If you loved the high-stakes thrills, clever cons, and unexpected twists of the 2023 movie Your Lucky Day, you’re in luck – here are 16 more movies with similar themes, tones and plot elements that should be next on your watchlist. From clever heists to deadly games of cat-and-mouse, these films will keep you on the edge of your seat.
1. Ocean’s Eleven (2001)
Ocean’s Eleven is the gold standard when it comes to slick, stylish heist films. With an all-star ensemble cast led by George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Matt Damon, this remake of the 1960 Rat Pack movie follows a group of con artists and thieves as they attempt to rob three Las Vegas casinos simultaneously.
Director Steven Soderbergh keeps the action moving at a crisp pace, the dialogue is snappy and quotable, and the chemistry between the actors is electric. If you enjoyed the clever scheming and misdirection of Your Lucky Day, Ocean’s Eleven delivers that in spades. It also spawned two sequels and an all-female spin-off, so there’s plenty more heisting to enjoy if you get hooked.
2. Matchstick Men (2003)
In Matchstick Men, Nicolas Cage stars as Roy, a con artist with obsessive-compulsive disorder whose carefully ordered life is thrown into chaos when the teenage daughter he never knew shows up on his doorstep.
Like Your Lucky Day, this movie offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of grifters and swindlers. But it’s also a poignant character study, with Cage delivering one of his most nuanced and affecting performances. Alison Lohman is also wonderful as Roy’s daughter Angela, and Sam Rockwell provides great support as Roy’s hotheaded protégé.
Director Ridley Scott brings his signature visual flair to the proceedings, making Matchstick Men a treat for the eyes as well as the mind. The movie’s final twist is a doozy, making this a must-watch for anyone who loves a good con artist tale.
3. 21 (2008)
Inspired by the true story of the MIT Blackjack Team, 21 follows a group of brilliant math students who train to become expert card counters, then take Vegas casinos for millions.
Like Your Lucky Day, this movie immerses you in the high-stakes world of gambling, where fortunes can be won or lost on the turn of a card. Jim Sturgess stars as Ben Campbell, the straight-arrow student lured into the team by his charismatic professor (Kevin Spacey). Kate Bosworth, Laurence Fishburne, and Aaron Yoo round out the talented cast.
21 is a flashy, fast-paced thriller that makes card counting look like the coolest thing ever. But it also explores the seductive allure of easy money and the toll that living a double life can take. If you liked the gambling elements of Your Lucky Day, this movie is definitely worth a watch.
4. Lucky Number Slevin (2006)
Lucky Number Slevin is a twisty neo-noir that keeps you guessing until the very end. The movie stars Josh Hartnett as Slevin, a hapless everyman who finds himself caught between two warring crime bosses (Morgan Freeman and Ben Kingsley) in a case of mistaken identity.
Like Your Lucky Day, this film is full of clever misdirects, snappy dialogue, and shocking violence. Lucy Liu is great as Slevin’s perky neighbor, and Bruce Willis has a memorable turn as a mysterious hitman. But the real star is the labyrinthine plot, which unfolds like a deliciously complex puzzle.
Director Paul McGuigan keeps the action humming along, and the movie looks fantastic, with stylish cinematography and production design. If you’re a fan of crime thrillers with a wicked sense of humor, Lucky Number Slevin is just the ticket.
5. Rounders (1998)
Before he was Jason Bourne, Matt Damon starred in Rounders, a gritty drama about the underground world of high-stakes poker. Damon plays Mike McDermott, a reformed gambler who’s pulled back into the game when his reckless buddy Worm (Edward Norton) gets out of prison owing big money to the wrong people.
Like Your Lucky Day, Rounders takes you inside the seedy underbelly of gambling, where fortunes and lives can be won or lost on the turn of a card. Damon and Norton are both excellent, and John Malkovich nearly steals the show as a ruthless Russian mobster with a fondness for Oreo cookies.
Director John Dahl captures the smoky, neon-lit atmosphere of underground poker rooms, and the movie crackles with authentic gambling lingo. If you’re a fan of tense, character-driven thrillers, Rounders is a safe bet.
6. The Sting (1973)
A stone-cold classic of the con artist genre, The Sting stars Paul Newman and Robert Redford as two grifters who hatch an elaborate scheme to take down a ruthless crime boss (Robert Shaw) in 1930s Chicago.
Like Your Lucky Day, this movie is a masterclass in misdirection and sleight of hand. The plot is delightfully twisty, with double- and triple-crosses galore, and the period detail is impeccable. Newman and Redford’s easygoing chemistry is a joy to watch, and the film’s iconic score by Marvin Hamlisch is instantly recognizable.
The Sting won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and it’s easy to see why. It’s a smart, stylish caper that never loses its sense of fun, even as the stakes keep getting higher. If you’re a fan of classic Hollywood filmmaking, this one is a must-see.
7. The Usual Suspects (1995)
Bryan Singer‘s twisty neo-noir The Usual Suspects centers on a group of criminals brought together for a police lineup who decide to team up for a big job. But when the heist goes horribly wrong, the survivors are left to unravel the mystery of who betrayed them and why.
Like Your Lucky Day, this movie keeps you guessing until the very end, with unreliable narrators, shifting timelines, and plenty of shocking reveals. Kevin Spacey won an Oscar for his performance as the slippery con man Verbal Kint, and the rest of the cast (including Gabriel Byrne, Benicio del Toro, and Chazz Palminteri) is equally impressive.
The Usual Suspects is a movie that rewards repeat viewings, as you pick up on new clues and details each time. Its famous final twist has been endlessly parodied and homaged, but it still packs a punch. If you love a good mystery, this one is hard to beat.
8. The Grifters (1990)
Based on the novel by Jim Thompson, The Grifters is a stylish neo-noir about three con artists (John Cusack, Anjelica Huston, and Annette Bening) caught in a dangerous web of lies and betrayal.
Like Your Lucky Day, this movie takes you inside the mind of the con artist, showing the tricks of the trade and the toll that a life of deception can take. Huston is particularly great as Cusack’s mother, a veteran grifter whose maternal instincts battle with her criminal ones.
Director Stephen Frears brings a sleek, modern sensibility to Thompson’s pulpy story, and the film is full of memorable dialogue and shocking twists. If you’re a fan of classic film noir, The Grifters is a worthy addition to the canon.
9. Nine Queens (2000)
This Argentine crime thriller follows two con artists (Ricardo Darín and Gastón Pauls) who team up to sell a forged set of valuable stamps known as the “Nine Queens.” But as the scam gets more and more complicated, the two men start to suspect that they may be the ones getting played.
Like Your Lucky Day, Nine Queens is full of clever cons and double-crosses, with a plot that keeps you guessing until the final frame. Darín and Pauls have great chemistry as the mismatched grifters, and the movie’s twisty script keeps you on your toes.
Director Fabián Bielinsky makes great use of the bustling streets of Buenos Aires, and the movie has a gritty, realistic feel that sets it apart from slicker Hollywood capers. If you’re in the mood for a smart, suspenseful crime drama, Nine Queens is a royal flush.
10. House of Games (1987)
David Mamet‘s directorial debut House of Games stars Lindsay Crouse as Margaret Ford, a psychiatrist who becomes fascinated by the world of con artists after one of her patients (Joe Mantegna) introduces her to his crew of grifters.
Like Your Lucky Day, this movie explores the psychological toll that a life of deception can take, as Margaret gets drawn deeper and deeper into the con artists’ world. Mantegna is magnetic as the charming but dangerous ringleader, and Mamet’s dialogue crackles with his signature wit and profanity.
House of Games is a slow burn of a movie, building tension through long conversations and subtle power shifts. But the payoff is worth it, with a final twist that will leave you reeling. If you’re a fan of Mamet’s plays or movies like Glengarry Glen Ross, this one is a must-see.
11. Heist (2001)
Written and directed by David Mamet, Heist stars Gene Hackman as Joe Moore, an aging thief planning one last big score before retiring. But when his fence (Danny DeVito) demands that Joe’s young wife (Rebecca Pidgeon) come along on the job, things start to unravel in a hurry.
Like Your Lucky Day, Heist is full of clever cons and double-crosses, with a plot that keeps you guessing until the very end. Hackman is fantastic as the wily veteran thief, and Delroy Lindo and Sam Rockwell provide great support as his loyal crew.
Mamet’s dialogue is as sharp as ever, with plenty of memorable one-liners and tense confrontations. The heist itself is a thing of beauty, a complex dance of misdirection and sleight of hand. If you’re a fan of classic caper movies, Heist is a worthy addition to the genre.
12. Confidence (2003)
Edward Burns stars in this slick con artist thriller as Jake Vig, a grifter who finds himself in over his head when he accidentally swindles a dangerous crime boss (Dustin Hoffman). To pay off his debt, Jake assembles a crew (including Rachel Weisz, Andy Garcia, and Paul Giamatti) to pull off a risky long con.
Like Your Lucky Day, Confidence is full of twists and turns, with a plot that keeps you guessing until the final reveal. Burns is charming as the smooth-talking con man, and Hoffman is delightfully menacing as the unhinged villain.
Director James Foley keeps the action moving at a brisk pace, with stylish cinematography and a jazzy score. The movie’s final con is a thing of beauty, a masterclass in misdirection and sleight of hand. If you’re in the mood for a fun, flashy caper, Confidence won’t let you down.
13. The Brothers Bloom (2008)
Rian Johnson‘s whimsical crime caper The Brothers Bloom stars Adrien Brody and Mark Ruffalo as two orphaned brothers who grow up to become the world’s greatest con artists. But when they decide to take on one last job – swindling a lonely heiress (Rachel Weisz) out of her fortune – things get complicated in a hurry.
Like Your Lucky Day, this movie revels in the art of the con, with plenty of clever schemes and misdirects. But it’s also a surprisingly sweet and heartfelt story about the bonds of family and the search for meaning in life.
Johnson’s script is full of witty dialogue and playful meta-commentary on storytelling itself. The movie’s globetrotting plot takes us from Montenegro to Mexico to New Jersey, with each new location offering its own visual delights. If you’re a fan of Wes Anderson or the Coen Brothers, The Brothers Bloom is definitely worth a watch.
14. Focus (2015)
Will Smith and Margot Robbie star in this slick con artist thriller as Nicky and Jess, two grifters who fall for each other while pulling off a series of increasingly risky heists. But as their relationship deepens, so do the stakes, and soon they find themselves in over their heads.
Like Your Lucky Day, Focus is full of clever cons and double-crosses, with a plot that keeps you guessing until the very end. Smith and Robbie have great chemistry, and their banter is one of the movie’s highlights.
Directors Glenn Ficarra and John Requa keep the action moving at a brisk pace, with stylish cinematography and a cool, jazzy score. The movie’s final twist is a doozy, a masterclass in misdirection that will leave you grinning. If you’re in the mood for a fun, sexy caper, Focus definitely has its eye on the prize.
15. Catch Me If You Can (2002)
Based on a true story, Steven Spielberg‘s Catch Me If You Can stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Frank Abagnale Jr., a teenage con artist who successfully impersonated a pilot, a doctor, and a lawyer while forging millions of dollars in checks. Tom Hanks co-stars as the dogged FBI agent on Frank’s trail.
Like Your Lucky Day, this movie is a cat-and-mouse thriller with plenty of clever cons and near-misses. But it’s also a surprisingly poignant coming-of-age story, with Frank’s criminal escapades serving as a way to win his father’s (Christopher Walken) approval.
Spielberg directs with his usual flair, capturing the jet-set glamour of the 1960s with vibrant colors and snappy editing. John Williams’ jazzy score is the perfect accompaniment to Frank’s high-flying adventures. If you’re a fan of true crime stories or just love a good caper, Catch Me If You Can is hard to resist.
16. Snatch (2000)
Guy Ritchie‘s sophomore feature Snatch is a rollicking crime caper that interweaves multiple storylines involving diamond thieves, bare-knuckle boxers, and ruthless gangsters. The ensemble cast includes Jason Statham, Brad Pitt, Benicio del Toro, and Dennis Farina.
Like Your Lucky Day, Snatch is full of colorful characters, snappy dialogue, and sudden bursts of violence. The plot is a labyrinthine puzzle box that rewards close attention, with seemingly disparate threads coming together in surprising ways.
Ritchie directs with his signature style, all quick cuts and flashy camera moves. The movie’s soundtrack, which features everything from The Stooges to Oasis, is a perfect match for its kinetic energy. If you’re a fan of Ritchie’s other crime capers like Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels or RocknRolla, Snatch is a must-see.
From pulse-pounding heists to psychological cat-and-mouse games, these 16 movies share Your Lucky Day‘s themes of ordinary people caught up in extraordinary criminal circumstances. Whether you’re in the mood for a stylish caper, a gritty revenge thriller, or a darkly comedic morality tale, these films offer plenty of suspense, surprises, and stellar performances. So grab some popcorn, dim the lights, and prepare for a wild ride with these Your Lucky Day-esque movies.
