As for BO success, the avg. take of the Best Picture Oscar nominated films of the year was ~15-20 mil. Drive had more than double that in the US & almost as much abroad. I came home from the hall (70% empty) & immediately downloaded "A Real Hero" & "Under Your Spell" 2.5 years back & still play them quite often.…

Have read about 100 comments below, am really surprised no one has brought up the fact that Drive was a more stylised take on The Driver (1978). Ryan O'Neal & Gosling's portrayals of the silent, strong honourable hero is also similar & Winding Refn admitted in an interview at that time that he drew inspiration from…