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Comedy

Lionheart (2019): Cast, Ratings & Plot

Lionheart (2019) movie poster

Lionheart is a 2019 comedy starring Genevieve Nnaji as Adaeze Obiagu, Nkem Owoh and Onyeka Onwenu. It runs 1 hour 35 minutes and was made on a reported $6 million budget. Critics gave it 39% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 6.2/10.

IMDb rating
6.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes
39%
Echo Score
74
budget
$6M
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Lionheart (2019) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 35m (95 min)
Genre
Comedy
Original language
English
Studio
Netflix
Budget
$6M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Lionheart About?

The premise of Lionheart without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

A French Foreign Legionnaire leaves his post in Africa after his brother is tragically killed. Seeking to secure his family's future and find justice, he enters an underground fighting circuit in America. He must battle his way through dangerous opponents while confronting the individuals responsible for his brother's death.

Lionheart Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • frenchman abroad
  • nickname in title
  • absent without leave
  • french foreign legion
  • fugitive
  • los angeles california
  • femme fatale
  • friendship
  • betrayal
  • death of brother
  • brother in law sister in law relationship
  • person on fire
+38 more
  • mixed martial arts
  • tough guy
  • fistfight
  • showdown
  • military desertion
  • action hero
  • kickboxing
  • illegal fistfight
  • uncle niece relationship
  • single mother
  • one word title
  • betting
  • title spoken by character
  • fight
  • ship
  • new york city
  • tragic event
  • villainess
  • mercilessness
  • girl
  • financial crisis
  • affection
  • deserter
  • legionnaire
  • north africa
  • street fight
  • widow
  • sponsor
  • fight promoter
  • arrest
  • surveillance
  • limousine
  • on the run
  • desertion
  • desert
  • military jeep
  • letter
  • army base
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Cast & crew

Lionheart Cast & Characters

Genevieve Nnaji leads the cast as Adaeze Obiagu, with Nkem Owoh as Godswill Obiagu and Onyeka Onwenu as Abigail Obiagu.

Also Starring in Lionheart

· 3 more
Ratings

Lionheart Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Lionheart 39% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 6.2/10. Our Echo Score gives it 74/100, strongest in sensory experience (75) and weakest in story & flow (65).

74 /100

Lionheart Echo Score Breakdown

Lionheart delivers a balanced blend of martial arts action and heartfelt drama that appeals primarily to fans of the genre. It features a central performance that brings genuine warmth and moments of emotional resonance, while some narrative contrivances and familiar tropes limit its originality. The pacing fluctuates between brisk fight sequences and slower dramatic scenes, offering a mix of engagement and occasional slack points. Soundtrack and visuals effectively evoke the early 1990s action milieu, although production design remains serviceable rather than striking. Overall, the film remains an enjoyable if uneven experience.

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

  • Art & Craft 70

    The film’s art and technical formulation delivers competent visuals with occasional lapses in cohesion. In terms of cinematography, wide establishing shots and intimate close-ups create a readable environment, and editing maintains momentum in fight sequences. Production design supports both urban and desert settings without drawing attention away from action. Overall, the art direction remains solid with moments of flair.

  • Character & Emotion 70

    When it comes to character and emotional depth, the film centers on a sincere lead portrayal that anchors its narrative. The central performance conveys earnest motivation and familial affection, and moments of comedic relief enhance the emotional range. Supporting characters occasionally lack development, which reduces dramatic stakes in some scenes. Overall, character engagement remains serviceable with enough warmth to sustain interest.

  • Story & Flow 65

    In terms of story and flow, the narrative follows familiar underdog and fish-out-of-water patterns that deliver predictable yet serviceable progression. Plot contrivances occasionally slow momentum, and pacing fluctuates between rapid fight sequences and longer drama segments. Originality is limited by genre tropes, though key confrontations elevate engagement. Overall, the story maintains coherence with moderate entertainment value.

  • Sensory Experience 75

    In terms of sensory experience, the soundtrack and visual styling capture an early 1990s action sensibility with energetic effect. The score blends driving metal riffs and symphonic touches, and sound design underlines the impact of fight scenes. Visual colors and period costumes add a vibrant sheen, though audio elements rarely venture beyond genre conventions. Overall, sensory elements create a cohesive period atmosphere.

  • Rewatch Factor 75

    Regarding rewatch value, the film appeals most to enthusiasts of straightforward martial arts drama and the lead actor’s performance. Dynamic fight choreography and heartfelt moments foster repeat viewing, though familiar tropes and occasional scripting weaknesses may limit broader appeal. Fans invested in its core strengths can find fresh enjoyment on subsequent viewings. Overall, rewatch potential remains solid for its target audience.

Plot

Lionheart Plot Summary

What happens in Lionheart from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

A man becomes embroiled in a dangerous situation while buying drugs, only to find himself burned alive by the dealer’s men. Rushed to the hospital, he calls out for his brother, Leon. After three weeks, we meet Leon, also known as Lion Heart (LH), who is serving in the French Foreign Legion in the desert. Upon receiving the distressing news about his brother, he confronts his commanding officer after feeling kept in the dark.

Full summary

The whole story of Lionheart, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Videos

Lionheart Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Lionheart.

LIONHEART by Genevieve Nnaji - trailer eng sub
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Lionheart?

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 tragic event prompts Lion Heart to seek out his family?

Seen Lionheart?

FAQ

Lionheart FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, cast, budget, ratings and post-credit scenes of Lionheart, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Lionheart?

Lionheart runs 1 hour 35 minutes (95 minutes).

When was Lionheart released?

Lionheart was released on January 4, 2019.

Who is in the cast of Lionheart?

Lionheart stars Genevieve Nnaji as Adaeze Obiagu, Nkem Owoh as Godswill Obiagu and Onyeka Onwenu as Abigail Obiagu, among 7 credited actors.

What was the budget of Lionheart?

Lionheart had a reported budget of $6 million.

How is Lionheart rated?

Lionheart has 6.2/10 on IMDb, 39% on Rotten Tomatoes, 62% on TMDB and 5.0/5 on Movie Insider.

Does Lionheart have a post-credit scene?

No. Lionheart has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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