Netflix’s heist film, Lift, is driven by its talented cast members, who do an incredible job at portraying their respective characters. Directed by F. Gary Gray, known for helming films like Friday and The Fate of the Furious, Lift unfolds as a typical heist film that walks through the high takes and meticulous plans of a group of skilled individuals who take up a nearly impossible mission. From a diverse group of characters to intricate security systems and hacks, from hi-fi technology to twists and turns, the movie has all the ingredients of a compelling heist drama.
With its runtime of an hour and forty-four minutes, the Kevin Hart movie does not waste its time and jumps straight into the action by delivering a taut storyline. While its well-timed twists and overarching heist plan alone are gripping enough to keep viewers hooked, its action and drama are further elevated by the performance of its cast members. This makes it hard not to wonder which character is portrayed by whom in the film.
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Kevin Hart as Cyrus Whitaker
In Netflix’s Lift, Cyrus is portrayed by Kevin Hart, who is best known for his leading roles in movies like Central Intelligence, Ride Along, The Man from Toronto, and Jumanji. However, long before he became one of the leading men in so many films, he started his career as an artist by winning several stand-up comedy competitions. He made his breakthrough by landing a recurring role in the TV series Undeclared and later went on to star in several comedy movies like Scary Movie 3, Soul Plane, Superhero Movie, and The 40-Year-Old Virgin. Hart is also set to star in the videogame adaptation Borderlands and will also reprise his role as Ben Barber in Ride Along 3.
Kevin Hart plays the main character, Cyrus Whitaker, in Netflix’s Lift, who leads an international heist crew. Although Cyrus steals art and rakes in huge sums of money from his heist endeavors, he ensures that the original artist of the art he steals always gets paid in dividends. This makes him somewhat of a Robin Hood-esque figure in the world of art. However, his central mission in Lift does not involve stealing art. Instead, he is given the responsibility of nicking $500 million in gold from a passenger plane as it flies from London to Zurich. Although the mission seems impossible, Cyrus ingeniously finds a way to make it happen.
Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Abby Gladwell
Gugu Mbatha-Raw convincingly portrays Abby Gladwell in Netflix’s Lift. Born in Oxford, United Kingdom, she started her acting career with small roles in shows like Bad Girls. However, she now has over 50 credits in her acting portfolio and is mostly recognizable for playing roles in movies like Concussion, Beauty and the Beast, Belle, Motherless Brooklyn, The Cloverfield Paradox, and Summerland. She has also starred in several renowned TV shows, such as Loki, Black Mirror, and Doctor Who.
Abby Gladwell is a clever Interpol agent in Lift, who also happens to be Cyrus’ ex-flame. Although she initially tracks Cyrus and tries to stop him from abducting an artist, she later gets involved in Cyrus’ mission to steal gold from the passenger flight. Because of her history with Cyrus, things often get awkward between the two. However, the more time they spend together during the mission, the more they get to reconsider their feelings for one another. Abby is initially apprehensive about joining forces with Cyrus and his team but later becomes one of the leading forces in their heist mission.
Vincent D’Onofrio as Denton
Before Lift, Vincent D’Onofrio starred in several big-budget films, but he is best known for portraying Edgar in Men in Black, Pvt. Pyle in Full Metal Jacket, Carl Stargher in The Cell, and Vic Hoskins in Jurassic World. Many would also know from his recent appearances as Kingpin in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Echo, Hawkeye, and Daredevil. Long before Vincent D’Onofrio garnered fame for his diverse roles in Hollywood, he embraced a career in theater and was even a part of a Broadway play titled Open Admissions.
Vincent D’Onofrio’s character, Denton, in Lift, is a master of disguise who has accompanied Cyrus on several missions in the past. In the gold-stealing mission, Denton adopts his usual role and uses his disguise mastery to distract the cabin crew from the aircraft they have to steal from. In the film’s opening arc, he also becomes the key for Abby to finding Cyrus’ whereabouts.
Sam Worthington as Dennis Huxley
Born in Godalming, Surrey, UK, Sam Worthington started his acting career with the Aussie dance film Bootmen. He garnered acclaim and recognition for playing a major role in 2004’s Somersault and became a household name in 2009 when he starred as Jake Sully in James Cameron’s Avatar. Apart from the James Cameron franchise, Worthington has also played roles in other widely known films like Terminator Salvation, Clash of the Titans, and Hacksaw Ridge. He will also be reprising his role as Jake Sully in the future installments of James Cameron’s Avatar films.
Lift introduces Sam Worthington’s character as Dennis Huxley, Abby’s boss at Interpol. It is his idea to hire Cyrus to steal the $500 million in gold. He uses his authority over Abby to make her convince Cyrus to take the mission. Although Huxley initially seems well-intended, the movie eventually reveals that there is more to him than meets the eye.
Lift Supporting Cast & Characters
Ursula Corbero as Camila: In Lift‘s central mission, Ursula Corbero’s Camila flies a private jet and serves as the gateway driver for the team. The actress has previously appeared in movies like Snake Eyes and Afterparty but is best known for playing Ines Santiago in the Snatch TV series and Tokio in Money Heist.
Jacob Batalon as N8: Jacob Batalon’s N8 is an artist who only appears in Lift‘s opening arc. The actor is most recognizable for playing Peter Parker’s best friend, Ned Leeds, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Spider-Man movies and Avengers: Infinity War.
Billy Magnussen as Magnus: Magnus is the safecraker in Cyrus’ team in Lift. Billy Magnussen, of No Time to Die, The Big Short, and Spy Kids: Armegaddon fame, portrays him.
Viveik Kalra as Luke: In the central heist team in Lift, Luke is the engineer on board. He is played by Viveik Kumar whose acting credits include films like Voyagers, Blinded by the Light, and Three Months.
Yun Jee Kim as Mi-Sun: Lift introduces Mi-Sun as the electronics expert on Cyrus’ team who helps them prepare all the necessary gadgets they need for their missions. Yun Jee Kim has an active career as both a singer and an actor. Also known by her stage name, NS Yoon-G, she has acted in movies and TV shows like Mine, Roduekil, and Welcome to the Guest House.
Jean Reno as Lars Jorgensen: Lars is the primary antagonist in Lift, and Cyrus’ mission of stealing gold somehow links him to him. Jean Reno, who has previously worked with Kevin Hart in Die Hart and has also starred in movies like The Pink Panther and Ronin, plays Lars in Lift.
Born Gorman as Cormac: Burn Gorman, known for playing diverse roles in Enola Holmes, Game of Thrones, and The Dark Knight Rises, appears as Cormac in Lift, who is one of Lars’ henchmen.
Paul Anderson as Donal: Best known for portraying Arthur Shelby in Peaky Blinders, Paul Anderson plays Donal in Lift, who is another one of Lars’ men.
Lift
From F. Gary Gray, the director of Friday and The Italian Job comes Lift – an action-heist movie starring Kevin Hart and Gugu Mbatha-Raw. In the film, an international crew with several heists under their belts is recruited to stop a terrorist attack from happening. To do that, the team will have to conduct a high-stakes heist on a plane mid-flight.
- Release Date
- January 12, 2024
- Director
- F. Gary Gray
- Cast
- Kevin Hart , Gugu Mbatha-Raw , Sam Worthington , Vincent D’Onofrio , Úrsula Corberó , Billy Magnussen , Jacob Batalon , Jean Reno
- Rating
- Not Yet Rated
- Main Genre
- Action
- Genres
- Action , Crime , Drama
- Writers
- Daniel Kunka , Emerald Fennell , Simon Kinberg
- Cinematographer
- Bernhard Jasper
- Producer
- Audrey Chon, Kevin Hart, Adam Kassan, Simon Kinberg, Matt Reeves, Bryan Smiley
- Production Company
- 6th & Idaho Productions, Genre Pictures, Hartbeat Productions
- Sfx Supervisor
- Tez Palmer
