Money Heist

Money Heist
Title	Money Heist
Native name	La casa de papel
Caption	Promotional poster featuring the iconic Salvador Dalí mask.
Genre	Heist thriller Crime drama
Creator	Álex Pina
Starring	Úrsula Corberó Itziar Ituño Álvaro Morte Pedro Alonso Alba Flores Miguel Herrán Jaime Lorente Esther Acebo Enrique Arce María Pedraza Darko Perić Hovik Keuchkerian Luka Peroš Belén Cuesta Fernando Cayo Rodrigo de la Serna Najwa Nimri
Country	Spain
Language	Spanish
Num episodes	41
Network	Antena 3 (initial) Netflix (later)

Money Heist. Originally titled *La casa de papel*, is a Spanish television series created by Álex Pina. The narrative follows a mysterious man known as "The Professor" who recruits a group of eight thieves, each named after a city, to carry out an ambitious heist on the Royal Mint of Spain and later the Bank of Spain. The series, known for its intricate plot, complex characters, and themes of resistance, became a global phenomenon following its acquisition by the streaming service Netflix.

Plot

The story is divided into two major heists. The first part details the assault on the Royal Mint of Spain, where the gang, clad in red jumpsuits and Salvador Dalí masks, plans to print billions of euros while holding hostages. Key conflicts involve the National Police Corps led by Inspector Raquel Murillo and internal tensions within the gang. The second part revolves around an even more audacious plan to infiltrate the Bank of Spain to access a legendary treasure, facing off against a ruthless military squad commanded by Alicia Sierra. The plot is renowned for its non-linear storytelling, frequent flashbacks, and high-stakes twists that explore themes of love, trauma, and rebellion against the system.

Production

The series was produced by Vancouver Media for the Spanish network Antena 3, where its first 15 episodes aired in 2017 to modest ratings. Following its acquisition by Netflix, which edited the initial run into 22 shorter episodes, the show was rebranded with its English title and gained international traction. Subsequent parts were produced directly for Netflix. Filming locations included the Spanish National Research Council building, which stood in for the Royal Mint, and various sites in Madrid, Panama, Thailand, Italy, and Denmark. The iconic theme song, "Bella Ciao", an Italian anti-fascist folk song, became a central musical motif.

Cast and characters

The ensemble cast is led by Álvaro Morte as the brilliant strategist Sergio Marquina, known as "The Professor". Úrsula Corberó portrays the skilled robber and getaway driver Silene Oliveira, codenamed "Tokyo", who serves as the narrator. Other key members of the gang include Pedro Alonso as the volatile Andrés de Fonollosa ("Berlin"), Alba Flores as the explosives expert Ágata Jiménez ("Nairobi"), and Miguel Herrán and Jaime Lorente as the hacker Aníbal Cortés ("Rio") and the fighter Daniel Ramos ("Denver") respectively. Authorities are represented by characters such as Itziar Ituño as inspector Raquel Murillo ("Lisbon") and Najwa Nimri as the pregnant but ruthless Alicia Sierra.

Release

The series premiered on Antena 3 in Spain on May 2, 2017. After Netflix obtained global streaming rights, it released the first part internationally in December 2017, with part two following in April 2018. Due to its explosive popularity, Netflix commissioned new seasons, with part three released in July 2019, part four in April 2020, and the final fifth part released in two volumes in September and December 2021. The show was dubbed into numerous languages and subtitled worldwide, contributing to its massive reach.

Reception

The series received widespread critical acclaim, particularly for its clever plotting, character development, and suspenseful direction. It won several awards, including the International Emmy Award for Best Drama Series in 2018. Performances, especially those of Álvaro Morte and Úrsula Corberó, were highly praised. The show consistently broke viewership records for Netflix, becoming one of the most-watched non-English language series on the platform. Some criticism was directed at later seasons for perceived narrative convolution, but overall, the series maintained strong reviews from publications like The Guardian and The New York Times.

Cultural impact

The series had a profound global cultural impact, popularizing Spanish television worldwide. The red jumpsuits and Salvador Dalí masks became iconic symbols of protest and were adopted by demonstrators in real-life movements, from Chile to France. The use of "Bella Ciao" saw a massive resurgence in popularity, with covers and streams increasing exponentially. The show inspired numerous parodies, cosplay, and viral social media trends. Its success paved the way for other non-English language series on global streaming platforms and led to several international adaptations, including a Korean version produced by Netflix.

Category:Spanish television series Category:Netflix original programming Category:2017 television series debuts