Shubhabrata Dutta
Our wildest dreams often connect to money in some way or the other, don’t they? Just imagine if currency notes pour down from the sky as rain or you get to sleep on a mattress made of money. Sounds fun, right? But alas, in the real world, this piece of paper tends to make people do weird and dangerous things. Enter the heist genre. The major reason for the massive popularity of bank robbery movies is the adrenaline rush and thrills.
Even though those dreams last only for two hours, the viewers simply identify themselves with the robbers, mostly heroes, in the movie and empathize with their social conditions. One could argue that these films are your best bet to see what your dreams would look like if they ever came true. Netflix, undoubtedly, has some of the best offerings in the genre to show you these possibilities.
23. The Misfits (2021)
Directed by Renny Harlin, this movie brings together a group of five talented robin-hood misfits, including locksmith/disguise expert Ringo, explosives expert Wick, pro martial artist Violet, con artist Prince, and professional thief/prison escapee Richard. These five join forces to steal a cache of gold bars that are hidden in one of the several private prisons owned by a guy named Schultz, who has laundered the money from a brotherhood that intends to use it to fund terrorists. How they pull it off against the overwhelming odds is what we see in this action-packed movie. As for the cast, we have Pierce Brosnan as Richard, with Tim Roth and Schultz in supporting roles. Joining them are Nick Cannon as Ringo, Jamie Chung as Violet, Mike Angelo as Wick, and Rami Jaber as Prince. You can watch ‘The Misfits’ here.
22. Lift (2024)
In F. Gary Gray’s heist comedy, ‘Lift,’ an ensemble cast, including Kevin Hart and Gugu Mbatha-Raw, embarks on a high-stakes adventure. Renowned thief Cyrus, played by Hart, leads a crew in simultaneous heists across London and Venice. When Interpol agent Abby Gladwell discovers incriminating evidence, an unexpected deal unfolds, compelling the crew to collaborate with law enforcement. The narrative weaves through intricate plans, unexpected challenges, and character dynamics, blending humor, suspense, and a touch of romance. You can watch the movie here.
21. Deidra & Laney Rob a Train (2017)
Directed by Sydney Freeland, ‘Deidra & Laney Rob a Train’ follows sisters Deidra (Ashleigh Murray) and Laney (Rachel Crow), who resort to looting night-time freight trains to make a living and take care of their little brother after their mother is imprisoned following “domestic terrorism” that results from her mental breakdown that in turn is an effect of their shackles of poverty. Their father is a good-for-nothing guy, and so the only way to survive and keep the Child Protection Services from taking them away is to make money. Thus, they do what the title suggests. Stellar performances by the actors, along with the way the film addresses societal issues, make ‘Deidra & Laney Rob a Train’ more than a heist film. You can watch it here.
20. Stealing Raden Saleh (2022)
One of the most entertaining heist movies out there, this Angga Dwimas Sasongko directorial, follows an art student named Piko who forges paintings to make money to pay the attorney of his father to get the latter out of prison. So when Piku gets the offer of a sizeable cash amount in return for a replica of “The Arrest of Pangeran Diponegoro” by artist Raden Saleh, he agrees. However, upon submitting the replica, he is blackmailed to steal the original painting that is inside the Presidential Palace. Piko thus recruits more people to get the job done. Each of these are pros in their respective spheres, be it computers, machines, athletics, or car racing. What follows is whether they are able to steal the painting, especially with a couple of detectives on their trail. Filled with twists and turns, ‘Stealing Raden Saleh’ is bound to keep you from batting your eyelids, and that’s where its quality lies. You can stream the film here.
19. Bank Robbers: The Last Great Heist (2022)
‘Bank Robbers: The Last Great Heist’ is an exciting documentary that chronicles how the Banco Río branch in Acassuso, Buenos Aires, was broken into by a group of robbers using replica firearms on January 13, 2006. While the robbers narrate their experiences and reveal inside details through one-on-one interviews, we learn more via dramatic reenactments of the events of that day. Besides, the film even uses miniature sets, elaborate maps, and human dummies to visually represent how the robbers managed to escape with $15 million. You can experience it here.
18. The Out-Laws (2023)
If you are looking for some fun in a heist movie, ‘The Out-Laws’ is a good choice. Directed by Tyler Spindel, the movie shows what happens when Owen (Adam DeVine), a young bank manager’s bank, is robbed by the infamous duo Ghost Bandits. This happens right after he meets the parents of Parker (Nina Dobrev), the woman he is going to marry. The catch is that Owen thinks that the people who robbed his bank are his in-laws, i.e., Parker’s parents, Billy (Pierce Brosnan) and Lilly (Ellen Barkin). Meanwhile, there is also the crime boss Rehan (Poorna Jagannathan), who needs her money back from Billy and Lilly, for which she takes Parker hostage. As each of these events unfolds in the movie, we are provided with funny moments without losing the thrill. You may watch the movie here.
17. Robbing Mussolini (2022)
Originally titled ‘Rapiniamo il Duce,’ this Renato De Maria-directed Italian film is based on a true story, sort of. Set against the backdrop of World War II coming to an end, it tells the story of Pietro aka Isola (Pietro Castellitto), a thief, who finds out that Benito Mussolini and his closest friends intend to escape to Switzerland with all the treasure Mussolini has amassed in Milan during the latter’s reign. Pietro thus decides to steal the treasure, assisted by his crew. But it won’t be an easy feat as they will have to steal it from the Black Zone, an area heavily guarded. Mussolini did have a treasure, as addressed in the movie, but it got lost in time itself. There is romance, there is comedy, and there is a heist. Overall, this historical movie is certainly worth a watch. Feel free to check it out here.
16. Army of the Dead (2021)
The sequel to ‘Army of Thieves,’ Zack Snyder’s ‘Army of the Dead’ has all that is needed for a good heist movie, set amid a zombie outbreak. After an escaped alpha zombie turns the whole of Las Vegas into his zombie army, the military decides to bomb the city to the ground. That is when casino owner Bly Tanaka recruits mercenary Scott Ward and his team to recover $300 million from a bank vault located deep inside the city. The rest of the movie follows a proper bank heist sequence as the crew infiltrates the city, plans their approach, and tries to hit the vault. However, the added threat of a zombie apocalypse puts a spanner in the works, resulting in a mega face-off versus a massive undead horde. You can check out the film here.
15. Army of Thieves (2021)
A prequel to ‘Army of the Dead,’ Matthias Schweighöfer’s ‘Army of Thieves‘ can be considered a more traditional heist movie. Initially focusing on master safecracker Sebastian Schlencht-Wöhnert, the film portrays how he hates his boring, mundane life. However, the safecracker is soon invited to an unorthodox safecracking competition, winning, which leads to his recruitment into a bank heist crew. Planning on breaking into the three legendary safes created by Hans Wagner, the crew set out on their almost impossible mission with police officials hot on their tails. Although an out-and-out heist movie, ‘Army of Thieves’ provides its fair share of emotion and twists as Sebastian builds up a romantic relationship with crewmate Gwendoline Starr while being regularly targeted and ridiculed by her ex, Brad Cage. You can watch ‘Army of Thieves’ here.
14. The Vault (2021)
Set during the 2010 soccer World Cup, ‘The Vault’ follows engineering student Thom, who learns of an almost impenetrable vault under the Bank of Spain. The vault is rumored to be holding the mysterious treasure of Guadalupe, and once an experienced crew offers Thom an opportunity to join them in their quest to break into it, the engineering student comes up with a detailed plan to do so when the entire country is busy watching the world cup final. However, carefully laid out plans always tend to go awry, and the stakes are doubled when the crew learns that the vault sits on a large scale, which, if left unbalanced, will drown the whole room. You may watch the movie here.
13. Shimmer Lake (2017)
At first glance, ‘Shimmer Lake’ is an incredible crime thriller revolving around a small-town sheriff, Zeke Sikes, as he investigates a bank robbery and follows three suspects, one of them being his brother. With the narrative unfolding in reverse time, we first witness Zeke and his brother Andrew’s strained relationship as the latter is alleged to be involved in a bank robbery. The allegation is soon confirmed as Andrew, along with the wife of his accomplice, loads the money in her car to keep it safe. However, a shot soon rings out, and Andrew falls dead as the screen cuts to black. The movie then reveals the person behind the murder as the reversing narrative even takes viewers through the heist planning and execution. A bank-robbery film with an interesting twist, ‘Shimmer Lake’ is quite an enjoyable watch for heist lovers. You can stream it here.
12. Paradise Beach (2019)
‘Paradise Beach’ revolves around former bank robber Mehdi, who was captured and sent to prison following a failed bank heist. Once out of prison, Mehdi tracks his old crew to the city of Phuket in Southern Thailand, where they are making a living as traders. Determined to exact revenge and get his due from the robbery, Mehdi takes his brother Hicham’s help and travels to the beautiful seaside city where all hell breaks loose. Primarily focusing on brotherhood and the camaraderie between crewmates, ‘Paradise Beach,’ offers nail-biting action scenes amidst incredible coastal backdrops. You may watch it here.
11. Triple Frontier (2019)
Ben Affleck, Oscar Isaac, Charlie Hunnam, and Garrett Hedlund star in this Netflix original heist film as former soldiers of the U.S. Special Forces who have decided to use their sets of skills (that they have learned in the army) to make some money for themselves. They plan to step deep inside the jungles of Colombia and steal all the wealth of a drug lord who has been hoarding millions for quite some time now. However, the operation is hardly as easy as it looks on paper. While carrying out the same, these three individuals get into a rather difficult situation that tests their skills and friendship. This is a rather gritty heist thriller that does away with the technology and the luxury that we see in films like the ‘Ocean’s’ trilogy. Instead, it focuses on pure human courage, will, and determination. You can stream ‘Triple Frontier’ here.
10. Time to Hunt (2020)
Set amid a massive South Korean economic crash, the film follows Jun-Seok after he earns his release from prison. A former bank robber, Jun-Seok, gathers his friends, Jang-ho and Ki-hoon, and proposes to undertake one final heist before fleeing the country. The group targets an illegal gambling house and effectively gets away with thousands of US dollars. However, when the gambling house’s owners recruit a contract killer to recover a hard drive that was stolen along with the cash, the friends find themselves in a dangerous cat-and-mouse chase with their lives on the line, resulting in a fascinating and nail-biting climax. You can watch the movie here.
9. The Last Days of American Crime (2020)
Based on the graphic novel of the same name by Rick Remender and Greg Tocchini, the action movie is set in the near dystopian future. The U.S. government is ready to broadcast a signal that will prevent people from committing crimes intentionally. Intertwined with this tension is an ongoing heist and the plot is certainly an intriguing one. It stars Édgar Ramírez, Anna Brewster, Michael Pitt, Patrick Bergin, and Sharlto Copley. Although it did receive a few unfavorable reviews, the film is still a good one-time watch, especially due to its explosive action sequences. You may watch the film here.
8. Wheelman (2017)
Debutante director Jeremy Rush’s pulsating adventure-drama, ‘Wheelman,’ is a chilling experience for bank robbery movie lovers. The movie follows the Wheelman, played by Frank Grillo, a getaway driver in a dangerous and mysterious bank robbery plot. But as the plan progresses according to the timeline, he realizes a shocking fact: he has been betrayed by someone who knows everything about everyone in the scheme. Now, the Wheelman wants vengeance and tracks down the black sheep who stabbed him from behind. With the police at his tail, the Wheelman speeds up the hunt for his prey. Feel free to check out the movie here.
7. Yucatán (2018)
Comedy has the potential to uplift any action movie, and there are many productions in the past that have proved this point. ‘Yucatán’ is a Spanish thriller that also treads this path. When an old baker, who has won millions in the lottery recently, comes aboard a cruise ship, two white-collar scammers embark on a mission to steal this money from the man. The movie has some really funny moments, which mostly rely on a classier brand of humor. Furthermore, the story thrills you, especially because it is an easy one to follow. ‘Yucatán’ is longer in duration than many other films in the genre, but this is a nonissue. You can check it out here.
6. Don 2 (2011)
Starring Shah Rukh Khan as Don, ‘Don 2’ (sequel to ‘Don’ (2006)) takes place five years after the events of the first installment and shows Don surrendering to the cops. This is a trick because he knows that prison will keep him safe from the criminal gangs worldwide that are after his life. In prison, he chalks out a plan of escape with his rival Vardhaan, after which they intend to steal plates from the D. Z. Bank in Berlin. Will they be successful? What are the chances that Vardhaan won’t double-cross him? Directed by Farhan Akhtar, ‘Don 2’ offers a great heist plot while throwing light on Don’s intellect and wit. You can watch the movie here.
5. The Highwaymen (2019)
Directed by John Lee Hancock, ‘The Highwaymen’ reboots the notorious ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ heist franchise. The FBI and its supportive wings, to their maximum capacity, tail one of the most notorious criminals in history, but in vain. The authorities have no other options except to bring in two former Texas Rangers, Frank Hamer, and Maney Gault, played by Kevin Costner and Woody Harrelson, to get the job done.
The cop duo is quite famous for their instincts and old-school methods. They are commissioned as special investigators by a consortium of banks that are determined to end the robbery spree that took its toll on the lives of 13 cops and numerous bank vaults. You may watch the movie here if you want to find out what the end result is.
4. Coin Heist (2017)
Written and directed by Emily Hagins, this film is the story of four school students who join forces and plan a major heist to save their school. The four children in question are each of quite different dispositions. While one of them is a talented athlete, the other is great at studies. One excels with computers, while the fourth member is the perfect example of a slacker.
The best thing about the film is that despite the characters being described in such a fashion, each of these teenagers is well-rounded and has an interesting back story. Each protagonist is someone who needs to be taken seriously by the viewers. These kids have planned to rob the U.S. Mint, as they have come to know that this place manufactures around one million coins every thirty seconds. ‘Coin Heist’ boasts of equal measures of thrill and drama while also asking some important ethical and moral questions. You can stream the movie here.
3. A Man of Action (2022)
‘A Man of Action’ (Un hombre de acción) is a Spanish biographical heist drama based on the life of Spanish anarchist and forger Lucio Urtubia, often considered a Robin Hood character, who committed bank robberies and forgeries during the 1960s and 1970s, the most famous among which was the First National City Bank scam. He made printing plates and forged traveler’s checks to fund those who needed it the most. The French police never found the plates, so the government and the bank had to make a deal with him. Urtubia is played by Juan José Ballesta, who does a good job of showing the two sides of his character, the thief and the family man. ‘A Man of Action’ is directed by Javier Ruiz Caldera. You can stream it here.
2. Chor Nikal Ke Bhaga (2023)
‘Chor Nikal Ke Bhaga’ is a Hindi movie directed by Ajay Singh and starring Yami Gautam and Sunny Kaushal. Sweethearts Ankit (Kaushal) and Neha (Gautam) plan a diamond heist so that Ankit can repay a client his Rs. 20 crores, the worth of the client’s diamonds that Ankit’s diamond insurance company misplaced. The plan is to steal diamonds that are being smuggled from Al-Barkat to India on a flight. But just when Ankit, assisted by Neha, is about to get his hands on the diamonds, the flight gets hijacked by terrorists. How is that for a twist? ‘Chor Nikal Ke Bhaga’ is a very entertaining watch that is bound to give you the fun that comes with a heist movie while providing the tension of a hijack. You can watch it here.
1. Da 5 Bloods (2020)
Not every heist is about stealing; some are about taking back what’s yours. Spike Lee’s ‘Da 5 Bloods’ makes this statement very clear. Set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War (partly literally but more metaphorically), it tells the story of 4 US Army veteran males, the ‘4 Bloods,’ who fought alongside each other in the Vietnam War. They decide to return to the same place to exhume the body of the fallen ‘5th blood,’ their leader, as well as bring back the gold bars that they hid all those years ago. The stellar cast includes Delroy Lindo, Clarke Peters, Norm Lewis, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Chadwick Boseman, and Jonathan Majors.
To make the difference between the present and the past clear, Lee makes use of different aspect ratios and formats, expertly managing the portrayal of the war the way it was televised during that time. The Vietnam War was indeed the first war that was televised. ‘Da 5 Bloods’ has received multiple accolades and does a great job of transcending the heist genre while complementing it. You can check out the film here.
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