A Glean movie guide
The Art of the Double-Cross
Don't trust anyone until the credits...
Heist films where the robbery is only half the story.
Handpicked for this guide
The movie list
- 01
The Usual Suspects
A masterclass in narrative deception that builds to one of cinema's most iconic final 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
Inside Man
A high-stakes bank robbery where the true objective remains hidden until the very last move.
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.
- 03
The Sting
This legendary con-artist caper perfected the art of the double-layered twist ending.
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.
- 04
Widows
A gritty, character-driven heist that pulls the rug out from under you with a shocking mid-movie revelation.
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.
- 05
Nine Queens
This Argentine gem is a relentless series of swindles culminating in a brilliant final-act reversal.
Two con artists try to swindle a stamp collector by selling him a sheet of counterfeit rare stamps, the "nine queens".
- 06
Ocean's Eleven
A slick, stylish ensemble piece that keeps its best secrets tucked away until the final execution.
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.
- 07
The Handmaiden
A lush, atmospheric thriller that uses perspective shifts to completely redefine the heist you're watching.
1930s Korea, in the period of Japanese occupation, a new girl, Sookee, is hired as a handmaiden to a Japanese heiress, Hideko, who lives a secluded life on a large countryside estate with her domineering Uncle Kouzuki. But the maid has a secret. She is a pickpocket recruited by a swindler posing as a Japanese Count to help him seduce the Lady to steal her fortune.
- 08
Logan Lucky
A clever 'hillbilly heist' that proves the smartest person in the room is the one you least expect.
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
Inception
A mind-bending sci-fi operation that uses the mechanics of a heist to explore layers of reality and doubt.
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.
- 10
Reservoir Dogs
A tense, dialogue-heavy thriller focused on the bloody aftermath of a job and the hunt for a hidden mole.
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.
- 11
Bad Genius
An inventive thriller that applies high-stakes heist tropes to a massive academic cheating operation.
Lynn, a brilliant student, after helping her friends to get the grades they need, develops the idea of starting a much bigger exam-cheating business.
- 12
Heist
Written by David Mamet, this film is packed with sharp dialogue and layers of betrayal that never stop shifting.
Joe Moore has a job he loves. He's a thief. His job goes sour when he gets caught on security camera tape. His fence, Bergman, reneges on the money he's owed, and his wife may be betraying him with the fence's young lieutenant. Moore and his partner, Bobby Blane, and their utility man, Pinky Pincus, find themselves broke, betrayed, and blackmailed. Moore is forced to commit his crew to do one last big job.