Are you a fan of the stylish neo-noir thriller Drive starring Ryan Gosling as a mysterious getaway driver? If you loved the moody atmosphere, slow-burn pacing, bursts of graphic violence, and stoic antihero of that film, here are 20 more movies I highly recommend that deliver similar vibes and thrills.
20. The Fast and the Furious (2001)
While the later Fast & Furious sequels are over-the-top action spectacles, the 2001 original film that kicked off the franchise has more in common with Drive. It focuses on an undercover cop (Paul Walker) infiltrating the L.A. street racing scene and befriending a charismatic driver (Vin Diesel) who moonlights as a heist wheelman. It has a gritty, neon-lit style and favors character over non-stop car chases.
19. Baby Driver (2017)
Edgar Wright’s Baby Driver puts a unique spin on the getaway driver thriller, with Ansel Elgort starring as the music-loving wheelman named Baby. The film is propulsively edited to Baby’s playlist of classic tunes, delivering adrenaline-pumping car chases and shootouts with style and dark humor to spare. While more upbeat than Drive, it’s a must-watch for fans of slick neo-noir action.
18. The Driver (1978)
Clearly a major influence on Drive, Walter Hill’s stripped-down 1978 crime flick The Driver stars Ryan O’Neal as the nameless titular wheelman caught between a persistent cop (Bruce Dern) and the crooks who hire him for getaways. With minimalist characterizations, a cool style, and exciting car chases, it laid the groundwork for the modern neo-noir crime genre.
17. Thief (1981)
Michael Mann’s feature debut Thief stars James Caan as a skilled safecracker and ex-con looking to leave the criminal life behind after one last big score. With its rain-slicked neon cinematography, electronic score, and intense action, it established the stylistic blueprint that Drive and many other neo-noir films would follow. Caan’s stoic but magnetic lead performance is a standout.
16. Bullitt (1968)
The oldest film on this list, 1968’s Bullitt remains one of the most influential action movies of all time. Steve McQueen brings effortless cool to the role of a maverick San Francisco cop on the hunt for a mob kingpin. The high-speed car chases through the hilly streets of the city are still jaw-dropping today. While a more traditional cop thriller than Drive, Bullitt is a stone-cold genre classic.
15. The Warriors (1979)
More of an urban gang adventure than a noir, Walter Hill’s cult favorite The Warriors follows a Coney Island street gang’s nocturnal journey from the Bronx back to their home turf after being framed for a murder. While light on plot, the film is a stylish, violent, and action-packed blast of comic book-esque fun. The rain-soaked cinematography and synth score give it a similar neon noir vibe to Drive.
14. Bringing Out the Dead (1999)
An underrated gem from Martin Scorsese, Bringing Out the Dead stars Nicolas Cage as a burnt-out Manhattan paramedic working the graveyard shift. More of a pitch-black character study than an action thriller, it’s still a gripping and haunting portrait of urban decay and existential dread lit by the neon signs and ambulance lights of the city at night. Fans of Drive‘s moody style will find much to love here.
13. To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)
William Friedkin’s stylish 1985 neo-noir To Live and Die in L.A. stars William Petersen as a risk-taking Secret Service agent on the hunt for a murderous counterfeiter (Willem Dafoe). Full of double-crosses, car chases, and a pulsing electronic score by Wang Chung, it’s a super cool and gritty thriller very much in the same vein as Drive. The action highlight is a heart-stopping wrong-way freeway chase.
12. Nightcrawler (2014)
While it’s more of a pitch-black media satire than an action movie, Nightcrawler has a similar neon-lit L.A. noir style to Drive. Jake Gyllenhaal gives a career-best performance as Lou Bloom, a disturbed loner who finds his calling as a freelance TV news cameraman prowling the night for the goriest footage. It’s a riveting portrait of ambition and sociopathy, with a dark sense of humor and jittery energy.
11. Collateral (2004)
Michael Mann’s underrated 2004 thriller Collateral flips the script on Drive by having the protagonist be an everyman cab driver (Jamie Foxx) taken hostage by a ruthless contract killer (Tom Cruise) and forced to drive him to his hits across L.A. With its digital cinematography capturing the city after dark and its cat-and-mouse thrills, it’s a slick and action-packed ride anchored by strong performances.
10. The Place Beyond the Pines (2012)
From the director of Blue Valentine, The Place Beyond the Pines is a brooding, slow-burn crime saga about the ripple effects of violence across generations. Ryan Gosling plays a motorcycle stunt rider who starts robbing banks to support his family, while Bradley Cooper is the ambitious cop on his tail. With its ruminative tone and bursts of shocking violence, it will appeal to fans of Drive‘s style.
9. Thief (1981)
One of Michael Mann’s earliest films, the 1981 neo-noir Thief stars James Caan as a master safecracker planning one last score before going straight. With its rain-slicked streets, buzzing neon signs, and electronic score, it’s a clear influence on Drive and many other films in the genre. Caan’s intense, coiled performance anchors this stylish and hard-boiled thriller.
8. Heat (1995)
The ultimate cops-and-robbers epic, Michael Mann’s 1995 crime saga Heat pits Al Pacino’s obsessive LAPD detective against Robert De Niro’s disciplined master thief in a deadly game of cat-and-mouse. With its sprawling narrative, dazzling cinematography, and bravura set pieces (including a jaw-dropping downtown LA shootout), it’s an absolute must-see for any fan of the crime genre. While less intimate than Drive, it explores similar themes of professionalism, masculinity, and the toll that a criminal life takes.
7. Manhunter (1986)
Before The Silence of the Lambs, Michael Mann adapted Thomas Harris’s novel Red Dragon into this stylish and haunting 1986 thriller. William Petersen stars as FBI profiler Will Graham, who comes out of retirement to hunt the serial killer known as “The Tooth Fairy.” With its neon-noir cinematography, eerie electronic score, and focus on the psychological toll of violence, it’s a clear precursor to Drive and many other modern thrillers. Brian Cox’s chilling turn as Hannibal Lecktor is not to be missed.
6. The Guest (2014)
If you liked the stoic, mysterious antihero of Drive, you’ll love Dan Stevens’ magnetic performance as the title character in the 2014 thriller The Guest. He plays David, a recently discharged soldier who shows up on the doorstep of his dead comrade’s family, claiming to be his friend. But as people around town start dying, the family’s daughter (Maika Monroe) begins to suspect that David is not who he seems. With its John Carpenter-esque synth score, dark humor, and shocking violence, it’s a stylish and unpredictable ride that Drive fans will eat up.
5. Taxi Driver (1976)
One of Martin Scorsese’s earliest masterpieces, Taxi Driver stars Robert De Niro as Travis Bickle, a mentally unstable Vietnam vet who works as a cab driver in seedy 1970s New York City. As his disgust with the filth and decay around him grows, he begins to lose his grip on sanity, leading to an explosively violent climax. With its neon-lit cinematography, Bernard Herrmann score, and themes of urban alienation and masculinity in crisis, it’s a key influence on neo-noir films like Drive.
4. Point Blank (1967)
John Boorman’s super cool 1967 thriller Point Blank stars Lee Marvin as a double-crossed thief out for revenge against the organization that left him for dead. With its elliptical editing, existential tone, and bursts of stylized violence, it’s a groundbreaking film that still feels ahead of its time. Fans of Drive‘s enigmatic protagonist and dreamlike style will find much to love in Marvin’s iconic performance and the film’s dazzling visuals.
3. Le Samouraï (1967)
Jean-Pierre Melville’s austere 1967 crime classic Le Samouraï stars Alain Delon as Jef Costello, a hitman who lives by a strict code of professionalism and loyalty. But after a job goes wrong, he finds himself on the run from both the police and his employers. With its cool, minimalist style, sparse dialogue, and existential themes, it’s a clear blueprint for Drive and countless other neo-noir thrillers. Delon’s performance as the laconic, trench-coated killer is the epitome of screen cool.
2. The Driver (1978)
Walter Hill’s 1978 neo-noir The Driver is the closest thing to a direct precursor to Drive. Ryan O’Neal stars as the nameless title character, a getaway driver for hire who becomes the target of an obsessive cop (Bruce Dern). With its minimalist plot, archetypal characters, and emphasis on mood and style over dialogue, it established the template that Drive would follow decades later. The car chases are lean and gritty, and O’Neal’s performance is a master class in stoic cool.
1. Le Samouraï (1967)
Was there any doubt that Jean-Pierre Melville’s existential 1967 crime classic Le Samouraï would top this list? Alain Delon’s iconic performance as the hitman Jef Costello is the Platonic ideal of the neo-noir antihero: taciturn, professional, and doomed. With its razor-sharp style, methodical pacing, and haunting atmosphere, it’s a film that only grows in stature with each passing year. If you loved Drive, do yourself a favor and watch the film that inspired it (and countless others). Just be prepared to develop a lifelong obsession.
So there you have it: the 20 best films to watch if you’re a fan of Drive. Whether you’re in the mood for a gritty crime thriller, a stylish neo-noir, or an existential character study, there’s something on this list for every taste. Fire up your Blu-ray player or streaming service of choice and get ready for a white-knuckle ride through the dark underbelly of cinema. Happy viewing!
