“David Leitch’s How To Rob A Bank is an entertaining crime caper that comes across as The Fast And The Furious, only switching fast cars for social media.”
David Leitch, director of some brilliant and enjoyable movies over the years, including Bullet Train and The Fall Guy, is back with his latest effort. How To Rob A Bank is an action-comedy heist movie that is extremely topical. Featuring a cast including Nicholas Hoult, Zoë Kravitz, Anna Sawai, Rhenzy Feliz, Pete Davidson, and John C. Reilly, it is a fast-paced, enjoyable crime caper from the start. But can the film match the high standards that Leitch has set for himself, or does it fall short?
THE PREMISE
A crew of social media-savvy bank robbers broadcasts their daring heists, unaware that their growing viral fame has put them in the crosshairs of a veteran FBI agent and a brilliant software engineer. Despite the unlikely duo closing in, the crime ring pushes past their limits, putting everything on the line for their most ambitious heist yet.
THOUGHTS
While the film is enjoyable, engaging, and fun, it could also polarize audiences. Younger audiences will get the full gist of what the film is trying to convey. The social media aspects, the viral videos, and the overall tone will certainly appeal to them. It seems this audience is who the film is catered for. Teenagers and those between twenty and thirty-five will lap it up. This will speak to them, bringing their innermost thoughts to the surface and presenting them on the screen. This will resonate with them fully.
Older audiences, however, i.e those over the age of forty or so, will get a kick out of the film too, but in a different way. The technospeak in the film can go over their heads and confuse them. If they simply watch the film without being interested in the tech side, they will have a blast. But if they try to make heads or tails of everything, they won’t get a fully satisfying experience. Discussions of algorithms, viral videos, marketing, deep-rooted banking fraud, and the exploitation of vulnerable people may leave them scratching their heads.
While the film tries hard to make things easier to understand, it doesn’t always pull it off. If they go into the film expecting to see a crime caper reminiscent of some of those 1960s and 1970s crime comedies, and to a lesser extent, the more modern ones, they will have great fun. If they are not completely tech-savvy, they may find the film a letdown.
THE CAST
The cast acquits themselves well. Nicholas Hoult as Ryan, the gang’s leader, gives a charming, engaging performance that can dip into darker territory at times. With Anna Sawai as Emi, his romantic partner, the pair make a great screen pairing. It also helps that their backstory has a tragic tone, giving it an emotional and understandable edge. This tragic event adds depth to the story, making the audience feel more for them as the film goes on. Suddenly, we understand the motives behind their crimes and feel that they are justified to a point.
The same goes for Pete Davidson as Vince. A loving family man devoted to his young daughter, we see heartwarming, moving scenes that also reveal his motivation. Again, we feel more sympathy and understanding toward him. It is he that is a complete standout of the whole cast, managing to steal the film out from under everyone else.
Rhenzy Feliz as Hugo is a welcome and enjoyable addition to the crew. He makes and releases the gang’s viral videos and content. These scenes are wonderfully enjoyable, with the audience seeing Ryan share his thoughts and desires with the camera, which makes many people agree with him, the gang, and their motivations. Zoë Kravitz as Reagan Gardner, though, gets short shrift here. Despite taking second billing behind Hoult, she has a thankless role as a young hacker/algorithm creator serving house arrest. She serves a purpose in the film’s storyline, but is given very little to do throughout.
Christian Slater as Walton has what is essentially an extended cameo role. But, *SPOILER ALERT*, he turns out to be the villain of the piece, the thing that Ryan and his gang are rallying against. John C. Reilly as Agent West reminds us all why he is such a beloved actor. Together, they give the film all they’ve got, making it so much more fulfilling.
DAVID LEITCH
The minute you see ‘Directed By David Leitch’ on a movie poster or in the credits, you know what you’re in for. And the standard is upheld here. His direction is fast-paced, colorful, superbly framed, and highlights what a great director he truly is. With his background as a director and producer for some brilliant action movies, such as the aforementioned Bullet Train and the John Wick franchise, Leitch is a master. Again, he demonstrates his keen eye for directing action, drama, and emotion, and for eliciting great performances from his cast.
None of his shots are wasted; his color palette is in full effect, and his sequencing is superb. The audience will get a kick out of the film’s viral videos, laughing along the way before the house comes down with a musical video over the end credits. Trust me, it left the audience I saw the film with roaring with laughter. Yes, it is absurd, but it is a great and welcome climactic piece.
VERDICT
David Leitch’s How To Rob A Bank is an entertaining crime caper that comes across as The Fast And The Furious, only switching fast cars for social media. And that isn’t an exaggeration. Yes, it is entertaining, amusing, and action-packed, but it also suffers from being fun and enjoyable rather than truly memorable. It does include a car chase that has us rooted firmly in our seats as the drama ramps up and the stakes rise. It also includes social commentary that resonates with the audience, allowing their innermost feelings about certain events and situations to be shown on screen. But instead of leaving us with these left firmly rooted in our minds, they fade a few hours after the film ends. And that is a shame, as the film has so much going for it.
Photo credit: Courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios © 2026 Amazon Content Services LLC. All Rights Reserved.
With a great opening sequence that shows the gang preparing for their heists and using everything at their disposal, the heist itself, and the humanity Ryan shows toward a pregnant woman whose waters break during the heist, the film gets off to a great start that it sadly cannot maintain. It has its moments; that isn’t in doubt. But it leaves some of the audience feeling cold as the end credits roll. Again, we cheer for those we shouldn’t and resent the ones we should be cheering for. We side with the gang rather than the forces of law and order. To be fair, Mark Bianculli wrote the script this way to make a social comment and cheer for those persecuted and wronged. To this end, he has succeeded.
We want to see the gang get away with it all, the people pulling the strings fail, and the truly guilty get their comeuppance. If the film wants to start a debate and to dramatize an uprising amongst us, it succeeds. With the final heist sequence, it all comes together, pretty cleverly, as it turns out. And with a final sting in the tail, the film is great popcorn entertainment. To that end, How To Rob A Bank doesn’t rob its audience of fun and entertainment.
How To Rob A Bank hits screens on Friday, courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios and Sony Pictures Entertainment.
Introducing Carl! As the News Editor at Future of the Force, Carl has been an invaluable member of our team since early 2016. His expertise and dedication have made him an integral part of our editorial staff. Beyond his professional role, Carl is a fervent supporter of Liverpool F.C. and an avid follower of pop culture. He has a deep passion for Halloween, Friday the 13th, and the iconic movie franchises Star Wars and Star Trek.
He can be found either at his neighborhood cinema, enjoying the latest releases on the big screen, or at home streaming the newest blockbuster movies.
