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The Suicide Squad

The Suicide Squad

They’re dying to save the world.

2021132 minRMidcredits score: 86th percentile of all films
Director
James Gunn
Starring
Margot Robbie, Idris Elba, John Cena, Joel Kinnaman

Supervillains Harley Quinn, Bloodsport, Peacemaker and a collection of nutty cons at Belle Reve prison join the super-secret, super-shady Task Force X as they are dropped off at the remote, enemy-infused island of Corto Maltese.

Where to watch

Where can I watch The Suicide Squad?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists The Suicide Squad streaming on HBO Max and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

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Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about The Suicide Squad?

The Suicide Squad earns 12 badges, led by Top 10% in Action and Spectacle.

Show 4 more
  • Rank
  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office
  • Content
  • Cast

Reception

Is The Suicide Squad worth watching?

The Suicide Squad's Midcredits score is the 86th percentile of all films, from 2.1M ratings across 6 sources. 73% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

86th percentile

Better received than 86% of films

92nd percentile among Action86th percentile among 2020s
Acclaim (how much people like it)86th
Approval (how many liked it)82nd

73 /100

86th percentile of all films

94th percentile among Action85th percentile among 2020s

Critics 72 · Audience 73

Critics and audiences broadly agree.

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 7.2 — solid but not unanimous.

73% liked it

82nd percentile of all films

88th percentile among Action83rd percentile among 2020s
73% rated it 7–1027% rated it 1–6

Critics 90% · Audience 82%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of critics approved than audiences.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 3 wins / 43 noms overall

96th percentile

2.1M ratings across platforms

92nd percentile among Action97th percentile among 2020s
TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 17% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$185M
Opening weekend$26M
Domestic gross$56M
Worldwide gross$169M

Returned 0.9× its budget — 90th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

The Suicide Squad is a visually inventive, R-rated superhero spectacle with Gunn's signature humor, though it prioritizes style and set pieces over narrative depth and structure.

Fans praised

  • James Gunn's confident direction blends comedy, action, and character work into a cohesive, entertaining whole
  • R-rated freedom allows for gory, inventive action and dark humor that lands
  • Characters like Ratcatcher 2 and Polka-Dot Man are surprisingly memorable and endearing

Detractors panned

  • Thin backstories and shallow character development undermine emotional investment
  • Story feels derivative and suffers from convoluted structure with unnecessary flashbacks
  • Humor often undercuts tension rather than enhancing it, and tonal shifts feel jarring

What stands out

Effects and spectacle80

Outstanding VFX, gory action set pieces, and long takes

ActingDivisive75

Cast praised as superb, especially Idris Elba and Margot Robbie; detractors note wasted potential

HumorDivisive75

Dark comedy lands for fans; detractors say it undercuts tension

CharactersDivisive70

Surprisingly likable and memorable, but backstories are thin and emotional connection limited

Dialogue70

Sharp, witty Gunn dialogue with dark humor, though some jokes miss

OriginalityDivisive65

A breath of fresh air for superhero genre, but derivative of Gunn's own style

Plot and storyDivisive55

Basic, predictable story with twists; felt derivative and convoluted at times

Pacing50

Thrilling opening and energetic moments, but weighed down by flashbacks and structure

Preferred by

Women vs men

Preferred by Men

Men scored it 23 points higher than women.

Under-30s vs over-30s

Preferred by Under-30s

Under-30s scored it 10 points higher than over-30s.

Critics vs users

Preferred by Critics

Critics scored it 17 points higher than users.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • US vs non-US 1 point apart

Watch experience

What is The Suicide Squad like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Fun ride: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you want a fun ride.

It is intense and funny, never lets up and leaves you entertained.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Nothing out of the ordinary.

What it feels like

Fun ride.

The answer rests on this: Moods
ThrillingAbsurdTense
Heaviest: middle
Dark humor
Register
Irreverent · 1% of filmsSardonic · 1% of films: Mocking with a bitter edge.
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film presents its over-the-top violence and dark humour with a knowing, irreverent attitude, undermining dramatic moments for comedic effect.
The rideSustained tension from mission and combat, punctuated by absurdist humor; a chaotic, high-energy ride.
StructureThe story unfolds in a straightforward chronological sequence from the mission's start to its conclusion.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Entertained.

The answer rests on this: FunRousing · 10% of films
Why it leaves you this wayThe film's chaotic, irreverent ride leaves the audience grinning and exhilarated.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).QuestMission
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10% (this title): Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% (this title) · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Quest: A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles. · Mission: Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).

10% of films fit this archetype

with Overcoming the monster underneath

Why this archetypeThe film follows a team of convicts sent on a mission to destroy a secret laboratory on a hostile island; they must work together despite dysfunction and ultimately confront a giant alien monster.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfLoyaltyBonds
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27% (this title): Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4% (this title)
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% (this title) · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5% (this title)
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Bonds

Loyalty · 4% of filmsCorruption · 3% of filmsFreedom · 5% of films
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Global stakes: Consequences reach the world.Ensemble lead
How it treats its themeThe narrative centers on loyalty among the squad members as they defy Waller's orders, while exposing government corruption and seeking freedom from control.
StanceThe film questions notions of heroism, redemption, and government overreach through a chaotic ensemble of antiheroes.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanWildernessInstitutionalStylized realism
Orchestral modernPopRockForeground music · hybrid · John Murphy
SettingCorto Maltese, a fictional South American island nation in political upheaval
MusicEclectic soundtrack blends bombastic score with needle-drops that underscore the film's anarchic energy.

Content guide

Is The Suicide Squad okay for kids?

R

The Suicide Squad is rated R: “Rated R for strong violence and gore, language throughout, some sexual references, drug use and brief graphic nudity” (MPAA). As of October 18, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at severe (95/100), sexual content at moderate (59/100), language at severe (89/100), drug and alcohol content at moderate (56/100) and frightening material at severe (80/100). Overall it is heavier than 93% of R-rated films.

Ratings in 41 other countries
  • UK15
  • Canada18A
  • AustraliaR 18+
  • Germany16
  • FranceTP
  • Ireland16
  • New ZealandR16
  • JapanR15+
  • South Korea19
  • Brazil18
  • Argentina+16
  • Belgium16
  • Czechia18+
  • Denmark15
  • FinlandK-16
  • GreeceK15
  • Hong KongIII
  • Hungary18
  • ID21+
  • IndiaA
  • Israel16
  • ItalyT
  • LTN-16
  • LV16+
  • MexicoC
  • MOD
  • Netherlands16
  • PhilippinesR-16
  • Poland18
  • PortugalM/16
  • RO15
  • Russia18+
  • SingaporeM18
  • SK15
  • South Africa16
  • Spain16
  • Sweden15
  • Switzerland16
  • Taiwan15+
  • Türkiye18+
  • UA18+
Overall
Intense · all five categories
Heavier than 96% of all filmsHeavier than 93% of R-rated films
Violence & Gore
Severe
heavy for an R-rated film
heavier than 96%
Sex & Nudity
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 73%
Profanity
Severe
heavy for an R-rated film
heavier than 89%
Alcohol & Drugs
Moderate
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 70%
Frightening / Intense
Severe
heavy for an R-rated film
heavier than 78%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

The reason to think twice is violence, language, and frightening material. Everything else sits at or below what R-rated films usually carry.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does The Suicide Squad have?

MovieCove's classifier found 7 depicted content warnings in The Suicide Squad: Animal cruelty (severe), Animal death (severe), Gore or body horror (severe), Gun violence (severe), Torture (moderate), plus 2 withheld here because they would spoil the plot. Each is backed by a verbatim quote from the parents' guide notes; a missing warning is not a guarantee of absence.

SevereAnimal crueltyAnimal deathGore or body horrorGun violence
ModerateTorture

Cast and crew

Who is in The Suicide Squad?

Cast

7 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Margot Robbie
as Harley Quinn
Career best: Their highest-reaching film role by billing, audience size and rating.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Idris Elba
as Bloodsport
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
John Cena
as Peacemaker
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.
Joel Kinnaman
as Colonel Rick Flag
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.
Sylvester Stallone
as King Shark
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Viola Davis
as Amanda Waller
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.
David Dastmalchian
as Polka-Dot Man
Daniela Melchior
as Ratcatcher 2
First film: No prior film role; they had worked in television.
Michael Rooker
as Savant
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.
Jai Courtney
as Captain Boomerang

Crew

More like this

What are movies like The Suicide Squad?

Movies like The Suicide Squad include Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), Suicide Squad (2016) and Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2 (2017). Of the 12 closest matches, several are films by James Gunn, and most are action comedies.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

11 of these 12 share its world: superhero. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with The Suicide Squad?

162 other films share the rarest tag below, follows: mercenary. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.