Heists are an integral part of film history. The danger of facing systems of law and security to attain something better, the diverse groups of specialists brought together to pull it off, the detailed plans and the flights from justice. They allow for both gripping plots and beautiful imagery.
Today we want to look at the greatest movie heists. But beyond simply talking about why these films are great, we will also rank them by the money/monetary value they got away with.
The Great Train Robbery
It may not have all the hallmarks of later heist movies, such as placing great detail on the planning of the job and the psychology of those involved, but The Great Train Robbery pioneered the heist’s cinematic language. Throwing us right into the action, we watch as robbers meticulously enact a plan to halt a train without the police knowing. We then see the bandits rob the train’s occupants, before escaping and eventually being hunted down. Robbery’s structure formed the basis for all cinematic heists that followed and is still a mandatory watch for cinema buffs. We don’t know the worth of everything robbed from the train. However, it was certainly enough to etch this crime into film history.
Widows
Widows is arguably the best heist film of recent years. It not only uses the genre’s codes and conventions in a well-crafted way, but it also takes time to build up the emotional journeys of the central cast and firmly root us in its world. A place where stealing is not just done by individuals but has been part of American policy throughout history, where people of colour are systemically disadvantaged and threats against women are seen as the cost of business. Then there are the fantastic lead performances from Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki and Cynthia Erivo as the all-women crew. Their heist brings them $5 million, around £4.9 million today. A modest taking, though definitely one that packs enough punch to make it feel earned.
The Killing
The perfect example of a classic heist film. The Killing has it all. A gang, each with their own specialities, intricately plotting to rob a location of a large sum of money, a spectacular robbery set piece and twists no one planned for. All done with a confident, propulsive energy conveyed through great camerawork, editing and writing. Plus it has one of the best conclusions of any heist movie. The prize here is $2 million or £18 million now. Certainly no laughing matter.
Rififi
Many heist films showcase the job in a stylised way. With fast cutting, compression of time and music used to amplify the situation’s intensity. Rififi flips these tropes upside down by crafting a heist sequence that lasts for over 20 minutes of screen time. During this time, long takes focus on every detail of the action with no music. Other heist films bask in the thrill of the crime; Rififi makes you feel the tension. All of which results in the team netting jewellery worth ₣240 million. Or roughly £31 million today.
Inception
Movie heists are mostly semi-realistic affairs. Inception uses an immaterial method for material gain. Inception’s heist revolves around implanting an idea into the mind of Robert Fischer, heir to an energy conglomerate. The idea? To break up his father’s company. Thereby allowing his competitor to dominate the market. To do this, the inception team must construct several scenarios in Fischer’s dreams to get him to lower his defences and make him susceptible to the idea. With the top two energy conglomerates at the time reporting revenue of between $275.564 – $278.188 billion (£310 – 312.8 billion now), that’s a lot of money for his competitor to sweep up.
Wallace & Gromit: The Wrong Trousers
Leave it to Wallace and Gromit to show us that even light-hearted heists can still be enthralling. Feathers McGraw’s silently sneaky plan to rob the Blue Diamond using techno-trousers, a claw helmet and a sleeping Wallace to hold it all together all adds up to a thrillingly hilarious ride. Although the actual loot is incidental, the Blue Diamond is said to be incredibly valuable. Some even list it as priceless. Not a bad haul for Feathers.
