A Glean movie guide
Masterminds & Misdirection
Don't trust the plan.
Heist movies where the robbery is only half the story.
Handpicked for this guide
The movie list
- 01
The Usual Suspects
A masterclass in unreliable narration that culminates in one of cinema’s most legendary reveals.
Held in an L.A. interrogation room, Verbal Kint attempts to convince the feds that a mythic crime lord, Keyser Soze, not only exists, but was also responsible for drawing him and his four partners into a multi-million dollar heist that ended with an explosion in San Pedro harbor – leaving few survivors. Verbal lures his interrogators with an incredible story of the crime lord's almost supernatural prowess.
- 02
The Sting
An elaborate 'long con' that keeps both the target and the audience guessing until the final play.
A novice con man teams up with an acknowledged master to avenge the murder of a mutual friend by pulling off the ultimate big con and swindling a fortune from a big-time mobster.
- 03
Inside Man
A high-stakes bank robbery where the true objective is hidden in plain sight until the very end.
When an armed, masked gang enter a Manhattan bank, lock the doors and take hostages, the detective assigned to effect their release enters negotiations preoccupied with corruption charges he is facing.
- 04
Inception
A mind-bending 'dream heist' where layers of reality create a constant state of narrative uncertainty.
Cobb, a skilled thief who commits corporate espionage by infiltrating the subconscious of his targets is offered a chance to regain his old life as payment for a task considered to be impossible: "inception", the implantation of another person's idea into a target's subconscious.
- 05
Ocean's Eleven
A slick, stylish caper that uses clever misdirection to hide the crew's real move from the audience.
Less than 24 hours into his parole, charismatic thief Danny Ocean is already rolling out his next plan: In one night, Danny's hand-picked crew of specialists will attempt to steal more than $150 million from three Las Vegas casinos. But to score the cash, Danny risks his chances of reconciling with ex-wife, Tess.
- 06
Reservoir Dogs
A tense, non-linear post-heist breakdown centered on the hunt for a traitor within the group.
A botched robbery indicates a police informant, and the pressure mounts in the aftermath at a warehouse. Crime begets violence as the survivors -- veteran Mr. White, newcomer Mr. Orange, psychopathic parolee Mr. Blonde, bickering weasel Mr. Pink and Nice Guy Eddie -- unravel.
- 07
Nine Queens
A relentless series of double-crosses that proves no one is who they seem in the world of grifting.
Two con artists try to swindle a stamp collector by selling him a sheet of counterfeit rare stamps, the "nine queens".
- 08
Logan Lucky
A blue-collar heist with a hidden layer to the plan that reveals itself in a satisfyingly clever finale.
Trying to reverse a family curse, brothers Jimmy and Clyde Logan set out to execute an elaborate robbery during the legendary Coca-Cola 600 race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.
- 09
Widows
A gritty thriller featuring a mid-movie shock that completely recontextualizes the stakes.
A police shootout leaves four thieves dead during an explosive armed robbery attempt in Chicago. Their widows have nothing in common except a debt left behind by their spouses' criminal activities. Hoping to forge a future on their own terms, they join forces to pull off a heist.
- 10
The Bank Job
A true-story heist that spirals into a conspiracy involving government secrets and high-level cover-ups.
Terry is a small-time car dealer trying to leave his shady past behind and start a family. Martine is a beautiful model from Terry's old neighbourhood who knows that Terry is no angel. When Martine proposes a foolproof plan to rob a bank, Terry recognises the danger but realises this may be the opportunity of a lifetime.