Tom Hardy’s most riveting drama is leaving Netflix soon — watch it now
Last call to stream Locke on Netflix: Tom Hardy’s riveting one-man drama, a 2013 critical favorite, is driving off the platform next month. Catch it before it’s gone.
If you fancy a bit of Tom Hardy going full method from behind the wheel, there’s not much time left to watch 'Locke' on Netflix. Yes, the one where it’s basically just Hardy in a car, sorting his life out over the phone. The film’s about to vanish from the streaming service, so if you’ve somehow missed it up to now, consider this a nudge.
Say Goodbye to 'Locke' on Netflix
Here’s the practical bit: 'Locke' is leaving Netflix on 1 August 2026. No last-minute reprieve expected. This isn’t one of those sprawling epics either—it’s a tight 85-minute drama set almost entirely inside a BMW cruising down the M6.
What’s the Story?
Written and directed by Steven Knight—yes, the bloke behind 'Peaky Blinders'—the film dropped at the Venice Film Festival back in September 2013. The premise sounds a bit dry on paper, but it’s weirdly compelling: Tom Hardy plays Ivan Locke, a construction boss whose entire world starts to unravel over one long night drive from Birmingham to London. He’s juggling crisis after crisis on the phone: work blowing up, marriage on the brink, and a major life decision hanging over everything.
The drama all centres around Locke’s determination to do the 'right thing' for a child from a one-night stand, which, predictably, goes down like a lead balloon with his wife and his colleagues. Every call ratchets up the tension—think more panic attack than car chase.
Who Else is in It?
- Tom Hardy – Ivan Locke (the only person you actually see)
- Olivia Colman – Bethan Maguire (voice)
- Ruth Wilson – Katrina Locke (voice)
- Andrew Scott – Donal (voice)
- Ben Daniels – Gareth (voice)
- Tom Holland – Eddie Locke (voice)
- Bill Milner – Sean Locke (voice)
You never see these lot, but their voices drive the story forward as the tension mounts inside the car. Honestly, the whole cast basically just phoned it in. Literally.
Crowd and Critic Reaction
'Locke' cleaned up with the critics—91% on Rotten Tomatoes from 216 reviews. The public were a bit more reserved: the audience score sits at 72%. Maybe they weren’t prepared for Pure Hardy, no frills.
As Chris Bennion from The Times (UK) put it:
"It may sound dull, but it is anything but."