Plot Explained Spoilers guaranteed!
Plot Explained

Browse by genre

Guns Akimbo (2019) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Guns Akimbo (2019) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2019 · 98 mins · English
Echo score 66
Loading streaming availability…
Directed by
Jason Lei Howden
Starring
Daniel Radcliffe, Byron Coll, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Rhys Darby, Samara Weaving, Ned Dennehy
Budget
$15M

An unassuming man is unwillingly thrust into a brutal, gladiator-style competition broadcast online. To save his former girlfriend, who has been kidnapped, he must fight Nix, a formidable and heavily armed opponent. The fight is a desperate struggle for survival against a shadowy organization that profits from the spectacle of violence.

On this page (9)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (5)
  3. 3 Character relationship map
  4. 4 Where & when it takes place
  5. 5 Themes & meaning (3)
  6. 6 Character & meaning questions
  7. 7 Movie threads
  8. 8 Movies like Guns Akimbo
  9. 9 Every angle
Loading streaming availability…

5 main characters · contains spoilers

Guns Akimbo Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Guns Akimbo (2019), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Miles Lee Harris (Daniel Radcliffe)

    A mild-mannered programmer trapped in a deadly game, Miles is reluctant but brave, transforming from a passive tech worker into a resourceful fighter. His journey highlights resilience and the unexpected heroism that emerges under extreme circumstances.

    • 💻
    • 😌
    • Hero
    • Reluctant
  • Nix (Samara Weaving)

    A fierce and violent challenger in Skizm, Nix is relentless in her mission for revenge and freedom from her past. Her brutal demeanor conceals a complex character driven by loss and a desire for justice.

    • 🔥
    • 💀
    • Vigilante
    • Fighter
  • Riktor (Ned Dennehy)

    The ruthless CEO of Skizm, Riktor embodies corporate cruelty and manipulates chaos for profit. His obsession with expanding his violent franchise symbolizes the corrupting influence of power and money.

    • 🏢
    • 💼
    • Villain
    • Corrupt
  • Nova (Natasha Liu Bordizzo)

    Miles’s ex-girlfriend, Nova is strong-willed and resourceful. Her involvement in the chaos underscores themes of past trauma and the search for liberation from destructive environments.

    • 💪
    • 💔
    • Survivor
    • Support
  • Glenjamin (Rhys Darby)

    A quirky homeless man who offers comic relief and unexpected wisdom, Glenjamin embodies street-smart resilience and provides emotional support to Miles during his darkest moments.

    • 😂
    • 🧓
    • Wise
    • Comic Relief

Last updated: October 23, 2026 at 22:15

Was this helpful?

7 characters · 15 connections · contains spoilers

Guns Akimbo Character Relationship Map

Who is connected to whom in Guns Akimbo: family, love, friendships, rivalries and hidden ties, colour-coded. Pick a character to see their side of the story, or a connection to see what brings two characters together.

How much of the story to show
MLMiles LeeHarrisDaniel RadcliffeNNixSamara WeavingRRiktorNed DennehyNANova AlexanderNatasha Liu BordizzoGGlenjaminRhys DarbyZZanderDDDetectiveDegraves

Last updated: October 23, 2026 at 22:15

Was this helpful?

Setting

Where and When Does Guns Akimbo Take Place?

The setting of Guns Akimbo (2019): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

Present day

Set in contemporary times, the film reflects current digital culture and the proliferation of online fight competitions. It showcases modern technology, social media influence, and the impact of internet fame in the context of violent entertainment, emphasizing the current societal obsession with virtual and real-life violence.

Location

Skizm Underground Fight Club, City Streets, Police Station, Gamer Cafe, Skizm Headquarters, Abandoned Building

The movie predominantly takes place in a gritty urban environment, centered around the underground fight club Skizm and the city streets where Miles tries to escape. Key locations also include the police station, a gamer café for hacking, and a clandestine Skizm headquarters. These places highlight the chaos and lawlessness driven by the underground fight culture and digital notoriety.

  • 🌆 Urban
  • 🥊 Fight Club
  • 🚓 Law Enforcement
  • 🎮 Gaming
  • 🏢 Corporate

Last updated: October 23, 2026 at 22:15

Was this helpful?

3 major themes

Guns Akimbo Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Guns Akimbo (2019) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Violence and Entertainment

    The film explores how society consumes violence as entertainment, exemplified by the underground fight club Skizm. It questions the desensitization of viewers and the dark side of fame generated through violence, highlighting the blurred lines between spectator and participant.

  • Redemption and Loyalty

    Miles and Nix develop a begrudging partnership based on shared motives, illustrating themes of redemption and trust. Their journey signifies the importance of allyship forged through adversity and personal growth amidst chaos.

  • Digital Obsession

    The movie underscores society's obsession with digital media, social networks, and online personas. Miles’s transformation from an unnoticed programmer to an online hero reflects how digital fame can impact real-world actions and perceptions.

Last updated: October 23, 2026 at 22:15

Was this helpful?

Character & theme questions

Guns Akimbo Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Guns Akimbo (2019): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where does the movie take place?

The film is set in a gritty urban environment centered around the underground fight club called Skizm. Key locations include the dark, chaotic streets where Miles attempts to escape, a police station, a gamer café used for hacking, and a clandestine Skizm headquarters. The setting emphasizes the lawlessness and digital notoriety surrounding the underground fight culture.

  • skizm
  • underground fight club
  • city setting
  • urban environment
Q2

What is Skizm?

Skizm is an underground fight club and illegal competition broadcast online for profit. It represents the movie's exploration of violence as entertainment, where viewers watch deadly fights as spectacle. The organization is run by Riktor, who manipulates the chaos for financial gain, symbolizing the corporate exploitation of violent entertainment.

  • skizm
  • fight club
  • underground competition
  • online violence
Q3

When is the movie set?

The film is set in present day, reflecting current digital culture and the proliferation of online fight competitions. It showcases modern technology, social media influence, and the impact of internet fame in the context of violent entertainment, emphasizing contemporary society's obsession with both virtual and real-life violence.

  • present day
  • contemporary
  • modern setting
  • digital age
Q4

What are the main themes in the movie?

The film explores three major themes: violence as entertainment and society's desensitization to it; redemption and loyalty through the begrudging partnership between Miles and Nix; and digital obsession, examining how social media and online personas shape real-world actions and identity.

  • themes
  • violence as entertainment
  • redemption
  • digital culture
  • online fame
Q5

What does the movie say about violence as entertainment?

The film critiques how society consumes violence as spectacle, using Skizm as an example of viewers who watch deadly fights for entertainment. It questions the desensitization of audiences and the dark side of fame generated through violence, highlighting the blurred lines between spectator and participant in violent spectacles.

  • violence
  • entertainment
  • desensitization
  • spectators
  • voyeurism
Q6

How does Guns Akimbo portray social media and digital culture?

The movie underscores society's obsession with digital media, social networks, and online personas. Miles's transformation from an unnoticed programmer to an online hero reflects how digital fame can impact real-world actions and perceptions. The film shows how viral violence and internet notoriety reshape characters' lives.

  • social media
  • digital fame
  • online personas
  • internet culture
  • viral fame
Q7

Who is Nix and what is her role?

Nix is a fierce and violent challenger in Skizm, played by Samara Weaving. She is relentless in her mission for revenge and freedom from her past. While her brutal demeanor makes her appear as a simple antagonist, she is a complex character driven by loss and a desire for justice. She eventually forms a begrudging partnership with Miles.

  • nix
  • samara weaving
  • skizm fighter
  • revenge
Q8

Who is Riktor and what does he represent?

Riktor is the ruthless CEO of Skizm, played by Ned Dennehy. He embodies corporate cruelty and manipulates chaos for profit. His obsession with expanding his violent franchise symbolizes the corrupting influence of power and money, representing the exploitative forces behind the entertainment of violence.

  • riktor
  • ned dennehy
  • skizm CEO
  • corporate villain
  • power corruption
Q9

Who is Nova and what is her relationship to Miles?

Nova is Miles's ex-girlfriend, played by Natasha Liu Bordizzo. She is strong-willed and resourceful, and her kidnapping by Skizm serves as the primary motivation for Miles to fight. Her involvement underscores themes of past trauma and the search for liberation from destructive environments.

  • nova
  • natasha liu bordizzo
  • miles ex-girlfriend
  • kidnapping
Q10

What role does Glenjamin play in the story?

Glenjamin is a quirky homeless man played by Rhys Darby who offers comic relief and unexpected wisdom throughout the film. He embodies street-smart resilience and provides emotional support to Miles during his darkest moments, serving as a guiding figure despite his eccentric personality.

  • glenjamin
  • rhys darby
  • comic relief
  • homeless mentor
Q11

What is Miles's background before the events of the film?

Miles Lee Harris is a mild-mannered programmer who lives a passive, unremarkable life before being thrust into Skizm. His transformation from a reluctant participant into a resourceful fighter highlights themes of resilience and unexpected heroism that emerges under extreme circumstances.

  • miles lee harris
  • daniel radcliffe
  • programmer
  • background
Q12

What does the film say about redemption and loyalty?

Miles and Nix develop a begrudging partnership based on shared motives, illustrating themes of redemption and trust. Their journey signifies the importance of allyship forged through adversity and personal growth amidst chaos, as both characters seek redemption through their actions in the deadly competition.

  • redemption
  • loyalty
  • partnership
  • allyship
  • trust

Movie threads

More Movies Like Guns Akimbo, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Guns Akimbo tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Fast-paced dystopian thrillers like Guns Akimbo

Non-stop action in a gritty, near-future world where survival is the only goal. If you loved the non-stop, chaotic energy of Guns Akimbo, explore these movies with similar high-velocity pacing set in dark, dystopian worlds. This collection features stories of survival against corrupt systems, filled with intense action and a desperate, relentless vibe that fans of fast-paced thrillers will enjoy.

  • chaotic
  • adrenaline-fueled
  • relentless
  • anxious
  • violent
  • desperate
  • Tone: dark, cynical
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves an ordinary individual, or a group, being violently thrust into a brutal system or competition. The plot is driven by immediate, escalating threats and a ticking clock, forcing characters to adapt quickly and use violence to survive in a world that has turned into a deadly game.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared breakneck pacing, high-intensity action sequences, and dystopian or hyper-violent settings. They create a cohesive experience defined by constant momentum, a sense of chaos, and a dark, often satirical, critique of society that feels both thrilling and oppressive.

Movies about reluctant heroes like in Guns Akimbo

Ordinary people pushed to their limits, becoming violent saviors against their will. Fans of Guns Akimbo's story of an ordinary man becoming a violent vigilante will find similar themes here. This list features movies where unlikely protagonists are forced to embrace violence to protect others, resulting in heavy emotional journeys and bittersweet conclusions about the cost of survival.

  • desperate
  • traumatic
  • violent
  • dark
  • anxious
  • reluctant
  • Tone: dark, traumatic
  • Pacing: variable, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The story begins with a peaceful protagonist whose life is shattered by a traumatic event, typically a kidnapping or attack. They are given a brutal ultimatum: fight or die, often to save someone they love. Their journey is one of brutal adaptation, exploring the loss of innocence and the heavy psychological toll of becoming a weapon.

Why they belong together: This grouping is defined by a specific character arc: the unwilling transformation from civilian to warrior. The shared elements include a heavy emotional weight, a focus on trauma, a dark tone, and a bittersweet ending where survival comes at a great personal cost, making the victories feel hollow but necessary.

If you liked this

Movies Like Guns Akimbo

Similar movies to Guns Akimbo: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

Browse all movie summaries

Every angle

Guns Akimbo (2019) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Guns Akimbo in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

Plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Catch up on any movie in minutes, save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private, always.

Learn more about the app