10 Heist and Action Films Like Baby Driver That Mix Music and Mayhem

Are you an adrenaline junkie who lives life set to a killer soundtrack? Then chances are you absolutely loved Baby Driver (2017). Director Edgar Wright’s masterpiece seamlessly blended high-octane car chases with perfectly choreographed action sequences, all driven by the protagonist’s personal musical playlist. The movie, starring Ansel Elgort as the titular talented getaway driver and featuring an all-star cast including Kevin Spacey, Jon Hamm, and Jamie Foxx, wasn’t just a crime thriller; it was a rhythmic, stylish experience unlike anything else in modern cinema.

Audiences were captivated by the film’s unique mix of genres: a charming underdog hero, a desperate final heist, razor-sharp dialogue, and a deeply romantic core. If you’re searching for more movies like Baby Driver—films that feature cool criminals, incredible practical stunts, hyper-stylized direction, or a plot that’s essentially a musical told through action—you’ve come to the right place. We’ve carefully curated this list to capture similar themes, the electric tone, the memorable atmosphere, and the sheer cinematic rush of the 2017 hit, ensuring your next movie night is just as exhilarating.

1. Drive (2011)

• 1h 40m
• Genres: Crime, Drama
• Director: Nicolas Winding Refn
• Writer: Hossein Amini (screenplay), James Sallis (based on the book by)
• Stars: Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston
• Country: United States
• Summary: A mysterious Hollywood stuntman and mechanic moonlights as a getaway driver and finds himself in trouble when he helps out his neighbor.

The 2011 neo-noir thriller Drive is perhaps the most obvious parallel to draw for fans looking for movies similar to Baby Driver, thanks to its enigmatic main character who excels at driving and its heavy emphasis on a distinct, moody synth-pop soundtrack. Ryan Gosling plays the unnamed Driver, a man of few words and immense skill, who keeps his private and professional lives rigidly separate until a connection with his neighbor pulls him into a desperate world of debt and violence. The film is a masterclass in atmosphere, using neon-drenched Los Angeles nights and long, silent stretches to build an almost unbearable tension before erupting into visceral, unforgettable moments of action.

Unlike the frenetic pacing of Edgar Wright’s film, Drive adopts a deliberate, slow-burn approach, allowing the emotional stakes for the Driver and his neighbor to truly sink in. Its standout feature is its bold, New Wave-inspired score, which acts as the character’s internal monologue and sets a deeply romantic yet menacing mood that permeates every frame. If the clinical precision and emotional depth of a driver risking it all for love appealed to you, then the stylish, cool, and brutal world of this film is an essential watch to satisfy your craving for cool criminal protagonists.

2. The Nice Guys (2016)

• 1h 56m
• Genres: Action, Comedy, Crime
• Director: Shane Black
• Writer: Shane Black, Anthony Bagarozzi
• Stars: Russell Crowe, Ryan Gosling, Angourie Rice
• Country: United States
• Summary: A private eye investigates the apparent suicide of a fading porn star in 1970s Los Angeles and soon finds himself a target after he and a tough-as-nails partner are both tasked with finding a missing girl.

If the comedic banter and ensemble chemistry of the robbery crew in the target movie were a highlight for you, then The Nice Guys offers a similar blend of sharp humor and messy crime. Set in 1977 Los Angeles, this action-comedy is a throwback to classic buddy cop movies, following a down-on-his-luck private investigator and a hired enforcer who reluctantly team up to solve the disappearance of a young woman connected to a vast conspiracy. The witty, fast-paced dialogue is a signature of writer-director Shane Black, creating a lighthearted yet complex crime caper that consistently surprises.

What makes this film resonate with the vibe of films like Baby Driver is its distinct, period-specific aesthetic and exceptional character dynamics. The mismatched partnership between the main duo is hilarious and deeply engaging, grounded by the surprising maturity of the private investigator’s teenage daughter, who acts as the moral compass of the film. It features slick action sequences, a great soundtrack that perfectly captures the 70s era, and a plot full of colorful, eccentric criminals—all delivered with a knowing, stylish wink that keeps the energy high and the tone irreverent.

3. Snatch (2000)

• 1h 44m
• Genres: Comedy, Crime
• Director: Guy Ritchie
• Writer: Guy Ritchie
• Stars: Jason Statham, Brad Pitt, Stephen Graham
• Country: United Kingdom, United States
• Summary: Unscrupulous boxing promoters, violent bookmakers, a Russian gangster, incompetent amateur robbers and supposedly Jewish jewelers fight to track down a priceless stolen diamond.

For those who appreciated the stylized editing and rapid-fire, dark humor of Edgar Wright’s storytelling, Guy Ritchie’s second feature, Snatch, delivers a hyper-kinetic experience that fans of similar movies to Baby Driver will devour. This British crime comedy is a tangled web of interconnected stories involving a stolen diamond, a fixed bare-knuckle boxing match, and a chaotic collection of low-life characters, including a nearly unintelligible Irish Traveller boxer played memorably by Brad Pitt.

The film is famous for its visual flair, utilizing unconventional camera work, freeze frames, and extremely fast-paced cuts that perfectly complement the witty, often jargon-filled dialogue. The ensemble cast is superb, each character a distinct, over-the-top personality caught up in escalating mayhem, with a clear focus on the unfortunate logistics of pulling off a successful crime. If you enjoy caper films where meticulous planning quickly descends into hilarious, unpredictable chaos, and where style is just as important as substance, this movie is a gold standard in genre filmmaking.

4. Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)

• 1h 47m
• Genres: Comedy, Crime
• Director: Guy Ritchie
• Writer: Guy Ritchie
• Stars: Jason Flemyng, Dexter Fletcher, Nick Moran
• Country: United Kingdom
• Summary: A young card sharp loses a fortune to a powerful crime lord in a rigged game of three-card brag and is given one week to come up with half a million pounds.

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels is Guy Ritchie’s debut feature and showcases the same non-linear narrative and razor-sharp dialogue that would go on to define his style. It shares the exhilarating, youth-driven energy of the target movie, centering on four friends who find themselves in deep financial trouble with a ruthless local gangster after a rigged card game. Their desperate solution is to rob a small-time gang of drug dealers operating right next door, setting off a chain reaction of highly entertaining and increasingly convoluted events involving antique shotguns, drugs, and accidental deaths.

The movie’s influence on subsequent stylish crime films is undeniable, providing a blueprint for quick cuts, witty voiceovers, and overlapping plots that keep the audience constantly on their toes. It introduces several memorable character archetypes and features some early star-making turns, delivering a raw, unpredictable, and ultimately fun portrayal of the London criminal underworld. For fans looking for that blend of crime, comedy, and clever cinematic construction that made Baby Driver such a blast, this film offers a similarly high-stakes, highly entertaining ride.

5. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015)

• 1h 56m
• Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy
• Director: Guy Ritchie
• Writer: Guy Ritchie (screenplay), Lionel Wigram (screenplay), Jeff Kleeman (story), David C. Wilson (story)
• Stars: Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer, Alicia Vikander
• Country: United States, United Kingdom
• Summary: In the early 1960s, CIA agent Napoleon Solo and KGB agent Illya Kuryakin participate in a joint mission against a mysterious criminal organization, which is working to proliferate nuclear weapons.

Style, charm, and a superb period soundtrack are the essential ingredients this film shares with movies like Baby Driver, making it a fantastic addition to this list. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is a sleek, 1960s-set spy thriller that pairs two unlikely Cold War adversaries—a charismatic American CIA agent and a powerful Soviet KGB operative—on a mission to stop a global catastrophe. Director Guy Ritchie leans heavily into the mod aesthetic of the era, filling the screen with impeccably tailored suits, vintage cars, and gorgeous European locations.

The film excels in showcasing a cool, almost effortless cinematic language, relying on smart editing, clever split-screens, and a witty script to propel the story forward. While the car chases may be more classical than high-octane explosions, the film captures a similar feeling of cool professional skill and camaraderie under duress. The chemistry between the three leads is electric, delivering a fun, lighthearted tone that still manages to embrace genuine danger. It’s a stylish, smart, and action-packed adventure that prioritizes flair and fun over gritty realism, much like the 2017 hit.

6. The Driver (1978)

• 1h 31m
• Genres: Action, Crime, Thriller
• Director: Walter Hill
• Writer: Walter Hill
• Stars: Ryan O’Neal, Bruce Dern, Isabelle Adjani
• Country: United States
• Summary: The Driver is a getaway driver for hire, the best in the business. His specialty: anonymity. When he is challenged by a detective obsessed with catching him, the two engage in a cat-and-mouse game where the stakes are life or death.

A direct spiritual ancestor to both Baby Driver and Drive, The Driver is a minimalist, hard-boiled crime thriller that focuses purely on the character archetypes: The Driver, The Detective, and The Player. This film is pure style and precision, much like its silent, highly skilled protagonist, who only communicates what is absolutely necessary. It strips away all extraneous plot details to focus on a relentless cat-and-mouse game between the driver, who is the best in his field, and a detective obsessed with catching him.

The influence of this 1978 classic on modern getaway driver films is undeniable, particularly in its dedication to raw, realistic-feeling car stunts and chase choreography. There’s a certain coolness and professional detachment to the main character that resonates with the mechanical, music-driven focus of the titular driver in the 2017 hit. If you enjoyed the sheer skill and tension inherent in the car chase sequences and prefer a crime thriller with a lean, atmospheric, and highly focused narrative, this movie provides the foundation for the genre.

7. The Italian Job (2003)

• 1h 51m
• Genres: Action, Crime, Thriller
• Director: F. Gary Gray
• Writer: Donna Powers, Wayne Powers
• Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, Edward Norton
• Country: United States
• Summary: After being betrayed and left for dead in Italy, Charlie Croker and his team plan an elaborate gold heist against their former ally.

The Italian Job is a quintessential modern heist film and a great match for fans of movies like Baby Driver due to its focus on a tightly knit crew of specialists, meticulous planning, and reliance on exciting, perfectly timed vehicle sequences. The plot revolves around a crew seeking revenge on their double-crossing former teammate by planning an audacious gold theft across the city of Los Angeles. Each member, from the safe cracker to the tech guru to the wheelman, has a distinct personality and vital role.

The film is packed with charismatic performances and features some truly iconic car chases involving the compact Mini Coopers, maneuvering through impossible locations like subway tunnels and pedestrian walkways. It successfully blends technical heist ingenuity with high-octane practical action, creating a fun, suspenseful ride. If the thrill of the well-executed crime, the satisfying element of precision in a chaotic situation, and the energy of a charismatic ensemble cast are what you loved about the 2017 film, this is a must-see revenge caper.

8. Logan Lucky (2017)

• 1h 59m
• Genres: Comedy, Crime, Drama
• Director: Steven Soderbergh
• Writer: Rebecca Blunt
• Stars: Channing Tatum, Adam Driver, Daniel Craig
• Country: United States
• Summary: Two brothers attempt to pull off a heist during a NASCAR race in North Carolina.

Also released in 2017, Logan Lucky shares the “one last job” framework and a charming, underdog feel with the target movie, but trades the slick city aesthetic for a distinct Southern-fried charm. Directed by Steven Soderbergh (famous for the Ocean’s trilogy), this caper film follows the supposedly cursed Logan family—led by Channing Tatum and Adam Driver—as they plot to rob the colossal Charlotte Motor Speedway during one of its biggest races. It’s a heist movie stripped down to its most relatable core, focusing on ordinary people trying to grab a piece of the American dream.

The film’s tone is warm and humorous, often finding comedy in the characters’ working-class struggle and surprisingly clever planning. Daniel Craig delivers an unforgettable performance as the eccentric, incarcerated demolition expert, Joe Bang. While not driven by music in the same way, the movie relies on impeccable timing and a well-choreographed plan that goes wonderfully, hilariously wrong in small but significant ways. If you appreciate a heist film anchored by great ensemble chemistry and a quirky, feel-good atmosphere, this is one of the better films similar to Baby Driver you can find.

9. Atomic Blonde (2017)

• 1h 55m
• Genres: Action, Thriller
• Director: David Leitch
• Writer: Kurt Johnstad (screenplay), Antony Johnston (based on the graphic novel “The Coldest City” by), Sam Hart (based on the graphic novel “The Coldest City” by)
• Stars: Charlize Theron, James McAvoy, John Goodman
• Country: United States
• Summary: An undercover MI6 agent is sent to Berlin during the Cold War to investigate the murder of a fellow agent and recover a missing list of double agents.

If your appreciation for the 2017 hit stemmed from the seamless marriage of action choreography and an iconic soundtrack, then Atomic Blonde will satisfy that craving with its own brand of neon-drenched, stylish brutality. This Cold War spy thriller, set just before the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, features Charlize Theron as an ice-cold MI6 agent on a mission to retrieve a priceless dossier. The action sequences are brutally realistic and meticulously staged, often presented in incredibly long, single-take-like sequences that put you right in the middle of the fight.

Much like the hyper-stylized world of Edgar Wright’s film, the visual presentation of Atomic Blonde is a huge draw, using neon lighting and a perfectly curated New Wave/Synth-Pop soundtrack to create a powerful, moody atmosphere. The music is not just background noise; it’s a vital part of the film’s identity, driving the pace of both the intrigue and the jaw-dropping fight choreography. It’s a stylish, smart, and unflinching action-thriller that excels in creating an unforgettable sense of place and time.

10. Pulp Fiction (1994)

• 2h 34m
• Genres: Crime, Drama
• Director: Quentin Tarantino
• Writer: Quentin Tarantino (story), Roger Avary (story)
• Stars: John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Samuel L. Jackson
• Country: United States
• Summary: The lives of two mob hitmen, a boxer, a gangster’s wife, and a pair of diner bandits intertwine in four tales of violence and redemption.

No list of stylish, dialogue-driven crime films is complete without a nod to Quentin Tarantino’s masterpiece, Pulp Fiction. While it doesn’t focus on car chases, the film shares the structural brilliance, snappy dialogue, and non-linear storytelling that make the target movie so appealing. It weaves together multiple interconnected narratives of low-level mobsters, a crime boss’s wife, and a desperate boxer in a chronologically fractured style that keeps the audience hooked on every conversation and twist.

The movie’s influence on pop culture and the crime genre is immense, defined by its memorable, conversational scenes that often revolve around mundane topics before erupting into unexpected violence. Crucially, like the 2017 favorite, Pulp Fiction has an iconic, meticulously selected soundtrack that gives a unique energy to every scene. If you loved the witty banter and the feeling of watching a film by a director completely in command of their style and rhythm, this essential 90s classic is a must-watch cinematic experience.

The Soundtrack of Crime: Why These Movies Resonate:

The common thread uniting this list of incredible movies like Baby Driver is a commitment to cinematic style, often achieved through highly creative direction, kinetic action, and an unforgettable use of music. Edgar Wright’s 2017 hit redefined the action genre by making the action entirely dependent on the soundtrack; it was a musical masquerading as a heist film. The films above borrow from or execute similar high-concept genre blending.

You’ll notice that many of the movies share core DNA: a focus on a highly skilled, often quiet anti-hero (Drive, The Driver, Atomic Blonde), a charismatic ensemble of criminals or specialists executing a brilliant plan (The Italian Job, Logan Lucky, Snatch), and a visual or narrative flair that elevates the material beyond a simple crime story (Pulp Fiction, The Nice Guys, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels). Whether it’s the neon-noir moodiness of Los Angeles, the gritty, quick-talking streets of London, or the stylized espionage of Cold War Berlin, each film uses its unique atmosphere to amplify the adrenaline and emotional stakes.

Ultimately, fans of the 2017 film are drawn to movies where the execution of the craft is as impressive as the plot itself. They appreciate when the camera moves with the music, when the dialogue is as sharp as a newly honed knife, and when the characters feel cool, capable, and complex, even while operating outside the law. These movies deliver on that promise, offering thrilling escapes and expertly constructed narratives that prove style, substance, and sound can come together to create a truly electric cinematic experience.

We hope this list gives you plenty of options for your next stylish crime movie fix! Have you seen any of these already, or is there another action-crime film with a killer soundtrack that you think deserves a spot on the list?