Here at Bitesize Breakdown, we love a good heist film. In fact, it's surprising it took us so long to make a ranking of them. So, let's fix that! The Bitesize crew has put their brains together to compile Bitesize Breakdown's consensus Top Five Heist Films.
As per usual, each writer ranks their top 15 films in the category. Those lists are then weighted on a reverse point system. After all the points are tallied up, the entries with the most total points make up the Bitesize Top Five.
5. INSIDE MAN
Usually, a heist film puts the emphasis on the planning or the aftermath while the heist itself is dedicated to a scene or an act at most. Having the actual heist dominate the film’s entire runtime adds another level of intrigue and consideration for both the perpetrators and law enforcement. Every component of Inside Man carries director Spike Lee’s dramatic pathos and coolness: the actors, the location, and the general theme of triumph over a fascist establishment. The mystery of the robbers’ identities and the ways in which Dalton Russell — played by Clive Owen, who is phenomenal without really showing much of his face — navigates all the machinations of his plan with the whole of the NYPD in his business is entrancing. I think it is Lee’s most accessible movie, but he still created an environment dripping in a gritty-but-slick sheen that harkens back to the 1970s, when heist films were at their apex. The interplay of every relationship has nuance that evolves throughout, which adds layer upon layer as everyone crashes into each other like unstable atoms all trying to occupy the same space. In other words, Inside Man is an anomaly in the physical universe. - Robert
4. HEAT
As you can see from this list, the heist movie can take many forms. Heat, with its ensemble cast, richly drawn characters, meticulous narrative, and director Michael Mann’s attention to detail, is one of the all-time greats. Even if you strip away the buzzy window dressing — Robert De Niro and Al Pacino doing a scene together for the first time in history, tactical street battle scenes so technically precise that the U.S. Marines use them in official instructional videos, shooting entirely on location in Los Angeles with live gunfire being recorded in the moment instead of dubbed later — you’re still left with one of cinema's most engrossing and subversive crime thrillers. It has served as a cornerstone blueprint for director Christopher Nolan, as well as inspiring video games like Grand Theft Auto. Its legacy is so influential that nearly three decades later, a sequel featuring a murderer's row cast of Leonardo DiCaprio (breaking his legendary “no sequels” rule), Christian Bale, Adam Driver, and Stephen Graham is currently in production. When a film is this good, it’s hard to heed McCauley’s (De Niro) advice: “Don't let yourself get attached…” - Quentin
3. INCEPTION
Inception sets itself apart from other heist movies by focusing on a reverse heist, with a team of dream-infiltrating, idea-stealing thieves attempting to plant an idea to influence their target’s decision-making. Director Christopher Nolan centres the film on Cobb’s (Leonardo DiCaprio) emotional turmoil, as he is ultimately driven by intense feelings of guilt, regret, and grief. Yes, the film is largely known for its dream within a dream within a dream concept — and Nolan showcases spectacular dreamscapes — yet part of the reason why Inception works so well is that it still adheres to the familiar beats of the heist movie with its plot structure, focus on detailed planning, and cast of stock characters. It does this whilst also having impressive visuals, excellent performances from DiCaprio and the rest of the A-list ensemble, and a moving and instantly recognisable score by Hans Zimmer. - Katie
2. RESERVOIR DOGS
Watching a fresh take on the heist genre and the career beginnings of one of the most influential filmmakers of the 21st century (if not ever) at the same time is a rare treat. Reservoir Dogs subverts the standard heist format by focusing on the aftermath of a heist gone horribly wrong in a way that is brutal, risky, and provocative. Little did viewers know in 1992 that films like this would become writer-director Quentin Tarantino’s bread and butter for the next three decades, but even with what we know now, Reservoir Dogs still holds up as an exhilarating and daring heist film — one that is as rewatchable and fun as any of Tarantino’s other instant classics. - Adriano
1. OCEAN'S ELEVEN
If you set out to make the perfect heist movie, following the Ocean's Eleven blueprint would be a good way to start. First off, there's the ensemble cast. Yes, the duo of George Clooney's Danny Ocean and Brad Pitt's Rusty Ryan are the de facto leaders, but every single member of this heist crew plays a crucial part with their own standout moment. Then there's the heist itself. Not only do you need to nail the execution, but the planning has to be just as engaging. Ocean's nails this using a great mix of comedy, drama, romance, and tension to maintain the entertainment factor throughout its nearly two hour runtime. Add in some slick direction by Steven Soderbergh, and you have a film that just oozes cool in a way that few others do. I didn't even mention the great performances from Julia Roberts or Andy Garcia... I could write a dissertation on this film as it rightfully takes our number one spot. - Nick
HONORABLE MENTIONS
BABY DRIVER
HELL OR HIGH WATER
ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY
THE USUAL SUSPECTS
THE ITALIAN JOB (2003)