Bob Odenkirk and Henry Winkler star in Normal, a loud and explosive action packed crime thriller that deserves to not fly under the radar.
Director: Ben Wheatley
Genre: Heist, Action, Crime Thriller
Run Time: 91′
Rated: R
U.S. Release: April 17, 2026 in theaters
U.K. & Ireland Release: May 15, 2026 in cinemas
Normal is a small town in Minnesota in the middle of nowhere. It’s an almost desolate piece of land where nothing happens, with the most exciting thing to take place to its residents is the fall of snow during wintertime (yes, it is that boring). Everyone knows each other, and whilst they welcome newcomers with open arms, they like to keep to themselves as much as possible. Community really is the most important thing to them. When the town’s sheriff dies, an interim sheriff, Ulysses (Bob Odenkirk, of Nobody), steps in to help, befriending as many of the locals as he can.
Everyone warms to Ulysses as whilst he’s friendly, he keeps to himself and does his job. It’s not long, though, until he’s called to his first major scene: a bank robbery. He may have bitten off more than he can chew when the bank robbery goes south and he realises that the town isn’t as nice, or as normal as he once thought.
Odenkirk is as great and funny as ever in Normal. He’s once again teamed up with the writer behind Nobody and Nobody 2, Derek Kolstad. Normal riffs off from the ideas set out in their previous collabs, almost serving as an unofficial third installment to the Nobody double-bill. It seems like Odenkirk’s characters never go searching for crimes, but they always find their way to him. Here, Ulysses may be a sheriff, but it’s in a town where nothing ever goes wrong. The worst felony would be someone accidentally stealing a loaf of bread from the grocery store, not someone trying to rob a bank.
Once the second act kicks in, there’s plenty of action. It’s an unexpectedly violent film, with some of the greatest kills on screen this year. It plays out like a really gritty crime thriller, which on reflection, makes sense given that Kolstad also wrote John Wick. 2026 has already brought us some unexpectedly fun high-octane movies, including Fuze, Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die and Cold Storage, with Normal landing its place among them.
Henry Winkler (Barry) may only be on screen for a short time but he makes a great impact. At 80 years old, he still knows how to completely steal the show. Normal is serious for the most part, but it manages to still create droll moments that uplift the film, which is thanks to both Winkler and Odenkirk’s great acting capabilities.
Ben Wheatley has an eclectic but usually exciting filmography, at least in premise, so Normal fits right in. After Meg 2: The Trench in 2023, Wheatley proved his work on low-budget films was his calling, and not a hysterical shark sequel. His films like In the Earth and A Field in England, both dark and twisted like Normal, are what he’s best at.
With a runtime of a tight 90 minutes, Normal is a perfect action packed crime thriller. It’s entertainingly funny, whilst also having a faultless blend of violence and mayhem throughout the wit that will make you eager for a sequel.
Normal (2026): Movie Plot & Recap
Synopsis:
An interim sheriff in a small snow drenched town finds himself at the scene of a violent bank robbery.
Pros:
- Incredible performances from Bob Odenkirk and Henry Winkler
- A really fun yet carnage filled script from Derek Kolstad
- One of the best action films of the year
Cons:
- A really forgettable title
- Could have been longer to further develop character relationships
Normal opened in US theatres on April 17, 2026 and will be released in UK and Irish cinemas on May 15, 2026.