Nicholas Hoult’s New Heist Thriller Deemed “One Of The Year’s Biggest Surprises” In First Reactions

This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.Nicholas Hoult's new heist thriller has been deemed "one of the year's biggest surprises." First reactions are now in for How to Rob a Bank, with testimony claiming it's a surprisingly fantastic part of 2026's movie lineup according to critics. Hoult's latest movie sees him portray Ryan, the leader of a group of bank robbers who livestream their heists and give money to people. Their heists are driven by personal stakes, something the police begin to investigate with the help of a former thief, Emi (Anna Sawai). The movie is directed by David Leitch, whose other recent work includes the action films Bullet Train and The Fall Guy. Now, first reactions to How to Rob a Bank have arrived, confirming a positive reception from those who've seen the movie early. The string of success for the movie comes ahead of its theatrical release on November 13, 2026, praising the film for its action, innovation, and for being a surprisingly good time as the year comes to a close. Hunter Bolding of That Hollywood Show calls the movie "kind of shocking in its message and what it passes off to the audience," saying "It’s more than just dumb action" and carries a "good dose of emotion. Those frustrated with our current society will love this." Junior Felix of That Hollywood Show also chimed in, saying it's "not your ordinary bank heist film." He says that "David Leitch goes all in with a fresh original idea that deals with current headlines we're experiencing in this society," following up by praising the movie for the risks it takes: "Truly daring films are a dying breed and it's refreshing to see this." Christopher Rates It praises it for "kinetic, high-octane police chases, shootouts, and robberies that take place, even with the small Bonny and Clyde touch it has." He also says that, while "The stylised [sic] editing keeps you engaged with the story and thoroughly entertained," it's also "David Leitch’s weakest movie" due to poor character writing. Phil Roberts of Future of the Force testified the film is "is this generations ‘Fast & The Furious’ only with social media." He praised the visuals and the music, saying it's "a surprise package best watched with beer and popcorn!" Jonathan Sim says it's "an action-packed cops and robbers tale for the digital age," praising the cast performances and stunts throughout: "With compelling work from Nicholas Hoult and a fun buddy cop dynamic between John C. Reilly and Zoë Kravitz, this is a super entertaining experience filled with practical stunts." Lewis Powell of Film Focus Reviews praised Hoult's performance, calling him the next big movie star because of how compelling his performance here is: "Talk about a generational run. I cannot wait for you all to be able to see what he’s done here!" Darren Movie Reviews of Movie Scene Canada says How to Rob a Bank "is Robin Hood for the TikTok generation," saying "David Leitch’s latest speeds by at a mile a minute with video tutorials and well directed practical chase sequences." However, it also leaves some characters feeling underdeveloped, "causing the second half to over rely on tired cliches of the heist genre." Jeremy Kazieva calls the movie "easily one of the year’s biggest surprises." He also praises the film's presentation: "The sharp editing captures the energy of their online channel, while the film’s emotional core gives us a glimpse of the people behind the posts and the reasons driving their actions, largely carried by Pete Davidson." Gavin Spoors of FILMHOUNDS Magazine was a bit disappointed in the film's presentation, even if it was a solid thrill ride: "Entertaining, sure, but Leitch and crew stick with tired cliches and plot beats even when the messaging calls for anarchy in our capitalist world." Paul Klein of FILMHOUNDS Magazine also chaimed in, calling it "a fun, stylish action film with a little bit to say," that also saw Davidson stealing the show. Cinemania Reviews was positive toward the movie's messaging, saying it's "a fun high-octane thriller that examines deeper societal frustrations and modern digital culture," saying it has "a great cast showcasing themes of viral fame, systemic inequality, and modern "Robin Hood" vigilantism." Doug Jones of The Genre of Your Life Podcast called the movie "‘Point Break’ meets ‘The Big Short’​​​​​​​" while praising "charming & charismatic Nicholas Hoult" for his lead performance: "Heist movies have never been more back." More to come...