Skip to content
MovieCove
Leverage

Leverage

The art of the con

2008–2012Ended5 seasons77 episodes~42 min/epTV-PGMidcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

A five-person team comprised of a thief, a grifter, a hacker, and a retrieval specialist, led by former insurance investigator Nathan Ford, use their skills to fight corporate and governmental injustices inflicted on ordinary citizens.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch Leverage?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Leverage streaming on Pluto TV (free) and Prime Video and to rent or buy on Prime Video.

Subscription

Free

Rent / Buy

Buy

Highlights

What stands out about Leverage?

Leverage earns 7 badges, led by Universally Loved and Preferred by Users.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Cast

Reception

Is Leverage worth watching?

Leverage's Midcredits score is the 87th percentile of all shows, from 58K ratings across 2 sources. 88% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

87th percentile

Better received than 87% of shows

87th percentile among Crime82nd percentile among 2000s
Acclaim (how much people like it)81st
Approval (how many liked it)89th

Acclaim

Universally Loved: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

78 /100

81st percentile of all shows

85th percentile among Crime76th percentile among 2000s

Rating distribution

Ratings pile up at 9–10 with almost no detractors — near-universal love.

Approval

How many liked it

88% liked it

89th percentile of all shows

86th percentile among Crime86th percentile among 2000s
88% rated it 7–1012% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

96th percentile

58K ratings across platforms

94th percentile among Crime94th percentile among 2000s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 2% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

A slick, light-hearted heist-of-the-week show about a team of former criminals helping the little guy by conning corporate villains.

Fans praised

  • Excellent cast chemistry and rapport among the team of misfits
  • Witty, fast-paced scripting with clever cons and plot twists
  • Light-hearted, feel-good tone — a fun, escapist caper show

Detractors panned

  • Plot holes, unrealistic hacking and fight scenes stretch believability
  • Formulaic repetitive structure — same con every episode
  • Shallow character depth, especially compared to UK's Hustle

What stands out

ActingDivisive75

Cast chemistry praised; some find Hutton's acting mannered and Kane's role stiff

CharactersDivisive73

Lovable quirky archetypes with decent arcs; detractors call them thin and clichéd

DialogueDivisive72

Snappy, witty banter; detractors find it forgettable or cringe-inducing

PacingDivisive70

Fast-moving and engaging; some find the formulaic rhythm dull

HumorDivisive68

Frequent witty one-liners and situational comedy; detractors call it forced

Plot and storyDivisive60

Clever cons with twists but riddled with holes and formulaic repetition

Emotional impactDivisive60

Occasional poignant backstory moments; detractors find sentiment forced

OriginalityDivisive35

Derivative of Hustle, Ocean's 11, A-Team; fans see it as a fresh mix

Preferred by

Women vs men

Preferred by Women

Women scored it 12 points higher than men.

Under-30s vs over-30s

Preferred by Under-30s

Under-30s scored it 11 points higher than over-30s.

Critics vs users

Preferred by Users

Users scored it 30 points higher than critics.

US vs non-US

Preferred by US Viewers

US viewers scored it 16 points higher than non-US viewers.

Episodes

5 seasons

Season 5 · 2012 · 15 episodes

  • S5E1

    The (Very) Big Bird Job

    Jul 15, 201240 min
  • S5E2

    The Blue Line Job

    Jul 22, 201240 min
  • S5E3

    The First Contact Job

    Aug 5, 201240 min
  • S5E4

    The French Connection Job

    Aug 12, 201240 min
  • S5E5

    The Gimme a K Street Job

    Aug 19, 201240 min
  • S5E6

    The D. B. Cooper Job

    Aug 26, 201240 min

Watch experience

What is Leverage like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, light and charged — an even-paced watch that leaves you feeling good.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
ThrillingJoyfulWarm
Heaviest: late
Wry humor: Amused and slightly dry about it.
Register
PlayfulWarm
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.Case of the week plus an arcOne continuous story
ToneThe show is played straight with a light-hearted, fun tone; it takes its heist adventures seriously but never descends into grimness.
The rideThe series is predominantly a fun, thrilling ride with warm found-family moments; the emotional weight increases in later seasons as personal stakes and character arcs culminate.
StructureThe typical episode follows a conventional three-act structure: setup, execution, and resolution.
Episode formatEach episode focuses on a heist against a corrupt mark (case of the week), but ongoing season arcs involving Nate's past, Sophie's anonymity, and the team's personal histories provide serialized continuity.
Season formatEach season continues the same core team and overarching storyline, though each season introduces new personal arcs for the characters that build from the previous seasons.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
Feel-goodFun
Why it leaves you this wayThe show leaves you entertained and satisfied, with a sense that justice has been served in a fun, stylish way.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).Monster
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18% (this title): Predator 7% · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% (this title) · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12%: Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40%

Overcoming the monster: A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated. · Corporate villainy: A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).

18% of shows fit this archetype

Why this archetypeEach episode follows a typical heist structure where the team uses cons to take down a corrupt corporate villain, fitting the overcoming_the_monster archetype with corporate_villainy subtype.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelfJusticeMorality
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31%: Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% (this title) · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27%: Identity 20% · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11% (this title): Justice 14% (this title) · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% (this title) · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10%: Community 25% · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Morality

Justice · 14% of showsFamily bondsRedemption · 3% of shows: Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Societal stakes: Consequences reach a whole social order.Ensemble lead
How it treats its themeThe series is about using unlawful means to achieve a moral end—righting wrongs the system won't touch—while also exploring the makeshift family the team builds and each member's personal redemption.
StanceThe show celebrates the idea of justice served outside the system, with the team acting as empowered agents of fairness; it is fundamentally optimistic about taking on corrupt institutions.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanInstitutionalRealistic
Orchestral modernElectronicSupportive music · original score · Joseph LoDuca
SettingA globe-trotting heist series primarily set in the United States, moving through corporate offices, mansions, art galleries, and back alleys.
MusicThe score blends a bluesy, electric guitar-driven main theme with orchestral and electronic elements that underscore the heist energy and emotional beats.

Content guide

Is Leverage okay for kids?

TV-PG

Leverage is rated TV-PG. As of October 3, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at moderate (39/100), sexual content at mild (23/100), language at moderate (35/100), drug and alcohol content at moderate (37/100) and frightening material at moderate (38/100). Overall it is heavier than 52% of TV-PG shows.

Ratings in 15 other countries
  • UK12
  • Canada14+
  • AustraliaM
  • Germany12
  • France12
  • Brazil10
  • Austria16
  • LTN-7
  • MexicoB
  • PhilippinesPG
  • PortugalNR
  • RO12
  • Russia16+
  • Spain7
  • Türkiye13+
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
Heavier than 20% of all showsHeavier than 52% of TV-PG shows
Violence & Gore
Moderate
typical for a TV-PG show
heavier than 57%
Sex & Nudity
Mild · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a TV-PG show
heavier than 33%
Profanity
Moderate
typical for a TV-PG show
heavier than 67%
Alcohol & Drugs
Moderate
typical for a TV-PG show
heavier than 73%
Frightening / Intense
Moderate
typical for a TV-PG show
heavier than 53%

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

Nothing here is extreme. The strongest element is violence, heavier than 57% of TV-PG shows.

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

What content warnings does Leverage have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Leverage?

Cast

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

Timothy Hutton
as Nathan Ford
Career best: Their highest-reaching show 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.
Gina Bellman
as Sophie Devereaux
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.
Christian Kane
as Eliot Spencer
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Beth Riesgraf
as Parker
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Aldis Hodge
as Alec Hardison
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
newcomer then · star now
Mark Sheppard
as Jim Sterling
Jeri Ryan
as Tara Cole
Gerald Downey
as FBI Agent McSweeten
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Robert Blanche
as Detective Captain Bonanno
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Sandy E. Scott
as FBI Agent

More like this

What are shows like Leverage?

TMDB's suggestions for shows like Leverage include Steal (2026), The Persuaders! (1971) and Wild Cards (2024).

Like this, but

Explore by

What other shows share a tag with Leverage?

100 other shows share the rarest tag below, premise: heist. Each tag opens Browse with the shows that share it.