Netflix Quietly Releases 'Must Watch' Heist Thriller Based on Real Gang of Robbers
Netflix has discreetly added a gripping new crime thriller to its streaming library, perfect for weekend binge-watching sessions. The eight-episode French series, titled Cash Queens or Les Lionnes, follows five women who embark on a daring bank robbery, with the plot drawing inspiration from an actual gang of robbers from the late 1980s.
The Plot: A Desperate Heist Led by Single Mum Rosalie
The story centres on Rosalie, a single mother who realises her family must survive on just €30 a week to pay off her incarcerated husband's debts. In a bold move, she devises a plan to steal €100,000 from the bank where she works as a receptionist. Her best friend Kim quickly learns of the scheme and joins, hoping to use her share to open a massage therapy salon.
Rosalie's cousin, Alex, an architecture student, also comes on board, using her skills to refine their strategy. The group expands to include Sofia, another desperate single mother in urgent need of cash before social services intervene, and Chloé, Kim's client who is married to the town's corrupt mayor.
Disguises and Danger: A Clever Twist on the Heist Genre
The newfound friend group executes their tricky heist while cleverly disguised as men. However, as the synopsis notes, it is not long before politicians, police, and gangsters are hot on their trail, scarcely imagining that a group of ordinary women are behind this band of mercenaries.
The ensemble cast is led by Rebecca Marder in the role of Rosalie, supported by Zoé Marchal as Kim, Naidra Ayadi as Sofia, Pascale Arbillot as Chloé, and Tya Deslauriers as Alex.
Inspired by Real Events: The Gang des Amazones
While the drama's plot may seem far-fetched, it is actually based on the real-life Gang des Amazones, five women who robbed seven banks in the South of France starting in 1989. These women famously disguised themselves as men by wearing wigs and fake moustaches, a detail faithfully incorporated into the series.
Critical Reception and Praise for the Series
Since its premiere on February 5, the series has garnered limited reviews, but early feedback has been positive. Screen Rant has described it as a must watch, while entertainment publication Gazettely offered a thoughtful analysis.
Gazettely praised the show for providing a sharp look at economic desperation, replacing heist glamour with the frantic reality of survival. The review highlighted the plot device of masculine disguises as a biting commentary on the invisibility of working-class women.
The publication concluded that this production represents a shift in streaming content toward stories that prioritise character depth over spectacle, succeeding as a grounded portrait of resistance against a system designed to ignore the poor.
Cash Queens is now available for streaming on Netflix, offering viewers a compelling blend of thriller elements and social commentary rooted in historical events.
