If you’re a fan of the 1995 crime thriller Heat, directed by Michael Mann and starring Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, then you know how intense and gripping a well-made heist movie can be. The film follows a cat-and-mouse game between an obsessive detective and a crew of professional thieves, culminating in one of the most iconic shootouts ever put to film.
Heat set a new standard for crime dramas with its gritty realism, complex characters, and heart-pounding action sequences. It’s a tough act to follow, but luckily there are plenty of other excellent heist and crime thrillers out there that capture a similar vibe and will keep you glued to the screen. Here are 18 of the best movies like Heat to add to your watchlist:
1. The Town (2010)
Directed by and starring Ben Affleck, The Town is probably the closest movie to Heat in terms of plot and tone. It follows a group of bank robbers in Boston and the FBI agent trying to track them down. Like Heat, it features intense action, a forbidden romance, and a lead character struggling to leave his criminal past behind.
The shootouts and heist sequences are masterfully crafted, and the performances from Affleck, Jeremy Renner, Rebecca Hall and Jon Hamm are top-notch. If you want a movie that feels like a spiritual successor to Heat, this is the one to watch.
2. Thief (1981)
Before he made Heat, Michael Mann directed this stylish neo-noir thriller starring James Caan as a professional safecracker trying to leave the criminal life behind. Like many of Mann’s films, it’s a moody character study that builds to an explosive climax.
Thief may have a smaller scale than Heat, but it’s every bit as gripping, with a fantastic lead performance from Caan and a mesmerizing electronic score by Tangerine Dream. If you want to see the early evolution of Mann’s signature style, check this one out.
3. Sicario (2015)
While not a heist movie, Sicario is a taut, gritty thriller that shares Heat‘s fascination with the thin line between cops and criminals. Directed by Denis Villeneuve, it stars Emily Blunt as an FBI agent who gets involved with a shadowy government task force taking on Mexican drug cartels.
Like Heat, Sicario is a master class in building tension and staging realistic action sequences. Benicio del Toro is chilling as a mysterious operative, and the cinematography by Roger Deakins is stunning. If you like your crime thrillers dark and morally ambiguous, this is a must-watch.
4. Inside Man (2006)
Spike Lee might not be the first name that comes to mind for a heist thriller, but he knocks it out of the park with Inside Man. Clive Owen stars as a brilliant bank robber who matches wits with a tough NYPD hostage negotiator played by Denzel Washington.
The plot unfolds in a series of clever twists and turns, and the cast (which also includes Jodie Foster and Christopher Plummer) is phenomenal. It’s a smart, stylish thriller that keeps you guessing until the very end.
5. Point Break (1991)
Kathryn Bigelow’s Point Break stars Keanu Reeves as an FBI agent who goes undercover to catch a gang of bank-robbing surfers (led by Patrick Swayze). While it’s lighter in tone than Heat, it features some incredible action sequences, including a foot chase through the streets of Los Angeles and a climactic skydiving scene.
Point Break is pure adrenaline-fueled entertainment, with a charismatic lead performance from Reeves and great chemistry between him and Swayze. It’s a classic action movie that still holds up today.
6. Ronin (1998)
Directed by John Frankenheimer, Ronin stars Robert De Niro as a former CIA agent who gets involved with a team of mercenaries hired to steal a mysterious briefcase. Like Heat, it’s a slick, globetrotting thriller with a cast of morally ambiguous characters and some of the best car chases ever filmed.
De Niro is great as always, and he’s backed up by a stellar supporting cast that includes Jean Reno, Sean Bean, and Stellan Skarsgård. If you’re a fan of Heat‘s more action-packed moments, Ronin delivers them in spades.
7. The Usual Suspects (1995)
Bryan Singer’s twisty neo-noir The Usual Suspects follows a group of criminals brought together for a shadowy heist masterminded by the legendary Keyser Söze. The nonlinear structure keeps you guessing as the plot unfolds in flashbacks and interrogations.
While it’s more of a slow burn than Heat, The Usual Suspects features sharp dialogue, memorable performances (especially from Kevin Spacey in his Oscar-winning role), and a killer ending. It’s a classic crime thriller that rewards repeat viewings.
8. Reservoir Dogs (1992)
Quentin Tarantino’s directorial debut Reservoir Dogs follows the aftermath of a jewelry heist gone wrong, as the surviving criminals try to figure out who among them is an undercover cop. Like Heat, it’s a tense, dialogue-driven thriller with bursts of sudden violence.
Tarantino’s pop culture-infused dialogue and nonlinear structure make Reservoir Dogs feel fresh and innovative, and the cast (including Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, and Michael Madsen) is terrific. It’s a must-see for any fan of crime movies.
9. Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
Based on a true story, Sidney Lumet’s Dog Day Afternoon stars Al Pacino as a man who tries to rob a bank to pay for his partner’s gender confirmation surgery, only to have the heist go horribly wrong. Like Heat, it’s a character-driven drama with moments of intense suspense.
Pacino gives one of his best performances as a desperate man in over his head, and the supporting cast (including John Cazale and Charles Durning) is excellent. It’s a classic New Hollywood film that still feels relevant today.
10. Training Day (2001)
Antoine Fuqua’s gritty crime drama stars Denzel Washington in an Oscar-winning performance as a corrupt LAPD narcotics detective who takes a rookie cop (Ethan Hawke) under his wing. Over the course of one intense day, they navigate the dangerous underworld of Los Angeles.
Like Heat, Training Day is a stylish, hard-hitting thriller that blurs the lines between cops and criminals. Washington is electrifying as the charismatic but ruthless detective, and Hawke holds his own as the idealistic young cop. It’s a must-see for fans of morally complex crime dramas.
11. The French Connection (1971)
William Friedkin’s classic crime thriller stars Gene Hackman as a tough NYPD detective trying to take down a French heroin smuggler. Like Heat, it features a obsessive cop on the trail of an elusive criminal, leading to an iconic car chase through the streets of New York.
The French Connection is gritty, intense filmmaking at its finest, with a raw energy that still feels palpable today. Hackman’s performance is one for the ages, and the film’s influence can be felt in countless crime movies that followed.
12. Collateral (2004)
Another Michael Mann thriller, Collateral stars Tom Cruise as a hitman who takes a cab driver (Jamie Foxx) hostage for a night of assassinations across Los Angeles. Like Heat, it’s a stylish, neon-soaked neo-noir with moments of shocking violence.
Cruise is chilling as the sociopathic hitman, and Foxx holds his own in a breakout dramatic role. The nighttime LA setting is a character in itself, and the film’s climax features one of the most technically impressive shootouts in recent memory.
13. Three Kings (1999)
David O. Russell’s darkly comedic war movie follows a group of American soldiers who try to steal Saddam Hussein’s gold during the Gulf War. Like Heat, it features a daring heist and a cast of morally ambiguous characters.
Three Kings balances humor and drama with a deft touch, and the cast (including George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, and Ice Cube) is terrific. It’s a smart, subversive take on the war movie genre that still feels fresh and relevant.
14. The Killing (1956)
Stanley Kubrick’s early film noir follows a group of criminals as they plan and execute a daring racetrack heist. Like Heat, it’s a tense, meticulously crafted thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
The Killing may be over 60 years old, but it still holds up as a masterclass in suspense filmmaking. Kubrick’s camera work and nonlinear structure are innovative for the time, and the cast (including Sterling Hayden and Elisha Cook Jr.) is excellent.
15. Jackie Brown (1997)
Quentin Tarantino’s adaptation of Elmore Leonard’s novel “Rum Punch” stars Pam Grier as a flight attendant caught between the cops and a group of ruthless arms dealers. Like Heat, it’s a character-driven crime drama with moments of sudden violence.
Jackie Brown is a more mature, restrained film than Tarantino’s earlier work, but it still features his trademark dialogue and pop culture references. Grier is fantastic in the lead role, and the supporting cast (including Samuel L. Jackson, Robert De Niro, and Robert Forster) is uniformly excellent.
16. Carlito’s Way (1993)
Brian De Palma’s stylish crime thriller stars Al Pacino as a Puerto Rican ex-con trying to go straight after getting released from prison, only to get pulled back into the criminal underworld. Like Heat, it’s a character study of a man trying to escape his past.
Pacino gives a magnetic performance as Carlito, and Sean Penn is almost unrecognizable as his sleazy lawyer friend. De Palma’s direction is as flashy and stylish as ever, with several bravura set pieces that rank among his best work.
17. Infernal Affairs (2002)
This Hong Kong crime thriller (later remade by Martin Scorsese as The Departed) follows a police officer who goes undercover in a triad, and a triad member who infiltrates the police force. Like Heat, it’s a tense, morally complex thriller about blurred lines between cops and criminals.
Infernal Affairs is a lean, tightly plotted thriller with great performances from Tony Leung and Andy Lau. It’s a masterclass in building tension and keeping the audience guessing, with a killer ending that packs a punch.
18. Le Cercle Rouge (1970)
Jean-Pierre Melville’s French crime classic follows a master thief, a recently released prisoner, and an alcoholic ex-cop as they plan a daring jewelry heist. Like Heat, it’s a meticulous, deliberately paced thriller that builds to an unforgettable climax.
Le Cercle Rouge is a masterpiece of cool, understated filmmaking, with a cast of iconic French actors (including Alain Delon and Yves Montand) and a jazzy score that sets the mood perfectly. It’s a must-see for any fan of crime movies, and a clear influence on directors like Michael Mann.
These 18 movies are just a small sampling of the great heist and crime thrillers out there, but they all capture something of the spirit of Heat – the gritty realism, the complex characters, the pulse-pounding action. Whether you’re a die-hard fan of the genre or just looking for a good thriller to watch on a Saturday night, these movies are sure to keep you on the edge of your seat.
So what are you waiting for? Grab some popcorn, dim the lights, and get ready for a wild ride through the seedy underbelly of the criminal world. These movies may not have the same epic scale as Heat, but they all deliver the goods when it comes to thrills, chills, and unforgettable moments of cinematic cool. Happy watching!
