Nassim Lyes
Youssef Bouahzizi / Thiago
Overview
A con artist in dire need of cash and a woman with a crypto fortune hit it off. Is she the target of his dreams, or is the scammer about to get scammed?
Cast
12 people
Reviews
5 min readThe Con Artist’s Dilemma: Love, Lies, and Bone-Snapping Brawls in All-Time High
I’ll admit it: I went into All-Time High expecting a lightweight French caper, the kind of film that coasts on charm and a few well-timed quips. What I got instead was a frenetic, often brutal little movie that treats romance like a high-stakes poker game and fistfights like a contact sport. It’s loud, it’s crass, and—if you’re in the right mood—it’s a blast.
The premise is simple enough: Youssef (Nassim Lyes), a con artist drowning in debt, sets his sights on Stéphanie (Zoé Marchal), a woman rumored to be sitting on a crypto fortune. Their meet-cute is less Notting Hill and more Ocean’s Eleven—a series of escalating scams, double-crosses, and flirtatious jabs that blur the line between seduction and larceny. The film’s real trick, though, isn’t the plot; it’s the way it balances its tonal whiplash.
One minute, you’re watching a bone-crunching brawl shot in a single, fluid take (and yes, Movie Nation was right to call these "all-time winners" [6]). The next, you’re knee-deep in a cringe-comedy bit about a misplaced USB drive. It shouldn’t work.
But somehow, it does.
The credit for that alchemy goes largely to Lyes and Marchal, whose chemistry is the film’s secret weapon. Their dynamic is less "star-crossed lovers" and more "two feral cats in a sack," all hissing and swiping until they realize they might actually like each other. Lyes, in particular, has a knack for playing charming rogues—his Youssef is equal parts smarm and vulnerability, a guy who’s spent so long lying that he’s forgotten how to tell the truth, even to himself.
Marchal’s Stéphanie, meanwhile, is no damsel in distress; she’s a hustler in her own right, and their cat-and-mouse game is as much about mutual respect as it is about the money. Common Sense Media’s Andrea Beach put it well: "The whole charismatic cast doesn’t hold anything back" [7]. That’s true, but it’s Lyes and Marchal who make the film feel like more than just a series of set pieces.
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsInside the High-Stakes Heist of All-Time High: Netflix’s French Action-Comedy with a Crypto Twist
All-Time High (2023), the slick French action-comedy directed by Julien Royal, blends con-artist antics with the chaotic world of cryptocurrency—and the film’s own production had its share of surprises. Starring Nassim Lyes (Lupin) and Zoé Marchal, the movie follows a cash-strapped grifter who targets a woman sitting on a crypto fortune, only to question whether he’s the hunter or the prey. latestnetflix.com's read is that but behind the scenes, the project’s rapid rise from script to screen and its star-studded cast have fueled buzz in French cinema circles.
A Script Born from Real-Life Scams
The film’s premise taps into the zeitgeist of crypto mania and digital fraud, but its origins are more personal. Co-written by director Julien Royal and lead actor Nassim Lyes 
, the script reportedly drew inspiration from real-life scams that rocked France’s tech scene. While details about specific incidents remain unconfirmed, the duo’s collaboration suggests a desire to ground the film’s over-the-top heists in something resembling reality. Lyes, best known for his role in Lupin, brought firsthand experience with high-stakes cons to the table, though neither he nor Royal has publicly detailed how much of the story is autobiographical.
The film’s French title, Nouveaux Riches (New Money), hints at its satirical edge, skewering the flashy, often reckless lifestyles of crypto millionaires . With a runtime of 102 minutes and a brisk pace, the movie balances action and comedy, though critics have noted its tone can swing between slapstick and darker, more cynical humor.
A Cast of Rising Stars and Unexpected Cameos
All-Time High boasts a mix of established talent and fresh faces. Nassim Lyes and Zoé Marchal lead the charge, but the supporting cast includes a few standout names that have raised eyebrows. Ciryl Gane, the French MMA fighter turned actor, makes an appearance, though his role’s significance remains unclear . Adèle Exarchopoulos (Blue Is the Warmest Color) also joins the ensemble, adding star power to what could have been a more low-key production .
One of the film’s most talked-about casting choices is Hakim Jemili, a comedian and actor known for his work in French sketch comedy. His inclusion suggests the film leans into humor, though how his style meshes with the action-heavy plot is a point of curiosity for fans 
. Adrien Essamir and Youssef Ramal, both relative newcomers, round out the core cast, with their performances reportedly adding a layer of authenticity to the film’s underworld setting.
Netflix’s Gamble on a Fast-Turnaround Production
All-Time High was produced by Chi-Fou-Mi Productions and distributed by Netflix, a partnership that likely accelerated its path to release . The streaming giant has been aggressive in snapping up French-language content, and this film fits neatly into its strategy of backing mid-budget genre films with international appeal. Filming took place in France, with cinematographer Pépin Struye (The Crew) handling the visuals, though details about the shoot—including any on-set drama or challenges—remain scarce.
The movie’s 2023 release was relatively quiet, with no major festival premieres or press tours to build hype. Instead, Netflix relied on word-of-mouth and its algorithm to push the film to audiences, a gamble that seems to have paid off modestly. While it hasn’t broken out as a global phenomenon, All-Time High has found a niche among fans of French action-comedies and crypto-themed thrillers.
**What’s Next for the Team Behind All-Time High?**
With the film now streaming, speculation has turned to whether Julien Royal and Nassim Lyes will reunite for another project. Lyes, in particular, has been vocal about his interest in exploring more genre-blending roles, and All-Time High could be the first step in a larger collaboration. Meanwhile, the film’s success—or lack thereof—may determine whether Netflix doubles down on similar French-language action-comedies.
For now, All-Time High stands as a curious experiment: a movie that blends crypto culture, con-artist tropes, and French humor into a package that’s equal parts entertaining and uneven. Whether it’s a one-off or the start of something bigger remains to be seen.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.