Bank robbery movies would suggest that all one needs to execute the perfect heist is a gun, a duffle bag, a getaway car, and a clever disguise. However, the success or failure of the heist is usually less dependent on the tools of the trade and more dependent on the team dynamics and the scheme itself. The most interesting bank robbery movies are ones that do not follow the conventional formula. In examining popular bank robbery movies of the last century, they vary greatly in form and formula, ranging fromButch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, who rode off on getaway horses, toWisdom,wherein the Robin Hood-esquerobbers favor wiping out people’s debt records over stealing their money.
Update August 16, 2025: This article has been updated with even more great bank robbery movies that are worth checking out.
Bank heist movies are a seemingly ever-enduring subgenre, capturing the full attention of audiences for decades. Audiences can’t resist the vicarious thrill of a suspenseful yet successful caper or, in the case of an unsuccessful one, the chance to dissect what went wrong and entertain notions on how they would’ve done it better.While many more heist moviesare certainly worth celebrating that are not included in this list, we tried to keep the focus on heist movies that take place in banks or around the goal of stealing from banks. Here are the best bank robbery movies, ranked.
18The Lookout (2007)
The Lookoutstars Joseph Gordon Levitt as former high school jock Chris Pratt, who gets into a car crash that leaves him with lifelong mental impairments. As he tries to find his new normal following the accident, Pratt gets a job as a cleaner at a local bank. Soon, he is befriended by a former schoolmate with ill intentions, who manipulates him into helping them rob the bank where he works.The Lookoutis one of the best bank robbery movies of all time because of its interesting and complexensemble cast of charactersthat propel the story.
17Ambulance (2022)
When a loved one is sick, people will do anything to try to take care of them. That is exactly the case ofAmbulance. In this Michael Bay film, two brothers (Jake Gyllenhaal and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) attempt to steal millions of dollars to help pay for a loved one’s surgery. The heist goes horribly wrong when the pair hijacks an ambulance with an injured officer and an EMT on board.Ambulanceis a high-octane thrill ride that only Michael Bay can deliver, transitioning from a bank robbery to a feature-length car chase through Los Angeles.
16Now You See Me (2013)
Not only isNow You See Meone of the best magician movies of all time, but it is a fantastic bank robbery film, too. It showcases four talented magicians who, during their shows, successfully take money out of the accounts of corrupt people and give the money to audience members. The FBI, along with the help of a magician debunker, tries to catch the magicians in the act.
Related:The 10 Most Intense Moments in Crime TV Shows
The film has a loaded cast that includes Mark Ruffalo, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, and Jessie Eisenberg. This is one of the more unique bank robbery films because instead of guns and violence, this team is using stagecraft and the illusion of magic. It is a thrilling ride from start to finish.
15The Real McCoy (1993)
The Real McCoyis one of the best bank robbery movies because of its interesting twist on the traditional hold-up. Proficient thief Karen McCoy doesn’t leave things to chance. Instead, she robs banks when they are closed. The movie stars Kim Basinger as Karen McCoy, a convicted bank robber who has just been released from prison and is trying to turn her life around. When her former employer, who previously left her behind to be arrested, tries to convince her to do one last job, Karen refuses until he kidnaps her son to motivate her.
14Bandits (2001)
Banditsstars Billy Bob Thorntonand Bruce Willis as two unlikely partners in crime who simplify the process of robbing banks by confronting the bank managers in their homes, spending the night at their homes, and arriving at the bank the following morning with their targets. The film is inspired by the real-life crimes of bank robbers Terry Lee Connor and Joseph Daugherty.Banditsis one of the best bank robbery movies because of the amazing chemistry and comedic timing of the three lead characters.
13Fast Five (2011)
Not many bank robberies and chase scenes in cinema involve two cars pulling a vault carrying millions of dollars, butFast Five. isn’t most movies. After breaking Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) out of a prison bus, Brian O’Connor (Paul Walker), Mia Toretto (Jordana Brewster), and Dom escape to Rio. In Rio, with the help of old friends, the group must tangle with a corrupt businessman who wants them dead. However, a team of DSS agents are also on their tails.Fast Fiveshifted the franchise from a street racing series to a heist film, and the bank robbery scene in the film is a real highlight. It is so iconic it is revisited inFast X.
12Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995)
The third installment of theDie Hardfranchise,Die Hard with a Vengeance,sees Bruce Willis reprise his role as hardened New York Cop John McClane. McClane teams up with reluctant sidekick Zeus Carver (Samuel L. Jackson) in a lethal game of “Simon Says” as one deranged lunatic sends them on a wild goose chase, decoding riddles and disarming bombs across the city, all to divert attention away from their true mark, the Federal Reserve.Die Hard with a Vengeanceis one of the best bank robbery films because of its clever plot twist and the exciting game of cat and mouse in it.
11Set It Off (1996)
Set It Offis one of the best bank robbery movies of all time because, in the 90s, an all female-led cast was a rarity, let alone one starring four powerful Black women. The film stars Jada Pinkett Smith, Queen Latifah, Vivica A. Fox, and Kimberly Elise as a group of close friends who plot to rob a bank to improve their lives and the lives of their respective families. When their employer finds and steals their spoils at the cleaning company where they work, the women must rob another bank to secure their future. However, things quickly fall apart leading to tragedy. According to Rachel Handler ofVulture,Set it Off"is the best, most affecting heist movie ever made".
Related:Best Women Heist Movies, Ranked
10The Bank Job (2008)
The Bank Jobstars Jason Statham and Saffron Burrows as Terry Leather and Martine Love, respectively, who plan a robbery on London’s Baker Street, targeting a room full of safety deposit boxes brimming with valuables.The Bank Jobis one of the best bank robbery movies of all time because it is based on the real-life Baker Street robbery in 1971, during which the thieves rented a neighboring shop and tunneled 40 feet to the bank. To date, the stolen goods have never been recovered.
9Stander (2003)
Standerchronicles the crimes of the most infamous bank robber in South Africa’s history, Andre Stander. Played by Thomas Jane, Stander was both a police officer and a bank robber. He was known for his bold nature and daring robberies wherein he would use his lunch break (from the police force) to rob banks and often times return to the scene of the crime later on to investigate his own robbery. This stranger-than-fiction twist on your typical bank robbery is what makesStanderan extremely intriguing film.
