As with most subgenres of film — slasher, survival, zombie apocalypse — the oversaturation of heist-centered crime movies has become a recent fixation of mine. There’s something oddly intriguing about watching directors rework the same core premise (a group of criminals joining forces to pull off the impossible) over and over again, hoping to make a break in the monotony that’s become the quintessential heist film. After watching what feels like hundreds of crime movies in my lifetime, I’ve compiled a short list of my recent favorites in the heist subgenre. While they’re not necessarily the best or most realistic heist films I’ve ever seen, each brings something new and equally enjoyable to the table, and that alone makes them worth a watch.
Point Break
One of my all-time favorite comfort films, Point Break is the perfect summer heist movie to enjoy at any time of the year. Starring Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze, Point Break is the just the right mix of trash, adrenaline and a little bit of existential angst to make for a flawless down-and-dirty surf heist movie. The film follows FBI agent Johnny Utah (Reeves) as he goes undercover to infiltrate an ingenious band of surfing bank robbers led by the charismatic Bodhi (Swayze). When it comes to movies as action-packed and unrealistic as this one, I often struggle to follow the plot and find myself swept up in the rhythmic lull of endless shootouts and fistfights. Then, before I know it, the film is over and I have no recollection of what I just watched. Point Break, however, finds a way to balance its over-the-top, borderline absurd plot line with a surprisingly compatible cast of characters keeping me thoroughly entertained throughout.
Money Heist (La casa de papel)
If you’re looking to brush up on your Spanish with one of the most binge-worthy shows of all time, Money Heist is your go-to. After watching the first few episodes for a Spanish class in seventh grade, I’ve been absolutely hooked on the Money Heist franchise ever since (you’ll want to watch the show’s spinoff series, Berlin, once you finish the original). Set in Madrid, Money Heist follows a ragtag crew of failed robbers, hackers and counterfeiters as they attempt to successfully complete the biggest heist in Spanish history. Through the intricacies of its plot, Money Heist pulls off what most other heist movies and shows fail to accomplish, humanizing its characters in a way that makes the audience truly believe a bank robbery is the perfect stage for love, heartbreak and profound emotional turmoil to play out all at once. Though I’m usually incapable of training my attention on a show long enough to make it past the third season, Money Heist is one that I’ve returned to time and time again for its gut-wrenching plot twists and complex, fiercely human characters that make you want to root for the thieves just as much as their hostages.
The Pink Panther (2006)
I’ve never been one to pay mind to the unnecessarily snobbish opinions of professional movie critics, and Steve Martin’s rendition of The Pink Panther is certainly no exception to that rule. While it may not be the most sophisticated, highly rated or conventional heist film on this (or any other) list, The Pink Panther is certainly the funniest. Far less focused on the jewelry heist at the heart of its plot line, the hilariously ludicrous escapades of protagonist Inspector Clouseau (Martin) steal the spotlight. With every accidental breakthrough, botched plan and downright ridiculous interrogation, Martin makes comedy gold out of every chaotic whirlwind of a scene in The Pink Panther. After all, not every great heist needs precision, nor a high score on Rotten Tomatoes, to make for a thoroughly enjoyable, incredibly nostalgic watch.
The Sting
After finally seeing The Sting for the first time, I can confirm that this film is as good, if not better than I ever expected it to be. Yes, I know The Sting isn’t technically a heist film, but the long-form schemes and drawn out plans of its two-timing protagonists, Johnny Hooker (Robert Redford) and Henry Gondorff (Paul Newman), mimic the essential elements that make for any great movie about organized crime. After the death of a close friend at the hands of a mob boss, the two con men team up to stage an elaborate swindle as a final act of vengeance. What happens next is the best guess of the audience, who can only follow blindly as the pair’s schemes unravel in a stunning web of pure deception. Slick, stylish and constantly twisting and turning, The Sting is an absolutely classic caper film that I just can’t seem to get off my mind.
Charlotte Feehan is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences. She can be reached at cgf47@cornell.edu.
"Are You Still Watching?” is a column spotlighting what the Cornell community has been streaming. It runs every Wednesday.
