Transit (2019): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
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.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 41m (101 min)
- Director
- Christian Petzold
- Genre
- Drama
- Original language
-
German
- Studio
- Music Box Films
- Budget
- $5M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
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 Show fewer
- 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
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.
-
Director Christian Petzold
-
Franz Rogowski as Georg -
Sebastian Hülk as Paul -
Maryam Zaree as Melissa -
Paula Beer as Marie
Also Starring in Transit
· 6 more- Godehard Giese Richard
- Matthias Brandt Barmann, Erzähler
- Barbara Auer Architect, Frau
- Lilien Batman Driss
- Emilie de Preissac Chambermaid in Paris Hotel
- Antoine Oppenheim Binnet
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).
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.
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IMDb 5.8 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 94% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 66%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 82 Metascore
User score 6.8
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 67% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.9 /5
221 ratings
See on Letterboxd
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
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.
Worldwide gross
$1M
20% of its budget back
- US & Canada
- $815.3K
- International
- $197.5K
- Budget
- $5M
Transit Trailers & Videos
7 videos: 2 trailers, 1 teaser, 1 clip, 2 featurettes and 1 behind-the-scenes video.
- Trailer Official International Trailer
- Teaser UK Promo
- Clip Clip
- Featurette Actor Q&A at TIFF 2018
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
- 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 prompts the armored truck driver to prepare for departure?
Cars in Transit
36 cars on screen, including the Renault Kangoo Express and the 1994 Peugeot Boxer.
-
Renault Kangoo Express Important role -
1994 Peugeot Boxer Minor role -
2013 Renault Grand Scénic Minor role -
1998 Renault Master Minor role
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 Show fewer
- Tranzyt
- Tranzitas
- Tranzīts
- 未来を乗り換えた男
- Transiit
Seen Transit?
Movies Like Transit
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Lost in Transit, Traveller and Transsiberian.
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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