7 Best Heist Movies of the Last 20 Years (That Aren’t Fast & Furious)

Here are some modern films from the last two decades that feature a central heist plot, making them ideal choices if you’re looking to unwind with an engaging crime story. These movies differ from typical heist genre films like “Ant-Man” and “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves,” as they focus primarily on the heist itself, without any involvement from Dominic Toretto or his crew. To qualify for this list, the movie needed to present a relatively straightforward heist narrative. Some excellent examples include “Inception” and “Ocean’s Eleven (2011),” both of which are currently streaming. If you’re looking for something new, be sure to catch “Den of Thieves 2: Pantera,” now playing in theaters!

Inside Man (2006)

Denzel Washington has expressed his plans to retire in the near future, but if he does, audiences will have plenty of memorable performances from him, such as his role in Spike Lee’s “Inside Man.” This thrilling movie features Washington as Detective Keith Frazier, a New York Police Department hostage negotiator. When Clive Owen’s character, Dalton Russell, and his gang rob a Manhattan bank and take hostages, Frazier works tirelessly to ensure their safety and capture Russell.

Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead (2007)

It’s truly puzzling that Sidney Lumet’s last movie, “Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead“, failed to secure a single Oscar nomination in 2007, despite it being a standout film among many good ones. The fact that not a single nod was given to Lumet, screenwriter Kelly Masterson, or stars like Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke, Marisa Tomei, and Albert Finney for this powerful, emotionally gripping film is nothing short of surprising.

In this rephrased version, Hoffman plays character Andy, a broker who’s drowning in debt. To tackle his financial troubles, he recruits his brother Hank (Hawke) for an unconventional job: burglarizing a jewelry store with a unique connection – it belongs to their deceased parents. However, the heist doesn’t go smoothly as intended, and soon they find themselves face-to-face with their mourning and vindictive father (Finney).

The Town (2010)

Following the success of “Gone Baby Gone”, Ben Affleck’s “The Town” solidified his reputation as a director worth keeping an eye on, rather than just a performer to criticize. Moreover, it propelled Jeremy Renner, Rebecca Hall, and Blake Lively into A-list stardom. In essence, “The Town” predominantly revolves around Affleck’s character, Doug MacRay, who heads a bank robbery gang. His best friend James (Renner), often creates problems, as evident in their latest heist where James endangers a hostage (Hall). This incident stirs feelings in the once indifferent MacRay, making him question if there’s more to life than wealth and considering the possibility of leaving his criminal lifestyle at any moment.

Drive (2011)

Remarkably beautiful, backed by an excellent score, and superbly performed, Nicholas Winding Refn’s Drive (alongside the Pusher trilogy and Valhalla Rising) established the director as a notable talent to watch. Regrettably, his collaboration with lead Ryan Gosling in Only God Forgives was its polar opposite. However, even that disorganized production didn’t diminish the impact of this thematically deep crime movie.

Gosling portrays the character “Driver,” a professional stuntman in Hollywood who often transports criminals for his main income. Similar to Jason Statham’s role in The Transporter, he adheres to strict rules that must never be violated. However, when he forms a bond with his neighbor (Carey Mulligan) and her child, and her husband is released from prison, he finds himself unwillingly involved in a robbery that leads to violence and scattered shotgun shells.

Hell or High Water (2016)

Prior to consistently releasing a new streaming series each week, Taylor Sheridan initially produced some exceptional films. Among them were the script for “Sicario” and both writing and directing “Wind River”. However, it is widely considered that his best work was on “Hell or High Water”.

The narrative delves into the lives of two Texas Rangers (Jeff Bridges and Gil Birmingham), as well as a duo of brotherly outlaws (Chris Pine and Ben Foster). Toby, portrayed by Chris Pine, is generally stable, in contrast to his impulsive sibling. However, their combined skills make them formidable bank robbers, a job they deem essential due to the impending foreclosure of their family ranch, which they view as a pseudo-vocation.

Widows (2018)

While Steve McQueen’s films such as “Hunger,” “Shame,” and “12 Years a Slave” are undeniably exceptional, his latest work, “Widows,” may not quite reach those heights, but it certainly strengthens the argument for why he is one of the most gifted filmmakers active today. Similarly, Viola Davis delivers a complex, captivating performance that stands out in an ensemble cast.

The story unfolds around four women, whose spouses were involved in a botched robbery. Consequently, they find themselves implicated in the fallout, needing to secretly gather $5 million from a prominent local political figure’s residence to protect themselves and their children from danger.

Wrath of Man (2021)

Jason Statham consistently shines as the main character in heist movies, such as his role in The Italian Job where he excelled as a supporting actor. However, when it comes to leading roles, The Bank Job is an outstanding traditional British caper. On the other hand, Guy Ritchie’s Wrath of Man might just be Statham’s finest performance and Ritchie’s best film yet.

In this unconventional thriller, we follow the character “H” as he becomes part of a security team. His initial day is marred by a daring robbery, which he swiftly handles. This incident triggers a chain reaction of events that not only reveals more about his actions to his fellow team members, but also to the viewers, shedding light on the mystery surrounding “H”.

2025-01-13 21:10