Earning a flawless 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, this gripping war drama brings to life a remarkable true story from the brink of World War II. Number 24 follows a young Norwegian man whose unwavering determination to stand against Nazi occupation not only shapes his own destiny but also alters the course of his country’s history. This 2024 Norwegian biographical feature vividly captures the actions of Gunnar Sønsteby, a Norwegian resistance fighter who was the leader of the “Oslo Gang”, portrayed by Sjur Vatne Brean with compelling intensity.
Directed by John Andreas Andersen and produced by Motion Blur, the film is now streaming on Netflix and is built around scenes of an elderly Sønsteby speaking to schoolchildren in Rjukan, a town steeped in World War II history. As he recounts the perilous missions, losses, and victories of the resistance, viewers are transported via flashbacks back to a time when courage meant secrecy, and survival often came at a steep cost.
These moments of reflection lend the film a poignant generational arc, thereby anchoring the past to the present, and reminding audiences that freedom, though easily taken for granted, is often bought with extraordinary sacrifice.
Shot across stunning Norwegian landscapes, Number 24 balances tense action with emotional intimacy. The production team consulted source material associated with the Sønsteby Foundation, including Sønsteby’s own memoir, to ensure historical accuracy while crafting a cinematic experience that resonates far beyond national borders.
With its tight script, moody cinematography, and a haunting score, the film has been hailed as one of the most important Norwegian films of the decade.
One viewer on IMDb called the film “just outstanding”, adding: “I have seen countless World War II-focused films. Let’s just say, I watch virtually anything and everything that is released that features World War II stories.
“So I would say that Number 24 is not your standard Second World War film. In stumbling upon this picture on Netflix, I never anticipated that I would come away feeling that Number 24 was one of the most compelling World War II films I have ever seen.
“Number 24 brilliantly presents the most challenging of moral dilemmas that so often face combatants in war, especially a war as horrific as World War II. For those who appreciate World War II films, I offer Number 24 my highest recommendation.
Someone else wrote: “This was one of the greatest world war 2 resistance movies I’ve ever seen. This highly accurate true story of Norways greatest resistance hero Gunnar Sonsteby was a home run from beginning to end.
“The director was sensational moving from an older Gunnar telling his life story to a group of high school students and then flashing back to 1940’s Norway and the Nazi occupation and resistance.
“The actor who played the young Gunnar was magnificent as was the senior actor who played Gunnar. The suspense was heart pounding as the Nazis try to close down the resistance cell of Norwegian patriots.
“Action scenes outstanding. Cinematography outstanding. All actors outstanding. And the best part. A true story. From beginning to end. Watch this movie. You won’t be disappointed.”