The Pickup (2025)

★ 6.4 1h 34m 454 votes IMDb
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A routine cash pickup takes a wild turn when mismatched armored truck drivers Russell and Travis are ambushed by ruthless criminals led by savvy mastermind Zoe.

The Pickup

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Cast

Eddie Murphy
Eddie Murphy as Russell Age 65 · Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA Edward "Eddie" Regan Murphy (born April 3, 1961) is an American actor, voice actor, film director, producer, comedian, and singer. He is the second-highest grossing actor in motion picture history. H...
Pete Davidson
Pete Davidson as Travis Age 32 · Staten Island, New York, USA Peter Michael Davidson (born November 16, 1993) is an American comedian and actor. He is a cast member on Saturday Night Live. Davidson has also appeared on the MTV shows Guy Code, Wild 'n Out, and Fa...
Keke Palmer
Keke Palmer as Zoe Age 32 · Harvey, Illinois, USA Lauren Keyana "Keke" Palmer (/ˈkiːki/ KEE-kee; born August 26, 1993) is an American actress, singer, and television personality. She has received numerous accolades, including two Primetime Emmy Award...
Eva Longoria
Eva Longoria as Natalie Age 51 · Corpus Christi, Texas, USA Eva Jacqueline Longoria Bastón (née Longoria; born March 15, 1975) is an American actress, producer, director, and businesswoman. Her breakthrough role as Gabrielle Solis on the ABC television series ...
Jack Kesy
Jack Kesy as Banner Age 39 · New York City, New York, USA Jack Kesy is an American actor. On television, he has portrayed Gabriel Bolivar on the FX horror drama The Strain (2014–2016) and Roller Husser on the TNT dark comedy Claws (2017–present). He also pl...
Ismael Cruz Cordova
Ismael Cruz Cordova as Miguel Age 39 · Aguas Buenas, Puerto Rico Ismael Cruz Córdova (born April 7, 1987) is an actor, entrepreneur currently based in New York. Born and raised in Aguas Buenas, Puerto Rico. At age fifteen, Ismael began working locally in commercial...

Audience Reviews

Brent Marchant 5/10 Aug 04, 2025
Heist movies – particularly those with a finely honed comic edge – have become one of the most popular and enjoyable genres in today’s cinematic marketplace. And, when they’re done right, they can be a lot of fun, too. However, to succeed as solid entertainment vehicles (not to mention works of good filmmaking), their creators need to combine their films’ various elements with smart, savvy, razor sharp precision, something that director Tim Story’s latest offering only gets down pat about half the time. When Zoe (Keke Palmer), a shrewd, scheming, seductive thief, hatches an elaborate plan to hijack an armored car for use in stealing the weekend receipts from an Atlantic City casino, she taps a variety of resources to make it work, including gathering inside information from a bumbling security guard/driver, Travis (Pete Davidson), during a convincingly staged romantic encounter that he believes is genuine and not the cleverly disguised ruse that it is. His ineptitude and naivete, in turn, lead to a daring, high-speed highway chase that results in the theft of the vehicle and ends up embroiling Travis and his seasoned partner, Russell (Eddie Murphy), in a high-stakes caper to swipe $60 million in cash. And, to ensure the duo’s assistance, Zoe reveals that she has Russell’s wife, Natalie (Eva Longoria), under surveillance – and under the threat of violence – if he and Travis don’t cooperate in carrying out her scheme. By all rights, this might sound like a grounded premise for a film of this stripe, and that would have likely proved true with better execution in several key areas. However, as far as releases like this are concerned, “The Pickup” is, unfortunately, a mostly mediocre offering. To its credit, the film sports a modest number of thrill-filled moments, a fair amount of genuinely funny bits and some truly kick-ass chase scenes. It also features a standout performance by Palmer (who really deserves to get better roles than this), as well as capable turns by Longoria and by Andrew Dice Clay as Travis and Russell’s surly, foul-mouthed boss. But the script needs some serious work, given its many plot holes, implausible story elements and generous helpings of predictability, many of which represent missed opportunities that could have been employed in making the narrative more inventive, unexpected and engaging. Then there are the performances of Davidson, who hands viewers yet another cloying, obnoxious portrayal, and Murphy, whose deadpan delivery often makes him look like he’s sleepwalking through the picture save for a few over-the-top comic outbursts that seem incongruent and largely out of character. Admittedly, this offering generally improves the further one gets into the story, but it still comes up disappointingly short overall. With some precision retooling in the writing and more effective character development and direction for the leads, this truly could have been so much better. As it stands now, though, it’s not only the casino that’s getting robbed.
Manuel São Bento 3/10 Aug 07, 2025
FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://movieswetextedabout.com/the-pickup-movie-review-the-art-of-wasting-good-talent/

"The Pickup is yet another example of how wasted talent, a lack of ambition, and creative laziness result in a film that fails on almost every level.

Despite a cast with potential and one or two inspired moments, the movie never manages to rise above its predictable storytelling, inconsistent humor, and complete emptiness - it's hard to justify the time spent watching it.

Unless you're a die-hard fan of someone involved, this is one ride you're better off skipping."

Rating: D
r96sk 6/10 Sep 08, 2025
<em>'The Pickup'</em> ended up being better than I thought it was going to be early on. Still not a good movie, mind you. Obviously the writing et al. lets this one down just as much, but it was more visually that made me care less about it - it's an ugly film, especially 'inside' that damn truck.

The world of film didn't feel lived in either, namely on that long highway; I know they mention it'll be a "ghost town" but that's a cop-out. The pairing, meanwhile, of Eddie Murphy and Pete Davidson is narrowly passable, albeit arguably. Davidson is the better, Murphy underwhelms.

Keke Palmer is the star of this particular show, her performance gave the flick the required energy anyway. Eva Longoria is alright, at least for the forgettable role that she is given. The characters of Jack Kesy and Ismael Cruz Córdova are exactly that too, despite having potential to be decent.

It's the ending that stopped me from disliking this 2025 release. It holds enough action that I was satisifed with what I was watching. There was some hope for this, I could see glimpses of goodness throughout (e.g. that Clark gag is good), but all in all it's real meh.
Kashifzia 9/10 Feb 22, 2026
**"The Pickup" (2025)** absolutely caught me off guard! Based on the trailer, I expected a simple heist movie about a truck robbery, but it turned out to be so much more. It’s a brilliant blend of mind-blowing comedy and high-stakes action that keeps you hooked from start to finish.

**Key Highlights:**
**Flawless Pacing:** The movie never feels slow. It’s fast-paced and engaging, ensuring there’s never a dull moment.

**Top-Tier Action & Visuals:** The vehicle chasing scenes and overall action choreography were outstanding. What impressed me most was the visual quality; the stunts felt incredibly "real" and gritty, avoiding that artificial "indoor studio" or heavy CGI feel.

**Beyond the Trailer:** While the trailer suggested a straightforward truck heist, the actual plot is far more layered and thrilling. The suspense elements were a great addition, making it a much more substantial experience than your average action flick.

**Final Verdict:**
If you’re looking for a movie that balances humor with intense, realistic action and a plot that actually delivers more than it promises, The Pickup is a must-watch. A solid **9/10** in my book!

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