Anthropoid (2016) May 2026

Unlike many Hollywood war movies, Anthropoid emphasizes the fear and humanity of its leads. Jan Kubiš is depicted as struggling with realistic terror, while Josef Gabčík remains steadfast but grimly aware of their likely fate. Critical Reception

Filmed on location in Prague, the movie is noted for its period-accurate costumes and environments. Director Sean Ellis utilized a "shaky-cam" aesthetic and a muted, sepia-toned palette to evoke a sense of gritty realism and constant dread. Anthropoid (2016)

The film follows two exiled Czechoslovak soldiers, (Cillian Murphy) and Jan Kubiš (Jamie Dornan), who are parachuted into their Nazi-occupied homeland in December 1941. With minimal intelligence and the help of a dwindling local resistance, they must plan and execute the assassination of Heydrich in the heart of Prague. The story is divided into three distinct phases: Unlike many Hollywood war movies, Anthropoid emphasizes the

Some outlets, like Variety and Rolling Stone , found the first half "stiff" or "dull," and criticized the use of English with "cod-Czech" accents rather than original language with subtitles. Director Sean Ellis utilized a "shaky-cam" aesthetic and

Critics were somewhat divided on the film's pacing, though most praised its final act:

An intense final sequence depicting the horrific Nazi reprisals and the paratroopers' legendary last stand at the Sts. Cyril and Methodius Cathedral . Themes and Style

A tense and slow-burning first act focused on the paranoia and technical difficulties of living as secret operatives in a city under brutal occupation.