The 2009 Smart Fortwo plays the foremost automotive role in the follow-up to the triumphant cinema smash hit "The Pink Panther". The Pink Panther 2 will be released this week.

Tom Hanks got to drive a Smart Fortwo in the movie version of the Da Vinci Code, racing backwards down Paris streets.

It has had a cameo appearance in Under the Tuscan Sun and in the movie A Good Year on HBO. As well as Garfield 2, Scoop, Legally Blonde 2, Just Married and who can forget the classic motion picture, Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London!

It's also appeared on the TV series Dark Angel having a number of Smart cars as police cars and has appeared in many other TV programs, including ER.

George Barris, the renowned creator of the original Batmobile from the 1960s television series "Batman" even gave the Smart a superstar renovation. Transforming this subcompact vehicle into a mini-Batmobile, complete with vertical doors, a black airbrush paint job, tailfins and even an exhaust system on the roof, giving the impression the car has rocket launchers.

As well there are many celebrities who use a Smart as a daily driver.

This short list consists of just a few who include:

• Sir Stirling Moss, the legendary British Racing driver who has driven a upgraded Smart since 2001
• Sally Jesse Raphael, talk show host was one of the first in the U.S. to drive a gray market Smart
• Jay Leno, has one as well as a car for each day of the year
• George Clooney, who drives and promotes an electric Smart Car made by Hybrid Technologies
• Jason Fabini, an offensive lineman for the Washington Redskins drives his to practice
• Robbie Williams, the ex-spokesperson for smart, GmbH has several including a roadster model
• Pete Docter, director of Monsters, Inc and Toy Story drives his like he is in one of his movies
• Miley Cyrus, of Hannah Montana fame has a red convertible
• Frankie Muniez, from Malcolm drives his daily
• Shaquille O'Neal, the all pro NBA star fits into his like glove

And let's not forget the numerous commercials and photo shoots that have featured one of these clever cars.

There have been other unforgettable movie cars. Like the true classic movie, Bullitt and Steve McQueen's Mustang GT, Miami Vice's Ferrari Testarossa and who can forget the Blues Brother's "Blues Mobile", a 1974 Dodge Monaco Interceptor, driven so thoughtlessly through the streets of Chicago by famous Jake and Elwood.

None the less the Smart Fortwo has forever fulfilled its prominence on the big screen.