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Action thriller

Overlord (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

Overlord (2018) movie poster

Overlord is a 2018 action thriller directed by Julius Avery, starring Bokeem Woodbine as Sergeant Rensin, Jovan Adepo and Wyatt Russell. It runs 1 hour 50 minutes and earned $41.7 million worldwide on a $38 million budget. It earned 2 award nominations, including Best Film Make-up at the Saturn Awards 2019. Critics gave it 60 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.6/10.

IMDb rating
6.6/10
worldwide gross
$41.7M
award nominations
2
Echo Score
65
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Overlord (2018) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 50m (110 min)
Director
Julius Avery
Original language
English
Budget
$38M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Overlord About?

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

During the lead-up to D-Day, a group of American paratroopers are sent to secure a French village. Their mission takes a horrifying turn when they discover the Nazis are conducting terrifying experiments, utilizing supernatural forces to fuel their war efforts. The soldiers must now battle not only enemy forces but also monstrous creatures in a desperate fight for survival and to prevent a global catastrophe.

Overlord Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • world war two
  • nazi
  • supernatural power
  • nazi occultism
  • secret laboratory
  • year 1944
  • 1940s
  • zombie
  • injection
  • serum
  • paratrooper
  • landmine
+38 more
  • hiding under dead bodies
  • old church
  • rescue
  • ss
  • shootout
  • radio tower
  • france
  • behind enemy lines
  • mutation
  • distill
  • inhuman strength
  • tar
  • murder
  • showdown
  • chase
  • survival
  • mission
  • torture
  • interrogation
  • airplane
  • revenge
  • attempted rape
  • sniper
  • steampunk sci fi
  • american soldier
  • alternate history
  • soldier
  • german soldier
  • laboratory
  • landmine explosion
  • d day
  • vomiting
  • parachute
  • underwater scene
  • little boy
  • baseball ball
  • hand grenade
  • explosion
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Cast & crew

Overlord Cast & Characters

Bokeem Woodbine leads the cast as Sergeant Rensin, with Jovan Adepo as PFC Edward Boyce and Wyatt Russell as Cpl. Lewis Ford. Directed by Julius Avery; 18 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Julius Avery

More films directed by Julius Avery, best-rated first: The Pope's Exorcist, Son of a Gun, Samaritan and Matchbox.

Full filmography
Ratings

Overlord Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Overlord 60 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.6/10. Our Echo Score gives it 65/100, strongest in art & craft (80) and weakest in story & flow (45).

65 /100

Overlord Echo Score Breakdown

Overlord delivers a solid genre mash-up that excels in visual spectacle but falters in narrative depth. Critics and users alike praise the film’s practical effects, dynamic cinematography, and immersive set pieces that heighten the visceral experience. Conversely, its pacing and plot coherence are frequently described as choppy, with a lack of originality in character development and thematic substance. In the end, the film offers compelling moments of action-horror fusion yet falls short of sustained engagement due to its shallow story framework.

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

  • Art & Craft 80

    In terms of art and craft, Overlord stands out for its bold visual design and competent execution. Multiple reviewers highlight the era-appropriate production design, crisp cinematography, and purposeful editing choices that amplify tension during action set pieces. Some sound-mix issues are noted, but the overall aesthetic cohesion remains a strength. As a result, the film’s visual style delivers a consistently engaging atmosphere.

  • Character & Emotion 70

    In terms of character and emotion, Overlord offers solid performances from its core ensemble but falls short in developing deeper emotional connections. Several reviewers commend the cast’s energy and chemistry during high-intensity moments, although many note that character arcs feel underexplored and occasionally one-dimensional. The film benefits from committed acting yet ultimately leaves interpersonal dynamics insufficiently developed, limiting its emotional resonance.

  • Story & Flow 45

    In terms of story and flow, Overlord presents a straightforward horror-war premise that many find engaging in short bursts but uneven overall. Pacing is frequently described as choppy, with scenes that alternate between tense action and underwritten plot development. Originality is limited by familiar genre tropes and a basic narrative structure. As a result, the film’s storyline delivers intermittent thrills but lacks sustained coherence.

  • Sensory Experience 75

    In terms of sensory experience, Overlord leverages a vigorous mix of practical effects, sound design, and musical cues to create an immersive atmosphere. Reviewers applaud the visceral impact of gore-forward visuals and intense soundscapes that reinforce the wartime setting, though some point out occasional audio balance issues. The integration of design elements and soundtrack choices consistently heightens tension, resulting in a vivid sensory landscape.

  • Rewatch Factor 55

    In terms of rewatch factor, Overlord offers intermittent enjoyment for fans of action-horror hybrids but lacks the depth for repeated viewings. Its energetic pace and spectacle provide engaging moments upon first viewing, yet the superficial character work and predictable plot beats limit lasting appeal. While the film’s set-piece intensity may offer brief nostalgia, it ultimately does not sustain enough novelty or emotional complexity to encourage multiple revisits.

Plot

Overlord Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Overlord 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

In 1944, a squad of paratroopers, commanded by Sergeant Eldson (Bokeem Woodbine), embarks on a high-stakes mission to destroy a Nazi radio tower located within a church in Germany. As they approach their target, enemy fire strikes their aircraft, forcing the surviving soldiers to leap into the unknown before their plane is engulfed in flames. They land in the water and swim ashore, regrouping as Private Ed Boyce (Jovan Adepo) quickly reconnects with Corporal Ford (Wyatt Russell).

Full summary

The whole story of Overlord, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

Overlord Box Office & Budget

Overlord grossed $41.7 million worldwide on a $38 million budget, 1.1 times what it cost. $21.7 million came from the US and Canada and $20 million (48%) from the rest of the world.

2018 box office

Worldwide gross

$41.7M

1.1× its budget

US & Canada
$21.7M
International
$20M
Budget
$38M
US & Canada 52% Rest of the world 48%
Awards

Overlord Awards & Nominations

Overlord earned 2 award nominations, including Best Film Make-up at the Saturn Awards 2019.

2 nominations1 ceremony

Videos

Overlord Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 featurette.

Official Trailer
  • Featurette Featurette
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Overlord?

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 primary objective of Sergeant Eldson and his team of paratroopers?

Cars

Cars in Overlord

8 cars on screen, including the Horch 108 and the Dnepr K-750.

All 8 cars
  • Horch 108 in Overlord Horch 108 Important role
  • Dnepr K-750 in Overlord Dnepr K-750 Minor role
  • 1945 PPS OT-810 in Overlord 1945 PPS OT-810 Minor role
  • unknown in Overlord unknown Minor role
Details

Overlord Also Known As

20 alternative titles, including “Operation: Overlord” and “Overlord: Nacistické zombie”.

Also known as
  • Operation: Overlord
  • Overlord: Nacistické zombie
  • 大君主之役
  • Operación Overlord
  • Overlord Operasyonu
  • Оверлорд
  • Operação Overlord
  • Операција Оверлорд
  • אוברלורד
  • 大君主行動
  • 오버로드
  • Operacja Overlord
+8 more
  • 霸主
  • Овърлорд
  • سيد أعلى
  • ปฏิบัติการโอเวอร์ลอร์ด
  • Chiến Dịch Overlord
  • Operacija Overlord
  • オーヴァーロード, ოვერლორდი
  • Operācija "Overlord"

Seen Overlord?

FAQ

Overlord FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Overlord, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Overlord?

Overlord runs 1 hour 50 minutes (110 minutes).

When was Overlord released?

Overlord was released on November 9, 2018.

Who directed Overlord?

Overlord was directed by Julius Avery.

More films by Julius Avery

Who is in the cast of Overlord?

Overlord stars Bokeem Woodbine as Sergeant Rensin, Jovan Adepo as PFC Edward Boyce and Wyatt Russell as Cpl. Lewis Ford, among 18 credited actors.

How much did Overlord make at the box office?

Overlord grossed $41.7 million worldwide ($21.7 million domestic, $20 million international) on a budget of $38 million.

How is Overlord rated?

Overlord has 6.6/10 on IMDb, 60 on Metacritic, 67% on TMDB and 3.2/5 on Letterboxd.

Was Overlord nominated for any awards?

Overlord received 2 nominations across 1 ceremony.

Does Overlord have a post-credit scene?

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

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