16 Fun Heist Movies You Should Watch Before Seeing 'Logan Lucky'
Once again, Steven Soderbergh is here to show Hollywood how you do a real heist movie. With the "Ocean's" movies under his belt, the auteur is back with "Ocean's 7-11," AKA "Logan Lucky." To get in the mood for "Logan Lucky," steal a few moments and watch these fun, must-see heist films.
'Fast Five' (2011)
The plot is, well, that of a "Fast and Furious" movie -- this team of crooks-turned-good guys won't engage in any heist or action set piece unless they can get to and out of it via vehicle. Before subsequent sequels came along, this fifth installment went from zero to "ridiculous" in record time.
'The Bank Job' (2008)
One of the few great heist films that's based on a true story -- in this case, a notorious London robbery from 1971. Jason Statham leads the cast of crooks who discovers the vault contains more than he bargained for.
'Bottle Rocket' (1996)
Wes Anderson's directing debut also introduced us to Owen and Luke Wilson. In this shaggy-dog tale, the brothers play inept would-be thieves. As is typical for Anderson, plot matters less than sparkling moments of character chemistry.
'A Fish Called Wanda' (1988)
The presence of John Cleese and Michael Palin helps make this farce about the aftermath of a London heist into a wicked satire worthy of Monty Python. But it's the Yanks who steal the movie: Temptress Jamie Lee Curtis and, in his Oscar-winning performance, exuberant idiot Kevin Kline.
'Ocean's Eleven' (2001)
Steven Soderbergh's Vegas heist epic is that rare remake that's better than the original (in this case, the 1960 Rat Pack inside-joke fest). George Clooney and Brad Pitt may be the movie-idol draws here, but everyone in this vast ensemble gets to shine. The two sequels are kind of been-there-done-that, but this one still gleams.
'Inception' (2010)
Yep, Christopher Nolan's trippy sci-fi nightmare is a classic heist film at heart, one where Leonardo DiCaprio and his hand-picked team crack the safe that is the human mind, then struggle to make their getaway.
'Inside Man' (2006)
Spike Lee's clever heist/bank robbing thriller is, at heart, a battle of wits between cop Denzel Washington and a thief whose motives remain mysterious until the end (Clive Owen). But it's also a typical Lee panorama of New York City life, one that shouts out to the great Sidney Lumet crime dramas of the 1970s, particularly "Dog Day Afternoon."
'The Italian Job' (1969)
The 2003 remake starring Mark Wahlberg isn't bad, but you really need to see the original. Highlights include its Mini Cooper chase sequence and a young Michael Caine -- at his Cockney cheekiest -- playing the crook who always has a plan.
'Now You See Me' (2013)
In this latest twist on the genre, the robbers are a) magicians, and b) Robin Hood types who give their loot away. The film is a clever reminder that all of cinema is an elaborate con and that we viewers like to be fooled, especially when wily veterans like Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman are involved. The novelty wore off with the sequel, so stick with the original.
'The Killing' (1956)
This brilliant racetrack robbery yarn is the movie that put Stanley Kubrick on the map. "The Asphalt Jungle" star Sterling Hayden and "The Maltese Falcon's" Elisha Cook Jr. lend the young director's innovative work some old-school street cred.
'Quick Change' (1990)
In the only movie he ever (co-)directed, Bill Murray shines as the mastermind of the perfect bank robbery, but he and his crew find their getaway repeatedly thwarted by the obstacles of the urban jungle that is New York City. Or rather, was -- the movie's pretty dated now, but still wickedly funny.
'The Ladykillers' (1955)
Of all of the black comedies released by England's Ealing studio during the 1940s and '50s, this may be one of the most delightfully nasty. Alec Guinness and his gang find their heist plans thwarted by their sweet, grandmotherly, seemingly oblivious landlady. Pick this over the weirder, more violent Coen Brothers remake.
'Reservoir Dogs' (1992)
Quentin Tarantino's explosive debut dares to largely omit its diamond heist and just show us the planning (smart, unorthodox) and the aftermath (a bloody disaster). Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, and Michael Madsen are all terrific, but the star here is the brazen young filmmaker.
'The Asphalt Jungle' (1950)
Back then, this John Huston thriller was noteworthy for giving an early break to Marilyn Monroe, who's memorable as a gang moll. The ever world-weary Sterling Hayden leads the cast in this gritty noir, which pretty much created the plot template for all heist films to come.
'Rififi' (1955)
This French noir is still the gold standard for heist executions. Its central robbery sequence, which runs about half an hour without dialogue or music, is a master class in heist filmmaking, one that directors shamelessly steal from to this day. Sometimes, it's a pleasure just to watch pros at work.
'The Thomas Crown Affair' (1999)
The 1968 original was glossier and featured Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway at their most stylish. But the Pierce Brosnan-Rene Russo remake is a more grown-up "Affair," and director John McTiernan ("Die Hard") takes the heist logistics and the romantic stakes very seriously.
