Sir Michael Caine steals the spotlight as ultimate heist actor

Study analysed the cast of over 196 heist movies to discover the actors that appear in the most films in this genre and British actors take the lead with Londoner Michael Caine stealing the spotlight.

Top heist actors 

6. Brad Pitt 

The heart throb fan favourite cements his place on the list as a regular for his features in Snatch and as a regular in the Ocean’s films. He broke onto the scene in 2000 with his iconic performance in Snatch as a Gypsy boxing legend who adds layers of problems to an already complex web of dilemmas.  

The study revealed he has starred in a grand total of five heist films, including: 

Snatch (2000) 

Ocean’s Eleven (2001) 

Ocean’s Twelve (2004) 

Ocean’s Thirteen (2007) 

5. George Clooney 

The world class American actor and filmmaker George Clooney makes number five on the list thanks to his portrayal of master crook Danny Ocean in the Ocean’s saga. The heist classics helped propel Clooney’s already stellar career to the next level of stardom. The study revealed he has starred in a grand total of five heist films, including: 

Out of Sight (1998) 

Ocean’s Eleven (2001) 

Ocean’s Twelve (2004) 

Ocean’s Thirteen (2007) 

4. Peter Sellers 

One of the great all-time heist movie greats, managing to bat for both teams both as a criminal and a bungling copper. The study revealed he has starred in a grand total of six heist films in his career, including: 

The Ladykillers (1955)   

The Pink Panther (1963)   

After the Fox (1966)   

The Return of the Pink Panther (1975)  

3. Jason Statham 

You think British heist, you think Statham. The modern day cult favourite bringing that East London charm and taking everything you have. He rose to adoration in his appearances in Lock, Stock & two smoking barrells, Snatch, and for saying his pal Tommy was named  after a gun.   

Jason brings the shenanigans to the heist scene. The study revealed he has starred in a grand total of six heist films so far, including: 

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)   

Snatch (2000)   

The Italian Job (remake – 2003)   

The Bank Job (2008) 

2. Donald Sutherland  

The Don hits our list at number 2 for his role in overseeing a $35 million plot in the reboot of the Italian Job. 

The study revealed he has starred in a grand total of six heist films in his career, including: 

Kelly’s Heroes (1970)   

The (First) Great Train Robbery (1978)   

Crackers (1984)   

The Italian Job (remake – 2003)  

1. Michael Caine 

The ultimate silver screen thief. He led the best-known movie heist of all time in 1969, and was still robbing onscreen 48 years later. Over his heisting career, the British gent was involved in nicking over $152.8m, with the vast majority coming from Going in Style.  

The study revealed the now retired actor has starred in a grand total of nine heist films in his career, including: 

The Italian Job (1969)  

Flawless (2007) 

Now You See Me (2013)  

Going in Style (2017) 

Rififi is the best heist film in cinema history

Currys compiled an index by comparing scores on Rotten Tomatoes, IMDB and Metascore of 138 heist films (which had scores on all three sites) to discover which are the best in cinema history. 

In first place was the 1955 Rififi which has a combine score of 27.1 out of 30. In the film a meticulously planned heist unfolds as a group of ex-convicts embarks on a daring and suspenseful robbery, but internal conflicts and unforeseen complications jeopardise their meticulously laid plans. It stars stars Jean Servais, Carl Möhner, Robert Manuel, and Jules Dassin, who also directed the film. 

In joint second place with a combined rating of 26.8 was The Wild Bunch (1969) and The Dark Knight (2008). 

In The Wild Bunch a group of aging outlaws embarks on one last violent mission amidst the changing landscape of the American West, confronting their own mortality and the inexorable march of progress. The film’s cast includes stars William Holden, Ernest Borgnine, Robert Ryan, Edmond O’Brien, Warren Oates, Ben Johnson, and Jaime Sánchez, among others. 

In the 2008 film “The Dark Knight,” Batman faces his greatest psychological and physical challenge yet, in the second film of the Christopher Nolan Batman trilogy, as he confronts the anarchic Joker, testing the limits of his morality and the heroism of Gotham City. The film stars Christian Bale, Gary Oldman and the late Heath Ledger, who gave an unforgettable academy award winning performance as the Joker. 

The 20 best rated heist films of all time 

Title 

Year of release 

Total review score 

Rififi 

1955 

27.1 

The Wild Bunch 

1969 

26.8 

The Dark Knight 

2008 

26.8 

The Ladykillers 

1955 

26.7 

The Red Circle (Le Cercle Rouge) 

1970 

26.7 

The Killing 

1956 

26.6 

The Lavender Hill Mob 

1951 

26.5 

Band of Outsiders 

1964 

26.3 

Goldfinger 

1964 

26.3 

Dog Day Afternoon 

1975 

26.2 

Hands Off the Loot (Grisbi) 

1954 

26.2 

Hell Or High Water 

2016 

26.1 

The Asphalt Jungle 

1950 

26 

The Sting 

1973 

25.9 

The Friends of Eddie Coyle 

1973 

25.6 

Reservoir Dogs 

1992 

25.4 

Bonnie and Clyde 

1967 

25.3 

Baby Driver 

2017 

25.3 

Bob the Gambler 

1956 

25.3 

Nine Queens 

2001 

25.1 

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