This is the first in a series of articles where we’ll be covering the Top Heist Films by decade. Films About Heists also include Films About Capers, Films About Thieves, Films About Bank Robberies, Films About Armored Car Robberies and Films About Bank Heists. In general, this subgenre covers anything to do with armed robbers or thieves.
This first article will cover the Top Heist Films You Haven’t Seen from the 1970’s and you can check out additional articles by decade below. We are also going to include a Best Of subgenre article as a grand finale. There are so many great Heist films over the last 60 years that we felt it best to break down some of the subgenre’s forgotten and lesser-known gems by decade before we give you the Best Of list which will likely feature many films you’ve already heard of or have seen.
- Top Heist Films You Haven’t Seen – 1970’s
- Top Heist Films You Haven’t Seen – 1980’s
- Top Heist Films You Haven’t Seen – 1990’s
- Top Heist Films You Haven’t Seen – 2000 – 2004
- Top Heist Films You Haven’t Seen – 2005 – 2009
- Top Heist Films You Haven’t Seen – 2010 – 2014
- Top Heist Films You Haven’t Seen – 2015 – 2019
- Best Recent Heist Films
- Best Heist Films
Before we get into the 1970’s, we felt a need to mention some classic Heist films from prior decades including The Killing (1956), Ocean’s Eleven (1960), The Pink Panther (1963), The Train (1964), Bonnie and Clyde (1967), Grand Slam (1967), Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) and The Italian Job (1969). Even if you are averse to black and white or ‘older’ films, these are all great Heist films that fans of the subgenre should not miss.
The 1970’s are where Heist Films became an increasingly popular Crime subgenre. Many themes of the Heist subgenre originated or were refined in this decade including Heist Films with an ensemble cast, period piece Heist Films, character driven films often about thieves or bank robbers and Heist Films with comedic undertones.
Though Ocean’s Eleven (1960) was the first great Heist Film featuring an ensemble cast of popular actors, in the 1970’s, this became the dominant theme of the decade. Many of the decade’s Heist films featured at least three popular actors all partaking in various heists or capers. Kelly’s Heroes (1970) was a World War II bank heist featuring Clint Eastwood, Donald Sutherland and Telly Savalas. The Hot Rock (1972) featured a light-hearted diamond heist with a cast including Robert Redford, George Segal and Ron Leibman. And Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974) featured Clint Eastwood again as a bank robber with a supporting cast of Jeff Bridges, Geoffrey Lewis and George Kennedy. Other prominent Heist films featuring ensemble casts included The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid (1972), The Sting (1973), Killer Force (1976), Blue Collar (1978) and The Brink’s Job (1978).
Period Pieces involving Heists based on or inspired by true events were also a growing trend within the subgenre in the 1970’s. The most popular period-based Heist Film of the decade was The Sting (1973) which featured Paul Newman and Robert Redford whose characters were inspired by the con artist Gondorff Brothers. The First Great Train Robbery (1978) was inspired by the Great Gold Robbery in 1855. And The Brink’s Job (1978) was based on a historical event – the Great Brink’s Robbery in 1950 – which at the time was the largest robbery in the history of the United States with $2.7 million stolen.
Character-driven films about thieves and bank robbers also became popular in the decade as potential Academy Award selections for up-and-coming or popular actors of the decade. Charley Varrick (1973) was one of these character-driven pictures starring Walter Matthau as a bank robber who inadvertently robs the mob. Dog Day Afternoon (1975) starred Al Pacino as a bank robber in over his head (which was based on a real-life bank robbery by John Wojtowicz). And Dustin Hoffman continued his rise to fame in Straight Time (1978) where he played a paroled burglar trying to go straight.
As Heist Films gained in popularity in the decade, many films often featured comedic undertones balanced against the suspense and thrills of a caper or heist. Kelly’s Heroes (1970), $ (1971), The Hot Rock (1972), The Sting (1973), The Dion Brothers (1974), The First Great Train Robbery (1978) and The Brink’s Job (1978) were all examples of 1970’s Heist Films with subtle humor compared to films such as The Return of the Pink Panther (1975) and Going in Style (1979) which were primarily comedies with Heist Film elements.
Our complete list of Caper and Heist Films features over 448+ films from 1956 – 2023. This collection features almost every film involving a caper, heist or robbery and films focused on thieves and burglars. If you don’t see a film in our Heist collection, it might not have enough Heist Film elements to be included but is likely in our lists of Films About Con Artists, Films About Financial Fraud or Films About Fugitives which are all closely aligned with the Heist Film subgenre. Also, as we’re always updating our Heist Film collection and will be releasing additional articles of great Heist Films, subscribe to our newsletter for our latest updates as we post them.
Classic Heist Films from the 1970’s: Kelly’s Heroes (1970), Le Cercle Rouge (1970), The Hot Rock (1972), The Getaway (1972), The Sting (1973), The Return of the Pink Panther (1975), Dog Day Afternoon (1975), Straight Time (1978), The First Great Train Robbery (1978) and The Silent Partner (1978).
Heist Films from the 1970’s that didn’t make our list: The Kremlin Letter (1970), Perfect Friday (1970), One More Train to Rob (1971), Villain (1971), The Master Touch (1972), The Dion Brothers (1974), Whiffs (1975), Killer Force (1976) and The Brink’s Job (1978).
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Here is our list of the Top Heist Films You Haven’t Seen from the 1970’s:
#10
Money Movers
Plot: A group of crooks plan a heist to steal twenty million dollars from a Security Firm counting house.
KBZ’s Take: This Australian Heist Film is loosely based on two separate events – the 1970 Sydney Armored Car Robbery and Heist of the Metropolitan Security Services’ offices. The film is very violent and has multiple threads happening at once that you have to pay attention to.
Though the film was a box office bomb, it’s still one of the better films of the Australian New Wave of films from the 1970’s and early 1980’s. It has some great moments in the film especially with the heist planning.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/41vFFoZ
Plot: A gang of thieves plan a daring bank robbery, making their escape across the rooftops of Los Angeles. The police are quickly called in, however, and only one of the robbers, Murdock, makes a clean getaway. Unfortunately, in order to do so, he is forced to dump the stolen cash into a mailbox, which he then finds is locked until midnight, forcing him to wait until the mailman makes his late-night pickup. As he waits, he discovers that his hiding place has been observed by several other people, all of whom want a share of the loot.
KBZ’s Take: This is a film involving multiple heists and one very nerve-wracking escape. We debated listing this film because overall, it’s not a great film. It’s mainly carried by the acting of Bo Svenson and Cybill Shepperd. However, the first and third acts of the film have some great moments (especially the escape sequence from the Heist) and the film shouldn’t be missed by fans and completists of the subgenre.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3VXyy7P
Plot: After a failed bank robbery, an ex-con, an ex-waitress and a few of their friends train a pack of doberman dogs to rob a bank for them.
KBZ’s Take: This is a fun Heist film that can be enjoyed by the entire family. Kids will enjoy the Dobermans that are trained to rob the bank (and have some very funny moments as the bank employees aren’t entirely sure what is going on). Adults will like the thrilling Heist elements throughout the film.
It’s a great ‘compromise’ film if you’re in the mood for some caper and heist action but your kids want to watch a Disney film or a Family Film with Animals.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/41xccv2
Plot: In 1877, Frank (John Pearce) and Jesse James (Robert Duvall) are expecting to receive amnesty from the state of Missouri for all their previous crimes. But the railroad owners whom the brothers have repeatedly robbed intervene, stopping the amnesty and sending the Pinkertons to kill the gang. Meanwhile, Frank and Jesse team up with Cole Younger (Cliff Robertson) and his gang, and plot to rob the biggest bank west of the Mississippi, located in Northfield, Minn.
KBZ’s Take: One of the lesser-known and forgotten films about Jesse James, Frank James and the Younger Brothers. While other films focus on other aspects of the lives of the James and Younger Brothers, this film focuses on a bank heist.
It takes awhile to get to the actual heist, but amazing performances from Robert Duval as Jesse James and Cliff Robertson as Cole Younger keep you engaged until the main event. We normally try to isolate Westerns to their specific subgenres, but this is one film where the heist is worth mentioning here.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3W44DLi
#6
Blue Collar
Plot: Fed up with mistreatment at the hands of both management and union brass, and coupled with financial hardships on each man’s end, three auto assembly line workers hatch a plan to rob a safe at union headquarters.
KBZ’s Take: Blue Collar was Paul Schrader’s first directorial effort and is similar in tone and style to his other films such as American Gigolo (1980) and Affliction (1997). Some people might not like the slow-moving narratives that Schrader’s films are known for, but we think this is a very underrated subgenre film.
The film is character driven and explores corruption within a labor union. There are some action and thrill scenes, but the film is more of a slow burn. It’s focused on the aftermath of the heist and moral implications that arise within the group of thieves. Outstanding performances from Richard Pryor, Yaphet Kotto and Harvey Keitel make this a must-see film of the subgenre.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3O7LpCv
#5
$
Plot A bank security expert plots with a call girl to rob the safety deposit boxes of three very different criminals from a high-tech bank in Hamburg.
KBZ’s Take: $ (aka Dollars) is an interesting film with one of the better heist sequences of the entire subgenre. The film takes its time getting to the heist as it focuses on the backgrounds of the heist targets and the relationship between Joe (Warren Beatty) and Dawn (Goldie Hawn). They have some great chemistry in the film which helps move the film along until the heist sequence.
As for the heist sequence, it’s one of the most unique and suspenseful heists in the entire subgenre. And the heist takes place in the second act with an even more action-packed and suspenseful third act. The film is over 50 years old but worth checking out by fans and completists of the subgenre.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/41Btiro
#4
The Driver
Plot: The Driver specializes in driving getaway cars for robberies. His exceptional talent has prevented him from being caught yet. After another successful flight from the police a self-assured detective makes it his primary goal to catch the Driver. He promises pardons to a gang if they help to convict him in a set-up robbery. The Driver seeks help from The Player to mislead the detective.
KBZ’s Take: While Drive (2011) starring Ryan Gosling was not a direct remake of this 1978 film, it was clearly inspired by it. Both films feature a getaway driver, are set in Los Angeles and use similar Noir Thriller templates.
While both films have their strengths and weaknesses, the 1978 film is a much grittier film directed by Walter Hill. Similar to his other films like The Warriors (1979), The Driver also has its moments where a slow brewing suspenseful scene will suddenly erupt into thrilling action.
Whether or not you’re a fan of the 2011 film, you shouldn’t miss The Driver – one of the most overlooked subgenre films of the 1970’s.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/42u4B1s
Plot: Toronto, Canada. A few days before Christmas, Miles Cullen, a bored teller working at a bank branch located in a shopping mall, accidentally learns that the place is about to be robbed when he finds a disconcerting note on one of the counters.
KBZ’s Take: If you’ve gotten into the debate if Die Hard (1988) is a Christmas film, you can also point to this film if you’re in the pro-Christmas film camp. Like Die Hard, The Silent Partner takes place during Christmas and features a mall Santa planning and executing a heist. That’s where the similar holiday backgrounds between the two films end.
The remainder of the film focuses on a great Christopher Plummer as the psychotic bank robber who slowly realizes he’s been swindled by the bank employee he held up (played by Elliot Gould). The film has an amazing psychological battle between Plummer and Gould as they can’t involve the police for either of their crimes and end up in a cat and mouse game throughout the remainder of the film.
This film isn’t typically listed as a classic 70’s Heist Film but it’s on par with the best of them.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3MmAbYn
Plot: In Victorian England, a master criminal makes elaborate plans to steal a shipment of gold from a moving train.
KBZ’s Take: This is a period Heist film written and directed by Michael Crichton. Though the Sci-Fi novelist is most well-known for writing Jurassic Park (1993) and directing Westworld (1973), Coma (1978) and Runaway (1984), The First Great Train Robbery is arguably one of his best films.
The film has one of the more novel Heist sequences in the subgenre involving a robbery on a fast-moving train. The sequences of Sean Connery atop the train are some of the most memorable and thrilling of the subgenre. There’s also a great comedic rapport between Connery and heist partner Donald Sutherland.
Of all the Heist Films from the 70’s, this film has one of the most intricate and masterfully executed Heists from beginning to end with the perfect balance of thrills and laughs. It’s another film we feel should be identified as a classic Heist film of the decade that shouldn’t be missed.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3MoSEo4
#1
The Hot Rock
Plot: Thieves plan heist of a diamond from a museum.
KBZ’s Take: Light-hearted caper similar in vein to Ocean’s Eleven (2001), this Robert Redford and George Segal led film features a great mix of action, comedy and suspense. Like most caper films, there’s the planning stage and the execution stage where something inevitably goes wrong.
The film excels in a few key areas. First, there’s multiple Heist sequences from the first diamond heist to a break-in of a police precinct. These sequences are some of the best and most suspenseful of the subgenre.
Second, the film strikes the perfect balance between comedy and suspense. Though this is a Heist film with an ensemble cast, the film works because of the great dynamic between Robert Redford and George Segal.
Third, because something inevitably goes wrong with each heist, you find yourself increasingly rooting for the criminals. It’s the same tactic used with other films such as Ocean’s Eleven (2001) to make the thieves sympathetic characters.
Though this film wasn’t fully appreciated upon release, over time, it has become an often-overlooked classic film of the subgenre.
Additional Lists: Top Caper & Heist Films You Haven’t Seen (Part 1) #9
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