Even with gritty and action-packed heist movies, movie lovers and fans of the genre always refer to Catch Me If You Can as the golden standard to gauge previous and future heist movies by. Catch Me If You Can has all the ingredients of a timeless film, including wit and humor with red herrings.
It also didn’t hurt that Tom Hanks and Leonardo DiCaprio starred in the film, with moviegoers still quoting from that film. For those who can’t get enough of the Catch Me If You Can Experience, this guide goes under the hood to find the top movies that make the classic genre proud and then some.
1) Riffi (1955)
Directed by the legendary Jules Dassin, many fans and lovers of the heist genre consider Riffi the godfather of the heist film genre. Riffi is the dramatic telling of an extensively planned robbery of a Paris jewelry store. Riffi’s flawless execution of silent acting with film noir cinematography also makes it a must-see film in the heist genre. The highlight is the nearly half hour of watching the burglars execute their plan to rob the jewelry store.
2) Ocean’s Eleven (1960)
Of all the iconic heist films, the original Ocean’s Eleven has many of the same elements, including timely comedy and a lighthearted approach. The original Ocean’s Eleven stars Frank Sinatra as Danny Ocean, the leader of a talented group of entertainers who are also accomplished thieves. Fans of this classic heist film will also recognize many members of the Rat Pack like Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. Angie Dickenson also stars as Frank Ocean’s muse.
Ocean’s Eleven treats viewers to classic shots of old Las Vegas as he watch Danny Ocean plan to rob five of Las Vegas’ biggest casinos on New Years. Between timely comedy and Sammy Davis Jr.’s singing, the original Ocean’s Eleven, in many ways, set the foundation for Catch Me If You Can.
3) Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
Of course, no self-respecting film list about heist films would be complete without mentioning Bonnie and Clyde. Bonnie and Clyde is the film that many will argue had it all. Action, extreme violence, unpredictability, daring bank robberies, and a twisted love affair between the two stars, Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway, help sum up the iconic Bonnie and Clyde film.
Bonnie and Clyde is also a time capsule of the Great Depression period of the 1930s. The cinematography was top-notch and filled with unpredictable moments. The best part about this ground-breaking film is that it was based on a true story.
4) The Thomas Crown Affair (1968)
The original Thomas Crown Affair also laid down the groundwork for the iconic film Catch Me If You Can. The late Steve McQueen, who starred in The Great Escape and The Magnificent Seven, was at the top of his game with this unique crime capper mixed with drama, romance, and dry wit.
Steve McQueen stars as Thomas Crown, a carefree and rich businessman who spends his free time robbing banks and other institutions. With the police suspicious of Thomas Crown, they sent in the top insurance agent, Vicki Anderson, to look deeper into Thomas Crown. However, it doesn’t take long for romantic feelings to get involved.
As the film progresses, the drama intensifies about whether or not Thomas will fall for Vicki or whether Vicki will carry through with her plans to bring him down. The final heist is on, but what will Vicki really do?
5) The Italian Job (1969)
The original Italian Job stars Michael Caine has Johnny Crocker, a career-long criminal who specializes in grand heists. No sooner is Crocker released from prison, he is enlisted in the biggest job of all – robbing Turin of $4 million pounds of gold.
The Italian Job introduced the more humorous side to heist films and remains a favorite among fans in the genre more than 50 years later. Prepare to sing corny songs with the leading cast and witness some seriously crafty car chase scenes with Mini Cooper cars. And like any self-respecting heist film, the original Italian Job literally ends in a cliffhanger.
6) The Red Circle (1970)
The Red Circle, more than fifty years later, remains one of the most influential and beloved films in French cinema history, as well as the gangster and heist genres. The late Alain Delon stars as Corey, who is released from prison to help lead a group of two other criminals to rob one of the most prestigious jewelry stores in Paris.
Part of the mystique of The Red Circle is getting to know the backstories of the three thieves and the deeper motivations for them to pull off the job. Directed by the legendary French director Jean-Pierre Melville, this classic heist film doesn’t disappoint with the heart-pounding heist scene with no dialogue. In the end, even in the face of tragedy, The Red Circle does prove that there is honor among thieves.
7) The Thomas Crown Affair (1999)
The Thomas Crown remake carries all the lighthearted drama and romance from the original version. This time, Pierce Brosnan, during his run as James Bond, stars as the rich and dashing Thomas Crown. Instead of being a billionaire plotting to rob banks, Thomas Crown spends his free time looking to rob precious art pieces from museums.
However, as Crown plans his biggest heist yet, the robbing of the Monet from New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, the tough insurance agent, Vicki Anderson, is sent in to further investigate Thomas Crown.
Like the original, it doesn’t take long for sparks to fly and a romance to blossom. The remake still carries over light and comedic moments but introduces more sensuality as the drama for the final heist builds up.
8) Ocean’s Eleven (2001)
The handsome and dashing A-list actor George Clooney stars as Danny Ocean in the massively successful remake Ocean’s Eleven. Fresh out of prison, George Clooney immediately begins to assemble his team of mastermind criminals to rob a series of local casinos for the biggest payoffs of their lives.
As the brotherhood develops between other A-list actors, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and the late Bernie Mac, we get treated to impromptu comedic moments that outshine the original. While the others are in it for the money, it becomes clear in between the laughs that Danny has ulterior motives for robbing the casinos.
From hardcore drama to timely moments that make us laugh, these classic films do more than do justice to the classic Catch Me If You Can film. The joy of these films is not actually the size of the heist but the steps and the reasons for going into the heist. Some films are incredibly dark and violent, while others make us laugh and find ourselves rooting for the bad guy.
