10 More Rip-Roaring Thrillers
Baby Driver is a rip-roaring good time, blending Edgar Wright’s usual style with fast driving, an enticing heist and memorable characters. If you’ve finished watching this one, you may be looking for alternate picks.
We’ve combed through the archives and saved you the hassle with our top picks for alternate viewing. As usual, let us know your thoughts about our picks in the comments below!
Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
Guardians of the Galaxy sees a band of misfit criminals, led by the adventurer Peter Quill, who find themselves the object of a manhunt after Quill steals a mysterious orb coveted by the villainous Ronan. In order to evade Ronan, Quill is forced into an uneasy truce with a group of misfits that includes Gamora, Rocket, Groot, and Drax the Destroyer.
While the genres are different, both films are notable for their unique soundtracks that are integral to the narrative. Both Baby in Baby Driver and Peter Quill in Guardians of the Galaxy are characterized by their connection to music, while the comedic style and emphasis on action makes it a great pick.
The Italian Job (1969)
The Italian Job is a British comedy heist film that follows Charlie Croker, who plans a heist of a lifetime by creating the largest traffic jam in the history of Turin, Italy. In doing so, he has his eyes on a shipment of gold, which he intends to steal.
Both films feature elaborate heist sequences and high-speed car chases. In both movies, driving skills are integral to the plot, with our protagonist a skilled driver who is crucial to the success of the heist.
Drive (2011)
Ryan Gosling stars in Drive, which seems him play a Hollywood stunt driver by day, while moonlighting as a top-notch getaway driver-for-hire in the criminal underworld by night. He finds himself a target for some of LA’s most dangerous men after agreeing to aid the husband of his beautiful neighbor, Irene.
Drive and Baby Driver are both stylized, action-packed films centering around a quiet, but skilled driver who gets tangled up in criminal activities. Both drivers develop a romantic interest that further complicates their circumstances. It’s worth pointing out that both movies have notable soundtracks that play a key role in setting the tone of the story.
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (2010)
If you’re looking for more of Edgar Wright’s unique style, look no further than this gem. Based on the graphic novel series of the same name, the story follows Scott Pilgrim, a bass guitarist for a garage rock band who falls in love with an American delivery girl, Ramona Flowers. However, he must defeat her seven evil exes who try to kill him before he can get a shot with her.
As mentioned above, both films are directed by Edgar Wright so expect his signature dynamic editing style and integration of music into the narrative. Each has a young protagonist who must navigate through a series of obstacles to achieve his goal, in Scott’s case to win Ramona’s love, and in Baby’s case to break free from his life of crime.
Run Lola Run (1998)
Run Lola Run is a German thriller that follows Lola who has 20 minutes to find 100,000 Deutschmarks to save her boyfriend Manni from mobsters. The film plays out three different scenarios to show how Lola tries to secure the money.
Run Lola Run and Baby Driver share an energetic style, driven by a relentlessly awesome soundtrack. Both movies also revolve around protagonists who are caught in dangerous situations and racing against the clock to save someone they love.
Speed Racer (2008)
Speed Racer is a live-action adaptation of the 1960’s anime series sporting the same name. The film follows Speed Racer, a young race car driver from a family of racers, who strives to win a cross-country race known as The Crucible. In order to do so though, he must overcome the manipulative and corrupt practices in the world of racing to reach his goal.
Both films are driven by action involving vehicles and high-speed chases. The young protagonists, who are exceptionally skilled drivers, is another similar trait, alongside the narrative hook of fighting against corrupt systems.
Get Duked! (2019)
Get Duked! is a British comedy film about four boys who embark on a character-building camping trip in the Scottish Highlands, only to find themselves hunted by a mysterious group of people.
While the genres and themes differ considerably, both films do share a dark humor and a unique irreverent attitude towards their respective genres. The protagonists in both are young and face a life-threatening situation that they need to escape from.
Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014)
Kingsman: The Secret Service is about a streetwise youth named Eggsy who is recruited by a mentor into a secret British spy organization. He must stop a plot by a tech genius to take over the world, while also dealing with the challenges of spy training.
Both films have young male protagonists who are talented and resourceful, caught up in a dangerous world of crime. There’s also a unique style that both movies absolutely revel in, while the soundtrack beautifully complements the narrative.
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)
In Guy Ritchie’s debut movie, a group of friends lose a high-stakes poker game to a crime boss and are forced to come up with £500,000 in a week to pay off their debt. A convoluted series of schemes and scams ensue, which involves antique shotguns, a marijuana operation, and a pair of small-time thieves.
Both films are crime comedies with ensemble casts, complex plots, and plenty of twists and turns. This also similarly explores the underworld of crime, albeit in a different location.
Bullitt (1968)
Bullitt stars Steve McQueen as Frank Bullitt, a San Francisco cop who is tasked with protecting a witness in a Senate hearing. When the witness is killed, Bullitt decides to investigate the case himself, leading to one of the most memorable car chase sequences in film history.
Bullitt, like Baby Driver, is famous for its car chase scenes, as one may have deduced from that description above! The two films share a protagonist who is skilled in driving and becomes embroiled in a world of crime and danger, making this an absolute must-watch.
There we have it, our list of best movies that are similar to Baby Driver. What do you think about our picks? Did one of your favourites make the list? Let us know in the comments below!