Not Only 'Drive': 5 Best Nicolas Winding Refn Movies & TV Series, Ranked by IMDb
Projects with hypnotic visual narratives, explosive violence, minimalist dialogue, and an oppressive atmosphere of aestheticized absurdity.
Most viewers immediately think of Drive, the neo-noir thriller that became a cultural phenomenon and the director's signature film, when it comes to Nicolas Winding Refn.
However, beyond this masterpiece lies a universe of unique, provocative works – each a bold artistic statement.
5. 'Only God Forgives', 2013
IMDb Score: 5.7/10
Julian, a drug dealer, pays for the sins of his older brother, a criminal and sociopath who was killed by the Thai mafia. Seeking revenge for her beloved firstborn's death, Julian's mother demands that he eliminate the killers.
Only God Forgives is the evil twin of Drive. Instead of melancholy and a touching story, it offers a scarlet-neon aesthetic, empty liminal spaces, and exaggerated violence.
4. 'The Neon Demon', 2016
IMDb Score: 6.1/10
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The angelically beautiful Jesse is building a modeling career in Los Angeles. She captivates photographers with her innocent gaze and porcelain skin, which glows in photos even without flash.
Meanwhile, her competitors are dieting and undergoing surgery to fit unrealistic beauty standards. Day after day, the envious worlds of high fashion and entertainment culture are literally devouring Jesse, piece by piece – from her innocent soul to her perfect body.
3. 'Copenhagen Cowboy', 2022-2023
IMDb Score: 6.7/10
Obediently, Miu takes a lap of honor around a room full of superstitious aunties. She is the new plaything of Signora Rosella, an aging Albanian matron from Copenhagen and the sister of the local pimp, André.
André's basement is home to Balkan women who were lured into his nonexistent modeling agency and turned into slaves.
Miu, meanwhile, has been trafficked since age seven by dishonest men with money and superstitions – she is said to bring good luck. However, Miu is more than just a simpleton. Over the course of six episodes, she will destroy more than one illegal business.
2. 'Bronson', 2008
IMDb Score: 7.0/10
Michael Gordon Peterson, a 22-year-old British man who changed his name to Charles Bronson, was sentenced to seven years in prison after robbing a post office of £26.
While behind bars, he was a troublemaker who engaged in fights with guards. His short sentence turned into life in solitary confinement.
In preparation for the movie about Bronson, Tom Hardy, who played the lead role, visited Bronson in prison and received a shaved-off mustache as a gift from him.
1. 'Too Old to Die Young', 2019
IMDb Score: 7.3/10
Martin is a young Los Angeles police officer and a real outlier at work. But he's not exactly a typical guy.
In his free time, he and his friend Viggo visit a fortune teller who uses strange occult readings to give them leads on criminals to eliminate. Tensions rise when Martin signs up for the most challenging and brutal mission yet.
