1958 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham - Patricia | 1958 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham - Patricia |
| 8 | 1999 Cadillac Escalade - Carol | 2000 Cadillac Escalade - Carol |
| 9 | 2000 Cadillac El Dorado STS - Daniela | 1997 Cadillac STS - Daniella |
| 10 | 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible - Stefanie | 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible - Stefanie |
| 11 | 1969 Chevro Camaro Z28 - Erin | 1969 Chevro Camaro Z28 - Erin |
| 12 | 1953 Chevrolet Corvette - Pamela | 1953 Chevrolet Corvette - Pamela |
| 13 | 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray L71 - Stacey | 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray - Olga |
| 14 | 2000 Ford F-Series F-350 4x4 Modified Pickup - Anne (It is actually an F-250) | 1980-1990 4x4 Modified Pickup - Anne |
| 15 | 1971 DeTomaso Pantera - Kate | 1971 DeTomaso Pantera - Kate |
| 16 | 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona- Vanessa | 1969/70 Dodge Daytona - Vanessa |
| 17 | 1998 Dodge Viper Coupe GTS - Denise | 1998 Dodge Viper Coupe GTS - Denise |
| 18 | 1995 Ferrari 355 B - Diane | 1995 Ferrari 355 B - Diane |
| 19 | 1997 Ferrari 355 F1 - Iris | 1997 Ferrari 355 F1 - Lisa |
| 20 | 1967 Ferrari 265 GTB/4 - Nadine (It is actually a Ferrari 275 GTB/4.) | 1967 Ferrari 265 GTB/4 - Nadine |
| 21 | 1999 Ferrari 550 Maranello - Angelina | 1999 Ferrari 550 Maranello - Angelina |
| 22 | 1987 Ferrari Testarossa - Rose | 1987 Ferrari Testarossa - Rose |
| 23 | 1956 Ford T-Bird - Susan | 1956 Ford T-Bird - Susan |
| 24 | 2000 GMC Yukon - Megan | 1999 GMC Yukon - Tracey |
| 25 | 1999 Hummer H1 Truck 2 Door - Tracey | 1999 Infiniti Q45 - Rachel |
| 26 | 1999 Infiniti Q45 - Rachel | 1991-94 Jaguar XJ220 - Bernadene |
| 27 | 1994 Jaguar XJ220 - Bernadene (This was supposed to be a McLaren F1 but could not be obtained for the movie) | 2000 Jaguar XK8 Coupe - Deborah |
| 28 | 1999 Jaguar XK8 Coupe - Deborah (It is actually a Jaguar XJ8) | 1994 Lamborghini Diablo - Stacey |
| 29 | 1990 Lamborghini LM SUV - Gina (It is actually a 1994 Lamborghini Diablo SE30. The LM SUV is extremely rare.) | 1990 Lamborghini LM SUV - Josephine |
| 30 | 1999 Lexus LS 400 - Hillary | 2000 Lexus LS 400 - Hillary |
| 31 | 1999 Lincoln Navigator - Kimberley | 2000 Lincoln Navigator - Kimberley |
| 32 | 1966 Lotus Europa S1 - Renee | 1966 Lotus Europa S1 - Renee |
| 33 | 1957 Mercedes Benz 300 SL/Gullwing - Dorothy | 1954-57 Mercedes Benz 300 SL/Gullwing - Dorothy |
| 34 | 1999 Mercedes Benz CL 500 - Donna | 2000 Mercedes Benz CL 500 - Donna |
| 35 | 1999 Mercedes Benz S 600 - Samantha (It is actually a Mercedes Benz S 500) | 2000 Mercedes Benz S 600 - Samantha |
| 36 | 1998 Mercedes Benz SL 600 - Ellen | 1998 Mercedes Benz SL 600 - Ellen |
| 37 | 1950 Mercury Custom - Gabriela | 1950 Mercury Custom - Gabriela |
| 38 | 1971 Plymouth Hemi 'Cuda - Shannon | 1971 Plymouth Hemi 'Cuda - Shannon |
| 39 | 1969 Plymouth Road Runner - Jessica (A more rare Plymouth Road Runner Superbird appears in the film.) | 1969 Plymouth Super Bee - Jessica (Could be either Plymouth Road Runner or the Dodge Super Bee) |
| 40 | 1965 Pontiac GTO - Sharon | 1965 Pontiac GTO - Sharon |
| 41 | 1999 Porsche 996 - Tina | 2000 Porsche 996 - Tina |
| 42 | 2000 Porsche Boxster - Marsha | 2000 Porsche Boxster - Marsha |
| 43 | 1961 Porsche 356B Speedster - Natalie | 1961 Porsche Speedster - Natalie |
| 44 | 1988 Porsche 959 - Virginia | 1987/88 Porsche 959 - Virginia |
| 45 | 1997 Porsche 911 Twin Turbo - Tanya | 1997 Porsche 911 Twin Turbo - Tanya |
| 46 | 2000 Rolls-Royce Park Ward Stretch limousine - Grace | 2000 Rolls Stretch limo - Grace |
| 47 | 1966 Shelby AC Cobra - Ashley | 1966 Shelby AC Cobra - Ashley |
| 48 | 1967 Shelby Mustang GT500 - Eleanor | 1967 Shelby GT500 (Fiberglass replica, a real GT500 couldn't be obtained for the film) - Eleanor |
| 49 | 2000 Toyota Land Cruiser - Cathy | 2000 Toyota Land Cruiser - Cathy |
| 50 | 1998 Toyota Supra Turbo - Lynn | 1998 Toyota Supra Turbo - Lynn |
| 51 | 2000 Volvo Turbo Wagon R - Lisa (More specifically, a Volvo V70 R.) | 2000 Volvo Turbo Wagon R - Lisa |
Though the movie earned a $242 million worldwide box-office gross, after overhead, it lost roughly $90 million after all expenses, including the $103.3 million it cost to make the movie, were taken into account over the next four years as of 2003.