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Drama

Transit (2019): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Transit (2019) movie poster

Transit is a 2019 drama directed by Christian Petzold, starring Franz Rogowski as Georg, Sebastian Hülk and Maryam Zaree. It is partly based on Transit by Anna Seghers and Margot Bettauer Dembo. It runs 1 hour 41 minutes and earned $1 million worldwide on a $5 million budget. Critics gave it 94% on Rotten Tomatoes and 82 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.8/10.

IMDb rating
5.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes
94%
worldwide gross
$1M
Echo Score
70
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Transit (2019) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 41m (101 min)
Genre
Drama
Original language
German
Budget
$5M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Transit About?

The premise of Transit without spoilers, adapted from Transit by Anna Seghers and Margot Bettauer Dembo. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

A stranger finds himself on a train in Germany, struggling with lost memories and a sense of disorientation during a time of war. He tries to piece together his identity while encountering other passengers also seeking refuge and connection. Amidst the turmoil and uncertainty, he searches for meaning and understanding in a world fractured by conflict, forming brief but significant relationships along the way.

Transit Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • louisiana
  • chopped off finger
  • bayou
  • dismembered finger
  • family holiday
  • vacation trip
  • crash
  • family in jeopardy
  • car
  • family relationships
  • female pedal pumping
  • criminal
+38 more
  • heist
  • police
  • gang
  • roadblock
  • road trip
  • murder of a police officer
  • arrest of father
  • fistfight
  • burning money
  • deception
  • cell phone
  • one word title
  • what happened to epilogue
  • violence
  • rescue
  • held at gunpoint
  • hostage
  • kidnapping
  • escape
  • forest
  • woods
  • impalement
  • arrest
  • car accident
  • car crash
  • exploding car
  • cigarette smoking
  • fire
  • gasoline
  • brother brother relationship
  • husband wife relationship
  • mother son relationship
  • shootout
  • sheriff
  • state trooper
  • police station
  • jail cell
  • one day timespan
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Cast & crew

Transit Cast & Characters

Franz Rogowski leads the cast as Georg, with Sebastian Hülk as Paul and Maryam Zaree as Melissa. Directed by Christian Petzold; 10 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Transit

· 6 more
Ratings

Transit Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Transit 94% on Rotten Tomatoes and 82 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.8/10. Our Echo Score gives it 70/100, strongest in art & craft (88) and weakest in story & flow (50).

70 /100

Transit Echo Score Breakdown

In broad terms, Transit excels in its visual scope but falters in narrative clarity and character depth. The film’s layered direction and production design consistently draw praise for immersive world-building, yet several critics and viewers note a reductive emotional tone and occasional pacing lulls. While thematic resonance and stylistic boldness remain clear throughout, some narrative gambits and character underdevelopment temper the film’s cohesion and engagement. Overall, Transit presents a compelling aesthetic experience that may divide audiences on its emotional and narrative execution.

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

  • Art & Craft 88

    In terms of direction and cinematography, Transit delivers a consistently immersive visual landscape. Reviewers highlight the deliberate framing and precise production design that evoke a clear sense of place and era. Several critics and users praised the measured pacing of shots and the effective use of light and shadow to reinforce thematic undercurrents. Despite minor reservations about occasional narrative obscurity, the film’s visual craftsmanship remains a defining strength.

  • Character & Emotion 55

    When it comes to character portrayal and emotional resonance, Transit presents a mixed register. The chemistry between the leads and moments of genuine connection received praise for their nuanced interplay. However, several observations point to underdeveloped backstories and a prevailing emotional coolness that hinders deeper engagement. Although select interactions strike an authentic chord, overall character depth and interiority are uneven across the narrative.

  • Story & Flow 50

    In terms of plot coherence and pacing, Transit incorporates an intriguing temporal conceit but suffers from episodic momentum. Numerous commentators commend the film’s originality and thematic ambition, especially its Kafkaesque liminality and timely resonances. At the same time, recurring notes on confusing narrative threads and an uneven pacing trend suggest that engagement can waver. Ultimately, the story’s conceptual boldness is offset by occasional dramatic ambiguity.

  • Sensory Experience 75

    When considering sensory elements such as soundtrack, sound design, and visual style, Transit achieves a compelling atmospheric tone. The film’s solemn score and ambient soundscapes underscore its Kafkaesque mood and reinforce thematic dislocation. Visual cohesion remains strong through consistent production hues and measured editing rhythms. While the pervasive voiceover narration has been noted as distracting at times, the overall sensory design maintains an immersive coherence.

  • Rewatch Factor 70

    Regarding rewatch potential and lasting appeal, Transit offers significant thematic depth that invites repeat viewings. The multilayered narrative and visual motifs have been praised for lingering in the viewer’s mind and revealing new resonances on subsequent viewings. However, episodic pacing and occasional narrative opacity may lessen enjoyment for some audiences. Nevertheless, the film’s conceptual richness and distinctive aesthetic presence support a strong case for lasting interest.

Plot

Transit Plot Summary

What happens in Transit from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

The film begins with an armored truck stumbling upon a car crash on a deserted road. Initially suspicious, the driver is unprepared for an onslaught of masked robbers. Despite his attempts to escape, he discovers that his partner is complicit in the heist. Tragedy strikes when they execute him after a truck alarm sounds, followed by the partner when he questions the lead robber’s intent.

In the aftermath, law enforcement sets up roadblocks to apprehend the culprits. The robbers—Marek, his girlfriend Arielle, Losada, and getaway driver Evers—understand that they match the suspect descriptions. To secure their loot of $4 million, they stash the money in a family’s sleeping bag while the camping family is briefly at a gas station.

Full summary

The whole story of Transit, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Transit Box Office & Budget

Transit grossed $1 million worldwide on a $5 million budget, 20% of what it cost. $815,290 came from the US and Canada and $197,457 (19%) from the rest of the world.

2019 box office

Worldwide gross

$1M

20% of its budget back

US & Canada
$815.3K
International
$197.5K
Budget
$5M
US & Canada 81% Rest of the world 19%
Videos

Transit Trailers & Videos

7 videos: 2 trailers, 1 teaser, 1 clip, 2 featurettes and 1 behind-the-scenes video.

All 7 videos
Official Trailer
  • Trailer Official International Trailer
  • Teaser UK Promo
  • Clip Clip
  • Featurette Actor Q&A at TIFF 2018
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Transit?

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 prompts the armored truck driver to prepare for departure?

Cars

Cars in Transit

36 cars on screen, including the Renault Kangoo Express and the 1994 Peugeot Boxer.

All 36 cars
  • Renault Kangoo Express in Transit Renault Kangoo Express Important role
  • 1994 Peugeot Boxer in Transit 1994 Peugeot Boxer Minor role
  • 2013 Renault Grand Scénic in Transit 2013 Renault Grand Scénic Minor role
  • 1998 Renault Master in Transit 1998 Renault Master Minor role
Details

Transit Also Known As

17 alternative titles, including “통행증” and “트랜짓”.

Also known as
  • 통행증
  • 트랜짓
  • Em Trânsito
  • Транзит
  • 時空中轉站
  • 过境
  • Tranzit
  • En tránsito
  • טרנזיט
  • En transito
  • 過境情謎
  • La donna dello scrittore
+5 more
  • Tranzyt
  • Tranzitas
  • Tranzīts
  • 未来を乗り換えた男
  • Transiit

Seen Transit?

FAQ

Transit FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and post-credit scenes of Transit, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Transit?

Transit runs 1 hour 41 minutes (101 minutes).

When was Transit released?

Transit was released on March 1, 2019.

Who directed Transit?

Transit was directed by Christian Petzold.

More films by Christian Petzold

Who is in the cast of Transit?

Transit stars Franz Rogowski as Georg, Sebastian Hülk as Paul and Maryam Zaree as Melissa, among 10 credited actors.

How much did Transit make at the box office?

Transit grossed $1 million worldwide ($815,290 domestic, $197,457 international) on a budget of $5 million.

How is Transit rated?

Transit has 5.8/10 on IMDb, 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, 82 on Metacritic and 67% on TMDB.

Is Transit based on a book?

Yes. Transit is partly adapted from Transit by Anna Seghers and Margot Bettauer Dembo.

Does Transit have a post-credit scene?

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

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