Image credit: Warner Bros., Trimark Pictures, Miramax, Gramercy Pictures, SPE, TSG, MGMm Gigantic Pictures, October Films
Intricate plots and adrenaline-fueled sequences galore.
The 1990s were a veritable golden age for heist movies. Need more proof of that? Here it is:
1. "Quick Change" (1990) Rotten Tomatoes score: 84% Ever wondered what it would be like if Bill Murray pulled off a bank heist? "Quick Change" answers that very question in a riotous, off-kilter style. Murray plays Grimm, a disillusioned city planner who, along with his accomplices Phyllis (Geena Davis) and Loomis (Randy Quaid), robs a bank dressed as a clown. The heist itself? Smooth as silk. But the escape? Now that's another story.
The trio's attempt to flee New York City turns into a comedic nightmare, making us wonder if the city's chaotic charm is the real antagonist.
2. "Deadfall" (1993) Rotten Tomatoes score: 25% Nicolas Cage in a heist movie is as wild as you'd expect. "Deadfall" features Cage in one of his most over-the-top roles as Eddie, a con artist caught up in a web of deceit and betrayal. At the center of the story is Joe (Michael Biehn), who, following his father's death, gets embroiled in a high-stakes con game.
The twists and turns are dizzying, with a story that drags you down a rabbit hole of double-crosses and hidden agendas.
3. "Fresh" (1994) Rotten Tomatoes score: 88% "Fresh" is a heist film that's as much a coming-of-age story as it is a crime thriller.
The film follows Michael, a.k.a. "Fresh" (Sean Nelson), a 12-year-old boy using his street smarts and chess skills to survive in a drug-infested neighborhood. The plot thickens as Fresh devises a plan to save himself and his sister from the dangerous world they're entangled in.
4. "The Underneath" (1995) Rotten Tomatoes score: 62% Directed by Steven Soderbergh, this film tells the story of Michael Chambers (Peter Gallagher), a man returning to his hometown and quickly getting sucked back into old habits and dangerous liaisons. His involvement with his ex-wife, a complicated relationship with his family, and a risky armored car heist set the stage for a story rife with tension and moral ambiguity.
It's a slow burn, with a focus on character development and atmosphere.
5. "Palmetto" (1998) Rotten Tomatoes score: 39% Imagine getting out of prison, only to find yourself trapped in an even more complex web of deceit. That's the story of "Palmetto," where Woody Harrelson plays Harry Barber, a man who, shortly after being released from prison, gets involved in a fake kidnapping scheme that spirals out of control.
Set in the steamy, sultry atmosphere of Florida, the film is a sweltering blend of noir and thriller.
6. "Safe Men" (1998) Rotten Tomatoes score: 57% "Safe Men" (1998), a delightful concoction of mistaken identities and criminal escapades, features Sam Rockwell and Steve Zahn as two rather inept lounge singers who find themselves hilariously misidentified as master safecrackers.
Set against the backdrop of Providence, Rhode Island's less-than-glamorous criminal underworld, our duo is coerced into service by a local mob boss, portrayed with gusto by Michael Lerner.
7. "Croupier" (1998) Rotten Tomatoes score: 95% "Croupier" stars Clive Owen as Jack Manfred, an aspiring writer who takes a job as a croupier to make ends meet. This decision leads him into the world of casino gambling, which becomes the backdrop for the film's central heist.
The plot unfolds as Jack becomes entangled in a robbery scheme masterminded by a gambler.
8. "Thick as Thieves" (1999) Rotten Tomatoes score: 56% In "Thick as Thieves," Alec Baldwin stars as Mackin, a professional thief planning to retire after one last job. However, his plan goes awry when he finds himself in the middle of a gang war between two rival bosses.
The movie pivots around Mackin's attempts to navigate this dangerous landscape while being pursued by a persistent cop. The heist itself is a complex affair, involving a series of betrayals and a twisty plot where loyalty is a rare commodity.
9. "Blue Streak" (1999) Rotten Tomatoes score: 36% In this comedic caper, Martin Lawrence plays Miles Logan, a thief with a knack for finding himself in rather sticky situations. The plot thickens when Logan, in a moment of sheer brilliance or perhaps sheer panic, decides to hide a purloined diamond in a building – but said building morphs into a police station.
Cue the hilarity as Logan, in a desperate attempt to retrieve his sparkling loot, adopts the guise of a detective. Luke Wilson plays the role of Logan's unwitting partner, embodying the perfect foil with his by-the-book approach.
10. "The Thomas Crown Affair" (1999) Rotten Tomatoes score: 69% The classic tale of a rich man with too much time and money on his hands. Thomas Crown, portrayed by Pierce Brosnan, is a man whose idea of a hobby is pilfering priceless artwork. This remake of the 1968 film is a suave mix of heist shenanigans and romantic tension. Crown finds himself in a riveting game of cat-and-mouse with Catherine Banning, an insurance investigator played by Rene Russo.
The plot thickens as Crown tries to stay one step ahead of Banning and the police, blending the thrill of the heist with the complexity of their evolving relationship.
