Top Heist Movies, Part 5

Reservoir Dogs (1992) Director: Quentin Tarantino / Stars: Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Chris Penn

Mr. Blonde, Mr. Blue, Mr. Brown, Mr. Orange, Mr. Pink and Mr. White — the surviving criminals of a botched diamond heist — suspect a police informant in their midst in this violent, profane, and nonlinear story that launched its sui generis writer/director Quentin Tarantino.

The Grifters (1990) / Director: Stephen Frears / Stars: Anjelica Huston, John Cusack, Annette Bening

A small-time con man (John Cusack) is caught in a web between his dangerous, desperate mother and his treacherous girlfriend, both high-stakes grifters on the make.

Quick Change (1990) Directors: Howard Franklin, Bill Murray / Stars: Bill Murray, Geena Davis, Randy Quaid, Dale Grand

Three thieves have no trouble robbing a bank in New York City. Getting out of the city is when the trouble hilariously begins.

Bottle Rocket (1996) / Director: Wes Anderson / Stars: Luke Wilson, Owen Wilson, Ned Dowd, James Caan / Writers: Wes Anderson, Owen Wilson

In this quirky tale, a couple of sweet-natured, adventure-seeking friends (real-life brothers Luke and Owen Wilson) struggle to transform themselves into players in the heist business. Their bigger challenge is growing up.

The Killing (1956) / Director: Stanley Kubrick / Stars: Sterling Hayden, Coleen Gray, Vince Edwards

Sterling Hayden plays a veteran criminal who plots his “one last job before retirement”: a busy racetrack. Non-linear in structure and quasi-documentary in style, this debut from the 28-year-old Kubrick was quite unlike other films to date and marked him as a visionary craftsman.