How to Rob a Bank

From Robin Hood to Ocean’s Eleven, audiences have been encouraged to cheer for criminals who convince us that their questionable actions serve a greater good. Director David Leitch (The Fall Guy, Bullet Train) returns to the action-comedy genre with How to Rob a Bank, attempting to reinvent this familiar formula for a generation obsessed with algorithms, livestreams and online notoriety. Yet, while the premise taps into some timely frustrations with the modern American dream, the film struggles to keep its story, characters and moral compass from unravelling.

Set against the working-class backdrop of Pittsburgh, the story follows Ryan, better known to his online followers as “The Wolf” (Nicholas Hoult), and his crew of technologically savvy rebels. Alongside getaway driver Emi (Anna Sawai), tech specialist Hugo (Rhenzy Feliz) and disillusioned war veteran Vince (Pete Davidson), Ryan has discovered that robbing banks can be about more than simply stealing money. Why disappear into the shadows when you can strap on a GoPro, broadcast your exploits on YouTube and become an overnight internet sensation?

Presenting themselves as modern-day Robin Hoods fighting corporate greed and financial inequality, the gang quickly attracts millions of followers who celebrate their increasingly audacious crimes. However, their online popularity also brings them to the attention of FBI Agent John West (John C. Reilly), a seasoned investigator determined to bring their criminal enterprise to an end.

Recognising that traditional policing may not be enough, West recruits Reagan Gardner (Zoë Kravitz), a brilliant hacker and former Carnegie Mellon associate professor currently under house arrest. Together, this unlikely partnership begins following the digital breadcrumbs left behind by the thieves. As the stakes increase, both sides discover that the line between being clever and becoming careless is considerably thinner than they imagined.

When Robin Hood Meets the Influencer Generation

What stands out most about How to Rob a Bank is how transparently it attempts to reflect the frustrations of contemporary society. Screenwriter Mark Bianculli leans heavily into anti-establishment sentiment, particularly the growing distrust of financial institutions, corporate America and law enforcement. Initially, audiences are encouraged to celebrate these digital rebels as they embarrass the authorities and challenge a system they believe has failed ordinary people. However, there is a rather glaring contradiction at the centre of their crusade.

Ryan and his crew seem convinced that their dissatisfaction with society gives them permission to break whatever laws they choose. They condemn the police, celebrate public disorder and justify their criminal behaviour as a necessary response to systemic inequality. Yet, when things inevitably go sideways, they suddenly find themselves relying upon the very institutions and social order they have spent the film undermining. Funny how quickly principles can change when the consequences become personal.

In many ways, this feels like Fight Club for the influencer generation, although without the same narrative sophistication. The gang’s anti-capitalist rhetoric provides a convenient justification for their actions, but their supposed moral superiority becomes increasingly difficult to accept when innocent bystanders, bank employees and ordinary families suffer the consequences.

The problem is not that Hollywood has given us another group of morally questionable protagonists. Some of cinema’s greatest characters have been deeply flawed individuals. Rather, the screenplay seems uncertain whether we should admire these criminals, sympathise with their grievances or recognise the destructive consequences of their behaviour. This inconsistency undermines the film’s attempts at meaningful social commentary.

A Tale of Two Performances

Fortunately, How to Rob a Bank has two performances that help keep the cinematic wheels turning. John C. Reilly and Zoë Kravitz are easily the highlights of this production. Reilly brings his familiar everyman charm and understated humour to Agent West, providing a welcome sense of humanity amid the increasingly ridiculous circumstances. Kravitz complements him beautifully, delivering sharp wit and an engaging performance as a woman attempting to navigate her own complicated past.

Their unlikely partnership provides some of the film’s most entertaining moments. In fact, I found myself considerably more invested in their investigation than in the supposedly charismatic criminals they were pursuing. Unfortunately, Nicholas Hoult and Pete Davidson struggle to generate the same appeal. Both appear determined to embody the effortless cool of modern antiheroes, but their performances frequently feel forced. Their dialogue is littered with internet terminology and rebellious slogans that may reflect contemporary online culture but rarely translate into compelling character development.

Leitch certainly knows how to deliver energetic action sequences, elaborate car chases and stylish cinematic spectacle. These moments provide the expected adrenaline rush, but visual flair can only carry a film so far when the characters and narrative lack substance. There are also echoes of The Social Reckoning in the film’s exploration of online outrage, digital celebrity and the ability of social media to distort reality. Unfortunately, these ideas are rarely developed beyond the surface.

The Final Verdict

Ultimately, How to Rob a Bank wants to be both an entertaining popcorn caper and a provocative examination of modern society. Unfortunately, it never quite succeeds at either. While Reilly and Kravitz provide welcome entertainment, the central criminals are difficult to embrace, the moral messaging is inconsistent and the increasingly contrived developments leave the whole experience feeling less clever than intended.

For a film about people who believe they can outsmart the system, perhaps the greatest irony is that the screenplay cannot quite outsmart its own contradictions.

REEL DIALOGUE: Who Determines Your Moral Centre?

One of the more confronting aspects of How to Rob a Bank is watching intelligent people convince themselves that doing something wrong is acceptable because they believe their cause is right.

Ryan and his crew have legitimate frustrations with society, yet they use these grievances to justify stealing, endangering innocent people and creating public disorder. Their morality shifts according to whatever best serves their ambitions. They demand justice from others while excusing their own behaviour.

It raises a question worth considering: When everyone determines right and wrong for themselves, who ultimately establishes our moral centre?

We live in a culture where morality is increasingly shaped by personal feelings, social movements and public opinion. Social media only amplifies this tendency, rewarding those who attract the greatest attention rather than those who demonstrate genuine integrity. Yet, when everyone becomes their own moral authority, we inevitably begin excusing our compromises while demanding accountability from others. The Bible offers a different foundation.

Proverbs 14:12 reminds us, “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.” It is a sobering reminder that sincerity does not necessarily make our decisions right. We can genuinely believe in a cause and still pursue it through destructive means.

Christianity teaches that morality is not simply determined by popular opinion or individual preference, but is grounded in the unchanging character of God. His standard calls us to pursue justice, demonstrate mercy and act with integrity, even when the world around us appears unfair.

Micah 6:8 provides a powerful summary: “To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

These three qualities belong together. Justice without mercy can become cruelty, while pursuing a supposedly good outcome without humility can lead us to justify almost anything.

Consider these questions:

• Where do we turn when society’s systems seem unfair? (Proverbs 21:15; Romans 12:17–21)
• Does a good motive ever justify doing something wrong? (Romans 3:8; Micah 6:8)
• How can we develop a moral compass that does not shift with public opinion? (Psalm 119:105; Matthew 7:24–27)

Perhaps the greatest challenge of How to Rob a Bank is recognising that the temptation to justify our own behaviour is not limited to fictional criminals. We all have moments when we convince ourselves that our circumstances make an exception acceptable. The Gospel invites us to examine our hearts, acknowledge our failures and discover a moral foundation that does not depend upon the approval of others.

After all, the real question is not whether we can convince ourselves that we are doing the right thing, but whether our actions reflect what is genuinely right. And that is a conversation worth having long after the credits roll.

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