9 Years Later, Jon Hamm’s Near-Perfect Action Film is Still One of The Best Ever Made

Published Oct 26, 2026, 11:42 PM EDT

Abby Jackam is a contributer for Collider and ShowSnob, a media journalist for Trill Mag, and an aspiring novelist. She graduated Washington State University Vancouver in 2025 with a Bachelor's degree in Humanities. 

Whenever she can, Abby is writing. From research papers to book reviews, Abby's passion lies in storytelling and literary pursuits. 

Action films are popular for a reason. They're fun to watch, full of impossible exploits, and present a world where characters can scale skyscrapers or jump off trains without fear. From Mission Impossible to Fall Guy, everyone has their own preferences for the action movies they watch. But when paired with a filmmaker's unique style and an emotional heart to the story, action films can transcend the genre and become something particularly special. Jon Hamm's Baby Driver did just that and more.

Baby Driver brought a new creativity to the action genre with Edgar Wright's distinct film-making. From sweeping action shots to captivating cinematography, Wright's style elevates the story and turns it into something unforgettable. Unlike other action films that focus on epic spectacles and excessive violence, Baby Driver adds a certain flair to the film. Its lively atmosphere and high-stakes story puts Baby Driver in a lane all by itself and pushes the story in ways the audiences didn't expect.

Baby Driver Puts Music at the Heart of its Action

Image via Sony Pictures Releasing

Paying off a debt to a powerful crime boss, Baby (Ansel Elgort) assists in heists and bank robberies as a talented getaway driver. Obsessed with music, Baby's reclusive nature keeps him distant from the other criminals around him, but the boss, Doc (Kevin Spacey), recognizes a talent in Baby. As he falls deeper into criminal activity, Baby begins to develop a relationship with a waitress named Debora (Lily James), dreaming of the normal life the two could make. With one more job on the line, the stakes become more dangerous and Baby's skills as a driver are put to the test.

Baby's dependency on music is a key aspect to his character, as well as the film. His past is wrought with pain, but he found solace in what music could provide. He fostered many relationships through music, such as his foster father Joseph (CJ Jones) and with Debora. While music is at the center of Baby's character, the film reflects this as well through many significant scenes. Action scenes are synchronized in time with music, giving the film a theatrical feeling. There's rarely a moment where music isn't utilized in some way. The film is entirely dependent on the role music plays, just as Baby is.

Jon Hamm Turned a Side Character into an Unforgettable Villain

In a film with a strong ensemble of memorable characters, it takes something special for one character to stand out among the rest. Jon Hamm's performance as Buddy transforms a side character into something worth remembering. While starting off friendly towards Baby, as the operation turns tour, Buddy becomes increasingly hostile, demonstrating his propensity for violence. Buddy's decline as the film progressed exceeded audiences' expectations of Hamm's character. His performance as a sympathetic friend turned raging antagonist is masterful for Jon Hamm as an actor, but also cohesively represented the story's progression.

A heist film is bound to end up with some level of tragedy. When things go well, spirits are high, but when a heist goes bad or someone makes a mistake, things can take a dark turn. Buddy's aggressive nature truly came through near the end of the film, changing how audiences had previously viewed the character. Buddy's characterization perfectly encapsulates how fragile the crime gang truly was when things got rough. When the operation goes bad, Buddy proves the lengths he's willing to go to get revenge.

Baby Driver feels unique from every other action film. It's got all the right elements — rapid car chases, gun showdowns, tense criminal activities, but it has this spark that keeps it feeling fresh as the years go by. Even 9 years later, Baby Driver is one of those movies that tells a solid story in a fresh, dynamic way that keeps people coming back to it.