Nobody (2021)

Movie · 2021 · Action, Thriller · 1h 31m · R · English

Curator score: 4.8/10 (1.1M ratings)

Never underestimate a nobody.

Overview

Hutch Mansell, a suburban dad, overlooked husband, nothing neighbor — a "nobody." When two thieves break into his home one night, Hutch's unknown long-simmering rage is ignited and propels him on a brutal path that will uncover dark secrets he fought to leave behind.

Ratings

Director

Ilya Naishuller

Production

87North Productions, OPE Partners, Eighty Two Films

Cast

Bob Odenkirk, Aleksey Serebryakov, Connie Nielsen, Christopher Lloyd, Michael Ironside, Colin Salmon, RZA, Billy MacLellan, Araya Mengesha, Gage Munroe, Paisley Cadorath, Aleksandr Pal, Humberly González, Edsson Morales, J.P. Manoux, Adrian McLean, Ilya Naishuller, Sergey Shnurov, Joanne Rodriguez, Stephanie Sy

Curator Review

Verdict

A brisk, nasty, and very funny suburban revenge thriller that works because it treats its bruised middle-aged lead like an underdog action hero without losing the joke. The plot is thin by design, but the staging, pace, and Bob Odenkirk’s deadpan intensity make it an easy recommendation for action fans who like their mayhem with a wink.

Best for

  • viewers who like revenge-action movies with a comedic edge
  • fans of tightly paced 90-minute genre rides
  • people who enjoy seeing an unlikely lead transform into an action star
  • audiences looking for stylish, hard-hitting fight choreography

Skip if

  • you want deep character psychology over pulp mechanics
  • you dislike extreme violence and body-count action
  • you prefer grounded realism to heightened genre fantasy
  • you’re tired of the 'ordinary family man has a secret past' setup

Overview

Nobody is a slick piece of revenge pulp that knows exactly what it is. It starts with the familiar suburban-dad humiliation setup, then steadily reveals that the movie is less interested in surprise than in escalation: bigger fights, meaner jokes, and increasingly absurd displays of competence from a man everyone has underestimated.

Worth noting

What makes it work is the casting and tone. Bob Odenkirk sells the premise by playing Hutch as worn down rather than invincible, which gives the violence a grimly comic snap. The movie also has a strong sense of rhythm, moving from domestic frustration to criminal underworld chaos with enough confidence that the thinness of the story becomes part of the pleasure.

Bottom line

It’s not especially deep, and it doesn’t pretend to be. But as a compact action movie with bruised humor, clean visual storytelling, and a satisfying revenge fantasy core, it lands well above average for the subgenre.

Top Letterboxd reviews

silkymovies (4★) · 17203 likes

In the middle of the movie my dad leaned over and whispered “this is my black panther”

Nakul (4★) · 8099 likes

"I’m not in danger Skyler, I’m the DANGER."‎ - W̶a̶l̶t̶e̶r̶ ̶W̶h̶i̶t̶e̶ ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎‎Saul Goodman

demi adejuyigbe · 4181 likes

A solid impotence thriller! (new categorization i'm workin on of action movies for guys whose whole thing is "if i beat up enough people my son will finally call me dad and my wife will fuck me again") Odenkirk is great here! I know we're all shocked that HE'S the star of an action movie, but– he's a handsome white guy! Every one gets at least one (1) action movie. Even if you're funny. Especially if you're funny! People love… more

alor (4.5★) · 4065 likes

if someone stole my daughter's kitty cat bracelet, i'd probably do the same thing

‮🐌‬ (3.5★) · 3998 likes

mitski fans be like holy shit

Recommended similar titles

Taken

2008 · Action, Thriller · 1h 34m · PG-13 · Curator 4.1/10 (1.2M ratings) · Where to watch: fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential

A lean revenge thriller built around a father’s lethal competence and a clean, propulsive escalation of violence.

The Equalizer

2014 · Thriller, Action, Crime · 2h 12m · R · Curator 3.8/10 (849.4K ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Philo, Amazon Prime Video with Ads

Shares the pleasure of a quiet, underestimated man revealing a terrifyingly efficient past.

A History of Violence

2005 · Drama, Thriller, Crime · 1h 36m · R · Curator 6.9/10 (549.3K ratings) · Where to watch: Max

A sharper, more serious take on the buried-identity premise, with real tension around family and violence.

Upgrade

2018 · Action, Thriller, Science Fiction · 1h 40m · R · Curator 6.1/10 (527.5K ratings) · Where to watch: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads

Combines brutal action, dark humor, and a protagonist who becomes unexpectedly dangerous.

Atomic Blonde

2017 · Action, Thriller · 1h 55m · R · Curator 3.7/10 (497.7K ratings) · Where to watch: Max

Stylish, bruising action with a cool, hard-edged tone and strong choreography.

Crank

2006 · Action, Thriller, Crime · 1h 28m · R · Curator 3.3/10 (425.4K ratings)

Hyperactive, absurd, and gleefully over-the-top in the same pulp spirit, though far more manic.

The Man from Nowhere

2010 · Action, Thriller, Crime · 1h 59m · R · Curator 8.1/10 (58.9K ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Peacock Premium, MUBI, Rakuten Viki, Hi-YAH, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Peacock Premium Plus

A grim, efficient revenge story with a lonely lead and escalating criminal punishment.

Shoot 'Em Up

2007 · Action, Thriller, Comedy · 1h 26m · R · Curator 2.5/10 (212.5K ratings)

A knowingly ridiculous action movie that commits fully to cartoonish violence and momentum.

The Accountant

2016 · Crime, Thriller, Drama · 2h 8m · R · Curator 3.3/10 (765.6K ratings)

Another reserved, underestimated lead whose hidden abilities turn a thriller into an action showcase.

The Nice Guys

2016 · Comedy, Crime, Action · 1h 56m · R · Curator 6.9/10 (1.5M ratings)

For viewers who like action with sharper comedy, odd-couple energy, and a playful genre tone.

Wrath of Man

2021 · Thriller, Crime, Drama · 1h 59m · R · Curator 3.0/10 (423K ratings)

A colder, more methodical revenge-crime film with hidden motives and a hard, mechanical edge.

Oldboy

2003 · Drama, Thriller, Mystery · 2h · R · Curator 9.4/10 (2.2M ratings)

For those drawn to revenge stories that become increasingly brutal, strange, and morally corrosive.

Topics

action thriller, revenge fantasy, dark comedy, suburban noir, ultraviolence, midlife crisis, crime underworld, stylized fight choreography, fast-paced, genre pulp

Open Nobody (2021) on Curator TV