The Chasing Millions official trailer introduces a crime story with an unusual balance of tension, character-driven comedy and post-conflict Belfast atmosphere. Directed by Stephen Burke, the Irish-Australian feature follows two very different detectives brought together by a robbery involving £26 million.
The film is inspired by the real-life Northern Bank robbery in Belfast in December 2004, one of the biggest bank robberies in British and Irish history. Rather than presenting the story as a conventional straight-faced crime thriller, Chasing Millions approaches the material through a darker comedic lens, placing its unlikely detective partnership at the centre of the story.
The movie is scheduled for a 9 October 2026 cinema release in Ireland, with Eclipse Pictures handling the Irish release. The Irish Film Classification Office has classified the film 15A and lists its runtime at approximately 100 minutes.
A Heist Story Built Around Two Unlikely Detectives
At the heart of Chasing Millions are Diana, a determined Australian police detective, and Crayford, a veteran Belfast detective who has little interest in welcoming outside help.
According to the film’s official sales material, the pair are reluctantly thrown together while attempting to track down the missing £26 million. Their investigation becomes increasingly complicated as they encounter old tensions, elusive suspects and unexpected developments.
That setup gives Stephen Burke plenty of room to explore something beyond the mechanics of a bank robbery. The real hook appears to be the relationship between two detectives who approach the case from very different perspectives.
Diana brings ambition and determination, while Crayford represents a more experienced and cynical approach. Their friction provides the film with its comedic energy while the stolen money keeps the underlying mystery moving.
Madeleine Madden and Christopher Eccleston Lead the Cast
The film’s central pairing brings together two actors with very different screen identities.
Madeleine Madden plays Diana, the Australian detective whose investigation becomes far more complicated than expected. Madden is widely known for her work in The Wheel of Time, and Chasing Millions gives her an opportunity to move into a grounded crime-comedy setting.
Christopher Eccleston plays Crayford, the world-weary Belfast detective assigned to the case. His presence gives the film considerable dramatic weight, particularly because the character appears to combine professional experience with a distinctly skeptical attitude.
The supporting cast includes Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, Ger Ryan, Adam Best, Amy Molloy, Ciarán Dowd, Kerri Quinn and Charlie Bonner, among others.
The screenplay was written by Stephen Burke and Katherine Thomson, while Jane Doolan and Michael Wrenn serve as producers. Cinematography comes from Owen McPolin, with Chris Plummer editing the film and Jim Moginie providing the music.
Why the Belfast Setting Matters
One of the most interesting elements of Chasing Millions is its setting.
The story takes place in Belfast in 2004, six years into the peace process. That means the investigation unfolds against a society where old divisions and mistrust have not simply disappeared.
Screen Australia describes the film as a story about detectives navigating a fragile peace while investigating the biggest bank heist in Irish, British and Australian history.
This gives the movie a potentially richer identity than a standard money-chasing thriller. The £26 million is obviously the central mystery, but the social environment surrounding the investigation adds another layer.
The trailer’s outdoor Belfast imagery and character exchanges suggest that the filmmakers are interested in atmosphere as much as plot. The result could be a film where the landscape, personalities and history are as important as the stolen cash.
Inspired by a Real Bank Robbery
The film takes inspiration from the 2004 Northern Bank robbery, when £26 million was stolen in Belfast.
Importantly, Chasing Millions is described as loosely based or inspired by the real event rather than a strict historical reconstruction. That distinction matters because Burke appears to be using the robbery as a foundation for a fictionalized character-driven story.
That approach could help the film avoid becoming another conventional true-crime recreation. Instead, the filmmakers can explore the absurdity, tension and unpredictability surrounding an enormous criminal investigation.
When Is Chasing Millions Releasing?
Chasing Millions is scheduled to open in Irish cinemas on 9 October 2026. RTÉ has also reported the same cinema date while highlighting the film as a Belfast-set comedy-drama.
The film is an Ireland-Australia co-production, produced by Mammoth Films and Invisible Republic, with LevelK handling international sales. Screen Australia lists the completed feature at approximately 100 minutes.
Final Thought
Chasing Millions looks set to offer more than a conventional heist story. By combining a real-life-inspired robbery, two unlikely detectives, Belfast’s distinctive atmosphere, and a sharp mix of crime, comedy, and drama, the film has the ingredients for an engaging cinematic experience. With Christopher Eccleston and Madeleine Madden at the center, this could be one of the more intriguing crime movies to watch in 2026. For fans of smart heist stories with character, tension, and plenty of unexpected turns, Chasing Millions is certainly worth keeping on your radar.
SOURCE: Bonsai Films, IMDB, Wikipedia, LevelK
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