America began its love affair with the Chevy Silverado when it first hit the roads in 1999. With rugged good looks and unrivaled power, it’s no wonder the full-size truck is so popular and remains one of America’s top-selling trucks today. People can’t seem to get enough of the light-duty truck. Drivers know the Silverado is a great truck, securing a name for itself as the Swiss Army Knife of pickups.
It’s exciting to see what the 2023 Chevy Silverado 1500 has to offer drivers this year. On top of that, drivers that are thinking about going green will be excited to check out the all-new Silverado EV that’s expected to be released in the fall of 2023. There’s no doubt Silverado is a truck that generates excitement. But how did we get here? Let’s face it; people have short attention spans these days, and yet the Silverado is able to keep the public’s attention year after year. We’ve come a long way since 1999, and the Silverado has the staying power to keep things interesting.
How Does the Silverado Stay at the Top?
With so many choices, how does Chevy manage to keep the Silverado fresh in people’s minds? A little product placement in movies and TV shows definitely helps fuel the excitement around the truck while also securing a place for it forever in our pop culture. Think you’ve never seen a Silverado on the silver screen before? Think again. This is a truck that gets around. While it’s not as flashy and in-your-face as many celebrity vehicles tend to be, the Silverado remains a classic and understated star for films and movies.
While the Silverado has had plenty of parts in major motion pictures, the truck isn’t what you would call a diva. It’s done commercials, cartoons, and even in-person appearances at political rallies. We searched the film reels and pop culture news stories and turned up just a few places you can expect to find your favorite truck. Next time you’re watching a film, do a double take because we bet that truck your favorite character is driving is a Chevy.
The Silverado and Lego
In 2019 Chevy partnered with the creators of the Lego Movie to secure the Chevy Silverado a place in The Lego Movie 2. A truck made from lego bricks? It’s the stuff fans dream of. The only thing better is the real thing. The Silverado was featured in a tie-in ad that revealed the truck in Lego form, driven by the film’s main character Emmet. The truck partnered with the popular franchise in order to add to the truck’s fun appeal and attract the eye of a younger generation of future drivers.
A Political Truck
The Silverado has been known to be spotted at political events as well. Never one to be pigeonholed, the full-size truck showed up at one of then-President Trump’s White House rallies. On either side of a podium, a red and blue Chevy was placed with construction cranes and industrial weights. In short, it was a political demonstration meant to express the burden of regulations. Was Chevy in on the stunt? A spokesman claims that they didn’t know their trucks were going to be making an appearance but did congratulate the White House on making a great choice.
The Silverado in Hawaii
If you’re a fan of the reboot of Hawaii Five-O, then we bet you’ve noticed the Silverado that is driven by the character Steve McGarrett, the leader of the show’s task force. This Silverado is decked out with police lights, a siren, and all the power one could want. The earlier seasons featured a blue Silverado that was later updated with an eye-catching Victory Red color. After the 2014 red version is torched in one episode, Steve gets a 2016 update in silver. Just a few years later, the show decided Steve needed yet another new truck, so cue the rough and rugged red-hued 2019 LT Trail Boss Crew Cab. Fans of the show might have noticed ongoing jokes that were often made between two characters, in which the Silverado is often referred to as being lackluster in car chases compared to the speedier Chevy Camaro driven by another character.
The Silverado on the Silver Screen
The Silverado has appeared on the big screen on more than one occasion. As in real life, the Chevy pickup is multi-talented, showing up in everything from comedies to dramas. It also helps that the Silverado doesn’t seem to have a bad angle, making it a natural when it comes to being filmed.
When Disney released Herbie: Fully Loaded in 2005, you can bet it wasn’t all Volkswagen. While the film series is known for its VW character, that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for others. In the 2005 film starring child star Lindsey Lohan, she’s seen driving an understated dark green Silverado 1500.
A few years later, in 2008, the Silverado secured placement in the sci-fi thriller The Day the Earth Stood Still. The truck was a dark gray tint and was used briefly as a ride for the film’s characters. If you need a truck for an alien invasion, you know you can trust a Chevy to see you through.
A trend we noticed about Chevy trucks in films is that they are often used by law enforcement. This isn’t really a surprise considering the truck’s reputation as a powerhouse. In the 2017 film Wind River, expect to catch a glimpse of what looks like a 2016 fully-loaded Silverado with a grille guard. The truck in question is driven by Jeremy Renner’s character, a tracker named Cory Lambert, who works for the Fish and Game Commission in Wyoming. It’s impossible to miss the beefy black truck that sports a vibrant gold stripe that declares “Wildlife Officer.”
You’re no one in Hollywood these days unless you’ve starred in a Marvel movie. It’s only natural that an American icon like the Silverado would show up in what else? But Captain America. Expect to spot the Chevy truck in 2014’s Captain America 2: The Winter Soldier. The unmistakable truck is driven by the film’s lead Chris Evans, Captain America himself. Check out the white Silverado’s appearance during the road trip sequence of the film. Since GM partnered with Disney’s Marvel Studios, fans can expect to spot plenty of Chevy’s sprinkled through the franchise. The dependable Silverado, the flashy Corvette, and king size Tahoe SUV appear in various films.
Always a Star, Never A Sell Out
You could never accuse the Silverado of being a sell-out. The truck has earned its stripes over the years and is known to be a hard worker. As one of America’s best-looking trucks, of course, Hollywood is going to flock to the model that represents value and dependability for thousands of drivers.
The Silverado is a truck that isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. It is as American as apple pie and stars and stripes. When we look at pop culture today, Chevy is one brand that you can’t ignore, and who would want to? Credited with making some of the best, most powerful engines on the market, Chevy is a brand you can trust on and off the road.
We’re excited to see where 2023 takes the fan-favorite Chevy. From the latest Silverado offerings to the futuristic EV offspring that’s set to arrive this fall, all we know is that it’s going to be good. As for the truck’s next TV appearance? Who can say where a Silverado will turn up? Wherever it is, we’re there for it. Whether in real life or on the silver screen, there’s no mistaking the eye-catching design and unbeatable performance of Chevy’s Silverado.
