It drives me crazy when I see a car chase, shoot out or any action scene involving a car on tv. Because more often than not, the bullet or object that passes through the window does not smash it. It just ends up with a Hollywood hole in it. This is not how it actually happens with side or rear vehicle windows.. okay usually not what happens.
I realize this is likely the last thing most people would ever notice or care about. Unless, like us, your an autoglass technician. I imagine this is how a doctor, lawyer or police officer feels while watching a TV drama. The little things get under your skin.

I feel much better and if (for some strange reason) you’re asking why do I find this so unrealistic? Then please read on; it’s because side and back glass windows on vehicles are (usually) tempered glass. Heat treated to make them safer and when tempered glass breaks the entire price of glass disintegrates into tiny blocks. Therefore the sharp shards that might come in contact with a passenger don’t injure them. What this means is that if a bullet were to pass through a vehicle side or rear window the entire piece would likely shatter and very little would be left, like this

But this would not add as much effect to the car driving around for the rest of the action scene.

For those who want to get technical there are a couple of exceptions to the “Hollywood Cracked Glass”

1) A windshield is regular glass and would break into sharp jagged pieces except that a windshield is made up of two pains of glass glued together. The laminated glue in the center holds the glass together extremely well which means it won’t shatter with an impact and would give you the “Hollywood” bullet hole.
2) A window that has aftermarket window tint or security film. This is because much like a windshield the film will hold the glass together, at least for a little while.
3) Finally, a select few high end vehicles install laminate side glass (just like a windshield) into the side and rear of their cars. Why would high end cars install laminate glass in the doors and rear windows? Sounds like another great reason for me to drone on about auto glass in another post.

For now, here are quick pictures of a Mercedes with cracked side glass that was into Splashes Auto Glass for repair. Not something you see very often at all.