Lift
Performance & Direction: Lift Review
Last updated: February 15, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is Lift (2024) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE with a verified audience rating of 6.4/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Action.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Action is often anchored by its ensemble, and Lift features a noteworthy lineup led by Kevin Hart . Supported by the likes of Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Sam Worthington , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
Story & Plot Summary: Lift
Quick Plot Summary: Released in 2024, Lift is a Action, Comedy, Crime film directed by F. Gary Gray. The narrative delivers highly intense sequences and pulse-pounding confrontations that keep viewers on the edge of their seats. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict involving Kevin Hart.
Story Breakdown
In this high-octane feature, F. Gary Gray establishes a narrative structure that follows a classic action blueprint: establishing the protagonist's world, introducing a formidable antagonist, and escalating the stakes. An international heist crew, led by Cyrus Whitaker, race to lift $500 million in gold from a passenger plane at 40,000 feet. The film balances spectacular set pieces with character moments for Kevin Hart, ensuring the action serves the story rather than overwhelming it.
Narrative Structure
- Opening Hook: The title opens with an explosive sequence that immediately establishes the stakes and introduces our protagonist in action.
- Character Arc: The main character shows growth throughout the story, though some supporting characters could have been more fully realized. Kevin Hart's arc is present but occasionally predictable.
- Climax & Resolution: The final confrontation delivers on the buildup, with stakes at their highest and the protagonist using everything they've learned.
Ending Explained: Lift
Ending Breakdown: Directed by F. Gary Gray, Lift concludes its story with a mix of closure and open interpretation. The finale presents its approach to action resolution.
The climactic sequence delivers on the escalating tension involving Kevin Hart, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the action themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of Lift reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Lift Real vs. Reel: Is it Based on a True Story?
Lift incorporates elements from real criminal cases. As a action, comedy, crime film directed by F. Gary Gray, it navigates the space between factual accuracy and narrative engagement for Kevin Hart's character.
Historical Context
The film takes creative liberties to enhance dramatic impact. Core events maintain connection to source material while adapting for theatrical presentation.
Creative interpretation shapes the final narrative, focusing on emotional truth over strict chronology.
Accuracy Assessment: Lift adapts its source material for dramatic purposes. The film prioritizes thematic resonance over documentary precision.
Who Should Watch Lift?
Worth Watching If You:
- Enjoy Action films and don't mind familiar tropes
- Are a fan of Kevin Hart or the director
- Want an adrenaline rush without demanding perfection
Top Cast: Lift
All Cast & Crew →
Where to Watch Lift Online?
Streaming Hub📺 Stream on
NetflixLift Parents Guide & Age Rating
2024 AdvisoryWondering about Lift age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of Lift is 107 minutes (1h 47m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 6.4/10, and global performance metrics, Lift is classified as a ABOVE AVERAGE. It remains an essential part of the 2024 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lift worth watching?
Lift is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Action movies. It has a verified rating of 6.4/10 and stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE in our box office analysis.
Where can I find Lift parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for Lift identifies it as PG-13. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of Lift?
The total duration of Lift is 107 minutes, which is approximately 1h 47m long.
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How Lift Compares & Where it Ranks
Critic Reviews for Lift
Worse than Soul Plane. 0 stakes legal heist with a bunch of dumb bullshit. "What about if we take the big thing and break it into smaller parts?" "Woooow! Good idea!" "Yay. We can heist!" Less homophobia than Soul Plane so in that sense Tyler's growing. Still it manages to suck balls.
Almost all the aviation stuff was bullshit. I was going to put a list together of things that were wrong, but the list would be way too long. They had 10 tons of gold in a plane with 150 passengers? I think that's too much weight. They had panels "stuck" to their plane to make it stealthy? I think not. What did they use to attach them? What kind of material? One guy gets sucked out of the plane, with several others in the same compartment. They would be gone, too. And I don't think their airplane was real in any way. And, much, much, more. But the story was interesting and the acting was pretty good. I would have given it a thumbs down, but the good guys won, so I couldn't do that.
74/100 A master thief and his crew is hired by Interpol to steal $500mil in gold bars. Both my wife and I are suckers for heist films and this one was a lot of fun. Completely unrealistic in practically everything they did, the action was still gloriously crazy, totally chaotic and exciting. And the segments in between were filled with likable characters and witty dialog that kept us smiling. I'm not normally a fan of Kevin Hart but he was excellent here as was everyone else ...except Sam Worthington. Once again, he felt miscast. Overall, effectively entertaining escapist entertainment. -- DrNostromo.com
movieMx Verified
This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
