The Hire

BMW Films presents "The Hire", a series of nine short films produced for the Internet in 2001 and 2002, with a ninth short film following in 2016. A form of branded content, all nine short films feature popular filmmakers from across the globe, star Clive Owen as the "Driver", and highlight the performance aspects of various BMW automobiles.

The Hire (2001-2016) is a US anthology series created by David Fincher for BMW Films, a branded-content collection of short films produced for the internet. Clive Owen plays the nameless professional known only as The Driver, a man who accepts dangerous fares and must get his clients where they need to go, whether that means outrunning police, escaping a kidnapping plot, or delivering a package through hostile streets. Each episode runs roughly ten minutes and stands alone, with a different filmmaker from around the world directing and a fresh set of supporting players, including Forest Whitaker, Mickey Rourke, Madonna and Stellan Skarsgard appearing in one-off roles. The engine of every film is the same: a tightly planned job, a ticking clock, and a stretch of precise driving that puts the car's performance at the centre of the action. Across nine films in three uneven batches, the tone stays cool, minimalist and tense, with long quiet stretches broken by sudden bursts of violence and speed. Fans of Drive and The Driver will find resonance here, as will anyone who enjoys glossy, stylized action in bite-sized form. The series spans a single continuing character across short, self-contained stories rather than one arc, making it easy to dip into one film at a time.

• Driveslick stylized crime thriller tone, lone professional protagonist, neon-free but cool minimalist action
• Cowboy Bebopanthology of standalone short films by celebrated directors, branded commercial origins, cool understated action
• The Driverlone professional driver operating outside the law, tense car-centred action, crime thriller pacing

Created by

David Fincher

Release Date

2001-04-26

Episode runtime

10 min

Rating

7.4 / 10 (20)

What is The Hire about?

A chauffeur-for-hire known only as The Driver takes on dangerous fares in a series of short BMW-branded action films.

What is The Hire like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Hire as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as simple.

Is The Hire violent?

Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Hire as mild.

Which shows are like The Hire?

Shows with a similar feel include Drive, Cowboy Bebop, and The Driver.

How long is The Hire?

The Hire: 3 seasons, 9 episodes.

Is The Hire still running?

No, The Hire has ended.