After a long prison sentence, a top safe-cracker takes over a couple of businesses that he uses as fronts for diamond heists. After his trusted fence is killed, he agrees to work with a powerful mobster resulting in dire consequences.
Where to Watch Thief
- kyleglasgow007October 3, 2026This movie does not get talked about nearly enough. The attention to technical detail is unmatched by almost any other movie. It’s criminal that this movie usually takes a backseat to heat. Both are great films, but thief is such a cut above everything else that it stands out to me as the best crime thriller movie that is. The acting is super good, the story is very compelling, and the characters have such a rich texture to them that is impossible to replicate. Very similar to how they can no longer afford to make houses as well as they used to back in the 40s 50s and 60s, movies like this cannot be made ever again and you owe it to yourself to watch something so rich and vibrant in feel. I’ve shown this movie to half a dozen of my friends over the years and everyone’s reaction is the same; “ wow why didn’t I know about this sooner? “ is an extremely common refrain. This movie does not get talked about enough and does not miss. The shot composition is beautiful, the soundtrack is probably my favorite soundtrack of any movie that I can think of the rich world building and immersive nature of this movie is just on another level. I hate to draw comparisons or hold it up against other movies, but this is the heist movie to judge all other heist movies against. 
- PaulAugust 12, 2026Michael Mann’s feature debut is a cold, clinical masterclass in stoic noir. James Caan delivers a brilliant, stripped-back performance as a cynical professional speed-running through his own life's checklist, only to burn his entire existence to the ground when the mob tries to own him. The safe-cracking and diamond-drill sequences are painfully authentic, treated like a heavy industrial trade rather than Hollywood magic. Backed by a stark, mechanical Tangerine Dream score and neon-slicked 80s grit, it’s a slow-burn character study that skips the comfortable resolution and leaves you with pure, scorched-earth autonomy. Bleak, methodical, and well worth digesting.
- Don the Darth Knight CORLEONEMarch 2, 2026A truly confounding film with one of the best truly twisted endings that I've seen in some time!...
- russrev1ewsFebruary 23, 2026Methodical, engrossing, and so very detailed. An amazing relic of both a bygone Chicago and a bygone era of masculinity and femininity. Also features one of the most haunting big boss speeches I’ve ever heard. A phenomenal crime drama.
- CubaneNovember 29, 2025A truly confounding film. On one hand, the Tangerine Dream soundtrack is unforgettable, the camera work and color grading are very unique, and the heist scenes are highly gripping, realistic, and intense. There just isn't enough of the good stuff! This movie manages to thoroughly bury the lead on painfully bad character development with a bizarre 100% GMO chemistry-free emotion-free "love" story, with a staggering 90 minutes of abject filler padding out the remaining 40 minutes of plot and action. Even the ending smacks of someone realizing "we gotta wrap this mess up" and feels extremely sudden. Watch this one for the visuals and music, the dialogue can be safely ignored.
- jfall60November 26, 2025Thief is a great movie directed by Michel Mann well worth a watch
- Neil EricksonSeptember 7, 2025Terrible ending. Boring story.
- Abe FromanMay 18, 2025Caaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!
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Thief was released on March 27, 1981.
Thief was directed by Michael Mann.
Thief has a runtime of 2h 3m.
Thief was produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, Ronnie Caan.
After a long prison sentence, a top safe-cracker takes over a couple of businesses that he uses as fronts for diamond heists. After his trusted fence is killed, he agrees to work with a powerful mobster resulting in dire consequences.
The key characters in Thief are Frank (James Caan), Jessie (Tuesday Weld), Leo Alderman (Robert Prosky).
Thief is rated R.
Thief is a Thriller, Crime, Action film.
Thief has an audience rating of 8.1 out of 10.
Thief had a budget of $5.5M.
Thief has made $11.5M at the box office.