--- title: "Baby Driver: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/baby-driver/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/baby-driver" critics_score: 80 critics_reviews: 26 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Baby Driver (2017): what the critics said Critics' score 80 from 26 reviews: 21 positive, 5 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics greet Baby Driver warmly, with praise concentrated on Edgar Wright’s direction and the precision with which music, movement and stunt work fit together. The opening chase is a recurring highlight, establishing an approach that many reviews describe as an action musical. The soundtrack earns credit for shaping character and mood rather than merely accompanying the driving. Performances draw favourable notices too, though the choreography and sound dominate the discussion. The spread runs from enthusiastic approval to mixed responses, with no outright negative verdicts. Critics differ most over how much there is to care about between the chases. The Hollywood Reporter praises the young leads’ sincere romance, while Digital Spy finds the characters underdeveloped and the emotional pull weak. Several reviews also find that the later stretches lose momentum or become conventional; even among admirers, the storytelling attracts more reservations than the craft. ## The Telegraph Rating 5/5. 30 June 2017. The critic calls it an infectious car-chase thriller that will make you believe in magic, with the synergy of music and movement as its big selling point. The opening bank heist synced to music is highlighted as setting out the film's clicky appeal immediately. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/baby-driver-review-edgar-wrights-infectious-car-chase-thriller/) ## Empire — Terri White Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 19 June 2017. The review hails the film as one of the most utterly original in years, an awe-inspiring piece of filmmaking that plays out as a musical through the lens of an action thriller. The extraordinary opening car-chase sequence set to Bellbottoms and the heady, intoxicating combination of action, drama and love are singled out. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/baby-driver-review/) ## Los Angeles Times — Justin Chang Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 27 June 2017. The critic calls the film an exuberant automotive musical and pop tribute to stylish heist pictures, praising its entertaining gimmick of music-synced car chases. He singles out the death-defying car-eography and killer tracks for making it a lavishly souped-up success. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-baby-driver-review-20170627-story.html) ## Sight and Sound — Henry K. Miller Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 30 June 2017. The critic hails the film as a joyous heist musical driven by virtuoso direction and an obsessively curated soundtrack. He singles out the seamless integration of music into every movement and set piece for particular praise. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/film-week-baby-driver-edgar-wrights-mixtape-wheels) ## The Hollywood Reporter — John DeFore Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 11 March 2017. Festival review. The critic calls it a sweet and speed-crazed crime film you can dance to. It praises the music-driven heist sequences and the unironic romantic core between the young leads. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/baby-driver-review-985401/) ## The Independent — Geoffrey Macnab Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 28 June 2017. The critic praises the film as an entirely original piece of jukebox filmmaking whose characters behave in line with the songs on its eclectic soundtrack. Wright is singled out for the zest and ingenuity with which he moulds the music to the mood, along with the witty screenplay that blends gangster tropes and youthful romanticism. [Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/baby-driver-review-release-date-cinema-edgar-wright-ansel-elgort-music-film-a7812016.html) ## Total Film Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 26 June 2017. The review describes it as a getaway saga perfectly in sync with its soundtrack. The critic highlights the seamless integration of music, action and character in Edgar Wright’s stylish heist film. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/baby-driver-review/) ## Vulture Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 21 June 2017. The critic hails Edgar Wright as the perfect 21st-century genre director and calls the film a handmade thriller with stupendous, classical choreography in its music-synced chase sequences. It singles out the swooningly romantic optimism and the way music grounds the protagonist. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2017/06/baby-driver-movie-review.html) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 27 June 2017. The critic finds it a terrifically stylish and exciting piece of work, a summer movie cool enough to induce brain freeze. The one thing singled out for praise is the inspired use of pop music synced to the action and chases. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/jun/27/baby-driver-review-edgar-wright-ansel-elgort-kevin-spacey-jon-hamm-jamie-foxx) ## Little White Lies — Charles Bramesco Rating 4/4/5. 27 June 2017. The critic calls it a glorious joyride that embodies Wright's exuberant vision through kinetic action and pop-culture flair. He singles out the technical firepower and immediate pleasures of the car chases and soundtrack for praise, while noting some lopsidedness in the later acts. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/baby-driver) ## The i Paper — Matthew Turner Rating ★★★★. 28 June 2017. The critic calls the film a high-octane heist thriller full of energy and great tunes that blends elements of True Romance and Drive while remaining its own thing. The stunning chases, strong cast performances and superb direction are singled out for praise, with the verdict that it is hugely entertaining and a worthy addition to Wright’s filmography. [Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/baby-driver-review-75435) ## Time Out — Joshua Rothkopf Rating 4/5. 26 June 2017. The critic finds it a hugely entertaining and supercharged action flick that weds car chases to a cracking playlist. He singles out the beautifully sustained, humorous action sequences for praise while noting the romance feels underdeveloped. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/baby-driver) ## Evening Standard — Charlotte O'Sullivan Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 17 November 2017. The review highlights the infectious fusion of adrenaline-filled action scenes and pop music that pulls viewers into a state of bliss, especially the choreographed chases and Elgort's sweet, mischievous performance. Some plot elements and minor characters are noted as weaker, but the highs are said to outweigh the lows. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/baby-driver-review-the-lows-never-overwhelm-the-highs-a3681631.html) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 16 October 2017. The critic describes a kinetic sugar-rush that cross-pollinates genres with razzle-dazzle set pieces and an unpredictable soundtrack. He singles out the fun but disposable quality of the film overall for note. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/baby-driver-review/5118950.article) ## The New York Times — Manohla Dargis Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 27 June 2017. The critic praises the film's exuberant focus on movement, syncopated action, and pop pastiche style, noting its cinematic craft in editing and color. She singles out the car chases and wall-to-wall music for making it a cool, breezy genre ride while wishing it went deeper beyond its clichés. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/27/movies/baby-driver-review-edgar-wright-ansel-elgort.html) ## Film Comment — Michael Sragow Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 22 June 2017. The critic finds Wright's film an entertaining hybrid of crime thriller and pop-aesthetic energy that excels in its music-synced action sequences and exuberance but runs out of steam due to excessive length and a failure to fully deliver on its ambitions. [Read the review](https://www.filmcomment.com/deep-focus-baby-driver/) ## The New Yorker — Anthony Lane Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 26 June 2017. The critic views the film as an excellent music video layered with songs that hustles action along but finds it not much of a movie overall. He singles out the knowing tone and Spacey's performance for praise while preferring Wright's earlier, funnier work set in familiar territory. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/07/03/baby-driver-and-my-journey-through-french-cinema) ## Radio Times — Terry Staunton Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). The critic sees it as a revved-up reworking of heist and chase movies with well-choreographed action and an eclectic soundtrack. He singles out the disjointed plot for complaint, finding it frustrating despite the technical strengths. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-h9tjy4/baby-driver/) ## HeyUGuys — Nathan McVay Rating 5/5. 12 March 2017. Festival review. Edgar Wright's Baby Driver brilliantly combines heist elements, propulsive car chases, and a precise soundtrack into one thrilling ride. The director takes his game to the next level with this ambitious, fun, and meticulously crafted film that stands as his best yet. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/baby-driver-review/) ## Collider — Matt Goldberg Rating A-. 27 June 2017. The critic praises the film's unique use of music and sound design as central to the storytelling and character, highlighting the thrilling action sequences and Wright's craftsmanship. The main complaint is that it doesn't quite reach the emotional depth of Wright's previous films. [Read the review](https://collider.com/baby-driver-review/) ## /Film — Jacob Hall Rating 9/10. 28 June 2017. Baby Driver is a spectacular car chase musical that retains Edgar Wright's unique voice while appealing broadly, blending action with a music-driven hook. The film excels through its inventive integration of soundtrack with stunts and character moments, delivering a miracle of genre filmmaking. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/549747/baby-driver-review/) ## Den of Geek — Ryan Lambie Rating 4/5. 30 June 2017. The critic praises the film as a lean, expertly made and full-of-fun action musical with superb direction and physical stunt work that delivers a sugar-rush cinematic experience. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/baby-driver-review-2/) ## The Ringer — K. Austin Collins Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 27 June 2017. The review finds the film corny and familiar but excels due to Wright's stylish direction and the cast's performances, particularly noting the inventive integration of music with the heist plot. It singles out the opening chase scene and the millennial twist on classic tropes for praise. [Read the review](https://www.theringer.com/2017/06/27/pop-culture/baby-driver-film-review-ansel-elgort-edgar-wright-e84592dec07f) ## Deadline — Pete Hammond Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 27 June 2017. The critic praises the style, music, opening sequence, and performances, calling it entertaining and irresistible until the last act which goes off the rails, but overall recommends it as a “go.” [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2017/06/baby-driver-review-ansel-elgort-edgar-wright-1202120964/) ## The Wrap — Sam Fragoso Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 27 June 2017. The critic praises the first hour as exhilarating and among the greatest action comedies, highlighting the synchronized action and music, but criticizes the later part for losing momentum and becoming conventional and unfocused. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/baby-driver-review-edgar-wright-ansel-elgort/) ## Digital Spy — Ian Sandwell Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 19 June 2017. The critic concludes that Baby Driver is an entertaining ride with assured craft and a strong soundtrack but struggles because it is difficult to care about the underdeveloped characters and lacks emotional depth beneath its stylish surface. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a830423/baby-driver-review-edgar-wright/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/baby-driver.md