A Glean movie guide
The Perfect Crime? Heist Movies with a Twist
Don't blink.
From Vegas vaults to police lineups, these films prove that nothing is what it seems.
Handpicked for this guide
The movie list
- 01
The Usual Suspects
A legendary mystery where a police interrogation slowly unmasks a criminal mastermind.
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 brilliant bank robber plays a high-stakes game of chess with a detective in this unconventional thriller.
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
Two charismatic grifters execute an elaborate, multi-layered con that keeps the audience guessing until the end.
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
Ocean's Eleven
A stylish ensemble pulls off a Vegas casino robbery where the real magic happens in the final reveal.
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.
- 05
Reservoir Dogs
The aftermath of a botched jewelry heist turns into a tense standoff to identify a hidden police informant.
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.
- 06
Widows
Four women forced into a dangerous robbery discover a shocking betrayal that changes everything.
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.
- 07
Logan Lucky
A blue-collar crew plans a clever racetrack heist that hides its true genius until the very last moment.
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.
- 08
Nine Queens
This intricate Argentinian thriller follows two con artists through a series of increasingly complex deceptions.
Two con artists try to swindle a stamp collector by selling him a sheet of counterfeit rare stamps, the "nine queens".
- 09
The Bank Job
A gritty heist based on true events reveals a political conspiracy hidden inside a London bank vault.
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.
- 10
Bad Genius
A high-stakes cheating ring uses heist mechanics to pull off an international exam scam with a tense finale.
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.
- 11
Matchstick Men
A phobic con artist’s life is upended by his daughter, leading to a devastating late-film reversal.
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.
- 12
Now You See Me
A team of illusionists stages elaborate bank heists during their shows, hiding a secret mastermind in plain sight.
An FBI agent and an Interpol detective track a team of illusionists who pull off bank heists during their performances and reward their audiences with the money.