Crime 101 (2026) – A Smart, Stylish Heist Movie That Breaks the Rules

Imagine three huge stars in one movie: Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Barry Keoghan, and Halle Berry. Plus a kind of heist movie where everything gets complicated. This is not a usual heist movie.

On one side, a thief with a code: no one should get hurt. On the other side, a really good cop with a code: he is very honest. Then, an insurance worker who was betrayed by her company and now decides to give information to the thief. And finally, another new thief who has no code—he kills and hurts anyone and secretly wants the same thing as the others. That's why everything gets complicated. And that's why I loved it. Because it's not the usual theft or heist movie. It has wit. It has style.

The Plot: A Heist Along the 101 Freeway

Set against the sun-bleached grit of Los Angeles, Chris Hemsworth plays an elusive jewel thief. His string of heists along the 101 freeway have mystified police for years. He has a code: no violence, no casualties. He's planning one last score—the big one.

Halle Berry plays a disillusioned insurance broker. Her company betrayed her. Now she's at her own crossroads. She decides to help the thief with inside information.

Mark Ruffalo plays a relentless detective. He's convinced he has found a pattern. He's closing in. The stakes are getting higher.

Barry Keoghan plays another thief. But this one has no code. He kills. He hurts. He doesn't care. He wants the same prize, but he'll do anything to get it.

As the heist approaches, the line between hunter and hunted begins to blur. All are faced with life-defining choices—and the realization that there can be no turning back.

What I Loved: Layers, Codes, and Complications

This is not a simple "good guys vs bad guys" movie. Everyone has their own code. Their own reasons. Their own morals.

The main thief (Hemsworth) has a rule: no one gets hurt. He steals from rich diamond dealers who hide their wealth from taxes. In a strange way, the movie makes you feel like this "good" thief with a code isn't actually doing crime. He's almost... fair.

The detective (Ruffalo) is honest. He just wants to solve the case. But he starts to question whether the thief is really the villain.

The insurance worker (Berry) was betrayed. She's helping the thief, but is she doing something wrong? Or is she getting justice?

And then there's Keoghan's character—chaos. No code. No rules. He reminds you what a real criminal looks like.

The movie also has something to say about insurance companies. How they're good at taking money but greedy when it's time to pay. How they betray the people who trust them. It makes you question who the real criminals are.

One Question That Stuck With Me

The thief tells someone: "There will be a time I stop when I have enough money." But can he really stop? That question stayed with me after the credits rolled. Is he lying to himself? Is anyone ever truly satisfied? The movie doesn't give an easy answer.

The Performances: A Stellar Cast

Chris Hemsworth proves he can do more than action hero roles. His thief is calm, calculated, and surprisingly sympathetic. Mark Ruffalo brings his usual depth to the detective role. Halle Berry is fantastic as the woman caught between doing what's right and what's smart. And Barry Keoghan is unsettling as the wild card—you never know what he'll do next.

The Ratings: Critics Loved It, Box Office Didn't

• IMDb: 6.8/10 (from 58,000 users)
• Rotten Tomatoes: 88% Critics / 85% Audience
• Budget/Box Office: $90 million budget, $72.7 million worldwide

Critics loved this movie. An 88% Tomatometer score is very strong. Audiences also liked it with 85%. So why did it lose money? It's a box office bomb—grossing only $72.7 million against a $90 million budget. Sometimes great movies just don't find their audience in theaters. This is one of them.

Final Verdict: A 9/10 Heist Movie With Depth

My rating is 9 out of 10. Crime 101 is not just a usual heist movie. It makes you think about many things. Honesty. Codes. Whether a thief can ever really stop. Whether insurance companies are the real criminals. It's smart, stylish, and packed with great performances.

Recommendation: If you love heist movies that make you think—like Heat, Hell or High Water, or The Town—you will love this. It's a hidden gem that deserves more attention.

Have you seen Crime 101? Do you think the thief could really stop when he has enough money? Let me know in the comments!

And suggest a movie for my next review! I'm in the mood for another smart crime thriller.

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See also My full list of 2026 movie reviews →