The Old Guard (2020): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending
The Old Guard is a 2020 action thriller directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, starring Charlize Theron as Andy, Matthias Schoenaerts and Marwan Kenzari. It is partly based on The Old Guard, Book One: Opening Fire by Greg Rucka and Leandro Fernández. It runs 2 hours 5 minutes and earned $5,972 worldwide on a $70 million budget. It earned 3 award nominations, including Best Actress in a Film at the Saturn Awards 2021. Critics gave it 80% on Rotten Tomatoes and 70 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.7/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 5m (125 min)
- Director
- Gina Prince-Bythewood
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Netflix
- Budget
- $70M
- After the credits
- Yes Extra scene during or after the credits
What Is The Old Guard About?
The premise of The Old Guard without spoilers, adapted from The Old Guard, Book One: Opening Fire by Greg Rucka and Leandro Fernández. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.
A covert group of immortal mercenaries, led by the skilled and battle-hardened Andy, has quietly defended humanity for centuries. Their existence is shattered when a mercenary team uncovers their secret, exposing them to a shadowy organization determined to weaponize their abilities. Now, facing relentless pursuit, the Old Guard must band together to protect their world and fight for their right to exist, confronting both external threats and internal conflicts that test their loyalty and immortality.
The Old Guard Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- gay character
- homosexual
- immortality
- gay couple
- based on comic
- gay kiss
- shared dream
- gay man
- based on graphic novel
- superhero action
- based on comic book
- female protagonist
+38 more Show fewer
- shot to death
- strong female lead
- bilingualism
- magical realism
- regeneration
- teamwork
- female warrior
- action hero
- death
- violence
- traitor
- martial arts
- mixed martial arts
- gay hero
- gay superhero
- lgbt
- image comics
- title directed by female
- gay
- existentialism
- heroism
- bravery
- gay slur
- murder
- science
- hand to hand combat
- ranged weapon
- lgbtq
- lgbtqi
- psychotronic film
- f rated
- bullet wound
- gunshot wound
- marine
- marine base
- throat slit
- flashback
- courage
The Old Guard Cast & Characters
Charlize Theron leads the cast as Andy, with Matthias Schoenaerts as Booker and Marwan Kenzari as Joe. Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood; 13 actors are credited in all.
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Director Gina Prince-Bythewood
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Charlize Theron as Andy -
Matthias Schoenaerts as Booker -
Marwan Kenzari as Joe -
Luca Marinelli as Nicky
Also Starring in The Old Guard
· 9 more- Chiwetel Ejiofor Copley
- KiKi Layne Nile
- Harry Melling Merrick
- Joey Ansah Keane
- Anamaria Marinca Dr Meta Kozak
- Thanh Van Ngo
- Natacha Karam Dizzy
- Mette Towley
- Adam Basil
More from Gina Prince-Bythewood
More films directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, best-rated first: Love & Basketball, Beyond the Lights, The Woman King and The Secret Life of Bees.
The Old Guard Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The Old Guard 80% on Rotten Tomatoes and 70 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.7/10. Our Echo Score gives it 69/100, strongest in sensory experience (80) and weakest in rewatch factor (60).
The Old Guard Echo Score Breakdown
In summary, The Old Guard excels in delivering spirited action and a compelling lead performance, while its narrative occasionally succumbs to predictability. The cast chemistry and emotional undercurrents enrich key moments, even as some subplots and the central antagonist feel underdeveloped. Visually, the film maintains a polished look, and its thoughtful pacing engages most audiences. Overall, the movie offers a satisfying blend of entertainment and emotional depth with minor narrative shortcomings.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 75
In terms of art and craft, the film delivers competent direction and fluid camerawork that enhance the action sequences. The editing supports clear spatial geography, though some exposition scenes feel weighed down. Production design blends ancient and modern aesthetics effectively, yet occasional set pieces lack distinctiveness. Overall, the technical craftsmanship remains solid but conventional.
- Character & Emotion 70
When it comes to character and emotion, Charlize Theron’s performance anchors the narrative with measured intensity and resolve. Supporting cast members display strong camaraderie, though some secondary characters remain underexplored. Emotional stakes rise effectively in key interactions, but the central antagonist lacks depth. Overall, the character work provides engagement despite occasional thinness.
- Story & Flow 60
In terms of story and flow, the film introduces an engaging premise of immortal warriors confronting existential questions. The pacing remains measured, balancing character moments and set pieces, though it occasionally drags during heavy exposition. Plot twists offer intrigue but the villain’s predictability and some underused subplots temper originality. Overall, the narrative is solid with moderate lapses.
- Sensory Experience 80
When it comes to sensory experience, the sound design proves crisp and impactful, emphasizing both action beats and quieter moments. The musical score complements emotional peaks without overpowering the mix. Visually, the film maintains a cohesive aesthetic that merges gritty realism with stylized effects. Overall, the sensory elements contribute to an immersive and engaging atmosphere.
- Rewatch Factor 60
Regarding rewatch factor, the film’s polished action choreography and distinctive premise invite repeat viewings. Key set pieces retain excitement on subsequent watches, and Charlize Theron’s performance remains compelling. However, the limited depth of certain characters and a predictable antagonist reduce long-term appeal. Overall, the movie holds moderate replay value despite some narrative constraints.
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IMDb 6.7 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 80% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 70%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 70 Metascore
User score 5.9
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 71% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.0 /5
682 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 3.9 /5
See on Movie Insider
The Old Guard Plot Summary & Ending Explained
What happens in The Old Guard 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
Andromache of Scythia, known as Andy (played by Charlize Theron), is a centuries-old warrior who, alongside her comrades Booker (Matthias Schoenaerts), Joe (Marwan Kenzari), and Nicky (Luca Marinelli), possesses incredible regenerative healing abilities. These steadfast mercenaries utilize their extensive experience to take on missions aimed at helping those in need. However, they break their own rule of collaborating with the same employers only once when they accept a task from former CIA operative James Copley (Chiwetel Ejiofor) to rescue a group of kidnapped girls in South Sudan. Copley persuades Andy and Booker that if they don’t act swiftly, the girls will vanish forever.
Full summary
The whole story of The Old Guard, scene by scene, with the ending explained
The Old Guard Box Office & Budget
The Old Guard grossed $5,972 worldwide on a $70 million budget.
Worldwide gross
$6K
- International
- $6K
- Budget
- $70M
The Old Guard Awards & Nominations
The Old Guard earned 3 award nominations, including Best Actress in a Film at the Saturn Awards 2021.
3 nominations1 ceremony
-
Saturn Awards 2021 3 nominations- Nominated Best Actress in a Film – Charlize Theron
- Nominated Best Comic to Motion Picture Release
- Nominated Best Film Director – Gina Prince-Bythewood
The Old Guard Trailers & Videos
2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 featurette.
- Featurette The Old Guard Through History
How Well Do You Know The Old Guard?
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
Who is Andromache the Scythian more commonly known as?
Cars in The Old Guard
19 cars on screen, including the AM General HMMWV M1025 and the 2007 Audi A6 C6.
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AM General HMMWV M1025 Important role -
2007 Audi A6 C6 Important role -
1973 BMW 520 E12 Important role -
Motobécane 881 Minor role
The Old Guard Also Known As
25 alternative titles, including “Старая гвардия” and “Ölümsüzlük”.
- Also known as
-
- Старая гвардия
- Ölümsüzlük
- オールドガード
- 不死軍團
- الحرّاس الخالدون
- Бессмертная гвардия
- 올드 가드
- La vieja guardia
- 永生守卫
- Стара гвардія
- A halhatatlan gárda
- The Old Guard: Những chiến binh bất tử, ძველი გვარდია
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- משמר האלמוות
- Old Guard: Nesmrtelní
- A Velha Guarda
- ดิ โอลด์ การ์ด
- Η Παλιά Φρουρά
- オールド・ガード
- Безсмъртни бойци
- Vechea gardă
- Senoji gvardija
- نگهبان قدیمی
- Stara garda
- La vella guàrdia
- अमर योद्धा
Seen The Old Guard?
Movies Like The Old Guard
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Eternals, Immortal and Wolf Pack.
The Old Guard FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and awards of The Old Guard, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Old Guard?
The Old Guard runs 2 hours 5 minutes (125 minutes).
When was The Old Guard released?
The Old Guard was released on July 10, 2020.
Who directed The Old Guard?
The Old Guard was directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood.
More films by Gina Prince-Bythewood Who is in the cast of The Old Guard?
The Old Guard stars Charlize Theron as Andy, Matthias Schoenaerts as Booker and Marwan Kenzari as Joe, among 13 credited actors.
How much did The Old Guard make at the box office?
The Old Guard grossed $5,972 worldwide on a budget of $70 million.
How is The Old Guard rated?
The Old Guard has 6.7/10 on IMDb, 80% on Rotten Tomatoes, 70 on Metacritic and 71% on TMDB.
Is The Old Guard based on a book?
Yes. The Old Guard is partly adapted from The Old Guard, Book One: Opening Fire by Greg Rucka and Leandro Fernández.
Was The Old Guard nominated for any awards?
The Old Guard received 3 nominations across 1 ceremony.
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