Heist films are one of the longest running genres in cinema, and it’s easy to see why. In bringing together a motley crew of characters, each with specific skills, to achieve the common goal of pulling off an audacious theft or robbery, these films guarantee chemistry, tension and excitement. Below we take a look at some of the best heist films in modern cinema.
Ocean’s Eleven (2001)
No list of heist movies would be complete without 2001’s Ocean’s Eleven, directed by Steven Soderbergh. The film sees George Clooney lead an all-star cast of Hollywood greats including Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt and Matt Damon as a gang of roguish thieves and confidence artists. Set against the opulent backdrop of Las Vegas, the film covers the planning and execution of an ambitious $160 million heist from a casino owned by antagonist Terry Benedict, played masterfully by Andy Garcia. Ocean’s Eleven is actually a remake of an earlier 60s film that featured the Rat Pack (Sammy Davis Jr, Frank Sinatra et al.) in a similar caper, though despite its dazzling cast it doesn’t stand up as well as the modern film.
Heat (1995)
Heat caused quite a stir when it first came out thanks to its formidable casting. The 1995 crime thriller brought together Hollywood and Mafioso film legends Al Pacino and Robert De Niro on screen for the first time. This was not the first time the two worked together on the same film, as that accolade instead went to Francis Ford Coppola’s 1974 sequel, The Godfather Part II (which can now be enjoyed on Amazon Prime Video). In that film, the two stars each played roles in different time-lines within the narrative, thus never sharing screen time. Heat is unapologetically built around the chemistry generated between these two legendary actors facing off against one another. Al Pacino plays Lieutenant Hanna, a seasoned detective who stands as the only person capable of bringing down the serial bank robber Neil McCauley (De Niro). Sparks fly as the two attempt to outmanoeuvre one another, generating respect and admiration for each other’s capabilities. The end result is the crown jewel of 90s action thrillers, with some of the most gripping heist scenes ever committed to film.
Inception (2010)
Christopher Nolan’s astounding 2010 thriller starring Leonardo DiCaprio may not readily come to mind when considering heist movies. It’s easy to see why, as few blockbuster films have been quite so mind-bending or based on such a novel premise as this minor masterpiece. DiCaprio’s character, Cobb, is a thief who specialises in the theft of information from people’s subconscious by way of their dreams. The central plotline of this labyrinthine film sees Cobb form a crew in order to dive into the increasingly nested dreams of his enemy’s son so that information can be retrieved that will clear him of his criminal record. Where more traditional heist films typically have the various members of a crew focusing on executing different elements of the plan like a well-oiled machine, Inception reinvents this by placing the different members in different levels of the dream-world, making for a completely unique and gripping cinematic experience.
Ronin (1998)
Our second entry in this list to feature Robert De Niro is no less deserving. Ronin places De Niro alongside Stellan Skarsgård, Sean Bean and Jean Reno in a team of ex-special forces mercenaries tasked with recovering a mysterious briefcase from the possession of some Russian gangsters. The film is well remembered for the rapidly shifting loyalties of the members of the crew, with deception and subterfuge around every corner, as well as the growing camaraderie between Jean Reno and De Niro’s characters that form the backbone of the movie. It is also well remembered for its realistic car chase scenes through Paris and Nice, which stand up today as some of the most exciting and well-choreographed action scenes in cinema.