Overlord (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending
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.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 50m (110 min)
- Director
- Julius Avery
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Paramount Pictures
- Budget
- $38M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
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 Show fewer
- 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
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.
- Director Julius Avery
-
Bokeem Woodbine as Sergeant Rensin -
Jovan Adepo as PFC Edward Boyce -
Wyatt Russell as Cpl. Lewis Ford -
John Magaro as PFC Lyle Tibbet
Also Starring in Overlord
· 14 more- Iain De Caestecker PFC Morton Chase
- Jacob Anderson PFC Charlie Dawson
- Dominic Applewhite PFC Jacob Rosenfeld
- Mathilde Ollivier Chloe Laurent
- Gianny Taufer Paul Laurent
- Joseph Quinn Grunauer
- Hélène Cardona
- Johan Philip Asbæk
- Adam Collins
- Éva Magyar
- Marc Rissmann Scherzer
- Ben Tavassoli
- Jorge Leon Martinez
- Shawn Dixon
More from Julius Avery
More films directed by Julius Avery, best-rated first: The Pope's Exorcist, Son of a Gun, Samaritan and Matchbox.
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).
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.
-
IMDb 6.6 /10
See on IMDb -
Metacritic 60 Metascore
User score 6.9
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 67% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.2 /5
201 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 3.3 /5
See on Movie Insider
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
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.
Worldwide gross
$41.7M
1.1× its budget
- US & Canada
- $21.7M
- International
- $20M
- Budget
- $38M
Overlord Awards & Nominations
Overlord earned 2 award nominations, including Best Film Make-up at the Saturn Awards 2019.
2 nominations1 ceremony
-
Saturn Awards 2019 2 nominations- Nominated Best Film Make-up
- Nominated Best Horror Film Release
Overlord Trailers & Videos
2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 featurette.
- Featurette Featurette
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
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the primary objective of Sergeant Eldson and his team of paratroopers?
Cars in Overlord
8 cars on screen, including the Horch 108 and the Dnepr K-750.
-
Horch 108 Important role -
Dnepr K-750 Minor role -
1945 PPS OT-810 Minor role -
unknown Minor role
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 Show fewer
- 霸主
- Овърлорд
- سيد أعلى
- ปฏิบัติการโอเวอร์ลอร์ด
- Chiến Dịch Overlord
- Operacija Overlord
- オーヴァーロード, ოვერლორდი
- Operācija "Overlord"
Seen Overlord?
Movies Like Overlord
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Nazi Overlord, Operation Overlord and Horrors of War.
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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