Have you ever thought about planning your own heist? It may seem a little sketchy, not to mention dangerous and will definitely get you in trouble, but the thrill of robbing a bank sounds pretty awesome. We’ve seen how they do it in Money Heist, a popular show on Netflix with a brand new fourth season that aired a couple of days ago.
While it is not encouraged to actually take on a heist, it’s great fun to mentally plot out a masterplan. So, gather up your friends and take inspiration from these mind-blowing heist movies, where you will surely learn a few tips and tricks.
Updated on August 17th, 2020, by Shawn S. Lealos: Money Heist continues to roll along as one of the most successful foreign-language series on Netflix. It is also one of the best heist television series ever made, both when it comes to Netflix and broadcast or cable television. As it rolls along, many viewers want to find something to watch during the long waits between seasons. There are plenty of options for people who love Money Heist out there, especially in the realm of movies. We have looked back and found five more great options for fans of the Netflix heist series.
15 Jackie Brown (1997)
In 1997, Quentin Tarantino created his own heist movie in Jackie Brown. As with most Tarantino movies of that era, he brought back some iconic stars from the past that people had almost forgotten over time. This time around, it was Pam Grier, who starred as a flight stewardess who helped smuggle some money and drugs into the country and was arrested and turned into an informant. The movie is set up as a double-cross, shot Rashomon style where all sides of the story play out.
14 The Usual Suspects (1995)
In 1995, Bryan Singer enjoyed his breakout in Hollywood when he directed The Usual Suspects. The movie was another puzzle-style heist movie, which played out the heist in such a way that no one knew who was the mole until the very end, with one of the better twist endings in heist movies. The cast was top-notch, with Kevin Spacey as the top name in the cast as he tells the story of the mysterious Kayser Soze.
13 The Killing (1956)
When Quentin Tarantino talks about his movie Reservoir Dogs, he mentions the movie that influenced him, which was the 1956 classic Stanley Kubrick heist movie, The Killing. The film tells the story of a racetrack robbery and focuses on the team that is planning the heist, which includes a corrupt cop among more. Sterling Hayden led the cast for a movie that picked up the BAFTA Award for Best Film from any Source.
12 Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (2015)
Mission: Impossible has been one of the most successful espionage movie franchises in Hollywood since the first movie arrived over two decades ago. However, in 2015, the franchise kicked it up to a new level thanks to the arrival of Christopher McQuarrie. He ended up changing the look and feel of Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation, where it was almost as much a heist movie as a spy flick. As a note, the sequel Mission: Impossible - Fallout might be an even better movie for the series.
11 Heat (1995)
In 1995, Michael Mann released his masterpiece. The movie Heat brought together Al Pacino and Robert De Niro in a scene for the first time. While both actors were in Godfather II, they never shared a scene in that movie, so when the two were a cop and the criminal he was chasing sharing a scene at a diner, it was a groundbreaking moment. This movie also includes some of the best heist action scenes in any film and is a brilliant work of cinematic art.
10 Now You See Me (2013)
Have you ever thought of robbing a bank without moving an inch? Impossible, you might say, but these “Four Horsemen” made the impossible look as real as it could get. These highly trained thieves performed a heist with an audience and made it look fake so no one would be suspicious.
Now You See Me comes in two parts, with Morgan Freeman doing the glamorous job of narrating how these Four Horsemen plant their seeds. He hosts his own show debunking their secrets and revealing how they brainstorm, organize, and execute these heists.
9 Ocean’s 11 (2001)
Designing a heist plan is no easy job. In fact, it takes months for a group to create a masterplan that is viable and modifiable. There’s Plan A, B, up to Z. For Ocean’s 11, breaking in is easy -- it’s the ‘getting out of here’ that matters.
Thankfully, these brilliant heist experts know how to improvise. Everything does not always go perfectly and when things get messed up and out of hand, you’ll be amazed at how they handle it. This is one of the many Ocean heist films out there -- be sure to check out the rest.
8 Ocean’s 8 (2018)
A group of clever, cunning, and skilled women team up to steal the most secured and precious jewelry on earth, Toussant and divide it among them. Ocean's 8 is the perfect mix of thrill, comedy and Hollywood glam that audiences of all ages will surely enjoy.
Starring Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, and Anne Hathaway, Ocean’s 8 delivers witty one-liners, well-executed heist strategies, and an overall good plot. As an added bonus, you’ll be transported to the most prestigious Met Gala show with famous celebrity cameos.
7 Baby Driver (2017)
Let’s tune this up a bit -- literally, because Baby Driver is not just your ordinary heist film -- it’s an action film with an expertly curated soundtrack that plays a central role in the film. Baby, the lead character played by Ansel Elgort, is a driver for hire to a group of thieves. He is very familiar with every corner and curves of the streets and no one would suspect a kid with an innocent face for a serious offender.
You will also love the soundtrack of this film. Baby suffers from a hearing problem and so he needs to always put in his earphones so he can concentrate better. Besides, sharp focus is key to a successful heist, right?
6 Fast Five (2011)
The Fast and Furious franchise is a long-running series where every installment needs something new to focus on. If the rest of the films are about stealing cars, saving loved ones, and resisting the government, Fast Five is the heist one.
It’s understandable if the audience has lost count of how many Fast and Furious films there are, by this point and who knows what the final movie — if it’s really the last one ever — could be about.
5 21 (2008)
If the previously mentioned films were about stealing money through organized robbery, this one is about counting cards. Have you heard about the game blackjack? Its central goal is to acquire cards with a face value of 21, no more, no less. The better you are at counting cards, the more chance of winning.
Once you know how to manipulate the game, you can take home wads of cash, just like a jackpot winner. This is a low-key kind of heist -- no break-in required.
4 Inception (2010)
If you want a more complicated, sci-fi kind of heist film, then Christopher Nolan’s mind-bending Inception is for you. His intricate use of timelines and fusion of science and fiction will leave viewer's brains twisted in knots.
The story revolves around a professional thief named Dom who steals information by infiltrating the minds of his targets. Together with Arthur, they extract valuable information from their subjects using a high-grade military technology that allows its users to share their dream world. They are also tasked to implant ideas into their victim’s minds.
3 The Italian Job (2003)
What happens when there’s a commotion in a heist plan? In a group robbery, there will always be that one person who is most likely to turn against his teammates. There’s a popular saying about not trusting a fellow thief because someone is already plotting to steal all the money for himself.
At least that’s what happened in the film The Italian Job, an American remake of the 1969 British movie, starring Mark Wahlberg and Charlize Theron. Expect a lot of action scenes and car chases, especially with Jason Statham in the cast.
2 Ronin (1998)
A group of excommunicated mercenaries join forces to conduct a grand heist and retrieve an important briefcase. Starring Robert DeNiro, he and his crew must face the dangers of the job they agreed to. The catch is to deal and get along with people who they are only meeting for the first time.
Just like in Money Heist, the members are not allowed to share personal information about themselves, including real names. Because if things go south and the plan is compromised, these pieces of information can be used against one another.
1 Inside Man (2006)
A bank heist is never complete without a mastermind, negotiator, owner of the bank, and a police inspector who loses his mind over the case. Inside Man is a typical example of this film genre. The events are somewhat predictable if you’ve already watched hundreds of movies similar to it.
If you’re looking for a laid back heist movie to watch on a lazy afternoon, this will surely keep you occupied. But if you’re into FBI-like clue hunting and puzzle-solving, then the previous movies in this list are your best choices.