Reviews

• “The makers have made commendable use of the time at their disposal, as the work never feels too slow or too hurried, quite unlike many shows of this genre. The episode in which the heist actually takes place is particularly intense and exhilarating to watch, both because you want the robbers to succeed in their endeavor and yet fear that they might end up committing a much more serious crime than breaking into a cash safe and robbing bank notes. /…/ The series is also backed by some strong acting performances, with Mahmut Suvakci and Ardalan Esmaili playing Rami and Michel, respectively. /…/ With the gripping plot and driven by the interesting characters brilliantly played by the actors, The Helicopter Heist is as good as a Netflix action thriller series can get and should definitely be watched by fans of the genre.”

• “No one drops the ball. There are no odd tonal shifts, no dips in pace, no bad episodes. /…/ Amongst all of this, there are people. Real people. And what The Helicopter Heist gets right is the portrayal of its characters. /…/ Erik Svedberg-Zelman gives a masterclass in anxiety as the helicopter pilot, Axel, a man whose life is a cocaine-fuelled mess. /…/ The standout, however, is Mahmut Suvakci, who might possibly have the most expressive eyes in all of Scandinavia. We’re not supposed to like or root for Rami as a character – after all, he is a thief – but you cannot help but feel empathy for him. /…/ Suvacki runs the gamut of human emotions – powerlessness, ambition, despair, hopelessness and love – across the series, drawing us into his world and making us understand his actions. It’s a truly powerful performance that really ties the various narrative strands together. /…/ There’s something very visceral about the way this particular crime is portrayed that you don’t see too often. It isn’t clean – it’s chaos. And that is what makes this series so watchable (even if you are doing so from through your fingers because the anxiety levels are insanely high). /…/ Each episode is going to have you saying, “Just one more.” Thoroughly well written, directed and performed, this is a fascinating insight into what it takes to pull off one of the most daring crimes in modern Swedish history. /…/ It’s a must watch.”

• “/…/ Merrily sit back and partake in this rollercoaster ride, where ringmasters Espinosa and Sandahl joyfully and skilfully emulate the fairgrounds of Martin Scorsese, Michael Mann and that heist grand-père of them all, Rififi. /…/ Also under the glimmering headlights at centre stage is a plentiful and talented cast. /…/ Even if we know the outcome, it’s still exhilaratingly exciting.”

• “One of the best Swedish series of the year. /…/ The Helicopter Heist is a brilliant mini-series that lives up to the high expectations. /…/ Everyone involved have shown top-of-the-line skills in the creation of this mini-series. /…/ The Helicopter Heist is a series that successfully keeps its feet on the ground and anchors the story in the humane, at the same time as it entertains with dissipating action and nail biting nerve. The heist around which the whole story revolves makes for superb entertainment, but it is Espinosa and Sandahl’s respect for the series’ characters which is the basis for the high rating and makes the journey worth following over eight episodes. /…/ Sandahl and Espinosa dared to make the series character-driven, and mainly Mahmut Suvakci in the main role as Rami and Ardalan Esmaili in the role of Michel stand out.”

• “Sweaty and delectable Swedish coup romance. /…/ The Helicopter Heist should and will be a success for Netflix. /…/ It’s exhilarating, believable, well-acted and sweaty, with a long, elaborate and detailed opening sequence that gives a good feel for the characters, and a superb crescendo in the thrilling and deeply impressive sixth episode that depicts the heist itself. /…/ Suvakci and Esmaili are excellent individually and together, and Erik Svedberg-Zelman deserves a special mention for his role as the cocaine-addled brat who is recruited as a pilot but doesn’t have the mentality for the job.”

• “The Helicopter Heist is thrilling and elegant.”

• “It’s tight, thrilling and believable down to the smallest element. /…/ Above all, the creators succeed in the art of creating drama despite the fact that the outcome is known (and that we’ve seen similar coups a thousand times on TV and film) – thanks to a skillfully executed balancing act on the border between genre and realism. And not least the many well-found details. /…/ Strong acting.”