Crime 101 is ready to claim a place in the pantheon of crime cinema.
One of the new movies of 2026, Crime 101based on the novel of the same name by Don Winslow, it’s billed as a seat-grabbing heist thriller that could be a perfect date night this coming Valentine’s Day weekend. And, with Marvel actors Chris Hemsworth, Halle Berry, Mark Ruffalo and Barry Keoghan among its A-list cast, it certainly has the star power to get bums in their seats.
Heat (1995)
Where to stream: Hulu and Plex (US); Netflix and Disney+ (UK and Australia)
Execution time: 2 hours and 50 minutes
Rotten Tomatoes Score (RT): 84% (critical); 94% (audience)
“If you’re filming in Los Angeles, it’s hard not to look beyond HeatRight?” Layton said. “For most people, I think it’s the pinnacle of the entire genre. It’s infinitely bright and rewatchable.”
You are not wrong. The nearly three-hour crime drama is a timeless film that has influenced countless entertainment and pop culture properties, including Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy and the universally popular grand theft car video game franchise. Hell, Heat became so ingrained in the zeitgeist upon its release in the mid-1990s that it actually inspired real-life crimes, including the 1997 North Hollywood shooting.
For those who haven’t seen it, the genre-defining Michael Mann-directed film follows Los Angeles Police Lieutenant Vincent Hanna’s (Al Pacino) relentless pursuit of professional thief Neil McCauley (Robert De Niro) after a robbery led by McCauley goes wrong. Enter a compelling game of cat and mouse as Mann shows off his mastery skills behind the camera and Pacino and De Niro show off their unquestionable talents in front of it.
Bullitt (1968)
Look
Where to stream: Hoopla (United States); rent or buy (UK); HBO Max (Australia)
Execution time: 1 hour and 53 minutes
RT Score: 98% (critical); 85% (audience)
“We wanted to bring this style of film back to the big screen,” Layton revealed when talking about BullittSteve McQueen’s vehicle from the 1960s era.
Based on Rupert Fish’s 1963 novel. mute witnessstars McQueen as Frank Bullitt, a San Francisco police detective who leads the investigation into the murder of a witness he was assigned to keep safe.
A film tailor-made to showcase McQueen’s natural acting abilities. Bullitt is best known for its absorbing car chase that was way ahead of its time. In fact, the 1968 Academy Award winner for Best Editing created the benchmark for chase sequences upon its release, and the scene regularly appears on “best of” lists and is described by Time magazine as “the, first, grandpa, chase at the top of almost every list.” With Crime 101 set to introduce its own vehicle-based chase sequences, BullittThe influence will definitely be felt.
The Sting (1973)
Look
Where to stream: Netflix (United States); rent or buy (UK); Paramount+, Foxtel and Binge (Australia)
Execution time: 2 hours and 9 minutes
RT Score: 93% (critical); 95% (audience)
A criminal caper from 1973, The bite “It was a really formative film for me,” Layton reflected, and anyone who’s seen it on one of the world’s best streaming services will agree that it’s up there with the best films of its kind.
Starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford, it tells the story of professional con artists Henry Gondorff and Johnny Hooker, who join forces to swindle mob boss Doyle Lonnegan (Robert Shaw) out of a considerable amount of cash.
Another film adaptation of a literary work. The bite It is based on David Maurer’s 1940 book. The great scam: the story of the confidence manwhich documents the lives of real-life scammers; It marked the second time filmmaker George Roy Hill directed Newman and Redford. Hill had worked alongside the famous actors four years earlier in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. It is not surprising then that The bite It turned out to be another hit for the trio after the aforementioned 1969 western buddy movie.
Thief (1981)
Look
Where to stream: Fubo, Plex and MGM+ (US); Mubi and MGM+ (UK); MGM+ (Australia)
Duration: 2 hours and 2 minutes
RT Score: 80% (critics); 81% (audience)
“I think most people would immediately point to any of Michael Mann’s works,” Layton added of the author behind crime genre classics like Collateralas well as other award-winning features such as The last of the mohicans.
Is Thiefa 1981 film that was only the second film Mann directed, reserving the last spot on Layton’s all-time favorite crime movies. Led by James Caan, it introduces us to Frank, a jewel thief and ex-convict trying to escape his life of crime.
Despite the spoilers, it’s hard not to compare Caan’s protagonist to James Davis’s. Crime 101The main character, played by Hemsworth. If you want to get a sense of the story and themes that may be at play in Layton’s latest film offering, Thief It’s worth streaming on MGM+, which you can add to your Prime Video subscription as a channel add-on.
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