Directed by David O. Russell (The Fighter, Silver Linings Playbook), Amsterdam is a historical thriller inspired by real events, featuring a cast led by Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, John David Washington, and Robert De Niro. Released in theaters in November 2022, the film is now joining the HBO Max catalog, where it will be available in France starting December 4, 2025.
The story takes place in 1930s New York and follows three friends bound by a pact sealed during World War I. Falsely accused of murder, they find themselves at the center of a case that is beyond their control. Their investigation leads them to cross paths with powerful figures and uncover an influential organization willing to manipulate institutions to tip the country into chaos.
Through their journey, the film explores a little-known chapter in American history between the wars, combining political conspiracy, networks of influence, and the rise of extremism. The film combines period reenactments, numerous dialogues, and a detective story with political ramifications.
In addition to its main trio, Amsterdam brings together a large ensemble cast: Rami Malek (No Time to Die, The Big Short, Bohemian Rhapsody, etc.), Zoe Saldana (Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers: Endgame,etc.), Chris Rock (Spiral: From the Book of Saw), Mike Myers, Taylor Swift, Matthias Schoenaerts (Sons of Philadelphia, The Old Guard,etc.), and Anya Taylor-Joy (Peaky Blinders, The Northman, The New Mutants, etc.).
The trailer highlights the film's unique tone, which blends historical reenactment, political intrigue, and a story of friendship. It alternates between dramatic scenes, touches of humor, and situations where the characters find themselves caught up in events beyond their control.
Conceived as an epic, the project was the result of a long development process that began several years before filming, in close collaboration between David O. Russell and Christian Bale. The film intertwines fictional characters and events inspired by real events, notably a plot to influence the political direction of the United States. Filming took place mainly in Los Angeles and its surroundings, with particular attention paid to sets and costumes to recreate the atmosphere of the time.
Amsterdam is aimed at audiences interested in period dramas with big-name casts, stories combining politics, affairs of state, and portraits of characters marked by war. The tone, more talkative than spectacular, focuses on exchanges, individual journeys, and the gray areas between fiction and reality.
Our opinion on Amsterdam:
David O. Russell's feature film benefits from its director's wild ambition. Buoyed by the huge success of his previous films, the filmmaker seems to have been given carte blanche to tell this little-known episode in American interwar history. And although the film is quite long and could have benefited from a faster pace, it is colorful enough to work. Admittedly, it is never daring or off the beaten track, but it is a decent interwar thriller, where the wounds of the First World War have barely had time to heal before the seeds of the Second begin to appear.
Despite its impressive cast, none of these brilliant actors manages to shine, and each of them seems to be flatly reciting an overly scripted text. The flatness is a little too prevalent throughout this work, which promises a touch of madness that never really appears on screen.
Amsterdam
Film | 2022
On HBO Max December 4, 2025
Drama, Crime, Thriller | Running time: 2 hours 14 minutes
By David O. Russell | Starring Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, John David Washington
Country: United States
The availabilityof Amsterdam on HBO Max allows you to discover or revisit this contemporary historical epic, centered on friendship, conspiracy, and the dark side of the American interwar period.
To go further, check out our selection of new HBO Max releases for December, our guide to streaming releases across all platforms, and today's selection of What to Watch Today on Streaming.
