David Leitch has built a career out of delivering high-octane action movies that rarely shy away from going bigger, louder, and more outrageous with each successive set piece. From Deadpool 2 and Hobbs & Shaw to Bullet Train and The Fall Guy, the filmmaker has established a recognizable style built around inventive action, physical comedy, and an almost cartoonish sense of spectacle. However, How to Rob a Bank finds Leitch taking a somewhat different approach. This cops-and-robbers thriller for the digital age is arguably his most grounded film yet, trading some of his usual excessive action for a story that has something more contemporary on its mind.
How to Rob a Bank follows a group of bank robbers who aren’t simply interested in getting away with their crimes. They document their heists, upload their exploits to social media, and provide detailed accounts of how they pull off their robberies. In a world where practically everything can become content, even criminal activity has become an opportunity to build an online following. Their videos turn them into something like criminal influencers, encouraging others to follow in their footsteps while presenting their increasingly dangerous activities as an alternative to the financial struggles ordinary people face.
It’s an intriguing premise that gives the film a distinctly modern identity. These aren’t just criminals trying to make a quick getaway. They’re building a brand around their crimes, turning their robberies into performances and their criminal expertise into something they can share with an audience. There’s an inherent absurdity to watching people treat bank robberies like social media content, but the movie recognizes how easily online attention can turn dangerous behavior into something aspirational. The idea of people watching these videos and being encouraged to replicate what they see is especially relevant in an era when internet personalities can influence audiences in hard-to-predict ways.
Importantly, the film doesn’t necessarily ask audiences to sympathize with its bank robbers, but it does make an effort to explain their motivations. Several of these characters are former veterans, and their circumstances provide some context for why they’ve resorted to increasingly extreme measures to secure financial stability. The movie takes aim at capitalism, corporate greed, and income inequality, presenting a world where banks and powerful corporations seem perfectly comfortable squeezing every last penny out of people who are already struggling. The robbers initially have an unmistakable Robin Hood quality, taking from the wealthy while framing their actions as helping the less fortunate. However, the movie is also aware that having a reason for committing a crime doesn’t automatically make the crime justified.
That tension gives the story something more substantial to work with than simply watching a group of criminals outsmart law enforcement. The film wants to examine what happens when people become so disillusioned with the systems around them that breaking the rules starts to feel like their only available option. It doesn’t always explore these ideas with the depth they deserve, but they’re an effective foundation for an otherwise entertaining thriller.
On the other side of the law, Agent West (John C. Reilly) teams up with computer genius Reagan (Zoë Kravitz) to anticipate the robbers’ next moves and figure out how to stop them. Their partnership gives the movie another perspective on the escalating situation, allowing audiences to watch the investigation unfold while also spending considerable time with the criminals themselves. This back-and-forth structure helps maintain the suspense, particularly as the authorities attempt to understand the increasingly elaborate methods behind the robberies. It also gives the movie opportunities for humor without completely undermining the stakes.
Nicholas Hoult carries much of the emotional weight as the lead bank robber, whose personal circumstances and relationship with his wife, played by Anna Sawai, add an intimate dimension to the story. Hoult brings a compelling combination of confidence and vulnerability to the role. Pete Davidson also gets an opportunity to showcase a more dramatic side than audiences might typically associate with him. As another member of the crew, he contributes to the group’s dynamic while demonstrating that he can handle material beyond his familiar comedic sensibilities.
Behind the camera, Leitch delivers some impressive practical stunt work that gives the movie a tangible sense of physicality. There are guns, robberies, car chases, and plenty of opportunities for things to go spectacularly wrong. Yet, unlike some of his previous movies, the action rarely feels like it’s demanding attention simply for the sake of spectacle. The sequences generally feel like natural extensions of the story rather than elaborate showcases designed to remind audiences how much fun Leitch can have behind the camera. There’s still violence, energy, and occasional bursts of his signature humor, but the overall experience feels closer to a crime thriller with comedic elements than an all-out action extravaganza.
That doesn’t mean everything works equally well. Some of the movie’s ideas are more compelling than their execution, and its attempts to balance social commentary, character drama, comedy, and escalating action don’t always come together seamlessly. At times, the film could benefit from spending more time developing its central themes or letting certain emotional beats land. Nevertheless, the practical stunt work is consistently impressive, and even when individual sequences don’t quite hit their mark, the filmmaking has an infectious energy.
Ultimately, How to Rob a Bank is an entertaining and timely addition to the cops-and-robbers genre. Its greatest strength is the way it updates a familiar premise for a generation that increasingly views attention as currency and social media as an opportunity to turn practically anything into a career. David Leitch may be operating on a slightly smaller scale than audiences have come to expect, but that restraint works in the film’s favor. It’s a more grounded effort from a filmmaker who knows how to stage exciting action, and its examination of financial desperation, internet fame, and criminal influence gives it a little more to say than the average heist movie. It doesn’t land every idea, but there’s enough here to make it a thrilling ride.
SCORE: 8/10
As ComingSoon’s review policy explains, a score of 8 equates to “Great.” While there are a few minor issues, this score means that the art succeeds at its goal and leaves a memorable impact.
Disclosure: ComingSoon attended an early screening for our How to Rob a Bank review.
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