Squad 36

Squad 36

Year: 2025

Runtime: 2 h 4 m

Language: french

Director: Olivier Marchal

Echo Score: 35
CrimeDramaThriller

After being sanctioned by the General Inspectorate of the French National Police, senior police officer Antoine Cerda is reassigned from the prestigious Investigation and Intervention Brigade to the Anti-Crime Brigade. He distances himself from his former colleagues and unit, led by the charismatic Sami Belkaïm.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Squad 36 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!

Squad 36 (2025) – Ending Explained & Final Scene Breakdown

Still thinking about how Squad 36 (2025) ended? Here’s a full breakdown of the ending, key final moments, major twists, and the deeper meaning behind the film’s conclusion.

At the end of Squad 36, the truth behind the series of murders and the corruption within the police force is revealed. It turns out that Sami, the leader of the Anti-Squad, was actually working with gangster Mahmoudi and had made deals with him. The squad’s own buried secrets—such as their intent to steal money from Mahmoudi and their cover-up of casualties—created a tense and dangerous situation. When Richard, one of the officers, shot and killed Mahmoudi’s nephew during a raid, it enraged Mahmoudi and triggered a series of violent retributions. The squad, overwhelmed by fear and paranoia, resorted to murder and betrayal. Sami, in a bid to conceal these crimes, murdered his colleagues and their families, including Richard and his wife, in a ruthless cover-up. It is this betrayal that is ultimately exposed, revealing Sami as the real culprit behind the murders.

As the story unfolds, Mahmoudi, a vengeful and threatening presence, arrives at Sami’s house searching for revenge, but he is stopped by Charles, the police department’s leader, who kills Mahmoudi to prevent further chaos. Sami, broken and without options, takes his own life, unable to face the consequences. Despite this chaos, Antoine, the honest police officer, continues his investigation even after his death. It is revealed that the upper ranks of the police, including Charles and Wagner, had been complicit in hiding their corruption and theft of the stolen money. They orchestrated the murder of Antoine to silence him, fearing his efforts to expose the truth. The film concludes with Antoine being posthumously celebrated as a hero, his sacrifice hidden behind a cover-up that blames Mahmoudi for the crimes. The real systemic corruption within the police remains unpunished and concealed, leaving the true culprits free and the story ending on a tragic note of justice denied.

Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 09:03

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Bleak police corruption thrillers like Squad 36

Gripping tales where the search for truth exposes a rotten system from within.If you liked the gritty realism and systemic betrayal in Squad 36, explore more movies like it. This list features tense, high-stakes thrillers where cops uncover deep corruption within their own ranks, leading to paranoia, moral dilemmas, and bleak conclusions.

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Narrative Summary

Stories typically follow an insider—a cop, agent, or investigator—who stumbles upon a conspiracy that implicates their own colleagues and superiors. Their pursuit of the truth turns them into a target, forcing them to navigate a web of lies and betrayal where no one can be trusted, often culminating in a hollow victory or tragic defeat.

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Fast-paced paranoid thrillers with moral decay like Squad 36

Unrelenting narratives where trust erodes and characters spiral into isolation.For viewers who appreciated the anxious, claustrophobic tension and moral collapse in Squad 36, this collection highlights similar movies. Discover other complex, high-intensity stories where protagonists are trapped in a web of betrayal, leading to a grim and emotionally heavy viewing experience.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a protagonist becoming increasingly isolated as a conspiracy tightens around them. Key traits are a fast pace fueled by successive reveals and threats, a complex web of deceptions, and a central theme of moral decay as the character's ideals are shattered by the brutal reality they face.

Why These Movies?

These films share a specific mix of a fast pace, high intensity, and a dark, complex tone focused on paranoia. The cohesive vibe is one of anxious, gritty suspense where the viewer feels the protagonist's escalating dread and the futility of their situation.

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Squad 36 Summary

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Squad 36 Summary

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Squad 36 Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Squad 36

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Squad 36

Squad 36 Spoiler-Free Summary

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More About Squad 36

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