Spoiler Alert: This list contains plot spoilers for Army of Thieves.
Earlier in 2021, Zack Snyder's heist thriller during a zombie invasion, Army of the Dead, proved to be a big hit for Netflix. It did so well that plenty of spin-offs were almost immediately in the works, including the newly released prequel, Army of Thieves, also focusing on a series of major heists.
This time around, the story centers on Ludwig Dieter, the safecracker who arguably stole the show in the first film. As a fan favorite, audiences were intrigued to see how his first few jobs went and to find out if he connected with these characters as much as he did with those from Army of the Dead. Although these people are robbing banks, many of them were really likable.
Brad Cage/Alexis
If you picked out a guy who looked like the prototypical action movie star, there's a good chance Brad Cage (Stuart Martin) would be the ideal choice. As soon as he appeared on screen, it was clear that this was someone who was capable of kicking some serious butt. In fact, he has one of the film's best scenes as he dons a mask and gets to deliver thrilling action to help his team as a form of distraction.
As cool as that was though, Brad quickly became the main antagonist of the story. After that mission, he saved Gwendoline but with a chance to do the same for Ludwig, chose to let him go and sacrifice him. He did this prior to the original plan out of pure jealousy because of the growing bond between Gwendoline and Ludwig. That was a mistake because Ludwig was crucial to this heist, unlike in the sequel. At the end of the story, Brad was the one who attempted to ruin everything for the heroes, only adding more fuel to why the audience dislikes him.
Delacroix
Nearly every heist film has to have the authority figure who is tracking them down. In Army of Thieves, that character is Delacroix (Jonathan Cohen), an agent who is pretty much obsessed with getting this team, specifically Gwendoline and Brad. Even as the zombie outbreak is beginning and people are paying attention to that, Delacroix is laser-focused on these robberies.
While his desire to catch the criminals is admirable, Delacroix goes about it in ways that make it hard to fully root for him. His frustration kept growing as he was outsmarted and bested at every turn. It led to his most unlikable moment as he confronted Korina and took things too far, opting to choke her for information until his partner stepped in and stopped him.
Rolph
It's pretty disappointing that Rolph (Guz Khan) wasn't given more to do. He was first introduced as the trademark getaway driver and he's the least mysterious member of the crew. He's actually the first one outside of Gwendoline to bond with Ludwig, doing so over a game of beer pong and some sandwiches.
Ultimately, Rolph lost some points for the route he took when the team split in two. As Korina and Gwendoline opted to work with Ludwig, Rolph stuck with Brad. Had they had an established friendship, it would've made more sense but Brad was shown to talk down to Rolph on several occasions. Rolph staying with him made him less likable even if he did get a funny quip at the end when he asked if it was too late to change sides.
Korina
Unlike Rolph, Korina (Ruby O. Fee) was the member of the team to see Brad for what he was and side with Gwendoline. She immediately jumped out of the vehicle and joined Gwendoline to finish their job with Ludwig, realizing that what Brad did was wrong. Her loyalty to the heroes isn't the only reason to like her though.
Korina is also one to bring some of the comedic elements to the film, along with Ludwig. She isn't afraid to make him feel uncomfortable in funny situations and she also was a good friend to him. When she offered to make out with him and he was more interested in Gwendoline, Korina didn't take it personally and instead gave him advice about the woman he liked. In the end, she got caught but used quick thinking to destroy her phone. Even if she did give them up, it was somewhat understandable given the situation with her little brother.
Gwendoline
As soon as she appears in the film, there's something about Gwendoline (Nathalie Emmanuel) that catches the attention of Ludwig and the viewing audience. She is the strong leader of the team and their best pickpocket. Gwendoline shows almost no fear, always seemingly in control, beating up several men bigger than her, and coming up with brilliant plans.
Her level of bravery is especially impressive and ultimately, she's a good person even if she has done some questionable things. She doesn't take Brad's nonsense, dropping him soon after he betrayed Ludwig. Gwendoline also makes another big sacrifice at the end of the film, finding a way for Ludwig to go free as she was taken into custody, saving the person she had grown to care deeply for.
Ludwig Dieter/Sebastian
At the end of Army of the Dead, most fans seemed to agree that Ludwig Dieter (Matthias Schweighöfer, who also directed this film) was the best or at least the most likable character. What helps him continue that trend in this movie is that he's the nicest member of the bunch. Without a lengthy criminal history, he is the one to call out how wild some of the plans are.
Even when there's action going on, Ludwig doesn't do things like harm or kill anyone, opting to remain the simple safecracker. You feel sympathy for him when the crew turns on him, you appreciate his high intelligence level, and you want to see him get the girl in the end. It's also great to see his confidence grow to the level where he's certain that he's the best at what he does.