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. 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.
7. The Trust (2016)
When working with Nicolas Cage to steal dirty money, you must be prepared for anything and everything. In ‘The Trust,’ Sergeant David Waters (Elijah Wood) teams up with his older boss, Lieutenant Jim Stone (Cage), both in the Evidence Management unit of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police, to steal a stash of dirty cash hidden somewhere inside a building. It is clear that their objective is risky, and there are high chances of the gang coming after them, not to mention all the stuff they need to pull off the heist without setting off any alarms. Considering Stone is unhinged and proudly so, Waters has to keep him in check and ensure that everything goes as planned. Directed by Alex and Ben Brewer, ‘The Trust’ is a binge-watch-worthy heist movie with equal amounts of Cage-propelled humor, heist, and action. You can watch it here.
6. The Thomas Crown Affair (1968)
This Oscar, BAFTA, and Golden Globe-winning heist drama is directed by Norman Jewison. Starring Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway, the film follows millionaire businessman-sportsman Thomas Crown (McQueen), whose boredom makes him successfully orchestrate a bank heist. The bank hires independent investigator Vicki Anderson (Dunaway), who eventually finds out that the culprit is Crown. However, an affair between the two compromises Vicki’s urge to bring Crown to justice. To test her loyalty, Crown chalks out another heist and informs her of the location of the “drop.” Will Vicky join Crown in love, or will she remain on the side of justice? ‘The Thomas Crown Affair’ is considered one of the best heist movies ever, underscored by an equally compelling romantic subplot. You can watch it here.
5. Ronin (1998)
Directed by John Frankenheimer, ‘Ronin’ brings together a stellar ensemble for a fast-paced heist action thriller. We have Robert De Niro, Stellan Skarsgård, Natascha McElhone, Jonathan Pryce, Sean Bean, and Jean Reno. The film centers on a group of former special operatives/mercenaries tasked with stealing a briefcase whose contents are unknown. The catch? They have to steal it from a heavily protected and armed Japanese convoy. The briefcase’s value eventually leads to shifts in loyalties among the group as well as the ulterior motives of the members, including the person who hired them. This arrangement results in one of the best car chases in cinematic history. A must-watch film, ‘Ronin’ can be streamed 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. Now You See Me (2013)
Directed by Louis Leterrier, ‘Now You See Me’ is a heist movie showing how four small-time magicians steal money from a bank via their performance and distribute the money among its audiences. This sets an FBI agent and an Interpol agent on their trail, assisted by a guy who is a professional exposer of illusions. What follows is how the trio looks into the case and the four magicians and find out how they pulled off the heist. It is a one-of-a-kind heist film that is packed with thrill and excitement from start to finish. Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Mark Ruffalo, Morgan Freeman, and Michael Caine, ‘Now You See Me’ is a must-watch. You can stream it 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
