Heist Movies
By Shane Rivers
Below are some of the best of the genre. Take a look around the rest of our site for more heist movie reviews and heist movie essays.
1. Ocean’s Eleven – (2001, George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Elliot Gould, Don Cheadle, Julia Roberts, Andy Garcia, Carl Reiner, Bernie Mac) Dapper Danny Ocean’s handpicked 11-man crew of specialists attempt to rob three Las Vegas casinos.
2. Heat – (1995, Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Val Kilmer, Tom Sizemore, Ashley Judd) Al Pacino is a dedicated cop trying to catch a master thief played by Robert De Niro. One of the best heist movies of modern times.
3. Jackie Brown – (1997, Pam Grier, Samuel L. Jackson, Robert De Niro, Robert Forster, Bridget Fonda, Michael Keaton) Adapted from an Elmore Leonard novel, Rum Punch, stewardess Jackie Brown becomes a central figure in a plot involving an ATF agent, an arms smuggler and a bail bondsman. As with most Tarantino films, there have been a number of heist movie essays written about it.
4. Out of Sight – (1998, George Clooney, Don Cheadle, Ving Rhames, Jennifer Lopez) A career bank robber (Clooney) is chased by a federal marshal (Lopez) he ends up falling in love with. Adapted from an Elmore Leonard’s novel.
5. Catch Me If You Can – (2002, Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, Christopher Walken, Jennifer Garner, Charlie Sheen) Based on the true story of Frank Abagnale Jr. A master of deception, he worked as a doctor, lawyer and pilot for a major airline – all before his 18th birthday. Trying to capture him is FBI Agent Carl Hanratty (Hanks).
6. The Thomas Crown Affair – (1999, Pierce Brosnan, Renee Russo) Thomas Crown is a self-made billionaire who can buy anything he wants and is irresistible to women. Needing a challenge, he steals a priceless Monet painting. A female investigator is hired to retrieve the painting at all cost.
7. Quick Change – (1990, Geena Davis, Bill Murray, Randy Quaid, Jason Robards) Three friends rob a bank but encounter numerous difficulties on their way to the airport to escape the country. You’ll want to punch Randy Quaid by the time the film is over.
8. Heist – (2001, Gene Hackman, Danny DeVito, Delroy Lindo, Sam Rockwell) Two old friends devise a plan to pull off the perfect robbery. DeVito has a rare role as a heavy. A solid film, although it received mixed heist movie reviews.
9. A Fish Called Wanda – (1988, John Cleese, Kevin Kline, Jaime Lee Curtis) Sexy American Wanda and her psychotic boyfriend Otto are in England to steal diamonds. But things get complicated when Wanda seduces and then falls for a barrister played by John Cleese. Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for Kline. Definitely one of the best heist movies with a comic angle.
10. The Italian Job – (2003, Mark Wahlberg, Edward Norton, Charlize Theron, Donald Sutherland, Mos Def, Jason Statham, Seth Green) Thieves rig stoplights in Los Angeles to drive away with a car full of gold. Norton is great in his role as a weasel.