Some movies don’t aim to change your life. They aim to fill ninety-odd minutes with recognisable faces, a few double-crosses and a reasonably tense third act. The Get Out, a 2026 crime thriller from director Derrick Borte, sits squarely in that category. It stars Russell Crowe as a nightclub owner trying to leave a dangerous past behind, with Luke Evans, Aaron Paul, Nina Dobrev and Teresa Palmer in support. This review covers the plot, the cast, the critical reaction and who it’s for.
I’m working from official material and published reviews, not a personal screening, and I’ll be clear about where opinion splits.
What the Film Is About
A nightclub owner (Russell Crowe, as Marco Kapak) is on the verge of leaving his dangerous past behind for a quiet retirement with his girlfriend (Teresa Palmer). Then masked gunmen (played by Nina Dobrev and Aaron Paul) rob him, and he finds himself squeezed by ruthless cartels. A mysterious newcomer (Luke Evans) arrives with an interest in buying the business. With danger closing in on all sides, he must navigate a web of deception, power and survival where escape may no longer be an option. The tagline sums up the tone: the night life is dirty business.
That’s a well-worn setup, one more crime thriller where the retirement plan is the first thing to go wrong. The question is whether it’s executed with enough style to forgive the familiarity.
The Source Material
The movie is based on Strip, a 2010 novel by Thomas Perry, according to ComingSoon.net. Borte co-wrote the screenplay with Daniel Forte. If you enjoy Perry’s crime fiction, this adaptation may be worth a look for its own sake, though reviewers have found the script the weakest part.
It’s worth noting that the film is a Vertical release, which tends to mean a smaller theatrical footprint and a quick move to digital. It arrived in US theatres on June 26 and on digital on June 30.
The Cast
The cast list is the main selling point:
- Russell Crowe as Marco Kapak, the nightclub owner
- Luke Evans as Joe Carver, the mysterious buyer
- Teresa Palmer as Sunny
- Aaron Paul as Jeff and Nina Dobrev as Carrie, the masked robbers
- Daniel Zovatto as Rodriguez, plus Yasmin Kassim, Josh McConville and Benedict Hardie in supporting roles
It’s been a busy stretch for Crowe. ComingSoon notes that he appeared in Nuremberg in 2025 and Beast in 2026, with The Weight and Unabomber to follow. In The Get Out he’s the anchor, and he plays the world-weary heavy he does so well.
What Critics Are Saying
The verdict so far is polite but not enthusiastic. Moviefone’s review describes a competent crime thriller elevated by a strong cast, anchored by solid work from Crowe and Paul, which overcomes a convoluted script to deliver a serviceable thriller. The reviewer says this is the kind of movie you can turn your brain off for and still be mildly entertained.
The same review is blunter about the writing. The plot is intriguing but somewhat convoluted, the cast is star-studded, and the script seems beneath their talents. Crowe gives a fun performance, but his character is not fully formed, and at times he looks like he’s picking up a paycheck.
User reaction on the aggregator sites looks middling, with listings showing scores around the low-to-mid 60s out of 100, so don’t expect a sleeper hit.
What Works
The cast. Crowe, Evans and Paul don’t need much to be watchable. Watching three experienced actors circle each other is half the fun.
The pace. The film runs under two hours (listings vary between about 96 and 111 minutes), and thrillers like this benefit from moving quickly.
The setting. A nightclub is a good pressure cooker for a crime story: noise, mirrors, back rooms and people with something to hide.
Aaron Paul. Reviewers call out his performance as one of the pillars of the film.
What Doesn’t
The script. The most consistent criticism is that the plot is tangled and doesn’t give the actors enough to chew on.
A thin lead character. A hero needs a clear sense of who he is, and Marco is described as underdeveloped.
Familiarity. If you’ve seen a few crime thrillers, you’ve probably seen this plot before, with the rob-the-boss, cartel-pressure and one-last-deal beats you’d expect.
Who Should Watch It
It works best as a low-stakes night in: a thriller you put on with a pizza when you want something with stars and some tension. If you’re looking for a tightly plotted, genre-defining crime film, you’ll want to look elsewhere.
Where to Watch
The Get Out is rated R. It opened in US theatres on June 26, 2026, and went to digital and on-demand on June 30. Check your regional rental and streaming services for availability.
FAQ
Is The Get Out based on a book? Yes, on Thomas Perry’s 2010 novel Strip.
Who directed it? Derrick Borte, who co-wrote it with Daniel Forte.
Is it related to Jordan Peele’s Get Out? No. It’s an unrelated crime thriller that happens to share part of the title.
How long is it? Listings range from roughly an hour and a half to just under two hours.
Final Verdict
The Get Out is a serviceable thriller that lives or dies on its cast. The script is messy and the lead character is underwritten, but it’s easy to watch, and sometimes that’s enough. Think of it as a decent rental, not a must-see.
