Introduction to Netflix's Lift
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 stakes 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.
Lift Netflix 2024 Cast
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.
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 as Cyrus in Netflix's Lift
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.
Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Abby Gladwell in Netflix's Lift_
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 as Denton in Netflix's Lift
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.