Drive My Car Review (2021) — 87% Celluloid Score
Directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi · 2021 ·
Drive My Car (2021) earns a 87% Celluloid Score — Recommended. Recommended — recommended by most critics and audiences.Critics (98%) were notably more enthusiastic than audiences (82%).
Calculated from 4 available inputs: Celluloid editorial rating, Metascore, Letterboxd and IMDb. Audience sentiment is shown separately and never changes the composite. See how we calculate scores.
4-input transparent breakdown
Theatrical release Where to watch
- The Criterion Channel
Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Fandango at Home
Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Fandango at Home
Where to watch Drive My Car by country
| Country | Streaming on |
|---|---|
| India | MUBI |
| Indonesia | KlikFilm |
| Japan | Prime Video, Disney+, U-NEXT |
| Malaysia | MUBI |
| Nigeria | MUBI |
| Pakistan | MUBI |
| South Africa | MUBI |
| South Korea | TVING |
| Turkey | MUBI |
| United Arab Emirates | MUBI |
| United States | The Criterion Channel |
Subscription availability, refreshed from TMDB. Rental and purchase options may differ.
Why this score?
- Celluloid's editorial rating is exceptional (98/100).
- General viewers mostly liked it (82%).
- Metascore signals universal acclaim (91/100).
- Letterboxd diarists rate it highly (4.2/5).
- Celluloid Score 87% combines 4 verified rating inputs; audience sentiment is shown separately.
Best for
- Viewers who want a well-regarded drama pick
- Epic-length viewers who want a big-screen experience
- Critics' darlings — stronger with reviewers than general viewers
Not ideal for
Scores reflect data indexed at build time. Component sources are shown on this page; Celluloid Score is our composite, not a third-party trademark. Scoring policy
Streaming availability, artwork and title metadata courtesy of TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.
Is Drive My Car worth watching?
Yes — Drive My Car earns a 87% Celluloid Score. Recommended — recommended by most critics and audiences.
Celluloid Verdict
Drive My Car — Best Screenplay at Cannes 2021. A landmark festival winner on Celluloid.
Celluloid editorial verdict
Critics (98%) were notably more enthusiastic than audiences (82%).
What is Drive My Car about?
Yusuke Kafuku, a stage actor and director, still unable, after two years, to cope with the loss of his beloved wife, accepts to direct Uncle Vanya at a theater festival in Hiroshima. There he meets Misaki, an introverted young woman, appointed to drive his car. In between rides, secrets from the past and heartfelt confessions will be unveiled.
Watch the Trailer
Critic Reviews
Drive My Car (2021) Review: Hamaguchi’s Hiroshima Grief Engine
★★★★½
Hidetoshi Nishijima and Tōko Miura in a red Saab — Uncle Vanya, a dead wife’s tapes, and the rare three-hour film that earns every silent kilometre. Cannes Best Screenplay, Oscar Best International Feature.
Essential — the 2020s Japanese film that made patience feel like plot.
Drive My Car stills
Official production imagery supplied through TMDB, kept with the movie instead of split into a thin gallery page.
Images courtesy of TMDB. TMDB does not endorse or certify Celluloid.
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