Normal
Directed by Ben WheatleyWelkom in Normal, Minnesota. Population: 1890. In dit afgelegen stadje wordt voormalig rechercheur Ulysses aangesteld als tijdelijke sheriff. Wat op het eerste gezicht een slapende gemeenschap lijkt, verandert in een broeinest van geheimen en geweld wanneer een bankoverval volledig uit de hand loopt. Al snel ontdekt Ulysses dat niets of niemand is wat het lijkt. Achter de vriendelijke façade van Normal schuilt een gevaarlijk web van corruptie en verborgen allianties waarin hij steeds dieper verstrikt raakt.
- Jacob O’Neal21 april 2026Bob Odenkirk seems to have a good working relationship with writer Derek Kolstad (John Wick, Atomic Blonde, Nobody). This time, trading in his Nobody persona for a character far less self assured. In this film he plays a career interim sheriff, floating from town to town, never rocking the boat, only staying for a few weeks at a time. The town of Normal, MN would have been just another assignment had it not been for a bank robbery that sets events in motion. This movie was fun. I don’t like it as much as Nobody, but maybe a little more than Nobody 2. I liked that you never quite knew what to expect from the film. I thought it was going to be a Wicker Man/Hot Fuzz kind of story, then it shifted. I thought it was going to be a Rio Bravo/Assault On Precinct 13 story and it shifts again. I did appreciate that about the movie. Overall, it was a fun light action movie with an actual hero and a redemption arc of sorts. That seems rare in storytelling these days, so take that for what it is.
- Hakihiko2 dgn geledenSimple, Watchable, and... Normal (experience) "Normal" is exactly what the title suggests. It is a film that plays everything safe, delivering a straightforward experience that never really stands out, but also never completely falls apart. The performances are good and committed, doing their best with material that does not give them much room to shine. There are moments where they manage to elevate certain scenes, but nothing that leaves a lasting impression. Visually, it is clean and functional. It supports the story without adding anything particularly memorable or distinctive to the overall experience. The script is where the film settles into its biggest limitation. It follows familiar beats without much variation, and while it remains coherent and easy to follow, it rarely surprises or engages on a deeper level. Because of that, the emotional impact is quite limited. It never really pulls you in, but it also never pushes you away. In the end, it is a decent and watchable film, but one that feels too safe and too ordinary to truly stand out.
- jackmeat7 dgn geledenMy quick rating - 6.3/10. Normal opens in the last place I expected a movie called Normal to begin. Osaka, Japan. Because apparently the best way to kick off a neo-Western thriller set in snowy Minnesota is with a Japanese version of “Paranoid,” a brutal loyalty test, and the kind of pinky-removal situation that makes you instinctively hide your own hand behind your back. Things escalate quickly too. Refuse the loyalty test? Off comes your head. Casual stuff. Before long, someone ships two very unlucky guys off to the tiny town of Normal, Minnesota, where things definitely do not plan to stay normal. Enter Bob Odenkirk as Ulysses. He's a substitute sheriff temporarily escaping some personal & professional baggage. If there is one thing Odenkirk does exceptionally well these days, it is playing exhausted men who look like they desperately need a nap. Yet still fully capable of ruining your day. Through amusing narration and some genuinely funny small-town interactions, Ulysses settles into Normal, meeting locals, including the Mayor, played by Henry Winkler. Whenever the Fonz, er...Winkler shows up in something, there is an immediate boost, even if the movie surrounding him is quietly threatening to spiral into complete chaos. The town itself feels oddly cozy at first. Snow-covered streets, quiet routines, everyone seemingly knowing each other. As someone who misses snowy weather, Normal absolutely scratches that itch with its chilly atmosphere. It looks cold enough that I practically wanted to throw on another blanket while watching. Then comes the bank robbery. Except in a tiny town like this, a robbery feels less like an inconvenience and more like the apocalypse arriving fifteen years early. Ulysses walks in, hoping to calm things down, and from there… yeah, I am deliberately keeping things vague because where Normal goes is far more entertaining if you discover it yourself. This is one of those films where every reveal lands better without spoilers, and trust me, some of them are gloriously weird. Director Ben Wheatley continues his tradition of making films that seem mildly offended if you expect comfort or straightforward answers. Normal is strange, unsettling, and intentionally awkward in all the right ways. The story doesn’t hold your hand, and honestly, it feels like Wheatley standing in the corner saying, “Figure it out, mate.” Somehow, that works here. The off-balance tone gives the movie personality, even if it occasionally leaves you blinking at the screen wondering if you accidentally missed ten minutes. There is also some solid action mixed throughout, including moments of accidental violence that caught me completely off guard and genuinely made me laugh. The movie balances tension and absurdity surprisingly well without tipping fully into parody. Inevitably, Normal will get compared to Odenkirk’s recent Nobody films, and I’d personally put it around the level of Nobody 2. Not quite reaching the heights of the first Nobody, but still a fun, violent ride with enough unpredictability to keep things interesting. Outside of Odenkirk, don’t get too attached to anybody either. This movie makes it very clear that survival is more of a suggestion than a guarantee. If you’re a fan of Odenkirk, strange action thrillers, or movies that enjoy keeping you slightly uncomfortable while occasionally making you laugh at accidental deaths, Normal will probably be worth checking out. Just don’t expect anything remotely…well, normal.
- r.m.j.v22 uur geledenI first knew Bob Odenkirk as Saul Goodman from Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, where he was already fantastic. But Nobody was the movie that truly showed me how versatile he is as an actor. You expect a clever lawyer and smooth talker, but instead you get a completely believable action lead. What makes it work so well is that he doesn't look or feel like a typical action hero. He feels like an ordinary guy with an extraordinary past. I actually watched this movie with my father because we were both huge fans of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. When I first saw Nobody, I immediately told him, "You have to watch this with me." His first reaction was, "Hey, that's Better Call Saul!" I just told him to wait and see. We were both blown away by how convincingly Odenkirk pulled off the role. The only downside for me was the runtime. Just when I was completely invested, the movie was already over. Honestly, that's probably the biggest compliment I can give it—I would have happily watched another hour of this story and these characters. One of the most surprising and enjoyable action movies I've seen in years.
Normal Trivia
Normal was released on 16 april 2026.
Normal was directed by Ben Wheatley.
Normal has a runtime of 1 u, 31 m.
Normal was produced by Bob Odenkirk, Marc Provissiero, Derek Kolstad.
Welkom in Normal, Minnesota. Population: 1890. In dit afgelegen stadje wordt voormalig rechercheur Ulysses aangesteld als tijdelijke sheriff. Wat op het eerste gezicht een slapende gemeenschap lijkt, verandert in een broeinest van geheimen en geweld wanneer een bankoverval volledig uit de hand loopt. Al snel ontdekt Ulysses dat niets of niemand is wat het lijkt. Achter de vriendelijke façade van Normal schuilt een gevaarlijk web van corruptie en verborgen allianties waarin hij steeds dieper verstrikt raakt.
The key characters in Normal are Ulysses Richardson (Bob Odenkirk), Mayor Kibner (Henry Winkler), Moira (Lena Headey).
Normal is rated 16.
Normal is an Action, Misdaad, Thriller film.
Normal has an audience rating of 7.6 out of 10.
Normal had a budget of US$ 10 mln..
Normal has made US$ 6 mln. at the box office.