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Thief

Thief

Crime · Thriller · Drama · 1981

Frank is an expert professional safecracker, specialized in high-profile diamond heists. He plans to use his ill-gotten income to retire from crime and build a nice life for himself complete with a home, wife and kids. To accelerate the process, he signs on with a top gangster for a big score.

Movie details

Thief

“Tonight, his take home pay is $410,000... tax free.”

1981 Crime · Thriller · Drama 2h 3m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.2 / 10

Community rating

Frank is an expert professional safecracker, specialized in high-profile diamond heists. He plans to use his ill-gotten income to retire from crime and build a nice life for himself complete with a home, wife and kids. To accelerate the process, he signs on with a top gangster for a big score.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Thief?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Widows

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A police shootout leaves four thieves dead during an explosive armed robbery attempt in Chicago. Their widows have nothing in common except a debt left behind by their spouses' criminal activities. Hoping to forge a future on their own terms, they join forces to pull off a heist.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Michael Mann

Written by

Michael Mann

James Caan

James Caan

Frank

Tuesday Weld

Tuesday Weld

Jessie

Robert Prosky

Robert Prosky

Leo Alderman

Willie Nelson

Willie Nelson

David 'Okla' Bertinneau

Jim Belushi

Jim Belushi

Barry Stratagakis

Tom Signorelli

Tom Signorelli

Vincent Attaglia

Dennis Farina

Dennis Farina

Carl

Court is in session

Put Thief on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Big-Idea Head

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.