ROTTEN TOMATOES: A Hundred Years of Heist Films

A Hundred Years of Heist Films

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48%

1960s: Ocean's Eleven (1960)

Crime got a little more fun in the swinging '60s, thanks to a batch of upstart capers and one iconic ensemble pic in particular: Lewis Milestone's seminal heist flick, Ocean's Eleven (1960). In addition to being the very first Rat Pack film, Ocean's broke new ground by adding some much-needed levity to a genre previously known best as a genre of violent crime and punishment. In short, it was fun. Frank Sinatra, who helped to shepherd the project towards its Vegas setting and appeared nightly at The Sands hotel during production, starred in the film as mastermind Danny Ocean, a suave veteran who pools together eleven associates (including Sammy Davis, Jr., Dean Martin, Peter Lawford, and Joey Bishop) to rob five Vegas casinos in one night. As an elaborate scheme plays out against the high-rolling desert setting, the crooks come out on top -- well, sorta. Even empty-handed, these playboy criminals are the epitome of hip 1960s cool, a sentiment echoed four decades later by the likes of George Clooney and Brad Pitt in Steven Soderbergh's remake of the same name. (Ocean's Eleven wasn't the only great heist movie of the decade; see Band of Outsiders (1964), Topkapi (1964), and The Italian Job (1969) for more onscreen capers that influenced future generations of filmmakers.)

97%

1970s: Dog Day Afternoon (1975)

Heist films enjoyed a resurgence in the 1970s -- at least in the number of pictures produced, if not necessarily in quality -- as comic capers, period dramas, and foreign films abounded, all tales of would-be robbers and their meticulously-planned schemes. [See Clint Eastwood in Kelly's Heroes (1970)! Robert Redford in The Hot Rock (1972)! Sean Connery in The First Great Train Robbery (1979)!] In Dog Day Afternoon (1975), the heist genre hit upon a new twist, thanks to the gritty realism of '70s filmmaking. Inspired by a true story, the anti-establishment classic starred Al Pacino as Sonny Wortzik, an amateur bank robber who becomes a media sensation when a heist goes awry. Suddenly, the criminal -- forced into his predicament by The Man, naturally -- became an antihero to root for as one man's lone crusade against society came to represent the hot button politics of the decade. (Audiences of the time also found themselves rooting for bandit couple Ali McGraw and Steve McQueen in Sam Peckinpah's The Getaway, and commiserating with crooks undone by insidious surveillance in The Anderson Tapes.)

96%

1980s: A Fish Called Wanda (1988)

The 1980s were not rife with heist films, but one thing they did not lack was a healthy cache of screwball comedies, so it's fitting that perhaps the most entertaining caper of the decade involved Kevin Kline (in an Oscar-winning role), Jamie Lee Curtis, and a couple of Monty Python alumni. A Fish Called Wanda chronicles the tale of two pairs of jewel thieves who team up for a job, ultimately with intentions of double crossing each other, and become entangled in each other's lives. Though the heist itself is not the main focus of the film, it serves as the setup for a slew of zany hijinks, and like a few of the other iconic films on this list, Wanda played with the genre's conventions to serve its purposes, often with hilarious results.

95%

1990s: Reservoir Dogs (1992)

A new wave of film brats took over the independent scene in the 1990s, chief among them Quentin Tarantino. For his feature debut, Reservoir Dogs, Tarantino turned the genre on its head, showing none of the heist and all of its grisly aftermath. From its myriad of film references to its audaciously cool dialogue to its inventive use of few locations and an even smaller budget, it's no secret that an endless series of violent films (Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels, The Boondock Saints, Smokin' Aces) released since are indebted to QT's work.

81%

2000s: Ocean's 11 (2001)

For the lead in this frothy remake of the Rat Pack flick about the simultaneous robbery of three Vegas casinos, director Steven Soderbergh chose George Clooney, frequent collaborator and one of few contemporary actors who effortlessly recalls old Hollywood chic. The resulting movie is a proudly shallow affair. Ocean's 11 pulls the rug from underneath the '90s brainy genre exercises that preceded it (Reservoir Dogs, Bottle Rocket, Heat), offering itself as a bubblegum caper filled with heavily stylized shots and a hot ensemble cast espousing witty one-liners. Other new millennium heist films, like The Italian Job (another remake) and The Bank Job, also patterned themselves after classic cinema, though more in line with the grittier style of the 1970s.

Want more on the heist film genre? Check out our previous Total Recall: Steal These 11 Heist Movies and take a peek at clips from this week's The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 below!

Written by Jen Yamato, Tim Ryan, Alex Vo, and Ryan Fujitani.

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(1-20 of 46 posts) | Reply

Gimy writes:
on Jun 11 2009 09:05 AM

how 'bout we forget the 80's all together, fish called wanda was boring, and add in Heat instead. the scene where they're shooting in the street is frikkin classic

(Reply to this)

tabascoman77 writes:
on Jun 11 2009 09:29 AM

Where the hell is "Bound"? Mamet's "Heist"? "Sneakers"?

(Reply to this)

Jen Yamato writes:
on Jun 11 2009 09:53 AM

Good suggestions, guys. This is just a sampling of the genre through the decades, so feel free to add in the movies we left off!

(Reply to this)

The Great One writes:
on Jun 11 2009 10:00 AM

Yes...I would much rather watch the Elf trailer than the Ocean's Eleven trailer...you guys read my mind!

(Reply to this)

Jen Yamato writes:
on Jun 11 2009 10:12 AM

Thanks, PT!

(Reply to this)

Auguman writes:
on Jun 11 2009 10:45 AM

I think that Heat is soooo over rated,

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villain78 writes:
on Jun 11 2009 11:36 AM

I love the Ocean's movies. Sorry. I know everyone hates them, but I don't know, I just love the throwback lounge-y feel to them.

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RT-Ryan writes:
on Jun 11 2009 11:37 AM

I have to say, I also personally think Heat is a bit overrated, but that shootout is about as intense as it gets.

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rle4lunch writes:
on Jun 11 2009 11:52 AM

you know what's overrated? TD effin' K!

but it was good. so don't flame me too bad nerdies.

(Reply to this)

gocaps99 writes:
on Jun 11 2009 11:56 AM

How about Catch Me If You Can or Snatch?

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Pleasuretown writes:
on Jun 11 2009 12:56 PM

Maybe Inside Man? It's a pretty enjoyable heist flick.

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Daniel G. writes:
on Jun 11 2009 01:57 PM

Although the word "heist" can refer to any robbery, I feel the term "heist movie" implies the crafting of a meticulous and clever plan (or an overly complicated and bungled farce of one), and then the execution of said plan. So I'm not really buying the selections of "Reservoir Dogs" (though meticulously planned, the heist itself occurs offscreen) or "Dog Day Afternoon" (What heist? This is the worst "plan" ever, and this movie is not a comedy). That's not to say they're not good movies, they're both great, but they're not heist movies like say..."Sneakers".

The Ocean's 11 remake is very good and a guilty pleasure, but since you included the superior original version, why not go with "The Score" with Deniro and Ed Norton? Am I the only one that thought this was a great heist movie?
Although a documentary, what about "Man on Wire"? I was sweating bullets watching that one.
Also, "The Sting". Kind of a reverse heist, but it feels like a heist movie none the less.

(Reply to this)

Dave J. writes:
on Jun 11 2009 02:05 PM

Influential heist movies is so subjective, well known film critic Leonard Malten states that (although mentioned)the Asphalt Jungle is the first real bank heist movie ever made (although not my favorite) he states others followed as a result such as Gambit, the Bank Job and the Killing. I don't quite understand how these people could define as influential heist movies when they're so many, Topkapi 64 influenced Mission Impossible. The movie that influenced Reservoir Dogs is Ringo Lam's City on fire and even better movie is Full Contact. Thomas Crown Affair is quite original, Jean Pierre Melville's Le Doules and Le Circle Rouge. "How to steal a million" and the Lavender Hill Mob was also influential as well. I'm sure Edward G. Robinson or James Cagney were also in some bank heist movies too. I know this is pointless but I feel that other existing films shuld be mentioned.

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derek s. writes:
on Jun 11 2009 02:13 PM

Hasnt anyone seen the film Thief, with James Caan? One of my favorite Michael Mann films, and a great "heist" story. Shoulda made this list.

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Bigbrother writes:
on Jun 11 2009 03:14 PM

In reply to this comment (#2512448)
Lovin the tomato suit Jen, now we just have to find a way to animate it so it does the happy dance :). Have to agree with Dog day not actually being a "Heist" movie, though it belongs on pretty much any list you can think of for excellence, so no real complaint there. Whoever said Oceans 11 the original was superior to the more modern incarnation has been out with Frank and the boys too long. Sinatra and Martin pretty much admitted they mailed in the performances and really only made the movie as an excuse to hang out in Vegas together. Like they really needed an excuse, but...

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Jen Yamato writes:
on Jun 11 2009 03:41 PM

I like The Great Muppet Caper myself. Intense. Influential. :)

(Reply to this)

dreiser writes:
on Jun 11 2009 03:58 PM

In reply to this comment (#2512494)
Totally concur re: Mann's "Thief." It is the quintessential heist picture. The movie is also on my top 20 favorites list. I think it's Caan's best performance as well.

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Ron D. writes:
on Jun 11 2009 04:48 PM

Some forgotten heist gems. Mostly from the 70s. All terrific movies.

Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (Clint Eastwood and Jeff Bridges)

Charley Varrick (Walter Mathau and Joe Don Baker)

Straight Time (Dustin Hoffman)

The Getaway (Steve McQueen)

The Friends of Eddie Coyle (Robert Mitchum and Peter Boyle)

Blood and Wine (Jack Nicholson and Michael Caine) 90s

Ronin (Robert De Niro) 90s

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Eddie V. writes:
on Jun 11 2009 05:09 PM

We forgot Kubrick's "The Killing" and "The Usual Suspect's". I love "Straight Time" and Bill Murray's "Quick Change". I can go on forever since it's my favorite genre but Lets not forget "Dead Presidents" and "Killing Zoe" I thinks they are underrated.

(Reply to this)

Eddie V. writes:
on Jun 11 2009 05:13 PM

We forgot Kubrick's "The Killing" and "The Usual Suspect's". I love "Straight Time" and Bill Murray's "Quick Change". I can go on forever since it's my favorite genre but Lets not forget "Dead Presidents" and "Killing Zoe" I thinks they are underrated.

(Reply to this)

1960s: Ocean's Eleven (1960)

1970s: Dog Day Afternoon (1975)

1980s: A Fish Called Wanda (1988)

1990s: Reservoir Dogs (1992)

2000s: Ocean's 11 (2001)

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