How Insta360 X5 Helped Film Hollywood’s New Bank Heist Movie

David Leitch's new action movie How to Rob a Bank brings the Insta360 X5 to Hollywood, with some rather unusual filming techniques.

The Insta360 X5 has made its Hollywood film debut in How to Rob a Bank, the new action thriller from David Leitch, director of Bullet Train and The Fall Guy.

Released in cinemas today, 13 November, the film stars Nicholas Hoult, Zoë Kravitz, Pete Davidson and John C. Reilly. It follows a group of bank robbers who film their heists for social media, attracting millions of viewers and eventually the attention of the FBI.

But what makes this particularly interesting is how the film was actually shot.

Up to 20 Insta360 Cameras for One Heist

According to Insta360, the production team typically used seven or eight cameras per shooting day, increasing to as many as 20 during individual heist sequences.

The compact X5 cameras were mounted on motorcycles, attached to actors and even placed inside money bags to capture unusual perspectives that would have been difficult with traditional cinema cameras.

One particularly creative shot involved placing an Insta360 X5 inside a bag as the robbers threw money into it.

Why 360-Degree Filming Made a Difference

The film combines traditional 35mm cinematography with footage captured using the Insta360 X5.

Because the X5 records everything around it in 360 degrees, the director could choose different camera angles long after filming had finished.

David Leitch explained: "When we needed a shot and we had a 360 running, we could literally create a shot."

The cameras' FlowState Stabilization and 360° Horizon Lock also helped keep footage steady during fast-moving action scenes.

A New Direction for 360 Cameras?

What I find particularly interesting is that the Insta360 X5 isn't some enormous, specialist Hollywood camera. It's a compact 8K 360 camera designed for consumers and content creators.

Seeing footage from one used in a major theatrical production shows just how far this technology has developed.

Of course, it isn't replacing traditional cinema cameras. But it is giving filmmakers more freedom to capture action from perspectives that would otherwise be difficult to achieve.

How to Rob a Bank is now showing in cinemas.

Jerome