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The heist movie. Full of drama, action, and high stakes, there is nothing quite like it. As a band of rogues teams up to pilfer an item, the audience is drawn into the excitement, wondering if they will be able to pull it off. Narrow misses, split-second timing, and serendipitous coincidences all align to make a great entertainment experience.
From a passionate patriot stealing something to protect it to a crew of career criminals exacting the ultimate revenge, Hollywood has given the world some truly enjoyable heist movies. Although there is a plethora of titles to choose from, when it comes to rewatchability, these movies are the best of the best. Here are 10 heist movies that are worth watching over and over.
'Thelma & Louise' (1991)
Thievery becomes a necessity when long-time friends Thelma (Geena Davis) and Louise (Susan Sarandon) go on the run. After killing a despicable man who attempts to sexually assault Thelma, the two women start their fugitive road trip to freedom. Widely hailed as the ultimate female-empowerment trip, Thelma & Louise is an action-packed film full of excitement and undeniable enthusiasm.
Thelma & Louise has become a staple in pop culture cinema and is widely hailed as one of director Ridley Scott’s most significant films. It embodies much more than a buddy road trip and explores significant themes of friendship, loyalty, and liberty. Even if you’ve seen the movie before and know how it ends, it doesn’t lessen the impact of this iconic movie. Thelma & Louise remains as potent and powerful as it was upon its debut, over three decades ago.
'Fun with Dick and Jane' (2005)
When husband and father Dick Harper (Jim Carrey) gets a prestigious promotion at work, he thinks his life and finances are about to improve. However, his blame-shifting boss, Jack McCallister (Alec Baldwin), has really set him up to be the fall guy as the entire company is bankrupt and collapses overnight. Fun with Dick and Jane is inspired by the real-life events of the Enron scandal. It hits close to home in that Dick and his wife Jane (Téa Leoni) are not hardened criminals; they are a married couple. They are the victims of fraud and resign themselves to stealing after pursuing every other option as a way to stay financially afloat.
Fun with Dick and Jane is a hilarious comedy, and Carrey and Leoni have perfect chemistry together. There are numerous scenes that will make viewers laugh out loud, and the movie is exemplary of examining a descent into desperation. Fun with Dick and Jane continues to be relevant as the economy fluctuates and massive corporate layoffs abound. As the adage goes, when situations are dire, you can either “laugh or cry about it,” and Fun with Dick and Jane chooses to laugh.
'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story' (2016)
Sometimes a theft isn’t about riches. In Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, a small group of misfits team up to save the galaxy from the tyrannical rule of the Empire. Led by Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) and Cassian Andor (Diego Luna), the rebels risk their lives to steal blueprints for the Death Star. The stakes are incredibly high in that this information would give the rebellion the tactical advantage they need to take down the largest weapon in the galaxy.
Although some of the other Star Wars prequels have been met with mixed reviews, Rogue One’s overall approval rating is solid. It is a great standalone movie that enhances the rich worldbuilding of the original saga while feeling like its own epic narrative. Rogue One gifted the world with the infamous Darth Vader (Spencer Wilding/James Earl Jones) hallwayscene, which has gone on to influence numerous projects, including Stranger Things. Rogue One is considered by many to be one of the best Star Wars films, and it has infinite rewatchability.
'National Treasure' (2004)
A heist movie for the whole family, National Treasure features Nicolas Cage as Benjamin “Ben” Franklin Gates. Ben is a history enthusiast who follows in his ancestor’s footsteps, trying to locate a hidden treasure of the Knights Templar. What makes the race for the treasure all the more exciting is that his former colleague with a nefarious background is seeking it as well and will stop at nothing to find it.
National Treasure is a fun, family-friendly adventure. It incorporates interesting snippets from Americana and blends them with its own mythos. It is a movie that audiences love, and critics love to hate. Though it's not Oscar material, National Treasure is endlessly rewatchable and highly amusing. The fun facts about America are interesting, the performances are committed, and the unraveling of clues makes it feel like a patriotic version of The Goonies meets Indiana Jones.
'Ocean's Eleven' (2001)
Taking an already excellent movie from 1960 and updating it for the 21st century, Ocean’s Eleven delivered the same pack of star power and humorous punch as its predecessor. George Clooney stars as Danny Ocean, a conman with a score to settle. Danny and his wingman Rusty (Brad Pitt) put together a team of individuals, each with a particular set of skills, to help him pull off the ultimate heist, robbing three casinos in one night. Danny and his accomplices are not targeting three casinos at random; they all belong to Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia), the man who is involved with Danny’s ex-wife, Tess (Julia Roberts).
Ocean’s Eleven is the first movie in a trilogy directed by Steven Soderbergh. Each movie has its own strengths, but the first is arguablythe most rewatchable. It is brimming with excitement, nuance, and comedic timing. The star-studded cast and perfect direction by Soderbergh make Ocean’s Eleven one of the best heist movies to watch over and over again.
'Mission: Impossible' (1996)
The movie that launched a successful canon of films, Mission: Impossible is the first of the eight-movie series, following Tom Cruise as agent Ethan Hunt. In Mission: Impossible, Ethan is framed for treason and must go rogue to protect his freedom and find out who the real traitor is. The superbly talented cast includes Jon Voight, Ving Rhames, Jean Reno, Emmanuelle Béart, Vanessa Redgrave, and Kristin Scott Thomas.
Mission: Impossible feels timeless. It is somehow only getting better with age and holds up remarkably well today. Audiences can get lost in the thrills of espionage, where you can’t trust anyone but yourself, and circumstances can change at any moment. Mission: Impossible is one of Cruise’s most important movies, and it has left its mark on cinema forever.
'Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels' (1998)
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels is director Guy Ritchie’s and actor Jason Statham’s first feature film. The two talented contributors burst onto the scene with this dynamic and much-adored heist film. Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels follows a group of four friends who get in way over their heads in a rigged poker game and find themselves owing half a million pounds to a ruthless crime boss. Their plan to rob some robbers goes awry, and a fantastic, stylized, and energy-infused comedy of errors ensues.
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels is one of the best British crime movies ever. It has all of Ritchie’s signature hallmarks and established his and Statham’s careers in the industry. Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels has aged like a fine wine and remains as beloved by devotees as it was upon its release. Unexpected comedy, freeze-frames, and dynamic characters make the movie exemplary among others in the genre. This indelible and effervescent project paved its own path of excellence and left a legacy that continues to impact modern crime movies today.
'Inside Man' (2006)
One of Spike Lee and Denzel Washington’s best collaborations, Inside Man is about the perfect bank robbery, or is it? From the first few minutes of the movie to the very last, Inside Manwill keep audiences guessing and on the edge of their seats. There is so much going on that it is impossible to take it all in a single viewing, making Inside Man a heist movie that you will definitely need to watch more than once.
With unexpected humor, clever dialogue, and surprising plot twists, Inside Man delivers on all fronts. The cast is spot-on in their performances. Jodie Foster, Clive Owen, Christopher Plummer, Willem Dafoe, and Chiwetel Ejiofor join Washington to make the movie as luminous as the diamonds the thieves are searching for. Inside Man never gets old. It is still a clever, interesting, and dynamic watch, and it does not lose its value, no matter how many times you watch it.
'Bullet Train' (2022)
When a man with the codename “Ladybug” (Brad Pitt) is hired to steal a briefcase off a train, it presents as an easy job. However, things get complicated quickly when more players enter the game, and Bullet Train packs a punch of hits that never stop coming. As more and more assassins and desperate characters board the locomotive, Ladybug notices a pattern that is slowly evolving in that all of them have had dealings with a criminal kingpin known as “White Death” (Michael Shannon).
Bullet Train is a banger from start to finish. It has comedy, surprise twists, and plenty of action. There are even a few moments that could tug on the heartstrings of more sensitive viewers. The cast of Bullet Train is absolutely brilliant, and it is a feast for the senses. The soundtrack, cinematography, stunt choreography, and overall mise-en-scène are flawless. From dramatic and stylized flashbacks to nontraditional fight scenes, there is never a dull moment. Part action, part heist, part manga, and part comedy, there is something for every fan in Bullet Train. It is one of the best movies released post-COVID and is enjoying a successful run on streaming. Bullet Train is an undeniable crowd-pleaser, and fans keep wanting to watch it again and again.
'Inception' (2010)
Directed by Christopher Nolan, Inception is a surrealist thrill ride that is perfect from start to finish. The use of false perspectives and moving set pieces gives the movie a photorealistic feel that is completely immersive. Instead of being bogged down by copious amounts of CGI, Inception uses practical effects whenever possible, and by doing so, creates a visually stunning movie that is absolutely flawless.
Inception is such a complex and layered movie that you can watch it time after time and still get something new from it. The cliffhanger ending is still hotly debated, and instead of being a cut-and-dried summation of the movie, it lends itself to many conspiracy theories and wormholes. In a world where entering another person’s dreams is possible, the opportunity to take or implant something in their mind is a powerful and dangerous enterprise. The real asset worth protecting or coveting in Inception is the key foundation of what all heists start with: an idea. Inception was nominated for eight Oscars, including Best Motion Picture of the Year, and took home the trophy four times, including a win for Best Achievement in Cinematography. It is sleek, sexy, stealthy, and cerebral. Inception is an elevated take on the heist genre and remains an untouched cinematic masterpiece.
