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Action thriller

Army of Thieves (2021): Cast, Ratings & Ending

Army of Thieves (2021) movie poster

Army of Thieves is a 2021 action thriller starring Matthias Schweighöfer as Ludwig Dieter, Nathalie Emmanuel and Ruby O. Fee. It was made on a reported $30 million budget. Critics gave it 69% on Rotten Tomatoes and 49 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.4/10.

IMDb rating
6.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes
69%
Echo Score
66
Metascore
49
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Army of Thieves (2021) movie poster
Released
Genres
Action , Sci-Fi , Mystery , Thriller
Original language
English
Studio
Netflix
Budget
$30M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Army of Thieves About?

The premise of Army of Thieves without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

Dieter, a small-town bank teller with a knack for numbers, finds his mundane life disrupted when a mysterious and persuasive stranger invites him to join a crew of skilled thieves. They embark on a high-stakes journey across Europe, attempting to crack a series of elaborate and legendary safes. As the team faces increasingly difficult challenges, Dieter must embrace his hidden talents and confront unforeseen dangers during this thrilling prequel to Army of the Dead.

Army of Thieves Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • prequel
  • safe
  • zombie
  • apocalypse
  • heist
  • thief
  • death
  • outbreak
  • violence
  • defend
  • survival
  • blood
+38 more
  • lock
  • friend
  • romantic
  • mission
  • escape
  • lock picker
  • crime caper
  • aspiring youtuber
  • youtube
  • youtube video
  • youtube channel
  • telling a story
  • munich germany
  • locksmith
  • loss of wife
  • loss of son
  • gulping
  • safecracker
  • combination safe
  • bank safe
  • safe robbery
  • reference to richard wagner
  • opera
  • reference to the ring cycle
  • reference to norse mythology
  • reference to das rheingold the opera
  • reference to die walkure the opera
  • reference to siegfried the opera
  • reference to goetterdaemmerung the opera
  • puzzle
  • puzzle solving
  • legend
  • locked in a safe
  • tomb
  • bank clerk
  • skills test
  • berlin germany
  • password
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Cast & crew

Army of Thieves Cast & Characters

Matthias Schweighöfer leads the cast as Ludwig Dieter, with Nathalie Emmanuel as Gwendoline Starr and Ruby O. Fee as Korina Dominguez.

Also Starring in Army of Thieves

· 6 more
Ratings

Army of Thieves Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Army of Thieves 69% on Rotten Tomatoes and 49 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.4/10. Our Echo Score gives it 66/100, strongest in character & emotion (72) and weakest in story & flow (58).

66 /100

Army of Thieves Echo Score Breakdown

Army of Thieves delivers a competently crafted prequel that leans on its charismatic lead and light‑hearted tone to entertain, yet it remains constrained by a formulaic heist framework and familiar genre clichés. Critics note its limited originality while users highlight enjoyable moments, dynamic visuals, and a pleasing soundtrack. The film’s direction and performances provide enough charm for a modestly satisfying experience, though it lacks the depth to elevate it beyond a modestly positive reception overall.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 68

    In terms of art and craft, the film shows competent direction that maintains a light, knockabout tone. Cinematography is described as dynamic and visually appealing, and the production design supports the heist setting. However, critics point out a lack of distinctive visual flair and editing that does not set the film apart. Overall, the craftsmanship is solid but not especially innovative.

  • Character & Emotion 72

    When it comes to character and emotion, the central! performance by Matthias Schweighöfer receives consistent praise for its charm and relatability. Supporting actors add modest depth, and some reviewers note a well‑developed protagonist. Nonetheless, a few critiques mention bland secondary characters and occasional lack of nuance. The net impression is that the character work is a strong point, albeit with minor shortcomings.

  • Story & Flow 58

    Regarding story and flow, the narrative follows a conventional heist structure that many find predictable and formulaic. Critics highlight the reliance on genre clichés and limited originality. Some users, however, appreciate the natural pacing and occasional surprising moments. The mixed feedback results in a story that is serviceable but fails to deliver a compelling or distinctive arc.

  • Sensory Experience 70

    In the sensory experience domain, the soundtrack is repeatedly described as pleasing and well‑matched to the film’s tone. Visual style, including dynamic cinematography, receives positive remarks from viewers. Critics offer fewer comments, implying the sensory elements are competent but not groundbreaking. Collectively, the audio‑visual components enhance enjoyment without achieving standout status.

  • Rewatch Factor 60

    As for rewatch factor, the film provides enjoyable, light‑hearted entertainment that many viewers recommend for a casual watch. Its humor and charismatic lead contribute to repeatability for some audiences. Conversely, several critics and users predict the movie will be quickly forgotten due to its generic plot. The overall rewatch appeal is moderate, balancing fun moments with limited lasting impact.

Plot

Army of Thieves Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Army of Thieves from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Sebastian, portrayed by Matthias Schweighöfer, leads a rather ordinary life as a bank teller in Potsdam. His days are interrupted by chilling nightmares inspired by a zombie outbreak ravaging Nevada, which captures international headlines. Struggling to find an audience, he produces YouTube videos centered around safe-cracking, but they go unnoticed until a mysterious user comments, inviting him to an underground safe-cracking competition. Seizing the opportunity, Sebastian enters the contest and emerges victorious.

Full summary

The whole story of Army of Thieves, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Videos

Army of Thieves Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 teaser.

Official Trailer
  • Teaser Official Teaser
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Army of Thieves?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What is the main profession of Sebastian in Army of Thieves?

Cars

Cars in Army of Thieves

34 cars on screen, including the 2011 Audi A7 Sportback C7 and the 2015 Iveco Daily.

All 34 cars
  • 2011 Audi A7 Sportback C7 in Army of Thieves 2011 Audi A7 Sportback C7 Important role
  • 2015 Iveco Daily in Army of Thieves 2015 Iveco Daily Important role
  • 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Klasse W213 in Army of Thieves 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Klasse W213 Important role
  • Tatra T 815-790R99 in Army of Thieves Tatra T 815-790R99 Important role
Details

Army of Thieves Also Known As

38 alternative titles, including “Meanwhile in... Germany” and “Armia złodziei”.

Also known as
  • Meanwhile in... Germany
  • Armia złodziei
  • アーミー・オブ・シーブズ
  • Army of the Dead 2
  • Army of the Dead Prequel
  • Armáda zlodějů
  • 活死人军团前传
  • 行盗之师
  • 神偷大军
  • 不羁贼军
  • 窃贼军团
  • 神偷军团
+26 more
  • El ejército de los ladrones
  • แผนปล้นยุโรปเดือด
  • 不羈賊軍
  • Армія злодіїв
  • 아미 오브 더 데드: 도둑들
  • Ejército de los ladrones
  • צבא הגנבים
  • A tolvajok hadserege
  • Armáda lupičů
  • Армия воров
  • Exército de Ladrões: Invasão da Europa
  • Hırsızlar Ordusu
  • Đội Quân Đạo Tặc
  • 神偷大軍
  • Exército de Ladrões
  • Армия от крадци
  • Ciidanka Tuugta
  • Vojska lopova
  • جيش اللصوص
  • L'armée des voleurs
  • Војска лопова
  • Armáda zlodejov
  • ارتش دزدان
  • Vagių armija
  • Armata hoților
  • Vojska tatov, მძარცველების არმია

Seen Army of Thieves?

FAQ

Army of Thieves FAQ: Cast, Release Date & Post-Credit Scene

Release date, cast, budget, ratings and post-credit scenes of Army of Thieves, each answered in a sentence.

When was Army of Thieves released?

Army of Thieves was released on October 29, 2021.

Who is in the cast of Army of Thieves?

Army of Thieves stars Matthias Schweighöfer as Ludwig Dieter, Nathalie Emmanuel as Gwendoline Starr and Ruby O. Fee as Korina Dominguez, among 10 credited actors.

What was the budget of Army of Thieves?

Army of Thieves had a reported budget of $30 million.

How is Army of Thieves rated?

Army of Thieves has 6.4/10 on IMDb, 69% on Rotten Tomatoes, 49 on Metacritic and 68% on TMDB.

Does Army of Thieves have a post-credit scene?

No. Army of Thieves has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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