10 Best Heist Movies With Unexpected Twists, Ranked

Heist movies are a staple of action cinema and have remained so for decades. Audiences love watching a daring bank robbery or complicated heist fall into place, and some movies about those plans or the cat-and-mouse chase that ensues are widely regarded as masterpieces. Heat is a perfect example, starring Robert De Niro as Neil McCauley. He's a meticulous criminal, responsible for several precision heists. A messy job draws the attention of Vincent Hanna (Al Pacino), a veteran LAPD Lieutenant. McCauley and his crew decide to execute a bank job despite the police presence, and it's so tense because we know so much about McCauley and Hanna before their inevitable showdown. Heists can also serve as the ideal platform for action comedies. Blue Streak falls perfectly into that category, with Martin Lawrence starring as Miles Logan. He's arrested during a failed heist and leaves the diamond he stole in a building that's under construction. He returns after a stint in prison, only to discover that the building is now a police station. One particular popular aspect of heist movies is the fact they oftentimes come with a major twist. It's not a requirement of the genre, but many notable heist films do feature brilliant twists audiences never see coming. The best heist twists feel earned rather than just a 'gotcha' moment, and can make you see the entire film in a different light during a rewatch. With this in mind, here's a selection of great heist movies with twists you'll want to discuss after the credits. 10 Red Notice (2021) Red Notice is the newest movie on this list, starring Dwayne Johnson as FBI agent John Hartley. He's investigating sophisticated art thefts surrounding three priceless golden eggs. Hartley arrests known art thief Nolan Booth (Ryan Reynolds), but ends up becoming his cellmate in a Russian prison when he's seemingly framed as Booth's accomplice. Hartley and Booth meet the enigmatic Bishop (Gal Gadot) while in prison. She's another art thief also after the eggs, and seems to have the prison authorities under her control. Hartley is forced to team up with Booth to escape and do some very illegal things to clear his name. The plot of Red Notice is surprisingly busy and full of double-crosses. Those uneasy alliances set up some great action scenes with a jaw-dropping reveal as Hartley tries to prove his innocence. 9 Den Of Thieves (2018) Den of Thieves is a stylish crime thriller starring Gerard Butler as Big Nick. He's a tough LA Detective tracking a particularly dangerous group of thieves. Ray Merrimen (Pablo Schreiber) leads this criminal group, and is targeting the Federal Reserve in LA for his next heist. Naturally, storming the Federal Reserve is no easy feat, but Merrimen's plan is meticulous. Big Nick is also targeting a bartender, Donnie (O'Shea Jackson Jr.), who has connections to Merrimen's team. The plan goes ahead despite the cops' attention, but will Merrimen succeed, or has Nick got him cornered? Den of Thieves is a long movie at 2 hours 20 minutes. It takes time to explore characters' motivations, with a delivery similar to Heat in many ways. The twist ending has proven divisive among viewers, but it is a spectacle many audiences won't see coming. 8 Swordfish (2001) Swordfish is an unconventional heist movie, starring Hugh Jackman as Stanley. He's a convicted hacker who has lost visitation rights to his daughter. The mysterious Gabriel (John Travolta) offers him the money to change that if he hacks into a government fund worth billions. Stanley is put in a difficult situation, as it seems Gabriel's offer is his only choice. However, he soon realizes how extreme some of Gabriel's methods are. Gabriel's partner, Ginger (Halle Berry), also adds a spanner in the works, suggesting the feds may be closing in. Gabriel frequently talks about misdirection throughout Swordfish, and it's a recurring theme of the movie. It's on the nose, and the audience does know a twist of some sort is imminent. Still, the payoff is worth it, and even eagle-eyed viewers may not see it coming. 7 Now You See Me (2013) Now You See Me is a fast-paced heist thriller movie about a group of magicians who call themselves the Four Horsemen. Each magician has a unique skill set, and they quickly become famous after seemingly robbing a bank in Paris while simultaneously performing in Vegas. Naturally, a bank robbery quickly garners the attention of the authorities, including FBI agent Dylan Rhodes (Mark Ruffalo). The Four Horsemen are skilled magicians and illusionists, though they don't come up with their schemes entirely without help. Now You See Me is a little far-fetched at times, and it can be a little hard to suspend your disbelief, even though the cast is great. Nevertheless, the movie is full of fun set pieces, and the final heist has a great twist that will change how you see the film during a rewatch. 6 Fast Five (2011) It may seem strange to have a Fast and Furious movie on the list. However, Fast Five is absolutely a heist movie, set in the bustling Rio de Janeiro. Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his crew plan to rob a rich crime lord and start new lives with the cash. Naturally, the money is well guarded, and the crew discovers it's hidden in a police evidence vault. To make matters worse, Agent Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) is also after Dom. Brian (Paul Walker) describes Hobbs's methods as "Old Testament," so the team must work even harder to keep both sides at bay. Fast Five boasts a heist scene as over-the-top and absurd as you'd expect from the franchise. Hobbs proves a formidable antagonist, forcing Dom's team to think outside the box if they are to secure the bounty. 5 The Thomas Crown Affair (1999) The Thomas Crown Affair is a remarkable movie on this list because it's a remake of the 1968 film of the same name. Another Thomas Crown Affair adaptation is also due to premiere in 2027, starring Michael B. Jordan. Pierce Brosnan is Thomas Crown in the 1999 movie. He's an extraordinarily wealthy businessman. He's also an adept thief and steals a Monet painting worth millions. Catherine Banning (Rene Russo) is tasked with gathering enough evidence to bust Crown, but he always seems one step ahead. Brosnan is ridiculously stylish and charming in the 1999 Thomas Crown Affair. He's almost Bond-esque in his portrayal of the character, and his chemistry with Russo is a massive highlight of the movie. The ending also has a brilliant twist, very on-brand for the character. 4 Heist (2001) Heist is a great early 2000s crime caper, starring Gene Hackman as Joe Moore. He's an experienced thief, but he makes a blunder during a jewelry store robbery that reveals his face. Joe is desperate for a way out, but his handler has other plans. That handler is Mickey Bergman (Danny DeVito). He plans a daring gold heist. It's a high-risk job, and it doesn't take long for distrust to permeate the team with such a valuable prize on the line. Heist has many moving parts, and it's a gripping movie because every member of the team has unique motivations. There's plenty of double-crossing and deception during the mission, as well as a brilliant twist ending. 3 The Score (2001) The Score boasts a phenomenal cast, including Robert De Niro and Edward Norton. De Niro is Nick. He's a veteran thief, looking to get out of the game with his partner, Diane (Angela Bassett). He's ready to leave his life of crime, but his associate, Max (Marlon Brando), tells him about an opportunity too good to pass up. That opportunity is a job to steal a valuable scepter from a customs building. The artifact is heavily guarded, but the crew has an inside man, Jack (Edward Norton). There's tension almost immediately, as Nick and Jack have such different approaches to fieldwork. The Score is an exciting heist movie, as the tension between the duo is palpable. It's obvious that one may double-cross the other, but both are at the top of their games, and we're kept guessing who has the upper hand until the credits. 2 Inside Man (2006) Inside Man is a tense crime thriller set during a bank robbery. Denzel Washington stars as Detective Keith Frazier. He's a negotiator and arrives at a bank where armed robbers have taken hostages. The man in charge of the heist is Dalton (Clive Owen), and it's immediately clear this is no ordinary job. Dalton has meticulously planned every aspect of the robbery. He also instructs every hostage to wear the same outfit as the criminals, making the entire situation far more chaotic. Frazier suspects something else is going on, and his suspicions are somewhat confirmed when the Bank Chairman brings in Madeleine (Jodie Foster) to protect his interests. Washington, Owen, and Foster play brilliantly off each other in Inside Man. The twist is also particularly clever, and one most audiences will never see coming. 1 Ocean's Eleven (2001) Ocean's Eleven is a classic heist movie many fans likely saw coming. George Clooney stars as Danny Ocean. He's just got out of prison, and he's planning an extraordinarily daring heist. The movie is called Ocean's Eleven because Danny's job requires a crew of 11 people. He teams up with Rusty (Brad Pitt), and the team devises a plan to hit a vault connected to three casinos simultaneously. The planning phase is a major highlight of the film, with each team member bringing something essential to the table. Another element that makes Ocean's Eleven so special is the ending twist. We won't spoil it here, but it's very clever. Most importantly, it feels earned. The twist isn't something the audience would likely be able to figure out beforehand, but it doesn't feel cheap. Fans left wanting more will also enjoy the sequels, Ocean's Twelve and Ocean's Thirteen.