Drive – The Pretenders is a German romantic drama film directed by Sergej Moya from a screenplay co-written by Tamara Lush, Malina Nwabuonwor, and Chris Silber. The 2026 film follows Sarah Jenkins, a young race car mechanic with ambitions of becoming a race car driver herself. She agrees to get into a pretend relationship with an extremely scandalous racing star to further her own agenda, but things take a turn when their lie begins turning into real feelings. Drive – The Pretenders stars Lisa-Marie Koroll, Amin Baahmed, Gustav Schmidt, Misel Maticevic, Lucie Heinze, and Frederic Linkemann. If you loved the thrilling drama, intense romance, and compelling characters in Drive – The Pretenders, here are some similar movies you should check out next.
My Fault (Prime Video)
My Fault is a Spanish romantic drama film written and directed by Domingo González. Based on Mercedes Ron’s Wattpad story of the same name, the 2023 film follows Noah, a young woman as she leaves her boyfriend and friends to move in with her mother’s rich new husband. She soon meets her new stepbrother, Nick, who seems like a model son but is hiding dangerous secrets. As they spend more time together, they begin falling for each other. My Fault stars Nicole Wallace, Gabriel Guevara, Marta Hazas, Iván Sánchez, and Iva Ruiz.
Why It’s Similar? Aside from their similar tones and intense romantic relationships, both Drive – The Pretenders and My Fault feature exhilarating car racing sequences.
Purple Hearts (Netflix)
Purple Hearts is a romantic drama film directed by Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum from a screenplay co-written by Liz W. Garcia and Kyle Jarrow. Based on Tess Wakefield’s 2017 novel of the same name, the 2022 film follows Cassie, a struggling singer-songwriter who agrees to enter into a pretend marriage with Luke, a troubled Marine, for the military benefits, but things take a turn when Luke gets injured, and during his recovery process they begin to fall for each other. Purple Hearts stars Sofia Carson, Nicholas Galitzine, Chosen Jacobs, John Harlan Kim, Kat Cunning, and Linden Ashby.
Why It’s Similar? Purple Hearts also has the pretend relationship gimmick that gradually turns into real feelings, just like Drive – The Pretenders. The tone of both of the films is also similar.
Perfect Addiction (Tubi & Rent on Prime Video)
Perfect Addiction is a boxing action drama film directed by Castille Landon from a screenplay by Belle Hope Dayne, Stephanie Sanditz, and Claudia Tan. The 2023 film follows Sienna, a successful boxing trainer who discovers that her boxing champion boyfriend has been cheating on her. She decides to get revenge by training an underdog to go up against but things take a turn when she begins falling for her trainee. Perfect Addiction stars Kiana Madeira, Ross Butler, Matthew Noszka, Manu Bennett, and Briana Albrektsen.
Why It’s Similar? Both Perfect Addiction and Drive – The Pretenders have ambitious female protagonists who find themselves unexpectedly falling for someone while pursuing their goals.
Beautiful Disaster (Prime Video, Plex & Tubi)
Beautiful Disaster is a romantic comedy drama film written and directed by Roger Kumble. Based on Jamie McGuire’s 2011 novel of the same name, the 2023 film follows Abby, a card-playing prodigy looking for a fresh start as she begins her college journey. Her quiet new life is soon disrupted by Travis, a star fighter who begins taking an interest in her. Beautiful Disaster stars Dylan Sprouse, Virginia Gardner, Austin North, Libe Barer, Rob Estes, Brian Austin Green, Michael Cudlitz, and Neil Bishop.
Why It’s Similar? If you loved the intense and sensual romance in Drive – The Pretenders, as well as its entertaining relationship progression, then you are going to love the central relationship in Beautiful Disaster.
Need for Speed (Tubi & Rent on Prime Video)
Need for Speed is an action crime film directed by Scott Waugh from a screenplay co-written by George and John Gatins. Based on a video game series of the same name developed by EA, the 2014 film follows Tobey Marshall, a street racer who vows to bring down a wealthy rival after he is framed for a friend’s murder. Tobey devises a plan involving a cross-country race to bring the truth to light. Need for Speed stars Aaron Paul, Dominic Cooper, Scott Mescudi, Imogen Poots, and Ramón RodrÃguez.
Why It’s Similar? If you loved the exhilarating racing sequences in Drive – The Pretenders, then you are going to love what Need for Speed has in store for you, but the 2014 film doesn’t put the romance front and center like the Prime Video film.
After (Rent on Prime Video)
After is a romantic drama film directed by Jenny Gage, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Susan McMartin, Tamara Chestna, Jenny Gage, and Tom Betterton. Based on Anna Todd’s 2014 novel of the same name, the 2019 film follows Tessa Young, a college freshman, as she begins falling for Hardin Scott, a mysterious classmate, despite already being in a relationship. After stars Josephine Langford, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Selma Blair, Inanna Sarkis, and Shane Paul McGhie.
Why It’s Similar? While After’s plot doesn’t have much in common with Drive – The Pretenders, their tones, characters, and romance drama feel extremely similar.
The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (Netflix & Rent on Prime Video)
The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift is an action film directed by Justin Lin from a screenplay by Chris Morgan. The 2006 film is the third installment in the Fast and Furious film franchise, and it follows Sean Boswell, a teenager from America, as he moves to live with his father in Tokyo, Japan. Sean soon gets interested in the drifting community of the city and begins falling for a girl connected with dangerous locals. The Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift stars Lucas Black, Bow Wow, Sung Kang, Brian Tee, and Nathalie Kelley.
Why It’s Similar? Both Drive – The Pretenders and Tokyo Drift have similar tones and also feature thrilling racing sequences alongside an intense romantic relationship.
One Fast Move (Prime Video)
One Fast Move is a sports action drama film written and directed by Kelly Blatz. The 2024 film follows Wes, a destitute young man, as he reconnects with his estranged professional motorcycle racer father to help him train to become a racer. He is helped by a motorcycle shop owner and the girl he likes in achieving his goal. One Fast Move stars KJ Apa, Eric Dane, Maia Reficco, Edward James Olmos, and Austin North.
Why It’s Similar? While romance is not at the center of One Fast Move like Drive – The Pretenders, both of them do feature racing culture and intense racing sequences.
Days of Thunder (Peacock, Paramount+ & Rent on Prime Video)
Days of Thunder is a sports action drama film directed by Tony Scott from a screenplay by Robert Towne. The 1990 film follows Cole Trickle, a hotshot NASCAR racer who befriends a veteran racer after they get injured on the race track. Cole soon falls for neurosurgeon Claire, but things take a turn when he decides to go up against an underhanded driver in the Daytona 500. Days of Thunder stars Tom Cruise, Robert Duvall, Randy Quaid, Nicole Kidman, Michael Rooker, John C. Reilly, and Cary Elwes.
Why It’s Similar? Both Days of Thunder and Drive – The Pretenders have intensely thrilling racing sequences and romance, but the Tom Cruise film doesn’t have the pretend dating plotline.
The Hating Game (Tubi & Rent on Prime Video)
The Hating Game is a romantic comedy film directed by Peter Hutchings from a screenplay by Christina Mengert. Based on Sally Thorne’s 2016 novel of the same name, the 2021 film follows rival employees Lucy and Josh going up against each other for a promotion. Things take a turn when their rivalry turns into mutual attraction, but a series of misunderstandings threaten their relationship. The Hating Game stars Lucy Hale, Austin Stowell, Damon Daunno, Sakina Jaffrey, and Corbin Bernsen.
Why It’s Similar? While the tone of both The Hating Game and Drive – The Pretenders is very different, their character progressions are similar, as we see the relationships between the leads in both films change from enmity to mutual attraction.