Plot Essentials
Set in 1995 Sarajevo, a team of elite SEALs infiltrates war-torn territory under the guise of journalists to capture a notorious war criminal. Afterward, they discover vast gold ingots concealed in a submerged town. Motivated by honor, they act without orders to salvage the treasure and donate it to the starving people of Bosnia—sparking a race against time as militants and corrupt officials close in.
As the clock ticks, they mobilize gear, dive deep into frozen depths, and orchestrate a daring extraction while navigating political betrayal, military interference, and unavoidable conflict.
Cast & Characters
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Sullivan Stapleton leads as Matt Barnes, the determined SEAL commander
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J.K. Simmons portrays Admiral Levin—authoritative yet conflicted as the team defies protocol
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Charlie Bewley, Joshua Henry, Dimitri Leonidas, and others make up the squad, though their characters remain largely indistinct
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Sylvia Hoeks plays a Bosnian woman whose tainted heritage links her to the buried treasure
Action, Style & Tone
The film is built around high-concept action: underwater dive sequences, tactical heists, and explosive set pieces like a tank chase through Sarajevo. While the underwater work—filmed in large water tanks—receives praise for its technical ambition, much of the land-based action suffers under CGI and cliché-laden staging.
Dialogue leans heavily on macho one-liners and cliched moral appeals, with notable thematic conflict around loyalty versus duty. The tone shifts inconsistently between action-thriller and sentimental wartime redemption narrative.
Reception & Critical Response
Critics generally found the movie underwhelming:
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The plot is viewed as formulaic and predictable, with few surprises.
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Action sequences, especially above water, were deemed generic and reliant on visual effects.
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The script was flagged for lacking nuance, relying on caricatured dialogue and overused trope setups.
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Cultural and historical inaccuracies—particularly about the Bosnian context—were widely noted.
However, some viewers praised:
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The impressive underwater cinematography and production design
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Energetic pacing during heist and dive scenes
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Strong, grounded presence from J.K. Simmons in a supporting role
Despite this, the film failed at the box office—grossing under $3 million worldwide against a large production budget.
Final Thoughts
Renegades aims to blend wartime drama and heist adventure but stumbles under weak character work and narrative flimsiness. When it works, it’s an entertaining albeit shallow actioner. When it doesn’t, the tone and logic collapse. While the premise holds promise, the execution disappoints.
Recommended for fans of amphibious action scenes or military heist attempts, but not for those seeking emotional depth or coherent political context.
