Five Best Heist Films
Miramax Films
Nothing beats the thrill of watching a classic heist film. Double crosses. Sudden bursts of violence. Characters with opposing goals. A robbery gone wrong. All these and more make up a great heist film, and if you’re looking for something to watch over the weekend, we’ve come up with a list of five of our favourites. Vaya con Dios.
Rififi (1955)
The most influential film on this list was adapted from Auguste Le Breton’s novel of the same name and directed by blacklisted filmmaker Jules Dassin. Unlike most heist films, the nearly half-hour robbery, shot in almost complete silence, goes off without a hitch. It’s the aftermath when it all turns to tears.
The Town (2010)
A gang of violent Boston crims is forced to commit one final heist – robbing Fenway Park. Ben Affleck takes double duty as star and director, while Jeremy Renner is chilling as his psychotic best friend. It features the best car chase since Ronin.
Reservoir Dogs (1992)
Quentin Tarantino’s directorial debut flips the heist film on its head, eschewing the takedown for the aftermath of the botched robbery. Harvey Keitel leads an all-star cast with one of the greatest Mexican standoffs of all time.
Den of Thieves (2018)
The best Heat rip-off with Gerard Butler hamming it up in career-best form as “Big Nick” O’Brien. Butler’s Major Crimes Unit comes up against Pablo Schreiber’s crew of ex-marines, who are attempting to rob the Federal Reserve.
Point Break (1992)
Keanu Reeves’ excellently named FBI agent Johnny Utah goes undercover to infiltrate a gang of surfers led by Patrick Swayze’s philosophical Bodhi, who fund their endless summer robbing banks. A ‘90s classic with Gary Busey in fine form. “Utah! Get me two!”
