Drive (2011)
Kernel Score: 85% · 13,403 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Drama, Thriller, Crime
Released: 2011-09-15
Runtime: 100 minutes
Is Drive worth watching?
Worth watching. A cool, quiet crime film about a stunt driver who gets pulled into a heist. Heavy on mood, music and sudden violence, light on dialogue. If you want fast car chases, this is not that.
Watch it if you
- like stylish, atmospheric crime stories
- enjoy minimal dialogue and strong visual style
- are fine with sudden, graphic violence
Skip it if you
- want constant action or car chases
- dislike slow, brooding pacing
Best for: Late-night solo watch
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Drive
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-22.
Overview
Driver is a skilled Hollywood stuntman who moonlights as a getaway driver for criminals. Though he projects an icy exterior, lately he's been warming up to a pretty neighbor named Irene and her young son, Benicio. When Irene's husband gets out of jail, he enlists Driver's help in a million-dollar heist. The job goes horribly wrong, and Driver must risk his life to protect Irene and Benicio from the vengeful masterminds behind the robbery.
Drive parents' guide: ages 15+
Parents need to know that Drive is an R-rated crime thriller with brutal, sudden violence including a beating death, plus criminal activity and tense heist scenes.
- Violence & scariness: Intense — The film contains graphic, sudden bursts of brutal violence including a character beaten to death and other crime-related brutality.
- Language: Moderate — Rated R with expected strong profanity typical of a gritty crime thriller.
- Drinking, drugs & smoking: A little — Minimal substance use is implied within the criminal underworld setting.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Drive
If you liked Drive, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- The Driver (1978) — 80%: The 1978 original of the stoic getaway driver.
- Collateral (2004) — 80%: Moody night-time crime film built on quiet menace.
- Heat (1995) — 89%: Cool, precise crime saga with stylish, tense set pieces.
- Wrath of Man (2021) — 85%: Cold, violent revenge thriller with a silent lead.
- The Departed (2006) — 96%: Smart crime thriller with sharp tension and violence.
- The Getaway (1972) — 79%: Heist-gone-wrong thriller with a hardened lead.
Director
Cast
- Ryan Gosling as Driver
- Carey Mulligan as Irene
- Bryan Cranston as Shannon
- Albert Brooks as Bernie Rose
- Oscar Isaac as Standard
- Christina Hendricks as Blanche
- Ron Perlman as Nino
- Kaden Leos as Benicio
- Jeff Wolfe as Tan Suit
- James Biberi as Cook
Drive FAQ
Is Drive worth watching?
Worth watching. A cool, quiet crime film about a stunt driver who gets pulled into a heist. Heavy on mood, music and sudden violence, light on dialogue. If you want fast car chases, this is not that.
Where can I watch Drive?
In the US you can rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is Drive OK for kids?
Drive is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that Drive is an R-rated crime thriller with brutal, sudden violence including a beating death, plus criminal activity and tense heist scenes.
What movies are like Drive?
If you liked Drive, try The Driver, Collateral, Heat and Wrath of Man.