The 20 greatest heist movies

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is on a downswing, but we cannot deny it was basically the lodestone of the film industry for a decade. They even got a heist film in the mix! “Ant-Man” is a fun comedy, focused on criminal-turned-superhero Scott Lang, as played by Paul Rudd. He, and his criminal cronies, use their skills to pull off a couple heists.

While “Ocean’s Eleven” is a remake (of a Rat Pack film at that), let’s be real. Nobody thinks about the original movie anymore. Steven Soderbergh’s film is packed with stars and oozes charm. We didn’t include the sequels, but they have their merits as well.

Wes Anderson’s first film is a low-budget heist comedy starring his college buddies Luke and Owen Wilson (also seldom-seen third Wilson brother Andrew). The stakes are relatively low, as befits an Anderson film and also a directorial debut, but many of the trademark touches of the director's distinct style are there. One of the better first films you’ll see.

Of course Quentin Tarantino would make a heist movie. Also, of course he would cast people like Pam Grier and Robert Forster. However, Grier and Forster are both really good in the movie! They shine even in a film with Robert De Niro and Samuel L. Jackson’s bananas facial hair! Probably still Tarantino’s most-underrated movie.

“The Killing” isn’t Stanley Kubrick’s first film, but it is his first “proper” film. Also, it’s one of the best ‘50s noir movies full stop. It’s lean, nasty, but not salacious. Sterling Hayden is stellar in the lead role, and the action is unsparing, especially by ‘50s standards.

Of course the Muppets would get around to a heist film. Also, of course they’d cast Charles Grodin as an infamous jewel thief and then have him fall in love with Miss Piggy. Grodin was a comedic genius. He could play off a dog (“Beethoven”), and he could delightfully commit to being in love with a pig puppet. R.I.P. to a legend.

A farcical black comedy (fitting for a film written by and co-starring John Cleese), “A Fish Called Wanda” was a commercial hit and critical darling. The heist film is the rare comedy to get a lot of love from the Oscars. Kevin Kline even won Best Supporting actor for his turn as the odious Otto.

We return to the world of Soderbergh, a director who likes to mess around in genre work from time to time. “Logan Lucky” is like a blue-``collar version of “Ocean’s Eleven.” It focuses on a pair of down-on-their-luck brothers played by Channing Tatum and Adam Driver who put together a plan to rob Charlotte Motor Speedway. Daniel Craig kind of does a dry run at Benoit Blanc, and it’s a lot of fun.

The original “Thomas Crown Affair,” if we’re being honest, is kind of a snooze. Stick to the remake. This is Pierce Brosnan’s best film, better than any of his turns as James Bond. It turns out suave criminal genius is more his speed.

“Topkapi” is a good ‘60s-style heist movie, with a hint of comedy but maybe not as much as you want from a film that seems to want to be a comedy half the time. However, if you are an Oscars aficionado, it’s worth seeing. Peter Ustinov won his second Best Supporting Actor award for “Topkapi.”

Steve McQueen is seen as a “serious” director, but that didn’t stop him from making a heist thriller that absolutely rips. Of course, it helps when you cast Viola Davis as the lead. Viola Davis rules. “Widows” isn’t a romp by any means, but it is gripping and exciting.

When you talk the most-‘90s movies, “Sneakers” has to be up there. It stars Robert Redford as a former ‘60s radical who puts together a team of hackers and men with certain skills (including a phone phreak) who are tasked with stealing a MacGuffin that doesn’t matter at all. It’s a good movie, though, with an impressive ensemble cast. If you like heist movies, and ‘90s movies, throw it on the to-watch list.

“Ronin” is solid filmmaking at its finest. While the movie is best remembered for some great car chases, in the midst of all that action is a heist. Robert De Niro is the human star, but we will admit those chases are the true star.

Speaking of De Niro, you could argue “Heat” is a heist film. However, we have gone with another Michael Mann movie instead. “Thief” is actually Mann’s debut movie. It’s so lean and pared down as to feel almost improbable. It’s pure Mann, right down to the litany of Chicago guys.

Like Soderbergh, Alfred Hitchcock enjoyed genre work. “To Catch a Thief” is one of those films. It’s like a romantic heist movie, in a way. Cary Grant plays a suave retired cat burglar (naturally) who falls in love with Grace Kelly (naturally) and has to prove his innocence when a copycat burglar starts committing heists.

Guy Ritchie’s breakthrough film “Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels” is a crime movie, but less of a heist movie. His followup, the one with the bigger budget and Brad Pitt’s blessing, is a heist movie. “Snatch” is probably a bit better than Ritchie’s first film, though it can’t help but feel a bit warmed over. Still, a worthwhile watch, and a good heist flick.

Now here’s a case where the original is much better than the remake. Michael Caine and his crew get together to steal sold gold out of an armored truck. Ever see footage of Mini Coopers tearing through Italy? That’s from “The Italian Job.”

Jules Dassin, who directed “Topkapi,” spent some time blacklisted from Hollywood. He went to Europe, and while there he directed “Rififi.” The film is considered to have one of the best heist scenes in movie history. Many consider it a film noir classic, and Dassin won Best Director at Cannes.

“Three Kings” manages to be both a war film and a heist film at the same time. George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, Ice Cube, and Spike Jonze play American soldiers who steal a cache of gold during the Gulf War. While Clooney and director David O. Russell really didn’t get along (basically nobody gets along with Russell), the work popped, to be sure.

If you want a modern version of a nasty ‘90s action flick, Michael Bay is the guy to make it happen. “Ambulance” is bonkers, violent, and filled with needless drone shots. Jake Gyllenhaal gives a gonzo performance, because why would Bay care? The thing is, it all works. “Ambulance” is ridiculous fun, and that’s what the heist genre is kind of all about.