Racer and the Jailbird
Two strangers drawn into each other's orbit find love in a hard edged world of crime. Gino, a car thief with a dangerous temperament, crosses paths with Bénédicte, a confident racing driver who dreams of bigger things. Their connection starts as a spark on the track and in late night confessions,... Read more
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Streaming availability last verified: February 25, 2026
About Racer and the Jailbird
Two strangers drawn into each other's orbit find love in a hard edged world of crime. Gino, a car thief with a dangerous temperament, crosses paths with Bénédicte, a confident racing driver who dreams of bigger things. Their connection starts as a spark on the track and in late night confessions, but Gino harbors a secret that could pull them both under. As their relationship deepens, the couple must navigate loyalties, the pressure of a perilous crew, and the sting of past choices. The story folds romance into a gritty crime drama with high speed and fragile trust. Set against sleek cityscapes and grim backstreets, the story leans on quiet conversations, meaningful glances, and decisions that ripple through their lives.
Directed by Michaël R Roskam with a screenplay by Thomas Bidegain and Noé Debré, Racer and the Jailbird is an original crime drama. The production ran on a budget of about 9.23 million dollars and aimed for a stylish mood.
Box office details are not listed in the provided data, so worldwide grosses are not available. Without confirmed figures the film's commercial performance remains unclear beyond its modest production budget and its reception in limited international markets.
The film has a modest footprint in international crime drama circles, appreciated by fans of European thrillers for its performances and the tension between romance and crime. It adds a stylish, character driven flavor to the genre without triggering a broader cultural phenomenon.
Reception has been mixed, with an average score around 5.9 out of 10 from 190 votes reflecting divided opinions. The film threads a tense romance through a dangerous underworld, examining loyalty and trust when secrets pull lovers toward or away from danger. Its scenes alternate between intimate tenderness and adrenaline fueled chase sequences that underscore the costs of living in two worlds.
Details
- Release Date
- October 04, 2017
- Runtime
- 2h 10m
- Rating
- R
- User Ratings
- 191 votes
- Type
- Movie
- Genres
- Crime, Drama, Romance
- Country
- Belgium
- Studio
- Savage Film +4 more
- Budget
- $9,229,904
- External Links
- View on IMDB
Official Trailer
Cast
Matthias Schoenaerts
Gino 'Gigi'
Adèle Exarchopoulos
Bénédicte 'Bibi'
Éric De Staercke
Freddy
Jean-Benoît Ugeux
Serge
Nabil Missoumi
Younes
Fabien Magry
Eric 'Le Chauve'
Gianni La Rocca
Mike 'Le Râble'
Thomas Coumans
Bernard 'Nardo'
Nathalie Van Tongelen
Sandra / Géraldine
Anaëlle Potdevin
Stéphanie
Director: Michaël R. Roskam
Written by: Thomas Bidegain, Noé Debré