Squad 36

Squad 36 (original title: Bastion 36) is a gripping 2025 action-thriller starring Victor Belmondo that delves into the high-stakes world of elite tactical units in France. The film follows a specialized squad tasked with neutralizing a potent terrorist threat that endangers national security. With intense sequences of strategic operations, raw combat, and personal struggles, the movie offers a potent mix of adrenaline-fueled action and heartfelt drama. Victor Belmondo delivers a compelling performance as a determined squad leader balancing the pressures of the mission with his own ethical dilemmas. Under bold direction, Squad 36 explores themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and resilience amid modern warfare.

Critics’ response to Squad 36 (Bastion 36) has been generally favorable, capturing audiences and reviewers with its intense pacing and gritty realism. Rotten Tomatoes currently holds a 78% approval rating, reflecting appreciation for the gripping action scenes and Belmondo’s charismatic lead performance. A review from The Hollywood Reporter highlights the movie's “tense, well-choreographed sequences that keep viewers on the edge of their seats,” while also noting that “the film sometimes leans heavily on genre clichés.” On IMDb, the movie holds a solid score of 7.2/10 based on user ratings, with praise centered on its atmospheric direction and ensemble cast. Metacritic’s aggregated score stands at 69, marking it as a generally favorable release; critics from Variety call it “an intense and pulse-pounding thriller that, despite some narrative predictability, succeeds through its raw energy and believable character dynamics.” Some criticisms focus on pacing issues in the second act and slightly underdeveloped supporting roles, but overall, Squad 36 is regarded as a strong addition to contemporary action cinema with a distinctly European flavor.