Summary

• Now You See Me offers a fast-paced criminal orchestra of oddball characters similar to Baby Driver's universe and narrative structure.
• Drive competes for the title of best getaway driver movie, exploring love and rage in a more meditative character study.
• Kingsman: The Secret Service goes all-in on English action, matching the upbeat rhythm and stylish chaos of Baby Driver's entertainment value.

Baby Driver soundtrack.

Surprisingly, there are quite a few films that come close to capturing the same magic that Baby Driver harnesses. Some come straight from the director himself, either from Edgar Wright's wider filmography or cited directly as an inspiration for the high-octane chase movie. Others simply embody the same stylish chaos that keeps Baby Driver entertaining, from the daring action scenes to the hot pursuits to the driving rhythm of the music.

10 Now You See Me (2013)

Another fast-paced criminal orchestra of oddball characters

Though not a traditional heist film, Baby Driver certainly bears all the typical markers of a high-stakes theft movie, complete with audacious acts of burglary and eclectic casts of characters with special expertise. It's also not to be forgotten that three actual heists do take place over the course of the film, even if they aren't as quiet and elegant as those that take place in a movie like Now You See Me. Headed by Jesse Eisenberg, this crime-thriller follows a group of high-ranking magicians, performers, and illusionists who use their skills in daring acts of crime.

First and foremost, the dialogue and characters of Now You See Me wouldn't be out of place in Baby Driver's cynical universe, filled with oblique caricatures of decent human beings. The elaborate action setpieces that walk audiences through the various scores and schemes of the Four Horseman also bear an uncannily similar feel to the gravity-defying stunt driving of Baby Driver's best moments. While the film had a divisive critical response, owing to the various unresolved plot points set up throughout its winding narrative, those who enjoyed Baby Driver will surely find a worthy recommendation in Now You See Me.

9 Drive (2011)

Competes for the title of best getaway driver movie

Considering the raging debate over whether Baby or The Driver is the best escapist in movie history, it's easy to see why Drive is a dead ringer for Baby Driver. Beyond simply sharing the subject of a quiet getaway driver who falls for a woman outside of his dangerous lifestyle, Drive makes a case for Baby Driver's sister film. Starring Ryan Gosling as The Driver, the film is a stylish crime drama that explores the delicate line between love and rage.

ittedly, Drive has a far different tone that Baby Driver, being a headier, more meditative character study that often puts the action second-in-command to the rich narrative development. Ryan Reynold's character has a profound, sad dreaminess that Ansel Elgort's Baby can only hope to match. Still, at the end of the day, Drive also features fast cars, an amazing soundtrack that nearly acts as a character all its own, and a trademark aesthetic that separates it from the average chase movie, making it a close fit for Baby Driver's fans.

8 Kingsman: The Secret Service (2015)

Goes all-in on English action

Spy movies and crime movies have always had a close distinction, both having their action operate within the fuzzy boundaries of the law. Yet these days, most spy movies tend to be overly dramatic and serious as the grave, with giants like the modern James Bond franchise having abandoned most of the gadget-wielding fun of the earlier films in favor of dour drama and gritty reality. That being said, Kingsman: The Secret Service manages to match the upbeat rhythm of Baby Driver without taking itself too seriously.

Following a new recruit to the shadowy Kingsman spy organization, Eggsy, the film presents a classic plot of a maniacal genius hell-bent on destroying humanity. Thanks to the excellent performance of Colin Firth's Harry Hart and the distinctly British sensibilities, the film has a lot in common with Baby Driver, walking a similar tightrope between campy fun, palpable danger and visceral action. In particular, the infamous church fight, set to the upbeat tune of Lynard Skynard's "Free Bird", feels lifted straight out of Baby Driver despite premiering in theaters three years prior.

7 Shaun Of The Dead (2004)

Edgar Wright's witty romp through a zombie apocalypse

Even if it is technically a spoof of the genre, Shaun of the Dead remains one of the greatest zombie movies of all time and the crowning jewel of Edgar Wright's Cornetto trilogy. The film takes a more comedic approach to the shambling doom of a zombie apocalypse, pitting the effortlessly funny duo of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost against a horde of the undead as well as their own personal hangups. Another offering from Edgar Wright, it's no surprise that Shaun of the Dead has quite a bit in common with Baby Driver.

While the leading duo of Shaun of the Dead may be a bit perkier than Baby, they have a similar sense of humor and detached relationship with the world around them, cracking jokes or jamming out to music in the face of mortal danger, respectively. Speaking of the action scenes, Shaun of the Dead manages to be surprisingly impressive with its moments of affable British 9-to-5 office workers cutting down the hordes of the undead, juxtaposing comedy with genuinely great fight scenes. Baby Driver continues to share a close correlation with its director's most famous work.

6 Last Night In Soho (2021)

A similarly musical, but trippy adventure

If Shaun of the Dead is the classical music of Edgar Wright's filmography, then Last Night in Soho is more like jazz. One of the more recent projects headed by Wright, the film weaves an ambitious narrative chronicling the tale of a fashion designer who finds herself able to time travel to the 60s, only to be caught up in the life of a famous singer from the era. The film is a markedly different direction for Wright's typical movie fare, but still retains enough of the director's hallmarks to be worth watching as a Baby Driver fan.

For one, the phenomenal soundtrack of the film informs the pacing, emotions, and even decade the film finds itself in at various points, even if it doesn't have much in the way of fight scenes to sync up to. Additionally, Anya-Taylor Joy manages to almost present a female version of Baby, with a similarly tragic past and detached personality rooted in nostalgia. If one can overlook the lack of bombastic chase sequences and more horror-adjacent tone, Last Night in Soho will be a filling dessert to a viewing of Baby Driver.

5 Snatch (2001)

Guy Ritchie's crime-comedy magnum opus

The master of combining crime and comedy, Guy Ritchie's best movies can all make a case for walking so that Baby Driver could run. Snatch in particular is widely considered to be his premiere work, captilazing on the success of Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels. The film tells two tandem plots, both set within London's criminal underworld -- A small-time boxing promoter trying to weasel his way out of the influence of a bloodthirsty gangster, and a search for a priceless stolen diamond.

In relation to Baby Driver, Snatch offers a similar intersection of genuinely threatening characters and absurdist comedy. The characters all have incredibly unique voices, and react to the alarming circumstances of their world in remarkably human ways that were later echoed by Baby Driver's roster of codenamed criminals. Of course, the ever present danger of life outside the law is conveyed amazingly through the fast-paced editing, making Ritchie's sophomore film a close fit for Baby Driver.

4 Bullitt (1968)

Directly inspired Baby Driver

Snatch may have unintentionally inspired Baby Driver, clearly grandfathering the genre of the quirky band of criminals, but Bullitt was listed as a direct influence by Edgar Wright himself. One of the most famous films of '60s icon Steve McQueen, Bullitt tells the story of a hardboiled cop on the San Francisco police department that comes into the crosshairs of the Chicago mafia. Though more of a classic noir film, Bullitt's influence is obvious in Baby Driver after watching both films.

For one, it's hard not to point to a modern film rife with car chases that doesn't take at least some notes from Bullitt or its inerrant films, ending in one of the most famous chase sequences ever filmed through the streets of San Francisco. The musical influence is also surprisingly present for such an old film, driving the action with a pervasive jazz beat that wouldn't be out of place on one of Baby's iPods. As the grandfather of all car chase movies, Baby Driver practically owes its existence to Bullitt, and the enjoyment of one will surely lead to another.

3 Hardcore Henry (2016)

An underrated action movie with a unique gimmick

Compared to other films lucky enough to be talked about in the same breath as Baby Driver, Hardcore Henry isn't the most well-ed. The shlocky action film is mostly known for its all-encoming gimmick, a first-person perspective that doesn't break the entire movie, giving it the feel of a first-person-shooter video game. Beyond that, Hardcore Henry offers a rote revenge story of an escaped experiment on the run from dangerous debtors.

If there's one thing Hardcore Henry does right, it's the action setpieces, which are elaborate enough to make even Baby Driver blush. The mute protagonist is also not altogether unlike Baby himself, bearing his own odd eccentricities in the face of an incredibly violent world. Finally, the music is also an unsung hero of Hardcore Henry, from pulse-pounding EDM and dubstep songs to surprisingly thoughtful renditions of Broadway musicals. Unfortunately, it seems Baby Driver is the closest thing Hardcore Henry will ever get to a sequel.

2 Riding Bean (1989)

An undersung anime influence

It's not often that animated movies have a large influence on live-action films, let alone niche anime from the late '80s. Yet when viewed through the lens of Baby Driver, it's hard not to see the Riding Bean OVA shine through. The 48-minute-long lost pilot was a completely original story that trailed the daring courier, Bean Bandit, and his partner, a gunslinger named Rally Vincent.

Beyond a penchant for chistening its characters with ridiculous names, Baby Driver finds a lot of similarities in Riding Bean. The breathtaking animation of the short film has some of the best moments in racing anime around, including a few shots nearly re-created beat for beat in Baby Driver. Even if it is undoubtedly cheesy, Riding Bean has plenty of the same jaw-dropping moments of vehicular mastery that made so many fall in love with Baby Driver on first watch.

1 The Blues Brothers

Undeniably similar musical action-comedy

Though Edgar Wright may not readily it it, it seems as though fellow musical action comedy The Blues Brothers might be the closest thing audiences could ever hope to find for an American-made version of Baby Driver. Evolved from a sketch on Saturday Night Live, The Blues Brothers tells the story of an oafish pair of brothers' quest to, in typical 80s fashion, prevent the closing of an orphanage. Despite the far-out logline, The Blues Brothers might have more in common with Baby Driver than might originally meet the eye.

For one, the Blues brothers themselves are quite different from Baby, but they share a similarly adversarial relationship to the law and love for sunglasses. The film is another one of few to combine a phenomenal soundtrack with tense automobile racing, including an infamous chase scene through a crowded mall just like in Baby Driver. With comedy, quick pacing, hilarious characters and a stellar OST, The Blue Brothers is sure to be enjoyed by any fan of Baby Driver.