Heist movies are a fascinating subgenre of crime movies for so many reasons, mostly because they can go one of two ways. Heist films tend to glamorize criminal activity more than any other type of film, as bank robbers and jewels thieves are seemingly always dressed in suits and come across as cool and charismatic.
However, they can be the complete opposite too, as some of them are emotionally exhausting accounts of some very desperate people with little left to lose. Reddit's taste in heist flicks tends to swing more towards the former, and even the more dramatic movies come off necessarily cool.
Ocean's Eleven (2001)
Being based on the 1960 movies of the same name, the Steven Soderbergh-directed Ocean's Eleven is one of the few remakes that's better than the original. It's not just one of Surprisepinkmist favorite heist-based movies, but one of their favorite movies of all time, and they also love the sequel, Ocean's Twelve, calling it "Soderbergh greatness."
While the sequel isn't quite as highly regarded as the original, the 2001 movie sees tons of Hollywood heavyweights on screen together. The meticulous plan of robbing three casinos at the same time makes for the most entertaining heist ever too, even if it does glamorize bad behavior, as criminals have never looked so cool.
Fast Five (2011)
The Fast & Furious franchise has evolved so much considering that it started as a street racing-themed, grounded crime drama. The shift to a more high-octane, Mission: Impossible-like approach can be seen in Fast Five, which changed the Fast series for the better. As the movie follows Brian and Dom rallying up all of their past colleagues to team up for a $100 million heist in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Petegoldingsuber calls it one of the best.
The Redditor is defending the movie more than anything, explaining that it's a "great heist film no matter what Reddit says." Fast Five isn't exactly the most subtle heist in the world, as instead of trying to get in and out undetected, the crew literally attaches a five-ton vault to two Mustangs and seemingly destroys the whole of Rio with it.
Inside Man (2006)
Inside Man is one of the most unique and entertaining heist movies of the 21st century, and it was surprisingly directed by Spike Lee, who is best known for his dramas that are heavy on social commentary. Belfman makes a great point that "Spike Lee doesn't usually go for conventional genres like the heist movie, but he nailed it."
Lee should direct more genre movies, as he is way more talented at it than the directors who make them regularly. However, he did attempt to adapt the incredible, Hong Kong crime thriller Oldboy into a Hollywood movie, which wasn't quite as successful.
The Town (2010)
DkTwVXtt7j1 calls The Town, "one of the best modern heist movies," which couldn't be put better, as it's the last truly gripping and intense heist movie that was theatrically released. While a lot of heist movies are more like fun crime capers where the lead characters are cool and looked up to by their audiences than gritty dramas, The Town is more Dog Day Afternoon than Ocean's Eleven.
The movie follows a group of Charlestown residents who rob a bank, but as much of the movie focuses on the characters' personal struggles as it does on the heist. However, celebrated director Quentin Tarantino has issues with The Town, as he believes that the characters in the movie are way too beautiful.
Reservoir Dogs (1992)
Tarantino has toyed with the idea of a heist movie himself. Reservoir Dogs, the filmmaker's directorial debut, is based entirely around a diamond heist. But, interestingly, the movie doesn't show the robbery, just the aftermath of it, which led kyhansen1509 to hilariously ask, "does Reservoir Dogs count?"
However, Tarantino did want to shoot the heist, and the only reason he didn't was because of budget restraints. But, ironically, it's the lack of a physical heist that makes the film so unique and is why Reservoir Dogs still holds up today.
The Italian Job (1969)
TheMindButcher thinks "The Italian Job with Michael Caine holds up." The Italian Job is one of the best British crime capers ever made, as it follows a group of thieves haphazardly attempt to put together a meticulous plan to steal Italian gold in Turin with three Mini Coopers and a bus.
And after so many setbacks, the crew, against all odds, pull off the heist successfully. Or at least that's how it seems until the very final shot, and it features one of the greatest movie cliffhangers ever. And though the film is totally different, the 2003 remake starring Mark Wahlberg is a great heist flick too.
Logan Lucky (2017)
Director Stephen Soderbergh has an affinity for heist movies, as, along with the Ocean's trilogy, the filmmaker directed 2017's Logan Lucky. And that's part of the reason why the film appealed to Happyhippohats. However, while it's just as entertaining, Logan Lucky has a completely different tone from those 2000s movies.
The film follows a family that attempts to rob the Charlotte Motor Speedway during a NASCAR race. It's less sophisticated and way goofier. There's even a hilarious reference to Soderbergh's 2001 classic, as the heist in Logan Lucky is referred to as "Ocean's Seven-Eleven."
Blue Streak (1999)
Martin Lawrence doesn't get the recognition that he deserves, as he's an incredible comedy actor and has starred in tons of great crime comedies. Whether it's the Bad Boys series or the Big Momma's House movies, he nails it every time. But the 1999 heist movie is the crown jewel in his filmography, and it's one of Kmmtolkien's favorites.
The Redditor notes that "Blue Streak is a classic that deserves to be celebrated," referring to the fact that it's undeservedly and criminally underrated. The movie is a twist on the heist subgenre: a thief (Lawrence) has to retrieve a diamond at a police headquarters, and he inadvertently ends up becoming a cop himself.
The Sting (1973)
Ilovelucygal explains that they have loved The Sting for almost 50 years and that it's the "best movie ever." The film follows two grifters who attempt to con a mob boss, and while it is technically a heist movie, it plays fast and loose with the term.
Instead of a gang of criminals going to the location of wherever the jewels or money is, the criminal gang makes its target go to them. There was a sequel that followed 10 years later, but it's considered one of the worst sequels of all time, and it's one of the rare movies to hold a 0% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Heat (1995)
Heat is the ultimate heist movie, and few films, heist-related or otherwise, have been able to match the film's intensity. The street shootout in the final act of the movie is heartstopping and every single bullet feels so impactful. But Iny-Engineering1583 loves the movie its very final sequence.
The Redditor explains that "the last 20 minutes are iconic, for every actor involved, for every little element of the action and plot twists." The whole 170-minute movie boils down to the final, almost silent chase sequence between Neil and Vincent, with the final shot of the two of them holding hands before it cuts to black.