The 2011 movie Drive stars Ryan Gosling as a Hollywood stunt driver who moonlights as a getaway driver for criminals. In the ending, his quiet life unravels after a heist goes wrong, leading to a brutal showdown that leaves him scarred but alive, driving off into the night as his love interest Irene and her son escape danger.
The Driver, never named in the film, works odd jobs by day and precise crimes by night. He falls for his neighbor Irene, played by Carey Mulligan, and her young son Benicio. When Irene’s ex-con husband Standard gets out of prison, he drags the Driver into one last robbery to pay off the mob. Things spiral when Standard and his partner get killed during the job, and the Driver realizes the heist was a setup by crooked cop Bernie Rose.
In the tense final act, the Driver confronts Bernie in a quiet apartment. Bernie offers him a deal to disappear with cash, but the Driver stabs him instead after sensing betrayal. Bloodied and stabbed himself, the Driver stabs Bernie again, killing him. He staggers out, gets in his car, and races through Los Angeles streets, evading police in a high-speed chase that showcases his expert skills. Check out this breakdown from a film analysis site for more on the chase scene: https://screenrant.com/drive-movie-ending-explained-ryan-gosling/.
The Driver pulls into a parking lot by the ocean. Irene arrives in her car, spots him, and they share a long, silent stare through the windows. No words are spoken. She drives away with her son, safe at last. The Driver, face emotionless but eyes hinting at pain, pulls out onto the highway alone. The film cuts to black, leaving his fate open but implying he survives to keep drifting.
Director Nicolas Winding Refn uses the ending to show the Driver’s code of silence and isolation. The elevator kiss earlier, where he snaps and beats a gangster to death to protect Irene, mirrors his final violent mercy. Music from Chromatics swells as he drives off, blending hope with tragedy. For deeper symbolism on the scorpion jacket and his nameless nature, see this essay: https://www.vulture.com/article/drive-movie-ending-explained.html.
Fans debate if he dies from his wounds, but the Director’s Cut and interviews confirm he lives, true to his lone-wolf archetype. The ending captures the film’s neon-noir vibe, where love costs everything but changes nothing.
Sources
https://screenrant.com/drive-movie-ending-explained-ryan-gosling/
https://www.vulture.com/article/drive-movie-ending-explained.html
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/drive-2011
https://collider.com/drive-ending-explained/
