Shubhabrata Dutta
Heist movies should be your best bet if you are looking for some adrenaline on the cheap. People break into banks or jewelry stores, and the tension spirals out of control. Ultimately, the perpetrators flee with the reward in a near-impossible feat or mess up the plan beyond repair. No matter the outcome, heist thrillers are all the rage nowadays, especially with shows like ‘Money Heist’ smashing online streaming charts. Now, if you are looking for some great heist movies you can watch on HBO Max, we have prepared a list, gathering the genre’s classics for your consideration.
8. Triple 9 (2016)
With a stellar cast that includes Casey Affleck, Anthony Mackie, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Aaron Paul, ‘Triple 9’ is directed by John Hillcoat. The action thriller centers on a group of corrupt cops and criminals whose objective of clearing the charges put on a Jewish-Russian Mafia boss leads to a heist plan that involves a 999 scenario. 999 is a code for “officer down,” which will divert the cops away from the crew. However, things do not go as planned, thanks to an unstable crew member and a police detective. ‘Triple 9’ stuns more with its visuals and performances than its story. However, it is a true-to-form heist flick and an entertaining one at that. You can watch it here.
7. The Bling Ring (2013)
Based on the thefts carried out by the Bling Ring gang between October 2008 and August 2009, as reported by Nancy Jo Sales in the Vanity Fair article ‘The Suspects Wore Louboutins’ published in 2010, ‘The Bling Ring’ is a crime drama helmed by Sofia Coppola. It centers on the titular group of fame-obsessed teenagers who track down celebrities’ whereabouts to rob their mansions in their absence. How they got into this and what fate had in store for them is what we see in this flirtatious take on money, class, and morality. Starring Emma Watson, Israel Broussard, Katie Chang, and Taissa Farmiga, ‘The Bling Ring’ is a rare heist drama worthy of bingewatch. It can be streamed here.
6. Bandits (2001)
Starring Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton, and Cate Blanchett, ‘Bandits’ revolves around convicts/friends Joe (Bruce Willis) and Terry (Billy Bob Thornton), who escape prison and start pulling off bank heists to make enough money so that they can start new lives. During one of their exploits, they encounter a gorgeous woman named Kate Wheeler (Cate Blanchett), who, too, joins them in their plan. However, things get complicated soon when both Joe and Terry fall for her. What does one call such a heist of hearts? And will it lead to a fallout between the brothers-in-crime? With brilliant performances by all three leads, ‘Bandits’ makes an otherwise average narrative seem interesting and a worthy bingewatch. You can check it out here.
5. Good Time (2017)
Directed by the Safdie brothers (Josh and Benny Safdie), ‘Good Time’ is an underrated crime thriller that follows small-time criminal Connie (Robert Pattinson), who tries to get his younger brother Benny (Benny Safdie), who has a developmental disability, out of prison. Benny was arrested after attempting to flee from a suspicious police officer in the aftermath of a successful bank robbery. Knowing that Benny is not safe inside, Connie tries to find a way to get the money to bail him out without getting himself arrested, leading to a string of events. A visually stunning and compelling film that transcends the heist genre, underscored by a brilliant performance from Pattinson, ‘Good Time’ was an official selection at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival and completed for the Palme d’Or. You can watch it here.
4. The Hobbit Trilogy (2012-2014)
‘The Hobbit’ trilogy is an epic fantasy-adventure movie franchise directed by Peter Jackson. The series follows Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit who embarks on an unexpected adventure with a group of dwarves and the wizard Gandalf to reclaim their homeland from the fearsome dragon Smaug. As they journey through treacherous lands of Middle-Earth filled with mythical creatures and face daunting challenges, their ultimate goal is to steal the Arkenstone from Smaug’s lair. The film stars Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins, Ian McKellen as Gandalf, and Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield. Although not strictly a heist movie per se, ‘The Hobbit’ series does revolve around a daring mission to retrieve a precious artifact, an element that resonates within popular heist films. With its stunning visuals, captivating storytelling, and memorable performances, this cinematic masterpiece deserves a spot on this list. You may watch ‘The Hobbit’ here.
3. Den of Thieves (2018)
An elite unit of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and a team of ex-Marines lock horns in Christian Gudegast’s heist action thriller ‘Den of Thieves.’ The former Marines, led by Ray Merrimen, plan to rob the Federal Reserve, but the Sheriff’s Department is informed of the crime beforehand by a supposed informant. How these two opposing groups navigate their ways to accomplish their respective missions is what we find out in this high-stakes, energetic drama underscored by a powerful cast, including Gerard Butler, Pablo Schreiber, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, and O’Shea Jackson Jr. You can watch ‘Den of Thieves’ right here.
2. No Sudden Move (2021)
‘No Sudden Move’ is an enthralling crime thriller directed by Steven Soderbergh. The plot, set in the 1950s, revolves around a group of small-time criminals who are hired for what seems to be a simple job but quickly find themselves entangled in a complex web of deceit and danger. As they navigate through unexpected twists and turns, their lives become increasingly intertwined with powerful forces that will stop at nothing to protect their secrets.
The film boasts an impressive cast, including Julia Fox, Don Cheadle, Benicio Del Toro, Frankie Shaw, Ray Liotta, and Brendan Fraser. Whether you’re a fan of gripping suspense or masterful storytelling, this film is definitely worth watching for its intriguing plot and stellar performances from its star-studded cast. You may watch the film here.
1. Wanda (1970)
Barbara Loden graces the central role in her celebrated indie heist drama ‘Wanda.’ While chronicling a small-town ambiance, the movie lends a timely look at how women are traditionally portrayed in cinema. Furthermore, it drives its message home by taking the protagonist, Wanda’s plight to new heights. In a desolate Rust Belt town, she lives the life of a drifter, having given custody of her children to their father, as she fears that she is not enough to care for them. In due time, Wanda meets small-time criminal Norman Dennis, and the two plan a heist that goes awry. While not strictly a heist movie, it is one of the few female-centric movies on the list that conceals a theft in the plot. You can stream the film here.
Read More: Best Heist Movies on Netflix
