The heist film is one of Hollywood's most enduring genres, but rarely has it been updated as directly for its own era as in How to Rob a Bank. These robbers are not driven by money alone. They want an audience. The film is directed by David Leitch (Atomic Blonde, Deadpool 2, Bullet Train, The Fall Guy) and opens in Finnish cinemas on Friday 13 November 2026.
What is How to Rob a Bank about?
According to Amazon MGM Studios' official synopsis, the film follows a social-media-dominating crew of bank robbers who livestream their daring heists. What the crew does not realise is that their growing viral fame has put them in the sights of a seasoned FBI agent and a brilliant software engineer. As the unlikely duo closes in, the gang pushes its limits and puts everything on the line for its cause and its most ambitious heist yet.
The trailers fill in the picture. The robbers' channel is called – naturally – How to Rob a Bank. In the first trailer, Ryan, played by Nicholas Hoult, tells his followers that an audience is more powerful than money. In his view, the younger generation's chances of owning a home or earning a six-figure salary are next to nothing, but the odds of robbing a bank are surprisingly good.
Swedish outlet MovieZine described the gang as smartphone-generation Robin Hoods. According to the trailers, the loot is shared with the audience, which makes it hard for the police and the banks to win public opinion. When the story begins, the gang already has more than a dozen successful robberies behind it.
Cast
- Nicholas Hoult – Ryan, the gang's charismatic leader and the face of the channel
- Zoë Kravitz – the software engineer tracking the robbers
- John C. Reilly – an FBI agent hoping the gang's broadcasts will give them away
- Pete Davidson – Vince
- Rhenzy Feliz – Hugo
- Christian Slater – Walton
- Anna Sawai and Tati Gabrielle
Hoult has become one of Hollywood's most in-demand actors in recent years and also played Lex Luthor in James Gunn's Superman. Kravitz is known, among other roles, as Catwoman in The Batman, and Sawai won an Emmy for the series Shōgun.
The film was written by Mark Bianculli. Its producers include Brian Grazer and Leitch's long-time producing partner Kelly McCormick. It was shot in the Pittsburgh area of Pennsylvania.
David Leitch's style: action that laughs at itself
Leitch began his career as a stuntman and co-directed the first John Wick. In his films, action scenes are built on practical stunts, but they are also colourful, fast and often openly comedic. Bullet Train and The Fall Guy balanced speed and humour, and How to Rob a Bank appears to continue in the same vein.
German site kino.de described the trailer as colourful, rhythmic, hyperactive and loud. The press release says the film combines heist action with social satire. According to Dark Horizons, the trailer suggests the film is not only an action-packed heist movie but also a commentary on the state of the global economy.
The second trailer, released in September, is styled as an old-fashioned instructional video. It presents the stages of a robbery as "lessons", each followed by a typical Leitch action sequence.
Who is the film for?
KAVI has rated the film K16 in Finland because it contains violence and may cause anxiety. The running time is 2 hours 2 minutes. The rating suggests the violence is considerably harsher than in a typical action comedy, despite the film's light tone.
The film should particularly appeal to viewers who enjoyed Bullet Train, Edgar Wright's Baby Driver or classic heist films where the crew dynamic matters as much as the job itself.
Analysis: the Heat of today?
MovieZine asked in its headline whether this is Generation Z's Heat. The comparison is tempting, but a more accurate frame of reference may be the 1990s Point Break. There too, a charismatic gang of robbers lived for a cause, and the man hunting them had to question his own side.
The most interesting aspect is how the film handles social media fame. If the robbers are heroes to their own audience, the viewer is put in the same position as the film's in-world followers: do we cheer them on because it is entertaining? If Bianculli and Leitch dare to take that idea all the way, the film could be more than a flashy heist spectacle.
The film's release was moved from the originally announced September to November. The move placed it on the same weekend as Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol and Klara and the Sun. Of the three, How to Rob a Bank is most clearly aimed at an adult action audience.
If you liked these, watch How to Rob a Bank
- Bullet Train (2022) – Leitch's previous colourful, fast and violent action comedy.
- Point Break (1991) – a heist film in which the gang lives for a cause and the pursuer comes to admire his prey.
- Baby Driver (2017) – a heist film built on music and rhythm, with the same playfulness.
- The Town (2010) – a more serious heist drama set in Boston.
Frequently asked questions
When is How to Rob a Bank released in Finland?
It opens in Finnish cinemas on Friday 13 November 2026. The film is distributed in Finland by SF Studios.
Who directed How to Rob a Bank?
The film is directed by David Leitch, known for Atomic Blonde, Deadpool 2, Bullet Train and The Fall Guy, among others.
What is the age rating?
The film is rated K16 in Finland. It contains violence and may cause anxiety.
Is the film based on a true story?
No. The story is fictional, but it comments on social media fame culture and the modern economy.
This text is based on information published by the film's distributors, production companies and film media. Assessments and interpretations are our own and are not based on seeing the finished film unless stated otherwise.
