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.
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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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