20 Best Heist Movies of All Time, Ranked

The best heist movies fuse elements of many different genres. They encompass a wide range of stories and filmmaking styles because they are so adaptable. As long as a team of characters is all working together to steal something, it falls under the category of a heist movie. The genre is not limited to any tone, time period or particular style. Of course, the heist genre has more than its fair share of stereotypes, but the best filmmakers know how to use these to their advantage.

The heist genre has produced some of cinema’s most gripping thrillers and some of its funniest comedies. Violence features often, as in Snatch And Point breakBut it is not a necessity. Other movies use a heist as the perfect excuse to create a slick mystery, with the criminals outsmarting their victims without them ever knowing they were there. Whatever approach a heist movie decides to take, some stand out above the competition.

20

The City (2010)

Ben Affleck directed the Boston Crime Story

After his acclaimed directorial debut, gone baby goneBen Affleck returns to the underworld of Boston for his next project. the city is a gripping thriller with Affleck as Doug, the leader of a gang of local criminals who pull off daring and well-planned robberies in their Charleston home. With the FBI investigating their latest robbery, Doug courts disaster when he develops a romantic relationship with Claire, a worker at one of the banks he and his crew robbed.

While the romance at its center provides some thrills, the real highlight of the movie is the heist sequences.

Affleck brings the community of Charleston to life, serving as a colorful and vivid backdrop to the crime story. While the romance at its center provides some thrills, the real highlight of the movie is the heist sequences. Taking inspiration from movies like HeatThe scenes are not flashy, but rather grounded and deep in their realism. This includes the wild climax in which Doug’s crew attempts an ambitious robbery at Fenway Park.

19

Inside Man (2006)

A bank robbery is not what it seems

Spike Lee and Denzel Washington have had incredible careers filled with great collaborations over the years. However, perhaps their most crowd-pleasing work together is in the clever crime caper Inner man. Clive Owen stars as the mysterious leader of a group of disciplined robbers who take hostages in a New York City bank. Washington’s detective Fraser is brought in as a hostage negotiator to handle the situation, but soon discovers that this is no ordinary bank robbery.

Many heist movies build to the heist over time, however Inner man Kicks off the movie with the thieves taking over the bank and then gradually reveals the bigger plan at work. Washington and Owen make great opponents with mutual respect for each other, and they are supported by an incredible cast that includes Jodie Foster, Christopher Plummer, and Willem Dafoe. It all builds to a satisfying reveal that puts the whole story in a new perspective.

18

Mission: Impossible (1996)

Ethan Hunt’s first daring mission

Many of these Mission: Impossible Movies have a heist element to the story, but the first installment remains the most memorable in that sense. Tom Cruise originated the role of superspy Ethan Hunt in Brian De Palma’s 1996 movie. After Hunt’s team is killed on a failed mission, he is framed as a traitor. In order to clear his name and find the real mole, Hunt assembles a team of disavowed agents to sneak into the CIA. headquarters and steal top-secret information.

Mission: Impossible It has a lot of other elements, including a spy thriller and an action movie. however, The heist sequence is the centerpiece of the film and brilliantly establishes how impossible the mission truly is.. Although the franchise has grown much bigger since the first movie, with death-defying stunts and globe-trotting stories, the heist sequence in the first entry is perhaps the most iconic moment in the series to date.

17

Inception (2010)

A dream thief tries an impossible heist

Inception is another movie that uses a lot of other genre aspects to hide the fact that, at its core, it is really a heist movie. Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Cobb, a man on the run looking for redemption when he’s offered the chance by using his particular set of skills. While Cobb works as a dream thief, entering the dreams of corporate targets and stealing their valuable ideas and secrets, he is tasked with a more difficult job of implanting an idea into a target’s mind.

Inception Has some great concepts to explore and it has a sci-fi premise that is mind-bending with all the different dream levels that make it a complex ride. But, it too Follows the Heist movie format quite closely Featuring sequences of Cobb assembling the teams, planning the heist, and all the things that go wrong while on the job.

16

Hell or high water

Brothers target banks on a crime-spree road trip

Before he became one of the biggest names in television with the Yellowstone Universe of shows, Taylor Sheridan was a sought-after screenwriter behind the neo-western heist movie Hell or high water. Chris Pine and Ben Foster star as two brothers looking to raise money quickly in order to save their home from foreclosure. Their solution is to go on a road trip of bank robberies while a determined lawman (Jeff Bridges) pursues them.

There is also some interesting commentary on the control banks have over people and the idea that the Lawless brothers are fighting back against the system.

Hell or high water Uses familiar tropes from the Western genre, transferring them into the modern setting in such an effective way. The heist scenes are simple yet thrillingWith Pine as the nervous yet grounded brother and Foster as the experienced and unhinged one. There is also some interesting commentary on the control banks have over people and the idea that the Lawless brothers are fighting back against the system.

15

American Animals (2018)

A true-crime story of young amorous art thieves

Most heists target large stocks of cash or priceless jewels. Steals with rare illustrations of birds, as in American animalsare less common. The movie stars Evan Peters and Barry Keoghan as Warren Lipka and Spencer Reinhard, the aspiring thieves who are initially very difficult to take seriously. They come across as normal young people who are swept up in an idea and it is almost shocking when they are actually in the middle of the work.

It’s as if they were people who watched too many heist movies and suddenly found themselves in the middle of one. The film blends fact with fiction, as actors appear alongside the real people on their characters. There are elements of true crime that punctuate the action, such as retrospective interviews. This results in A special and engaging drama with a real heft.

American animals Innovates in the heist genre. The presence of hard facts in the movie tells the crime back to the victims and the morality of robbery. Heist films often invite audiences to support a gang of criminals, however American animals Ask the enthusiasm.

14

Pound Break (1991)

An FBI agent targets a group of trail-seeking bank robbers

Combining crime and surfing requires a convincing cast and a tight script. luckily, Point break Has both in abundance. Keanu Reeves made a career-defining role of Johnny Utah, A young FBI agent who goes undercover in the surfing community to infiltrate a gang of bank robbers Headed by the charismatic Bodhi (Patrick Swayze).

Point breakThe heist elements are so fun because the surfers participate in them with such thrill-seeking enthusiasm. While the premise of Reeves as an undercover surfer may sound a little goofy, Director Kathryn Bigelow crafts a grounded and surprisingly gritty crime action movie with some spectacular sequences.

Although the heists themselves don’t get as much attention as audiences might expect, the movie provides one of the best foot chase scenes in cinema, as Reeves pursues Swayze after a robbery. The bank robbers’ use of masks depicting former presidents of the United States is also an iconic relationship that has been mentioned and parodied many times.

13

Logan Lucky (2017)

Two brothers plan to rob a racing event

North Carolina provides an unorthodox setting for Steven Soderbergh’s heist film Logan luckyBut his characters grow so organically from the landscape that it seems a natural choice. Channing Tatum and Adam Driver mesh seamlessly as Jimmy and Clyde Logan, Two brothers look for a big score as they plan to rob a NASCAR event.

They are helped along the way by Daniel Craig’s hilarious explosives expert, Joe Bang. The movie also stars the likes of Riley Keough, Sebastian Stan and Seth MacFarlane. Similar to American animalsThe people at the center of the heist don’t come across as expert criminals but rather desperate people who get the idea that they can pull this off.

however, The characters, even Craig’s incarcerated bomb expert, are likable thieves who are easy to root for.. The movie mixes the intrigue of the heist with light-hearted humor, but as fun as it is to watch the team pull off the heist, the climax of the movie is even more crowd-pleasing as the audience sees the steps taken to ensure They will not be caught.

12

Baby Driver (2017)

A getaway driver uses music behind the wheel

Edgar Wright’s punchy direction and wry humor shine through baby driver, The first film of a British director set on American soil. The title character (Ansel Elgort) is pressured into a life of crime, but he still shows a natural flair and pride in his work as a getaway driver.

Using his own personalized playlist for his driving, he proves to be the most skilled rodman and also has a big heart. The Baby Driver The soundtrack is cool, as are the performances of Jon Hamm and Jamie Foxx as unstable thieves. Interestingly, the actual heists in the movie are not the focal point because the camera stays with Baby sitting outside in the car.

Baby Driver Uses all of Wright’s familiar camera tricks to portray some of the most exciting chase scenes in recent memory.

however, The lack of action in the heists is made up for with the getaway sequences. Baby Driver Uses all of Wright’s familiar camera tricks to portray some of the most exciting chase scenes in recent memory. Away from the action, the movie also benefits from a genuine warmth, stemming from Baby’s relationships with his new girlfriend and his foster father.

11

Widows (2018)

The widows of thieves must finish their husband’s work

The heist genre is disproportionately skewed in favor of male stories. widows Expertly flips this idea on its head and marks a certain departure from the trappings of typical crime movies. Four women are brought together when they discover that their late husbands are all members of a criminal gang. They decide to step out of the shadows and forge their own way to pay off the debts they are left with.

The result is a radically different heist movie fueled by righteous anger and aided by Viola Davis in electric form. The movie packs an incredible all-star cast that also includes Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki, Daniel Kaluuya, Colin Farrell, Carrie Coon and Liam Neeson among others.

Oscar-winning director Steve McQueen approaches the movie in a grounded and gritty wayMake it believable that these amateurs could pull off something like that with their determination and rational approach. Hopefully, future Heist movies will follow suit widowsand avoid the gender imbalance of the genre.

10

Dog Day Afternoon (1975)

Two simple bank robbers find themselves in a hostage situation

While so many heist movies focus on the slick precision of the thieves, one of the genre’s best shows how bank robberies can spiral out of control extremely quickly. Based on a true story, Dog day afternoon A simple brawl is followed by an hours-long siege, which reflects the chaos of New York City in the 1970s.

Al Pacino earned an Oscar nomination for his lead performance as Sonny Wortzik and the movie cemented his co-star John Cazale’s indelible legacy. Sonny is a deeply sympathetic and relatable hero. He may have chosen to rob a bank, but apart from that crime, he’s just a good guy having a terrible day.

His concern for the hostages and his humorous interactions with the police set him apart from the mainstream. You can connect with a bank robber. He is an intensely watchable but flawed hero. The movie almost seems like one long scene that adds to the tension of the standoff, as it becomes more and more clear that Sonny won’t get his happy ending.

9

Riffy (1955)

Four criminals assemble for an impossible task

So many of the story beats and character templates that have become traditions in heist movies can trace their roots back to Rify.

The French movie Rify Essentially created the heist genre. The film follows four criminals who come together in order to pull off a seemingly impossible jewelry heist. So Many of the story beats and character templates that have become traditions in heist movies can trace their roots back to Rify. It is the recently released prisoner, the safe-cracking specialist, and the love interest who turns out to be the true object of the protagonist’s desires.

Although a movie consisting of these elements would appear to be a tired rehash if it were produced today, the originality of Rify It lends a captivating level of suspense. The completely wordless heist scene remains one of the greatest ever put to film, more than half a century later. The sequence plays out like a long-extended set piece that expertly builds tension with the audience on the edge of their seats.

8

Snatch (2000)

Colorful letters collide as you search for a stolen diamond

Guy Ritchie’s intricately woven gangster movie introduces a dizzying assortment of unscrupulous characters all chasing after a stolen diamond. interesting, The heist itself takes place in the first scene with the rest of the movie following the various colorful characters Who want to get their hands on the prized goods. This includes low-level boxing promoters, an American gangster, a Russian assassin, and a bare-knuckle boxer.

Brad Pitt Mickey O’Neill steals the show, however Snatchs Ensemble cast work together to Create an immersive vision of a brutal London underworld. Richie’s fingerprints are all over the movie, from the exciting stories to the unique quips that only he can so consistently produce.

Jason Statham shows off his comedic chops as Turkish, bringing a jovial sharpness that brightens a movie that might otherwise drift toward overt brutality. Each character in the complex web of crime serves a carefully defined purpose, and they merge into a propulsive story.

7

How to Steal a Million (1966)

An art thief and the daughter of a forger team up

How to steal a million Exemplifies the malleability of the heist genre. The heist at the center of the film, staged so that the daughter of an art lover can destroy her father’s work, provides the perfect backdrop for a seductive romantic comedy. Audrey Hepburn and Peter O’Toole bounce off each other with effortless wit and grace. It’s a pleasure to witness two true movie stars at the top of their game, and the film begs the audience to root for them in earnest.

The movie has a lot of fun twisting the heist genre into a funny and charming rom-com. The meet-cute between the two leads takes place in the middle of a heist and the audience gets to watch them fall for each other while pulling off the central heist of the movie. Even the long sequence when the pair hide in a closet crackles with unnecessary movie magic, with the gorgeous orchestral soundtrack adding to a true sense of grandeur.

6

Ruben Brandt, Collector (2018)

A man hires thieves to steal works of art that haunt him

The Hungarian animated thriller Ruben Brandt, collector Shows that there is still new ground to break in the heist genre. The movie goes A person who is tormented by figures from famous paintingsSo he pulls together a skilled crew and tries to steal each artwork for himself. The eye-popping animation underlines the movie’s message that art holds the key to a peaceful soul.

Each frame is so lovingly drawn that they drip with hidden meaning and subtle humor that could easily go unnoticed. Heist movies run the risk of falling into the same familiar patterns, however Ruben Brandt, collector Proudly showcases something extremely innovative. This is one of the most interesting motivations for a heist at the center of the story. Indeed, the complex story will not be for everyone, but there is no denying the alluring nature of the animation of the movie.

5

Gambit (1966)

A cat burglar sees his plan fall apart

Nobody loves a good old fashioned heist more than Michael Caine. He was famous behind the wheel of a Mini Cooper The Italian work, But he also stared Harry and Walter go to New York, Go in style, And Now you see me To name a few. However, his finest heist movie is the 1966 classic Gambit. no game harry, A swaggering cat burglar who seeks the help of a dancer to pull off a foolproof heist only for things to unravel.

The comedy is buoyed by the charm of Shirley MacLaine, whose awkward Nicole ensures that nothing goes according to plan. Gambit pioneered the now widespread heist movie trope of withholding information from the audience, or outright lying. Yet it does so with such feeble audacity that it is difficult not to fall for it. The approach of the film to show that the heist goes away without a hit, only to then play out the reality of the crime and every detail that does not go according to plan is an expert way to build unbearable tension.

4

Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

A chicken-stealing fox balances family and a life of crime

It’s rare to find a heist movie that can be enjoyed by the whole family, but Wes Anderson pulled it off. Anderson takes the framework from Roald Dahl’s beloved children’s book Fantastic Mr. Fox And liberally fills the gap with his own idiosyncratic sense.

The gorgeous stop-motion animation adds to the film’s playful feel, but it can’t hide Mr. Fox’s (George Clooney) troubled psyche as a former chicken thief who is drawn back into years of quiet family life. Fantastic Mr. Fox Looks like a children’s movie, but the protagonist is a career criminal with a deep-seated fear of endangering his family.

Roald Dahl and Wes Anderson are a perfect match. They both combine levity and tragedy in stylized little packages, and they refuse to talk down to their audience no matter their age. Anderson finds a sweet and funny way to deal with the familiar story of a career criminal Who cannot deny his lust for excitement.

3

A Fish Called Wanda (1988)

Double-crossing thieves and a mild-mannered barrister clash

The legends of Monty Python, John Cleese and Michael Palin, reunite A fish called Wanda for The hilarious story of a heist gone wrongWith Jamie Lee Curtis in top form plus Kevin Kline in an Oscar-winning supporting role. The movie’s dysfunctional characters garner a lot of laughs with their idiotic attempts to double cross one another.

By rejecting British and American characters, A fish called Wanda Also manages to lampoon both cultures simultaneously. The British characters stick too closely to their notions of proper behavior, and the Americans are far too brash and self-interested.

Similar to SnatchThe movie is mostly focused on the aftermath of the heist and Had a lot of fun with the idea of ​​”no honor among thieves”. The backstabbing and changing allegations could have been darker in another movie, however A fish called Wanda Keeps his great sense of humor throughout, and becomes a laugh-out-loud crime comedy.

2

Ocean’s Eleven (2001)

A career criminal organizes a team for an ambitious casino job

Danny Ocean was originally played by Frank Sinatra in the 1960 original, but George Clooney pulls off a magic trick by somehow making the character even more suave and debonair. Ocean is a career criminal just out of prison Who quickly assembles a large team to pull off an ambitious heist of three Las Vegas casinos simultaneously. The starry team of thieves includes Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and Don Cheadle.

Ocean’s Eleven has such An irresistible swagger and effortless coolness that make it such a joy to spend time in this world. The movie delights in playing games with its audience. It’s a puzzle begging to be solved, but the team is always one step ahead.

The entire movie is focused on building the team and planning the heist, but seeing how the job is finally pulled off makes for a crowd-pleasing climax. The Oceans franchise has produced some fine sequels, but none that live up to this endlessly fun ride.

1

Heat (1995)

A disciplined thief is hunted down by a determined cop

The obsessive cat-and-mouse game between detective Vincent Hanna and criminal Neil McCauley is so engaging thanks to the incredible chemistry between Al Pacino and Robert De Niro.

Michael Mann Heat became the heist movie that all others in the genre were compared to. The obsessive cat-and-mouse game between detective Vincent Hanna and criminal Neil McCauley is so engaging thanks to the incredible chemistry between Al Pacino and Robert De Niro.

in his heart, Heat Is a wonderfully constructed competition between two people who will stop at nothing. It’s further Elevated by Mann’s brilliant direction and the iconic way he photographs the serenity of Los Angeles. While movies like Ocean’s Eleven Have a lot of fun showing the cleverness behind the heists, Heat is even more thrilling in his grounded look at bank robbers.

The heists are not elaborate, but they are gripping to watch as it all comes down to the incredible discipline of the thieves, getting in and out with as much efficiency as possible. Of course, this leads to the moment they are finally cornered which makes for One of the best movie shootouts of all time.