Most of us don’t want to do something illegal. Still, there’s a bit of a rush when we hear about someone’s dastardly deeds, especially when they’re elaborate, well-planned crimes. Here’s a list of some of the best heist movies of all time.
1. The Italian Job (2003)
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The plot of the movie is about a group of thieves who stole a huge amount of gold, and then later found out that among them was a traitor. That traitor double crossed them and took the gold without leaving any for the rest. The group had to quickly plot to retrieve all the gold they stole and take their revenge on the traitor.
The characters were humorous as they plot and carry out the heist that it’s thrilling to watch. All the crazy stunts and maneuvers the drivers put their Mini Coopers through undoubtedly gave it a tremendous boost.
2. Ocean’s Eleven (2001)
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The movie follows renowned thief Danny Ocean as he assembles a group of eleven thieves to plan a significant theft. The target is Terry Benedict’s casino in Las Vegas, who also just so happens to be Ocean’s ex-wife’s ex-boyfriend. The group comes up with a sophisticated scheme to steal $150 million from the casino vault at a significant fight night occasion.
The build-up of the heist is well-paced, and we witness the role of each player contributing to the theft. The crew has tremendous chemistry, and the heist itself is engrossing, intelligent, well-planned, and tense. A truly enjoyable movie overall, not even a dull moment.
3. Tower Heist (2011)
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Tower Heist is about a group of employees in a high-end apartment building who attempt to reclaim what a wealthy financial expert in their building has unjustly taken from them.
The heist is incredibly humorous and entertaining. It also describes the selfish and dishonest behaviors of some individuals in the financial sector during the recent financial disaster. Tower Heist is an enjoyable movie as it has a happy ending and is somewhat a modern Robin Hood fairytale.
4. The Town (2010)
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The plot centers around Doug MacRay, a professional criminal who led a group of bank robbers in Boston’s Charlestown district. A bank manager is taken hostage by the group after a heist goes wrong, but Doug fell in love with her and tried to protect her while hiding their tracks. The FBI, under the direction of Agent Adam Frawley, pursued them and was closing in.
The movie is filled with gripping action sequences thanks to the performance of the A-list cast. A multifaceted work of art that elicits real feelings throughout its screen time. This tale provides an insight and an understanding of the less desirable aspects of a criminal culture while illuminating the tragic tale of life on the other side of the tracks.
5. Baby Driver (2017)
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Baby Driver focuses on the main character named Baby, a young, gifted getaway driver who is forced to work for a mafia leader and his gang of thugs. Baby finds himself drawn more into the risky world of heists and car chases despite his desire to put his criminal life behind and re-establish himself with his lover.
This movie is fun, slick, sophisticated, with a terrific soundtrack and excellent getaway driving moments. The music acted as the pulse of the movie where every beat drop and lyric is perfectly timed to the events of the characters in the movie.
6. Triple Frontier (2019)
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Triple Frontier is about a heist planned by five former Special Forces soldiers in a sparsely populated, multi-border zone of South America. However, as things suddenly spiral out of control, their capabilities, loyalties, and morals are tested to the utmost in an epic struggle for survival.
This movie concentrates on the aftermath rather than the heist which makes it unique. The heist actually occurred earlier in the movie than in the and the remaining scenes focus on how the individuals deal with what happens thereafter. Overall, it is a really interesting and entertaining movie to watch if you are tired of the usual heist stuff.
7. Snatch (2000)
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The British comedy-crime film Snatch has two simultaneous plots that are interconnected. One was a hunt to find a stolen diamond, meanwhile the other story is about a boxing promoter who is in a pickle.
He was under the control of a merciless gangster who was going to let his boxers commit horrific things that he wouldn’t agree with. This is a clever, superbly edited and mind-boggling movie with many hilarious catchphrases.
8. The Lookout (2007)
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Before a tragic car accident sends his life spiraling out of control, Chris had a bright future ahead of him. As he tried to rebuild his life, he met old friends from his old school. They convinced him to be part of a bank heist. Eventually, his conscience caught up with him and he tried to turn things around but things went downhill from there.
As things get worse, you will find yourself getting more engrossed in the narrative. This is a quiet, subtle drama-thriller that may take a while to get rolling. However once it does, buckle up for an intense, depressing but great ride.
9. Inside Man (2006)
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Inside Man is about a band of crooks headed by Dalton Russell as they plot to rob a Wall Street bank. They kidnapped people, including the president of the bank and a police officer, then asked for a hefty ransom.
However, it soon becomes obvious that the theft is not what it first appears to be. If you are curious, you should watch the movie for yourself. The movie is set apart from others of the same genre by its deft storyline turns and social criticism on subjects like racism and power.
10. The Bank Job (2008)
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The movie is based on the London bank heist that happened on Baker Street in 1971. It tells the story of a gang of thieves headed by Terry Leather who scheme to rob the bank. They penetrate the bank through a tunnel from a nearby structure, but quickly learn that the bank’s vaults hold more than just money.
As they delve more, they come into a web of scandal and corruption that involves influential figures in both the criminal underworld and the government.
11. Inception (2010)
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Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a thief with the rare ability to enter people’s dreams and steal their secrets from their subconscious. His skill has made him a hot commodity in the world of corporate espionage but has also cost him everything he loves.
Cobb gets a chance at redemption when he is offered a seemingly impossible task: Plant an idea in someone’s mind. If he succeeds, it will be the perfect crime, but a dangerous enemy anticipates Cobb’s every move.
12. American Animals (2018)
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American Animals highlights four friends from Kentucky, as they enjoy their routine lives back home. After visiting Transylvania University, one of them had a brilliant idea to steal the rarest and most valuable books from the library campus.
This is a fantastic heist movie without a single shot being fired. It was well executed, very well written and directed. This movie, which is based on actual events, had the actual people who executed the heist in the cast which makes it an authentic experience for viewers.
13. Kajillionaire (2020)
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The movie is about the only daughter of two con artists who has spent 26 years being groomed to steal, scam, and swindle at every chance. They lure a stranger into joining them during a hastily planned and desperate heist, only to see their entire world flip upside down.
Kajillionaire is a character focused movie that showed how the main character interacted with her surroundings. The most fulfilling part was the character development paired with an intriguing plot that made it an outstanding crowd pleaser.
14. Fast Five (2011)
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Fast Five is about Dominic Toretto and his gang, who are on the run from the authorities after stealing a significant sum of money and cars in a prior heist. They have a last robbery planned in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where they will use their street racing and abilities to outwit the authorities there as well as a vicious business tycoon who wants to capture them.
The movie is filled with gripping action sequences that involve daring stunts. The all-star cast was huge but the characters were balanced out well that makes the audience attached to them and their chemistry.
15. Takers (2010)
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The movie highlights a group of experienced bank thieves who were preparing to execute a significant heist. They are renowned for their accuracy and planning. The group had a great dynamic and everyone in the group had their individual strengths and talents. They could have done things solo with their skills, but after joining forces they knew they could achieve greater things.
Things started to fall apart when one of their members was let out of jail and an old friend joined the team. They were being pursued by a detective who was determined to catch them. Will all of them be able to escape from the authorities? Watch Takers to find out for yourself!
16. Widows (2018)
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During an intense armed robbery attempt in Chicago, four robbers are killed in a gunfight with the police. All their four widows, Veronica, Linda, Alice, and Belle, had one thing in common which is a huge debt resulting from the criminal conduct of their husbands.
To establish a future based on their own terms, Veronica teams up with the other three women to carry out a heist that her husband had planned. Follow the adventures of these brave, smart and determined women to their path of freedom!
17. Drive (2011)
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The movie highlights a talented stuntman in Hollywood who also works as a getaway driver for criminals. Despite having a cold appearance, he has gotten friendly and was attracted to his neighbor Irene and her little son Benicio.
After being released from prison, Irene’s husband enlists Driver’s help in a million-dollar heist. When things go horribly wrong, the driver must put his life in danger to save Irene and Benicio from the retaliatory robbers. The movie has a special way of making you feel things, you will no doubt be able to feel the intensity of the scenes from the comfort of your seats.
18. The Score (2001)
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The narrative centers on an experienced and seasoned burglar Nick Wells, who was getting ready to retire. After his last burglary, he almost got caught by the authorities and it made him want to give up his life of crime and relax for the remaining years of his life with his partner.
After declining multiple times, Nick finds himself agreeing to carry out one final heist to rob a priceless treasure from a high-security vault. In return he will get a huge cut from the heist and have control over the whole operation.You will definitely enjoy this movie if you like tension and suspense. This movie is full of twists and unexpected turn outs that will keep your eyes glued to the screen.
19. The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
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The 1930s-era movie follows the exploits of Gustave H, a legendary concierge at a renowned hotel in Europe in the interwar years. Alongside Gustave was Zero, a young lobby boy who becomes his protege and companion.
The storyline follows Gustave as he becomes involved in a conflict over a precious picture, the theft of a priceless Renaissance masterpiece and a conflict for a sizable family inheritance. The movie stands out for its distinct visual aesthetics, ensemble cast, level of detail and historical accuracy. It was also a box office hit and received the Academy Award for Best Original Score.
20. Army of the Dead (2021)
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In the midst of a zombie breakout in Las Vegas, a crew of mercenaries tries to pull off the biggest heist they have ever attempted. They entered a quarantined area and fought their way past hordes of the undead to steal $200 million from a casino vault.
The sheer amount of action as well as the massive zombie hordes is amazing. They run into a lot of obstacles and secrets along the route that could put the theft in jeopardy. If you are into fast paced, nerve wrecking action heist movies, this one is definitely for you.
21. The Place Beyond the Pines (2012)
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The show features three parallel stories: that of Luke, a motorcycle stunt rider who supports his family by engaging in crime; that of Avery, an ambitious police officer who takes on his department’s culture of corruption; and that of two troubled teenagers who investigate the fallout from Luke and Avery’s actions fifteen years later.
The actions of Luke inadvertently lead to a confrontation with Avery, whose life is forever changed by the encounter. This film explores the themes of fatherhood, redemption, and the cyclical nature of violence and its consequences.
22. Lupin (2021)
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Inspired by the adventures of Arsène Lupin, gentleman thief Assane Diop sets out to avenge his father for an injustice inflicted by a wealthy family. Inspired by the adventures of Arsène Lupin, gentleman thief Assane Diop sets out to avenge his father for an injustice inflicted by a wealthy family.
23. Ocean’s Eight (2018)
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In the movie Ocean’s Eight, Debbie Ocean, who is Danny Ocean’s estranged sister assembles a group of seven talented ladies to undertake a heist at the annual Met Gala in New York City. The $150 million necklace that is being worn by a well-known actress the night of the gala is the main focus of the group of women.
The movie stars Sandra Bullock, Helena Bonham Carter, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, Awkwafina and Rihanna. The chemistry of the cast was incredible and there is something very alluring about badass women pulling off a heist that just draws your attention. The story itself is great but with the cast assembled for the movie, it was a box office hit and a major crowd pleaser.
24. Red Notice (2021)
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The story revolves around an Interpol agent tasked with apprehending the world’s most sought after con artist and art thief. The story takes place in various parts of the world as the three protagonists engage in a cat and mouse game with extremely high stakes and potentially disastrous outcomes.
Red Notice is packed with action and a generous amount of comedic scenes. The heists were cleverly thought of and set in mesmerizing locations. The movie is very entertaining as the plot isn’t as straightforward as it looks, moreover the characters were very well embodied by the cast.
25. Honest Thief (2020)
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The Honest Thief is about Tom Carter, a professional thief, who deliberately turned himself in to the authorities in order to clear his crime past and obtain a reduced sentence. He intended to start a new life with his girlfriend, after serving his time.
The plot gets interesting when two corrupt FBI agents set him up to take the fall for a crime he didn’t commit, Tom had to use his skills to establish his innocence and protect the people he loves.
26. Now You See Me (2013)
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The movie features a gang of four magicians who successfully executed a series of heists from high-profile banks while performing for their audiences. They give the money that they stole to their audience. Meanwhile, they were being sought after by an FBI agent and an Interpol detective.
The plot of the movie revolved around the concepts of deceit, illusion, and perception as the characters use their wits to elude their pursuers and conceal the true nature of their heists. The story also features a subplot about a hidden network of magicians, who were implied to be responsible for the heists.
27. Sexy Beast (2000)
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Sexy Beast is a heist movie with a romantic, sensual but intense vibe. Gal Dove, a former criminal, was happily retired in a Spanish villa paradise with his beloved wife. The appearance of his archenemy quickly disturbed his peaceful little life.
Logan, who is eager to persuade Gal to go back to doing one last assignment, did everything he could to get what he wanted. Dove ended up in a frightening battle with Logan and joined an incredible underwater heist in order to save the woman he loves.
28. Logan Lucky (2017)
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Logan Lucky is about two struggling brothers named Jimmy and Clyde Logan who decided to plot a heist during a NASCAR event at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The brothers enlisted a safe-cracker and an expert in explosives to execute the heist.
The bunch of them encounter several obstacles as they work to carry out their strategy. This comedic heist movie is suitable for anyone who needs a break from the seriousness of life. The movie is a creative masterpiece with an enjoyable plot.
29. Locked Down (2021)
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During the COVID-19 pandemic, a couple named Linda and Paxton, who were about to split up, decided to rob a store for the money and to save their relationship. As the pandemic spreads, they are compelled to remain in quarantine together, where they must work out their problems and make plans for the robbery.
The movie, a romantic comedy with a hint of crime, explores issues including love, relationships, and the effects of the pandemic.
30. Focus (2015)
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Focus is about the relationship of a con-artist, Nicky and a beautiful woman, Jess. She initially tried to con him when they met, but as things unfold she becomes his partner in crime for one of his operations. They got romantically involved but Nicky knows that being attached to someone he works with is detrimental.
After the mission was over, they parted ways only to meet again years later in another setting. The movie has a great combination of action and passion. To anyone who wants to watch this, you will definitely have a great time.
31. 21 (2008)
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The movie is based on an actual story that happened at MIT, though some parts were dramatized. The story starts off with Ben, a bright MIT student who aspires to study medicine at Harvard University. It was an expensive course and there was no way he could come up with that money without any financial aid. He sought a scholarship at Harvard, but the competition was fierce and the interviewer explicitly said that the candidate who has an answer that stands out will get the scholarship.
Upon hearing this, Ben told his tale of being part of a group of students who created a covert blackjack team and won millions of dollars in a casino in Las Vegas. Watch this movie for yourself to find out more of how Ben and his friends use their skills in mathematics to win so much money from the casino. You will not regret it.
