He wore disguises. He told lies. He never missed a beat
Bandit (2022) is a slick, charismatic crime drama based on the outrageous true story of Gilbert Galvan Jr., the infamous American fugitive who escaped from a U.S. prison, fled to Canada, and became one of the country’s most prolific and beloved bank robbers. With equal parts charm and chaos, the film captures the adrenaline, audacity, and absurdity of a man who stole millions — and hearts — across the Great White North.
Josh Duhamel stars as Galvan, a smooth-talking con artist who, after slipping past U.S. authorities, reinvents himself in Canada under a new identity. Struggling to stay afloat, he stumbles into robbing a bank — and finds out he’s very good at it. Disguises, fake IDs, meticulous timing, and a smile that could disarm a SWAT team become his tools of the trade. Soon, the headlines dub him the “Flying Bandit,” and no vault seems safe.
Along the way, he falls in love with Andrea, a warm and trusting woman unaware of his criminal double life. But as his heists grow bigger and his profile rises, so does the pressure from law enforcement, especially from a relentless detective (Nestor Carbonell) and a volatile underworld financier (Mel Gibson) who wants a cut of the loot—or else.
Directed with playful energy and packed with retro flair, Bandit never glorifies crime, but it doesn’t deny its thrills either. It’s a ride through a time when one man danced between risk and romance, charm and consequence—until the music ran out.
