Kevin Hart’s ‘Lift’: What to Expect

Kevin Hart leads a diverse cast in the action heist comedy film Lift which is directed by F. Gary Gray, a name associated with popular heist films. And this time, the filmmaker sets the story in midair. Lift follows a heist crew who plan to steal $100 million worth of gold on a passenger flight, while airborne. The heist action comedy comes as a part of Hart and Netflix’s multi-year agreement, along with a first-look film deal, wherein the actor-comedian will feature in various upcoming projects from the streamer as well as produce and star in projects under his HartBeat Productions banner. Signed off in 2021, the deal has turned out to be quite fruitful so far with Hart and Netflix’s relationship bringing fans projects like Fatherhood, Man from Toronto, Me Time, and True Story.

Coming back to Lift, there seems to be a considerable delay in the film’s release, since its announcement in 2021, which will now happen early next year. But when it arrives, it’s sure going to be a turbulent ride and will lift you off your seats with all the thrill and excitement like most other F. Gary Gray films. Even if you have to wait a little longer for the film, you can use that time to find the release date, plot, cast, characters, and everything we know so far about Lift by reading the guide below.

Editor’s Note: This piece was updated on November 7, 2023.

When Does ‘Lift’ Come Out?

Lift was initially set to release in August 2023, but as per recent announcements, the movie will now premiere on January 12, 2024, making it one of Netflix’s first tentpole films to release in the New Year.

Where Can You Watch ‘Lift’?

Since Lift is a Netflix production, the only way you’ll be able to watch the film is through the streaming service. However, there is still a possibility that Lift will receive a limited theatrical release in Netflix’s newly reopened Egyptian Theater, especially since the film likely carries a hefty budget.

Is There a Trailer for ‘Lift’?

The first official trailer for Lift was released by Netflix on November 5, 2023. The trailer gives viewers a sneak peek at the film’s quip-filled script, the heist crew’s dynamic, and the daring heist that Cyrus and his crew are attempting to pull off.

Netflix released an image as promotional material when the filming began, as well as a very quick look at the film added to Netflix’s 2023 calendar preview, released later. In the clip, although we barely get a look at the cast or plot, we do get to catch a quick glimpse at the exotic European locales used in the film. The image, on the other hand, introduces most of the cast members in a warehouse-type setting with open luggage and a drawing board in the background, and it seems like this is where the crew has gathered to plan the heist

What Is ‘Lift’ About?

Lift looks to be in the same vein as some of F. Gary Gray’s other heist films like The Italian Job and will follow a master thief who is recruited by his ex-girlfriend, an FBI agent, to pull off a seemingly impossible heist on an airplane flying from London to Zurich.

The official synopsis from Netflix reads:

An international heist crew, led by Cyrus Whitaker (Kevin Hart), race to lift $500 million in gold from a passenger plane at 40,000 feet.

Who Stars in ‘Lift’?

As we mentioned earlier, Lift is going to be a star-studded action flick led by Kevin Hart as Cyrus Whitaker, the leader of the heist crew. Lift seems to be right up the actor/comedian’s alley, having starred in numerous action-comedies including the Ride Along movies, Central Intelligence, the Jumanji sequels, and The Man From Toronto. Hart remains one of the busiest movie-stars in Hollywood and is next set to star in the video-game movie Borderlands alongside an all-star cast that includes Cate Blanchett, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Jack Black.

The all-star cast also includes Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Loki) as Abby Gladwell, Vincent D’Onofrio (Daredevil) as Denton, Billy Magnussen (Game Night) as Magnus, K-pop star Yun Jee Kim as Mi-Su, Úrsula Corberó (Money Heist) as Camila, Jacob Batalon (Spider-Man: No Way Home) as N8, Sam Worthington (Avatar: The Way of Water) as Dennis Huxley, and Jean Reno (Da 5 Bloods) as Lars Jordensen. Viveik Kalra (Blinded by the Light), Burn Gorman (Halo), and Paul Anderson (Peaky Blinders) also star in undisclosed roles.

Who Is Making ‘Lift’?

Critically acclaimed filmmaker and music video director, F. Gary Gray helms the project as the director. From The Italian Job and Be Cool, to Law Abiding Citizen and The Negotiator, Gray has a repertoire of some of the most fun and exciting heist and action films of the early 2000s. He also directed the Academy Award-nominated N.W.A biopic, Straight Outta Compton, followed by the eighth installment of the Fast & Furious franchise, The Fate of the Furious, which became the 23rd-highest-grossing film of all time. With Gray’s name attached to this Netflix film, we can expect epic action sequences, interesting plot twists, dark comedic relief, and not to mention, characters that cannot be classified as just good or bad.

The screenplay for the Netflix original is written by Daniel Kunka, who had earlier scripted the 2009 film 12 Rounds featuring John Cena, Ashley Scott, and Aidan Gillen. Lift also has several prominent names listed as producers, with Hart and Brian Smiley serving under their HartBeat Productions banner, Simon Kinberg and Audrey Chon under Genre Pictures, Matt Reeves of 2022 Batman fame and Adam Kassan under their 6th & Idaho banner, with Brent O’Connor as executive producer. Bernhard Jasper, who previously did the cinematography for Army of Thieves, serves as the director of photography and will treat you to the gorgeous settings of the film, as seen in the images.

When and Where Was ‘Lift’ Filmed?

The production for Lift began in February 2022 and continued through May 2022, with filming taking place across various locations in Italy and Northern Ireland.