Burn Out

Burn Out

Year: 2017

Runtime: 107 mins

Language: French

Director: Yann Gozlan

ActionCrimeThriller

Tony, a promising young motorcycle racer, is forced to do perilous drug runs to save the mother of his child from a dangerous mobster.

Tense
Bittersweet ending
Emotionally heavy
High intensity
Fast pacing
Simple story

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Burn Out yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – Burn Out (2017)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Burn Out (2017). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Leyla's residence, Local bar, Tony's workplace (forklift depot), Warehouse

Leyla's residence serves as the nerve center of the conflict, where drugs are hidden and danger boils over as it is trashed after Jordan's debt scheme. The local bar functions as the nerve center for negotiations and gang activity, drawing Miguel, Jordan, and Moussa into Tony's escalating dilemma. Tony's daytime work as a forklift operator and the later warehouse job ground his double life in a gritty urban-industrial setting, where routine shifts collide with high-stakes crime and pursuit.

🏙️ Urban 💥 Crime 🏭 Industrial

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 07:55

Main Characters – Burn Out (2017)

Meet the key characters of Burn Out (2017), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Tony Rodrigues (François Civil)

A bike racer with a dangerous double life: by day a forklift operator and devoted father to Sofiane, by night a drug courier trapped by debt and coercion. His desperation pushes him to violate boundaries, resulting in violence and moral decay. He is impulsive, driven by the need to provide for his family, and increasingly ruthless as the situation escalates.

💥 Criminal 🚴‍♂️ Athlete 👨‍👦 Father

Leyla

Tony's ex-wife who struggles to find employment while caring for Sofiane. She is entangled in the drug debt situation, hiding drugs for Jordan, and becomes a focal point of the gang's leverage over Tony. Her vulnerability and resilience shape the stakes of the debt and survival.

🏠 Domestic Life 💥 Crime Involved

Jordan

A dangerous figure in the gypsy gang who pressures Tony and enforces debt collection. His dismissal by Tony at the negotiation leads to fatal consequences, setting off a chain of violence and betrayal.

💥 Gang Leader

Miguel

The gang boss who pays Tony to move drugs and becomes a rival threat as the debt is mismanaged. He embodies calculated ruthlessness and uses Miguel’s assets as leverage against Tony and Moussa.

💥 Gang Leader

Moussa

Tony’s childhood friend who leads a street gang and ultimately aids in avenging or cleansing the debt conflict. His loyalty to Tony is tested, and his actions escalate the violence surrounding the debt.

💥 Gang Member

Sofiane

Tony and Leyla's son, whose well-being motivates Tony to take dangerous risks and seek a better life. His safety is a constant concern as Tony’s choices spiral toward violence.

👦 Son

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 07:55

Major Themes – Burn Out (2017)

Explore the central themes of Burn Out (2017), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💥 Crime

A central thread follows Tony’s criminal entanglement as he becomes a courier to pay off Leyla’s debt, crossing lines from desperation to violence. The murder of Jordan marks a brutal point of no return, showing how quickly crime compounds and consumes those involved. The narrative constantly tests what ends justify the means as Tony navigates loyalty, fear, and survival.

🤝 Loyalty

Loyalty pulls Tony between Leyla, the drug debt, and Moussa, his childhood ally who becomes an ally and later enforcer. Betrayals surface when Miguel and his crew manipulate Tony, forcing him to act against those he cares about. The shifting loyalties drive the plot and intensify the peril Tony faces.

🎢 Thrill

Tony’s passion for racing and the risk of illegal deliveries collide, providing the adrenaline that fuels his choices. The two-hour delivery window and the chase scenes inject a constant tempo and a thrill-seeking impulse into a otherwise grim life. The pursuit of thrills gradually erodes his stability at work and with his family.

👨‍👦 Family

Tony’s role as a father to Sofiane anchors his decisions, even as he descends into criminal activity to keep Leyla safe. The tension at Leyla's residence and the threat to his family drive his actions more than personal gain. The final pursuit and police chase reflect the costs borne by his loved ones as he clings to the dangerous rush of the street.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 07:55

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies about criminal desperation like Burn Out

Ordinary people forced into a brutal underworld to save loved ones.If you enjoyed the high-stakes pressure of Burn Out, this collection features similar films where characters are forced into dangerous criminal endeavors. These movies share a tense, gritty mood, fast pacing, and explore the heavy emotional cost of desperate choices, perfect for fans of intense thrillers.

desperatetensegrittyanxioushigh-stakesbrutalmoral decay

Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread follow a clear, straightforward cause-and-effect chain. A protagonist is presented with an impossible situation—often a debt or a threat to family—that forces them to use their unique abilities for criminal purposes. The narrative is a downward spiral of increasing risk, violence, and moral decay, leading to a climax where the character must confront the consequences of their actions.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped together because they share a specific, intense vibe of desperation. They feature fast-paced, high-tension plots driven by coercion, and they focus on the psychological and emotional weight of moral compromise. The viewing experience is consistently anxious, gritty, and brutal.

Fast-paced gritty thrillers similar to Burn Out

Fast-paced, intense stories set in brutal urban underworlds.For viewers who liked the high-velocity action and gritty feel of Burn Out, this list recommends movies with a similar tense and brutal atmosphere. These films typically feature fast pacing, high intensity, straightforward plots centered on crime, and a heavy, often melancholic emotional tone.

fast-pacedgrittytensebrutalurban crimehuntedmelancholic

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern is often a race against time within a dangerous world. A protagonist, frequently possessing a physical skill like driving or fighting, becomes entangled in a conflict with powerful criminals. The plot moves swiftly from one high-stakes situation to the next, building towards a violent confrontation that leaves the characters scarred.

Why These Movies?

These movies are united by their core vibe: a combination of fast pacing, high intensity, and a tense, gritty tone. They prioritize visceral, anxious energy and are set in worlds where loyalty is tested and survival is paramount. The experience is consistently brutal and emotionally draining.

Unlock the Full Story of Burn Out

Don't stop at just watching — explore Burn Out in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Burn Out is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Burn Out Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Burn Out, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Burn Out Summary

Burn Out Timeline

Track the full timeline of Burn Out with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Burn Out Timeline

Burn Out Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Burn Out that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Burn Out Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Burn Out

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Burn Out: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Burn Out

Explore More About Movie Burn Out

Burn Out (2017) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

Burn Out (2017) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline

Burn Out (2017) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow