(DML Top 20 Lists - Caper/Heist Crime Films ranked)

Honorable Mention

Baby Driver (2017), Director: Edgar Wright, Rated R for language and violence

All you need is one killer track.

Starring: Ansel Elgort, Jon Bernthal, Jon Hamm, Jamie Foxx, Eiza González, Micah Howard, Lily James, Morgan Brown, Kevin Spacey

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Sometimes all I want is to head West on 20 in a car I can't afford, with a plan I don't have, just me, my music, and the road." - Deborah

Why watch this? This fast-paced crime flick has a beating heart.

Plot Summary: Miles, called "Baby" is a getaway driver for a heist crew led by Doc. Baby just drives and he has a real knack for it. He also is aloof, always wearing sunglasses and listening to music on his earbuds (he suffers from tinnitus). Some members of the gang, namely Bats and Griff, don't like or trust the somber kid. What they all don't know is that he's got a new girlfriend and wants out of the robbery business.

Dad's Preview: This fast-paced actioner will hold your attention. The characters are right out of a Tarantino film, quirky and dangerous. The car chases, showcasing Baby's skills, are incredible. The real strength is how it's all tied together into such watchable package. A crime film like this, dealing with some really nasty people, can easily devolve and lose focus. Baby Driver leans into all the meanness and madness, keeps its path true, and somehow manages to find a little true romance along the road.

TriStar Pictures/MRC/Big Talk Productions/
Working Title Films; Sony Pictures

Top 20 Caper/Heist Crime Films #20 Top

Ant-Man (2015), Director/Writer: Peyton Reed, rated PG-13 for super-hero violence

Heroes don't get any bigger.

Starring: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Corey Stoll, Bobby Cannavale, Michael Peña, Anthony Mackie, Judy Greer

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Scott, I've been watching you for a while, now. You're different. Now, don't let anyone tell you that you have nothing to offer." - Hank Pym

Why watch this? The sequences where he's miniaturized, and interacting with the ants, are really cool.

Plot Summary: Scott Lang, an unlucky master thief, is recruited by Dr. Hank Pym to don a special suit that allows him to shrink in size while gaining incredible strength. He can also talk to ants. He must use these abilities and train under Pym to prevent a greedy corporation from weaponizing similar technology. Lang must embrace his reluctant inner hero to help Pym pull off a heist to save the world.

Dad's Preview: OK, confession time - I have a man-crush on Paul Rudd. He cracks me up and I want to hang out with him. He brightens my soul. So, you can imagine my delight to learn that he was joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He immediately elevates Ant-Man, and gives the Avengers another solid, interesting character. He's the guy who just can't quite believe they picked him. This origin story is very clever, as we see a petty thief become a size-shifting super-hero!

Marvel Studios; Walt Disney Studios
Motion Pictures

Top 20 Caper/Heist Crime Films #19 Top

Kelly's Heroes (1970), Director: Brian G. Hutton, rated PG

They set out to rob a bank... and damn near won a war instead!

Starring: Clint Eastwood, Telly Savalas, Don Rickles, Carroll O'Connor, Donald Sutherland, Gavin MacLeod, Stuart Margolin

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Him? Name's Kelly. Used to be a lieutenant, pretty good one, too, till they gave him orders to attack the wrong hill." – Crapgame

Why watch this? It's one of the best satirical comedies set in WWII.

Plot Summary: This World War II comedy follows a group of American soldiers who discover a fortune in Nazi gold hidden in a bank behind enemy lines. Led by the determined Private Kelly, the men devise a plan to go AWOL and steal the gold for themselves during a temporary lull in fighting. Despite encountering numerous obstacles, including German tanks and a bumbling American general who believes they're on a valiant mission, the unconventional platoon presses forward in their unauthorized heist.

Dad's Preview: This all-star film is centered around the knowledge that an old church deep behind German enemy lines is stuffed with stolen Nazi gold. Kelly, a resourceful Army Private, pulls together a rag-tag group of bold soldiers with new orders: find and steal that gold! Eastwood, Savalas and Sutherland are excellent, but wise-guy Don Rickles steals every scene as the big-mouthed "Crapgame".

Katzka-Loeb Productions, Avala Film,
The Warriors Co.; Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Top 20 Caper/Heist Crime Films #18 Top

The Killing (1956), Director: Stanley Kubrick, Rated Approved

Suspense! Terror! Violence! Will grip you as no other picture since "Scarface" and "Little Ceasar"!

Starring: Sterling Hayden, Coleen Gray, Vince Edwards, Jay C. Flippen, Elisha Cook Jr., Marie Windsor, Ted de Corsia, Joe Sawyer, James Edwards, Timothy Carey

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"You know, I've often thought that the gangster and the artist are the same in the eyes of the masses. They are admired and hero-worshipped, but there is always a present underlying wish to see them destroyed at the peak of their glory." - Maurice

Why watch this? This noir crime film is so gritty, you'll taste sand in your teeth.

Plot Summary: A small-time crook assembles a diverse crew to execute a meticulous plan: the daring robbery of a racetrack's money-counting operation during a major race. The scheme is fraught with tension as personal greed, double-crossing, and the meticulous details of the heist collide. Ultimately, the meticulous planning unravels as external pressures and human error lead to an unexpected and chaotic conclusion.

Dad's Preview: This film stands today as one of Stanley Kubrick's early best. It follows a plan to rob the cash box from a racetrack. The gang's leader, Johnny Clay, has it all figured out, so what could possibly go wrong, right? Well, it's the botched plan that makes the film so engrossing. I was particularly interested in how quickly the worse in a person comes out when under duress. Character actor Elisha Cook really stands out here as a weak man always manipulated by others. Quentin Tarantino once noted that this inspired his film Reservoir Dogs (1992). It's a beautifully shot, and incredibly dark, noir crime entry that has a rawness which will have an impact on you. Here we certainly learn that crime finds a way to not pay up.

Harris-Kubrick Pictures Corp.; United Artists

Top 20 Caper/Heist Crime Films #17 Top

A Fish Called Wanda (1988), Directors: Charles Crichton, John Cleese, rated R for language, crude humor

A tale of murder, lust, greed, revenge, and seafood.

Starring: John Cleese, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Kline, Michael Palin, Maria Aitken, Patricia Hayes, Tom Georgeson, Geoffrey Palmer

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"To call you stupid would be an insult to stupid people. I've known sheep that could outwit you. I've worn dresses with higher IQs!" - Wanda, yelling at Otto

Why watch this? This very smart comedy gave us that little taste of Python we were needing.

Plot Summary: A London gangster, his right-hand man, and a duo of American con artists team up for a jewel heist. Wanda Gershwitz, one of the Americans, and her partner Otto West, plan to betray their British collaborators and keep the loot for themselves, but a double-cross within the gang leaves the jewels' location unknown. Wanda then sets out to seduce George's stuffy barrister, Archie Leach, in hopes of discovering where the diamonds are hidden, all while dealing with her jealous partner and the bungled attempts to silence a key witness.

Dad's Preview: The film revolves around a diamond heist and a cast of oddly wonderful characters who stumble their way through the entire ordeal. Kevin Kline won an Oscar for this part as Otto, a mean-spirited weapon's expert who hates English people. Jamie Lee Curtis is likewise wonderful as the sexy, intelligent Wanda. Cleese and Palin are along for some comic relief.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Prominent Features;
MGM/UA Communications Co.

Top 20 Caper/Heist Crime Films #16 Top

Ocean's Eleven (2001), Director: Steven Soderbergh, rated PG-13

3 Casinos. 11 Guys. 150 Million Bucks. Ready To Win Big?

Starring: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, Matt Damon, Elliott Gould, Bernie Mac, Casey Affleck, Don Cheadle, Carl Reiner, Andy Garcia, Qin Shaobo, Eddie Jemison

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Off the top of my head, I'd say you're looking at a Boeski, a Jim Brown, a Miss Daisy, two Jethros and a Leon Spinks, not to mention the biggest Ella Fitzgerald ever." - Rusty

Why watch this? Suave. Sophisticated. Planning a robbery. Ex-wife involved. What could go wrong?

Plot Summary: Following his release from prison, Danny Ocean assembles a skilled team to pull off a daring, elaborate heist. Their audacious target is the shared vault of three major Las Vegas casinos, all owned by a powerful and ruthless businessman. The plan is complex and requires meticulous planning and execution, relying on the diverse talents of the eleven-member crew.

Dad's Preview: From start to finish this intelligent heist caper is witty, fun, suspenseful and just cool as a cucumber. These are some really charming bank robbers. The film certainly knows when to laugh at itself, and it works. It was really wise to sweeten the pot with Julia Roberts, as Danny Ocean's ex, and casino owner Benedict's current plaything. Again Clooney dazzles as Mr. Confidence, and I really loved once again watching to screen legends in Elliott Gould and Carl Reiner. This all-star cast, of course, does not disappoint.

Village Roadshow Pictures, NPV Ent.,
Jerry Weintraub Prod.; Warner Bros. Pics

Top 20 Caper/Heist Crime Films #15 Top

Snatch (2000), Director: Guy Ritchie, rated R for language, violence

Stealin' Stones and Breakin' Bones

Starring: Benicio del Toro, Dennis Farina, Vinnie Jones, Brad Pitt, Rade Šerbedžija, Jason Statham, Stephen Graham, William Beck, Ewen Bremner

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"You show me how to control a wild f***ng gypsy, and I'll show you how to control an unhinged, pig-feeding gangster." - Turkish

Why watch this? It's a fast-moving, hard-hitting London crime drama.

Plot Summary: This crime story weaves together two main plots within the London criminal underworld: one following the chaotic search for a stolen, massive diamond, and the other focusing on a small-time boxing promoter navigating the dangers of illegal bare-knuckle boxing. A diverse cast of eccentric characters, including unscrupulous jewel thieves, dangerous gangsters, and a nearly incomprehensible gypsy boxer, all become entangled in a web of double-crosses and unexpected twists.

Dad's Preview: I knew Guy Ritchie as one of Madonna's many husbands. Who knew the guy could direct? Well, he can. This quick, tense, funny, English gangster film hops around more than a Mexican jumping bean, but man, is it a great ride. I am still mad at the Oscars for not recognizing the phenomenal job Brad Pitt for his role as the tough-ass gypsy boxer, Mickey O'Neil.

SKA Films; Sony Pictures Releasing
under Screen Gems

Top 20 Caper/Heist Crime Films #14 Top

The Usual Suspects (1995), Director: Bryan Singer, rated R for language, violence

Five Criminals. One Line Up. No Coincidence.

Starring: Kevin Spacey, Gabriel Byrne, Chazz Palminteri, Stephen Baldwin, Benicio del Toro, Kevin Pollak, Pete Postlethwaite, Suzy Amis, Giancarlo Esposito, Dan Hedaya

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"After that, my guess is that you'll never hear from him again. The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist. And like that... he's gone." - Roger "Verbal" Kint

Why watch this? The ending twist elevates this above-average heist film.

Plot Summary: Five criminals are arrested and thrown into jail. There, they hatch a revenge operation against the police, then get wrapped up into doing another job. When this drug pick-up goes awry, the gang starts to piece together a common enemy they have all betrayed. His name is Keyser Söze, a murderous mob legend, who many don't even believe exists. However, the five crooks are requested to a meeting with an associate of Mr. Söze's called Mr. Kobayashi. This kicks things into high-gear.

Dad's Preview: The suspects is a perfectly cast movie. A young del Toro entertains in his quirky role. Kevin Spacey steals the show as the gimpy, brow-beaten Verbal - he narrates most of the film's plot revelations (and there's a reason for that). This is a top-notch action film you need to see. Did I mention the film's twist-ending? It's mind-blowing!

PolyGram Filmed Ent., Bad Hat Harry Films,
Blue Parrot Prod., Spelling Films Int'l;
Gramercy Pictures

Top 20 Caper/Heist Crime Films #13 Top

American Hustle (2013), Director: David O. Russell, rated R for language and sexual content

Everyone Hustles To Survive

Starring: Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Jeremy Renner, Louis C.K., Jack Huston, Michael Peña, Shea Whigham, Alessandro Nivola, Robert De Niro

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"She was the Picasso of passive-aggressive karate. She was better than any con artist I ever met, including myself, and she had me like nobody had me." – Irving Rosenfeld, narrating

Why watch this? A great plot and an incredible cast doing their best.

Plot Summary: A con artist and his seductive partner are forced by an ambitious FBI agent to participate in a sprawling and dangerous sting operation to catch corrupt schemers and politicians. As the plan to expose the fraudsters, power brokers, and Mafia gets more complicated, the con artist's unpredictable wife threatens to unravel everything. The film details the volatile alliances and shifting loyalties that arise as everyone tries to hustle their way to the top.

Dad's Preview: For a story about some nefarious characters (based on the real-life Abscam scandal of late 70's), this film is exceedingly funny. This is in no small part due to a very talented director, and four movie stars at the absolute top of their game. This film, with a banging 70's soundtrack, has such a classy mood that you almost forget it's a movie. Each character drips of something: caution, sexuality, neglect, ambition - they're all damaged goods either searching for respect or a way out. The confrontation between Lawrence and Adams is one for the ages; my mouth was hanging open. The whole thing builds, and we feel something bad just has to happen to one, if not all, of our seedy quasi-criminals... and that is the fun of it. It gets better every time you watch it.

Columbia Pics, Atlas Ent., Annapurna Pics;
Sony Pictures Releasing

Top 20 Caper/Heist Crime Films #12 Top

Reservoir Dogs (1992), Director: Quentin Tarantino, Rated R for intense, racial language, intense violence

Four perfect killers. One perfect crime. Now all they have to fear is each other.

Starring: Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Chris Penn, Steve Buscemi, Lawrence Tierney, Randy Brooks, Kirk Baltz, Edward Bunker, Quentin Tarantino, David Steen

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Yeah, that's easy for your to say, you're Mr. White. You have a cool-sounding name. Alright look, if it's no big deal to be Mr. Pink, do you wanna trade?" – Mr. Pink, on finding out that this code name , in fact, "Mr. Pink"

Why watch this? It's low-life shenanigans dressed up in Tuxedos by Tartantino.

Plot Summary: A group of criminals is brought together by a mob boss for a diamond heist which quickly goes wrong, leading the survivors to suspect one of them is an undercover police informant. As they gather at a warehouse rendezvous point, the escalating tension and distrust among the colorful cast of characters unravel the events that led to the job's disastrous outcome. The film culminates in a tense, violent standoff where loyalty is tested and allegiances shift rapidly.

Dad's Preview: QT is a modern director who is determined to leave his mark on cinema - his own profanity-laced, bloody, violent legacy - ala Peckinpah and Scorsese. In his first big film, he shocks movie-goers with this quirky crime effort that follows a crew of very diverse men as they embark on a jewelry store job. Each have experience, but otherwise don't know their temporary co-workers. From the get-go, the heist is a disaster fueled by the group's monumental distrust for one another, and one member who happens to be a trigger-happy psychopath. This is not for the squeamish, and the scene with Mr. Blonde torturing the police officer caused some to exit theaters. That said the movie does stick with you and absolutely does NOT glorify the life of criminals.

Live Ent., Dog Eat Dog Prod.; Miramax Films

Top 20 Caper/Heist Crime Films #11 Top

Inception (2010), Director: Christopher Nolan, rated PG-13 for language

Your mind is the scene of the crime.

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Ken Watanabe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Elliot Page, Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, Tom Berenger, Michael Caine

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Building a dream from your memory is the easiest way of losing your grasp on what's real and what is a dream." - Cobb

Why watch this? It's plot is mind-bending. The cityscapes twisting within themselves is visually cool.

Plot Summary: Skilled thief, Dom Cobb, specializes in stealing information by entering people's dreams using a shared dream technology. He is tasked with the seemingly impossible job of planting an idea into a target's subconscious, rather than extracting one, a process called "inception". If he succeeds, his criminal history will be erased, allowing him to return home to his children, but a dangerous enemy from his past threatens to derail the mission.

Dad's Preview: Director Nolan is the mage of "smart action thrillers". He twisted our perception in Memento (2000) and reinvented the Batman. Here we follow a group of uber-thieves who can enter people's dreams. The value of this skill is immeasurable. Most of the film takes place in the labyrinth of a client's subconscious, and then dreams within dreams. It can be a little hard to follow the first time through, but the visuals are mind-bending.

Legendary Pictures, Syncopy;
Warner Bros. Pictures

Top 20 Caper/Heist Crime Films #10 Top

Heat (1995), Director: Michael Mann, rated R for language, violence

A showdown like Los Angeles has never seen before!

Starring: Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Val Kilmer, Tom Sizemore, Diane Venora, Amy Brenneman, Ashley Judd

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"A guy told me one time, "Don't let yourself get attached to anything you are not willing to walk out on in 30 seconds flat if you feel the heat around the corner."" - Neil McCauley

Why watch this? A first class crime action film with a first class cast.

Plot Summary: Master thief Neil McCauley and his crew plan and execute high-stakes heists across Los Angeles. Meanwhile, obsessed LAPD Lieutenant Vincent Hanna relentlessly pursues them, driven by a personal commitment to his job that mirrors McCauley's own dedication to crime. This cat-and-mouse game escalates as their worlds collide, exploring the blurred lines between their professional lives and the impact their obsessions have on their personal relationships.

Dad's Preview: This film brings together two tough-guy film icons in Pacino and De Niro. They only have one scene together, a quiet conversation in a small diner. One is a sophisticated criminal, the other a vice cop. There's a healthy level of respect between them, but they don't leave as friends. They know they're going to meet again, and one of them is going down. I wish there were more films with these two great actors going at each other, but perhaps, that's the point - less is more. Regardless, I love this superb action heist flick.

Regency Enterprises, Forward Pass;
Warner Bros.

Top 20 Caper/Heist Crime Films #9 Top

Point Break (1991), Director: Kathryn Bigelow, rated R for nudity, language, violence

100% Pure Adrenaline.

Starring: Patrick Swayze, Keanu Reeves, Gary Busey, Lori Petty, John C. McGinley, James Le Gros, Anthony Kiedis, Chris Pedersen

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"I know Johnny. I know you want me so bad it's like acid in your mouth. But, not this time." - Bodhi

Why watch this? ... non-stop action with criminal surfers. Awesome, dude!

Plot Summary: FBI agent Johnny Utah goes undercover to investigate a string of bank robberies committed by a gang known as the "Ex-Presidents". Utah suspects the robbers are surfers and infiltrates the surfing community, immersing himself in their adrenaline-fueled lifestyle. He forms a complicated relationship with Bodhi, the enigmatic leader of a group of surfers he believes are responsible for the robberies.

Dad's Preview: If this is on, I'm watching it. There are so many great moments. An undercover cop, Johnny Reno, is assigned to find out who has been robbing local banks. He infiltrates a group of thrill-seeking surfers, led by zen guru, Bohdi. It is great film-making as the plots and subplots wraps themselves up and back again. The action sequences are dangerous and thrilling. The best moments are between Swayze and Reeves as they form a fragile friendship.

Johnny Utah Prod., Largo Ent.;
20th Century Fox

Top 20 Caper/Heist Crime Films #8 Top

Hell or High Water (2016), Director: David Mackenzie, rated R for violence, language

Blood always follows money.

Starring: Chris Pine, Jeff Bridges, Ben Foster, Gil Birmingham, Marin Ireland, Dale Dickey, William Sterchi, Buck Taylor, Kristin K. Berg

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"I am a Comanche. Do you know what it means? It means 'Enemy to everyone'." - Bear

Why watch this? This is one, brutally great Texas crime film.

Plot Summary: After their mother's death, two brothers, a divorced father and an ex-con, desperately resort to bank robberies to prevent the foreclosure of their family ranch. Two Texas Rangers, one close to retirement and his loyal partner, investigate the crimes and pursue the brothers across West Texas. This creates a compelling cat-and-mouse narrative exploring themes of desperation, family loyalty, and societal injustice.

Dad's Preview: Texas, with its sparse, angry-poor landscapes, is such a great setting for crimes bred out of poverty. Hell folks, this is where I grew up. I recognized the signs to Coleman, Texas and I've walked those small town streets. Chris Pine and Ben Foster are stellar as two hard-scrapple brothers. There is a desperation in their nature. However, it is Jeff Bridges, as the seasoned Sheriff Hamilton, who delivers another unforgettable, career-defining, performance.

CBS Films, Sidney Kimmel Ent., OddLot Ent.,
Film 33, LBI Ent.; Lionsgate

Top 20 Caper/Heist Crime Films #7 Top

The Sting (1973), Director: George Roy Hill, rated PG

...all it takes is a little Confidence.

Starring: Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Robert Shaw, Charles Durning, Ray Walston, Eileen Brennan, Harold Gould, John Heffernan, Dana Elcar, Jack Kehoe, Dimitra Arliss, Robert Earl Jones, James Sloyan, Charles Dierkop

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"What was I supposed to do, call him for cheating better than me in front of the others?." - Doyle Lonnegan

Why watch this? This is the quintessential post-Depression con man film.

Plot Summary: A young grifter, Johnny Hooker, seeks the help of an established, older con man, Henry Gondorff, to avenge the murder of their mutual friend by a powerful mob boss, Doyle Lonnegan. They devise an elaborate, complicated con designed to catch the crime lord off guard and ensure a clean, massive payoff. The pair and their crew must execute every detail flawlessly while evading both the target's thugs and the local police who are watching their every move.

Dad's Preview: This caper film, which reunited director George R. Hill, Paul Newman and Robert Redford of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) fame, was the darling of 1973. It is easy to see why. The film has a style of it own, harkening back to the 1930's using perfect sets, period costumes and old ragtime music. The elaborate con job our anti-heroes perform kind of makes me think of Robin Hood - stealing from the rich to line the pockets of the poor. Instead of going for realism, it is a crime comedy where "good guys" and "bad guys" are clearly delineated. This makes the entire movie a ton of fun. There's a lightness, as Redford and Newman are constantly three steps ahead of everyone, even if the film's director hides it. It practically swept the Oscars, winning seven of its ten nominations including: Best Picture and Best Director. This is a classic, with great stars, atmosphere and music. You need to check out The Sting.

The Zanuck/Brown Co.; Universal Pictures

Top 20 Caper/Heist Crime Films #6 Top

Bonnie and Clyde (1967), Director: Arthur Penn, rated R for violence, language

The strangest damned gang you ever heard of. They're young. They're in love. They rob banks.

Starring: Warren Beatty, Faye Dunaway, Michael J. Pollard, Gene Hackman, Estelle Parsons, Denver Pyle, Dub Taylor, Gene Wilder

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"This here's Miss Bonnie Parker. I'm Clyde Barrow. We rob banks." - Clyde Barrow

Why watch this? To many Southwestern poor folks, the Barrow gangsters were heroes. Texas lawmen saw it differently.

Plot Summary: During the Great Depression, a bored waitress named Bonnie Parker meets ex-con Clyde Barrow and they begin a crime spree across America. As they rob banks and evade law enforcement, their exploits become more violent. The film follows their love story and growing notoriety as they become infamous criminals.

Dad's Preview: This story chronicles real-life, Texas-born, bank robbers Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, who pillaged in the South during the Great Depression. It all but immortalized actors Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty for their performances. This film introduced a more realistic type of film-making, breaking more grittier ground. The gang's mayhem and violence is sometimes hard to watch. The film's brutal ending is now considered one of cinema's most iconic moments.

Warner Bros. Pics; Warner Bros.-Seven Arts

Top 20 Caper/Heist Crime Films #5 Top

Time Bandits (1981), Director: Terry Gilliam, rated PG

... they didn't make history, they stole it!

Starring: John Cleese, Sean Connery, Shelley Duvall, Ian Holm, Katherine Helmond, Michael Palin, David Warner

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"God is not interested in technology... He's obsessed with making the grass grow and getting rainbows right. Look at what he spends his time on: Forty-three species of parrot! Nipples for men!" - Evil

Why watch this? It's a fantasy comedy. Plus most of the Monty Python players have roles!

Plot Summary: Kevin, a young boy fascinated by history, is unexpectedly drawn into a fantastical adventure through time when a group of thieving dwarfs escape into his bedroom through a time portal. The dwarfs, former employees of the Supreme Being, have stolen a map detailing all of the time holes, which they use to jump through different eras to steal treasures. Pursued by both the Supreme Being and the powerful Evil Genius, Kevin joins the dwarfs on their journey, encountering various historical figures along the way.

Dad's Preview: Written and directed by the creative mind of Monty Pythoner Terry Gilliam, this magical journey takes us to many places in both history and fantasy, each populated by a cast of quirky characters. You will wonder, "Did this film's creator do some mushrooms?!" We witness Napoleon's madness, an Ogre with a backache, and heck, even Sean Connery battles a towering Minotaur! David Warner is excellent as the personification of evil. It's witty, imaginative fun for the whole family.

HandMade Films; HandMade Films Dist. Ltd.

Top 20 Caper/Heist Crime Films #4 Top

North By Northwest (1959), Directors: Alfred Hitchcock, rated Approved

The Master of Suspense presents a 2000-mile chase across America!

Starring: Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, James Mason, Jessie Royce Landis, Martin Landau, Leo G. Carroll, Edward Platt

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"I've got a job, a secretary, a mother, two ex-wives and several bartenders that depend upon me, and I don't intend to disappoint them all by getting myself slightly killed." - Roger Thornhill

Why watch this? Cary Grant is superb as a mistaken man forced to survive a nasty situation.

Plot Summary: Manhattan advertising executive Roger Thornhill is mistakenly identified as a government agent named George Kaplan by foreign spies. He is thrust into a dangerous world of intrigue, pursued across the country by the spies and the police who believe him to be a murderer. As he tries to unravel the mystery and clear his name, he encounters a beautiful, enigmatic woman whose allegiances are unclear.

Dad's Preview: I keep coming back to this Hitchcock classic. In the ultimate case of mistaken identity, Roger Thornhill, an ordinary advertising executive, finds himself pursued by murderous henchmen, dodging a crop-dusting bi-plane attack, and scaling the heights of Mt. Rushmore! It's tense and tightly written, with superb dialogue. This film works because of Cary Grant, who, at the time, was at the top of his game in Hollywood.

Alfred Hitchcock; Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Top 20 Caper/Heist Crime Films #3 Top

Ronin (1998), Director: John Frankenheimer; rated R for language, violence

Anyone is an enemy for a price.

Starring: Robert De Niro, Jean Reno, Natascha McElhone, Stellan Skarsgård, Sean Bean, Jonathan Pryce

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Of course I'm afraid! You think I'm reluctant because I'm happy?" - Sam

Why watch this? This may be Frankenheimer's best film. It's smart, well-paced and full of intrigue.

Plot Summary: A group of international mercenaries are hired to steal a mysterious briefcase from heavily armed convoys and then navigate shifting loyalties to deliver it to its rightful owners. The team, comprising ex-military and intelligence operatives from various backgrounds, must work together, despite not entirely trusting each other, to complete the mission.

Dad's Preview: This is a superb action film from the master himself, John Frankenheimer. It features a group of secretive people with special skills, assembled to steal a mysterious case "from men intent on keeping it". The fewer questions the better. De Niro and Reno join a stellar cast as the story, wrought with deception and double-crosses, unfolds. De Niro is one tough hombre. Is it all about the contents of the case, or could it be something much larger?

United Artists, FGM Entertainment;
MGM Dist. Co.

Top 20 Caper/Heist Crime Films #2 Top

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), Director: George Roy Hill, rated PG

You never met a pair like Butch and The Kid.

Starring: Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Katharine Ross, Strother Martin, Jeff Corey, Henry Jones, George Furth, Cloris Leachman, Richard Kiel

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"It's your great ideas that got us into this mess. I never want to hear another one of your great ideas. Ever!" - Sundance Kid

Why watch this? It's really fun to see Newman and Redford having such a good time.

Plot Summary: Two notorious outlaws, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, rob banks and trains in the late 1800s American West. Facing relentless pursuit by a skilled posse, they flee with Sundance's girlfriend, Etta Place, to Bolivia seeking a fresh start. However, their attempts to escape their past lead to a series of humorous and action-packed events as they continue their criminal ways.

Dad's Preview: This film certainly stands out as different among Westerns of its time. Newman and Redford portray the famous real-life bank robbers, Butch and Sundance. The film's quip-filled dialog almost doesn't fit the era, but I can let that slide, as it helps the film flow. During the movie, we root for our anti-heroes to escape the law, get across the Mexican border, and make it to Bolivia. But even there, they still become wanted men. The lauded film won four Oscars.

Campanile Prod., Newman-Foreman Co.;
20th Century-Fox

Top 20 Caper/Heist Crime Films #1 Top

Trading Places (1983), Director: John Landis, rated R for language, crude humor, brief nudity

They're not just getting rich... They're getting even.

Starring: Dan Aykroyd, Eddie Murphy, Jamie Lee Curtis, Ralph Bellamy, Don Ameche, Denholm Elliott, Paul Gleason

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Yeah. You know, it occurs to me that the best way to hurt rich people is by turning them into poor people." – Billy Ray Valentine

Why watch this? I love the premise. I love the cast. I love the execution.

Plot Summary: Two incredibly wealthy brothers, the Dukes, make a bet about whether a person's surroundings or genetics determines their success. To settle this, they orchestrate a complete life swap between their successful, high-society commodities broker, Louis Winthorpe III, and a street-smart hustler, Billy Ray Valentine. The film then follows the hilarious chaos that ensues as both men navigate their drastically altered lives and eventually discover the Duke brothers' cynical scheme.

Dad's Preview: I was not an Eddie Murphy fan - after this film, I came around. The basic plot is two uber-rich old guys select one poor person and one rich person, then reverse their settings, all to settle a bet. In this well-written, smart, John Landis comedy, we are blessed with ex-SNL'ers Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd, plus the stunning force of veteran actress, Jamie Lee Curtis. The scene where Aykroyd disguises himself as Santa is one of my all-time favorites. I'll pass on the smoked salmon...

Aaron Russo; Paramount Pictures