A Glean movie guide
The Perfect Con
Expect the unexpected.
Heist films where nothing is quite what it seems.
Handpicked for this guide
The movie list
- 01
The Usual Suspects
A sole survivor recounts a deadly heist, leading to one of the most famous plot twists in cinema history.
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
Matchstick Men
A phobic con artist's life is upended by a narrative built entirely around a major recontextualizing twist.
A phobic con artist and his protege are on the verge of pulling off a lucrative swindle when the con artist's teenage daughter arrives unexpectedly.
- 03
The Sting
This quintessential con-man classic delivers a masterclass in layered storytelling and clever execution.
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
Inside Man
A high-stakes bank robbery unfolds as a complex, multi-layered puzzle with a brilliant final reveal.
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.
- 05
Ocean's Eleven
This stylish ensemble piece uses expert misdirection to pull off the ultimate Las Vegas casino heist.
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
Heist
Written by David Mamet, this film is a relentless game of double-crosses that keeps you guessing until the end.
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.
- 07
Reservoir Dogs
A post-heist mystery that uses a non-linear structure to hide the identity of a traitor in 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.
- 08
The Thomas Crown Affair
A bored billionaire's high-stakes art theft turns into a stylish cat-and-mouse game with an unexpected finish.
Bored billionaire executive Thomas Crown decides to plan a robbery and assigns a professional agent with the right information to the job. However, Crown is soon betrayed yet cannot blow his cover as he’s fallen in love.