Image credit: Relativity Media, Warner Bros., Universal 1440 Entertainment, Lions Gate Films, Screen Gems, Open Road Films, Bleecker Street Media, STX Entertainment
If you thought caper movies were a thing of the past, you were wrong, and we sure got some proof.
Here are some of the under-the-radar heist films that didn't quite get the love they deserved.
1. "Masterminds" (2016) Inspired by the 1997 Loomis Fargo robbery, this comedy caper features David Ghantt, a simple guy stuck in a monotonous job, who gets lured into robbing $17 million by his work crush, Kelly, and her criminal friend Steve. After the heist, David is sent to Mexico with a small cut, while Steve keeps the rest. But Steve isn't one for loose ends and sends a hitman after David.
2. "Inside Man: Most Wanted" (2019) If you've seen the original "Inside Man," you might be a bit skeptical about this one, but give it a chance. This time, the mastermind, Ariella Barash, takes hostages in a highly fortified bank. Her aim? A long-lost treasure that's more than just gold bars and shiny jewels.
The FBI negotiator, Remy Darbonne, tries to outwit her. Does he succeed? No spoilers here! But let's just say the strategy goes beyond a simple game of cops and robbers.
3. "Triple 9" (2016) This is a movie that deserved better at the box office; it only raked in about $25.9 million globally. "Triple 9" is a gritty, intense ride from start to finish. We've got a gang of criminals and corrupt cops who plan to murder a cop – a "999," code for officer down – to divert the police while they pull off a heist across town. The guy they're targeting? Newbie cop Chris Allen.
4. "Logan Lucky" (2017) This is basically "Ocean's Eleven," but with a Southern drawl and NASCAR. Two brothers, Jimmy and Clyde Logan, plan a heist during a NASCAR race in North Carolina. Why? Because Jimmy loses his job and needs money for his daughter's beauty pageant. They enlist the help of Joe Bang, an explosives expert.
Pulling this off involves breaking Joe out of prison and slipping him back in without anyone noticing – and doing all this without getting caught by the race's heavy security.
5. "Den of Thieves" (2018) L.A. County. The Regulators, an elite unit of the county sheriff's department, against the Outlaws, a gang of ex-military men. Gerard Butler plays "Big Nick" O'Brien, a rough-around-the-edges cop who's hell-bent on taking down the gang led by Merrimen.
The plot centers around the Federal Reserve Bank in downtown Los Angeles. These guys aren't stealing from the bank; they're stealing the bank. The planning and execution are like a high-stakes chess match between Big Nick and Merrimen.
Guns, strategy, and a game of who-blinks-first.
6. "The Town" (2010) Set in the tight-knit neighborhood of Charlestown, Boston, "The Town" is led by Doug MacRay, a seasoned bank robber who questions his life choices when he falls for a bank manager from one of his earlier heists.
What starts off as a classic "bad guy meets good girl" spirals into a high-stakes game of cat and mouse with the FBI, especially Agent Adam Frawley, who's more than a little eager to bring Doug down. Doug plans one final heist – robbing Fenway Park. This isn't stealing a base; this is stealing millions.
7. "Man on a Ledge" (2012) A man stands on the ledge of a high-rise hotel in New York City, threatening to jump. But in reality, this isn't about the guy on the ledge at all.
Meet Nick Cassidy, an ex-cop turned convict, who uses the ledge as a distraction to clear his name. His brother and his brother's girlfriend are simultaneously trying to steal a diamond from a businessman who framed Nick. The police negotiator Lydia Mercer smells something fishy, and the clock is ticking.
High above the streets of NYC, it's literally a race against gravity!
8. "Focus" (2015) Con artist extraordinaire, Nicky Spurgeon, takes an aspiring swindler, Jess Barrett, under his wing. They become romantically involved but eventually part ways because, you know, business and pleasure and all that. Fast-forward a few years; they reunite in Buenos Aires where Nicky is in the middle of an elaborate scam involving a racing team owner.
The sexual tension and the high-stakes cons make it an intoxicating watch.
9. "Takers" (2010) A team of highly successful criminals is led by Gordon Jennings who live the high life funded by their ill-gotten gains. Life's a party until Ghost, a former member, gets released from prison and presents them with a too-good-to-be-true heist plan. The target? An armored truck carrying $20 million. But Ghost has his own axe to grind. With the LAPD hot on their trail, the gang starts to question the loyalty within their ranks.
10. "Now You See Me" (2013) This film is about four magicians – J. Daniel Atlas, Merritt McKinney, Henley Reeves, and Jack Wilder – brought together by mysterious circumstances. They form the Four Horsemen, an illusionist act that pulls off bank heists during their performances and rewards the audience with the money. Right under the nose of the FBI and Interpol, mind you.
Mark Ruffalo plays the frustrated agent trying to catch them. If you thought magic was just for kids, think again. These illusions serve as elaborate distractions, making the authorities run around like headless chickens.
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