Director Joseph Kosinski brought one of the best racing movies in modern memory to the big screen this year, with the pulse-racing F1 becoming a big summer hit. Starring Brad Pitt, the movie raced to both critical and box office success, leaving Apple and co with no choice but to consider a sequel. 24 years prior to F1‘s triumph, another Hollywood icon was bringing a racing drama to the big screen, although to much less success.
Sylvester Stallone‘s 2001 film Driven, directed by Renny Harlin, is one of the more forgotten entries in the action icon’s huge filmography. Returning just $54 million from a reported $72 million budget, the film was an unquestionable flop. However, thanks perhaps to the popularity of F1, Driven has returned to the streaming charts almost a quarter of a century later, becoming one of the ten most-streamed movies on Tubi in the U.S. at the time of writing. Driven joins the likes of Gerard Butler‘s Den of Thieves, Arnold Schwarzenegger‘s Commando, the Tom Hanks-led A League of Their Own, Stephen Sommers’ fantasy hit The Mummy, and more in the current Tubi top ten. For anyone yet to see Driven, here’s a look at the movie’s synopsis:
“A cutting-edge action drama about an exciting cast of characters living life in the fastest of lanes, in the thrilling and dangerous world of high-tech car racing. Rookie Jimmy Bly (Kip Pardue) could go all the way, but not without the help of fallen legend Joe Tanto (Sylvester Stallone) or without the love of another racer’s girl (Estella Warren).”
‘Driven’ Faced Huge Critical Backlash
Not only did Driven record a mechanical failure at the box office, but it also entirely broke down in critical opinion. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the movie’s terrible 33% score from audiences looks comparatively glorious next to the abysmal 13% score awarded by critics. The critics’ consensus on the site simply and brutally reads, “Underdeveloped characters, silly plot dynamics, and obvious CG effects.” The Washington Post’s review from the time reads, “An appallingly dull film set in the world of professional racing, director Renny Harlin and screenwriter Sylvester Stallone have found a way to drain all the adrenaline out of the sport.“
Driven is an unlikely streaming hit on Tubi in the U.S. Make sure to stay tuned to Collider to keep up to date with the latest streaming stories.
- Release Date
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April 27, 2001
- Runtime
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116 Minutes
- Director
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Renny Harlin
- Producers
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Andrew Stevens, Don Carmody, Elie Samaha, Kevin King Templeton, Rebecca Spikings, Sylvester Stallone
