Though Steven Soderbergh’s Ocean’s Eleven is entirely unique with its hugely entertaining take on the heist genre, there are several other movies out there that inspired (or were inspired by) this classic thriller. The film follows a group of talented criminals who are brought together by Danny Ocean (George Clooney), a charismatic thief looking to bring down a chain of casinos in Las Vegas and steal $160 million. It’s a fantastic ensemble piece, boasting a hugely proficient roster of actors who bring their respective characters to life with charming performances and memorable dialogue.
The success of Ocean’s Eleven spawned a series of entertaining sequels that see Danny and his friends embark on even more high-stakes heists. Though none of these follow-ups have been able to match the greatness of Soderbergh’s original, it’s the returning actors that make them so consistently fun to watch. Ocean’s Eleven is among the best heist movies out there, and while few films can match the heist franchise’s quality and entertainment value, that doesn’t mean there aren’t other great additions to the genre that have benefited from Ocean’s Eleven’s existence.
10 Mission: Impossible (1996)
Though Brian De Palma’s original Mission: Impossible is often forgotten among the success of its sequels, that doesn’t make IMF agent Ethan Hunt’s (Tom Cruise) first outing any less fun. With high stakes, flashy editing, and some thrilling heist sequences, it’s a clear source of inspiration for the Ocean’s franchise. While Mission: Impossible differs quite strongly in its narrative, both films share the same dry humor and witty dialogue that makes them so easy to watch. Both projects also spawned several sequels that get increasingly bolder too.
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9 Now You See Me (2013)
Now You See Me’s complex ending might have been too much for some audiences, but it remains an extremely bold and daring entry into the heist genre. Taking this classic concept and giving it a twist of magic, Now You See Me follows a group of low-level magicians (Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, and DaveFranco) who find themselves hired by a mysterious benefactor to pull off a large-scale heist that will take the world by storm. Both films are hugely entertaining and use their complex narratives to keep the viewer on their toes from start to finish, keeping the truth hidden until the very end.
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8 The Town (2010)
Although Ben Affleck’s The Town is much darker and less whimsical than Ocean’s Eleven, both films share a clear ability to turn a simple heist into a thrilling adventure with plenty of twists and turns along the way. The Town follows a group of criminals led by Doug MacRay (Affleck) on their final heist, but things quickly turn complicated after Doug falls in love with their hostage (Rebecca Hall). It’s one of Affleck’s best-ever thrillers, not only because of the exciting narrative but also because of how well-crafted and proficient it is on a technical level. Like Ocean’s Eleven, it uses flashy editing and sharp cuts to its advantage.
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7 National Treasure (2004)
While National Treasure is much more of a sprawling adventure than Ocean’s Eleven, both films are surprisingly similar in their overall tone and approach to storytelling. They both hide clues throughout their story (almost like a scavenger hunt for the audience) that places the twists in plain sight without ever making them obvious. National Treasure follows Benjamin Franklin Gates (Nicolas Cage), as he attempts to steal the Declaration of Independence and use its secrets to locate a long-lost treasure. It features one of Cage’s best characters, with his sharp humor mirroring the witty comedy of Soderbergh’s script.
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6 The Gentlemen (2019)
If there’s one director who knows how to write and direct a crime ensemble, it’s Guy Ritchie — and The Gentlemen is among his most entertaining and rewatchable projects to date. Just like Ocean’s Eleven, the film follows an eccentric gang of criminals (Matthew McConaughey, Charlie Hunnam, and more) as they learn to work together in an interconnected narrative of power and conflict. The Gentlemen is a little more mature and gritty than Ocean’s Eleven, but it shares much of the same humor and wit. Every single character is written brilliantly, with the entire cast bringing something fresh and original to their role.
- Available To Stream On Netflix
5 Baby Driver (2017)
Baby Driver is filled with hidden details and quick jokes that are easy to miss upon the first watch, but which really bring the film to life and keep things interesting from start to finish. It follows the titular young getaway driver (Ansel Elgort), who finds himself caught up in the dangerous world of crime and power. With Baby Driver, director Edgar Wright flipped the genre on its head and created something equal parts hilarious and thrilling that’s clearly inspired by Soderbergh’s comedy and stylish filmmaking in Ocean’s Eleven. It also shares the same astute music choices and rhythmic editing.
- Available To Stream On Fubo TV
4 Casino Royale (2006)
The first movie in Daniel Craig’s tenure as James Bond might not strictly fall within the heist genre, but it still shares several similarities with Soderbergh’s Ocean’s Eleven. The story sees Bond embark on a mission to prevent a wealthy banker named Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen) from winning a high-stakes poker game. Casino Royale remains Craig’s best Bond movie, and that’s mostly thanks to its witty dialogue and unwillingness to take itself too seriously. These are traits that it clearly shares with Ocean’s Eleven, which allow both films to thrive and rise above the typical pitfalls of the genre.
- Available To Stream On HBO Max
3 Catch Me If You Can (2002)
Catch Me If You Can is among Steven Spielberg’s funniest movies, never taking itself too seriously and constantly letting the humor drive the narrative forward. It follows the story of real-life criminal Frank Abagnale Leonardo DiCaprio), who carried out a series of complicated cons throughout the ‘60s and illegally acquired millions of dollars. Much like Ocean’s Eleven, the film’s screenplay is its strongest asset — it knows exactly how to balance the exciting narrative with just enough humor to elevate the story without ever overshadowing it. It’s also filled with entertaining performances from the likes of DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, and Amy Adams.
- Available To Stream On HBO Max
2 Hell Or High Water (2016)
One of Taylor Sheridan’s best scripts, Hell or High Water follows the story of two brothers (Chris Pine and Ben Foster) who resort to robbing banks after their financial situation takes a serious turn for the worse. Exciting from start to finish, it is a thrilling heist movie that represents the very best of the genre. While Hell or High Water doesn’t quite have the witty humor that makes Ocean’s Eleven so memorable, it sacrifices this for a more emotional, engaging narrative about the relationship between the brothers. But despite being at opposite ends of the heist genre, both films master it beautifully.
- Available To Stream On Hulu
1 The Nice Guys (2016)
With its dark-humored take on the buddy cop genre, there aren’t many movies like The Nice Guys. As private eye Holland March and enforcer Jackson Healey, Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe have crackling onscreen chemistry. While it’s primarily a comedy, The Nice Guys is a captivating thriller whose narrative intelligence is very reminiscent of Soderberg’s Ocean’s Eleven franchise. It’s filled with twists and turns that keep the audience guessing throughout, using its bold characters and complex mystery to drive the story forward at every opportunity. Its charming style and tone are very reminiscent of the Ocean’s movies, and caper fans will enjoy the ride.
- Available To Stream On Netflix
