A Glean movie guide
The Perfect Score
Expect the unexpected.
Heist films where nothing is quite what it seems.
Handpicked for this guide
The movie list
- 01
The Usual Suspects
A masterclass in misdirection featuring 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
Inside Man
A sharp, layered bank robbery thriller that keeps you guessing about the true motive 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.
- 03
The Sting
This quintessential con-artist film relies on a brilliant, elaborate twist to resolve its high-stakes game.
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
Now You See Me
A fast-paced spectacle where illusionists use their stagecraft to pull off impossible bank heists.
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.
- 05
Ocean's Eleven
The gold standard of modern heist films, utilizing impeccable misdirection to execute a massive casino robbery.
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
Logan Lucky
A clever, unconventional heist movie that proves you don't need high-tech gear to pull off a brilliant job.
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.
- 07
Confidence
A gritty, fast-moving con-artist thriller built entirely around layers of deception and shifting loyalties.
What Jake Vig doesn't know just might get him killed. A sharp and polished grifter, Jake has just swindled thousands of dollars from the unsuspecting Lionel Dolby with the help of his crew. It becomes clear that Lionel wasn't just any mark, he was an accountant for eccentric crime boss Winston King. Jake and his crew will have to stay one step ahead of both the criminals and the cops to finally settle their debt.
- 08
The Bank Job
Based on a real-life robbery, this film reveals that the vault's contents were far more dangerous than money.
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.
- 09
Widows
A tense, character-driven heist drama that delivers a significant narrative shift in its final act.
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
Reservoir Dogs
A post-heist puzzle that focuses on the paranoia of surviving criminals trying to identify an 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.