Thief
Movie, 1981, The Classics, Set in 1981
Thief is #7 of 26 in release order and #7 of 26 in chronological order in the Heist Movies.
The story
Frank is an expert professional safecracker, specialized in high-profile diamond heists. He plans to use his ill-gotten income to retire from crime and build a nice life for himself complete with a home, wife and kids. To accelerate the process, he signs on with a top gangster for a big score.
Thief recap
Frank, a professional safecracker who spent years in prison, runs a car lot and a bar in Chicago as fronts and works alone with a small crew. After his fence is killed and his money taken, Frank meets Leo, a powerful mob fence, who offers him big scores. Frank wants a normal life with his girlfriend Jessie and agrees to one job, a diamond heist in Los Angeles. Leo helps him adopt a baby through the black market. Frank pulls off the job with a thermal lance, but Leo pays him a fraction of his cut and tells him he now works for Leo for good. Leo's men kill Frank's partner Barry and threaten his family.
Thief ending explained
Frank sends Jessie and the baby away with money and ends their life together. He blows up his house and businesses, goes to Leo's home and kills him and his men in a gunfight, wounded himself. He walks off into the night, his fate left open.
Post-credits scenes
No. There is no post-credits scene.
Where to watch Thief
Thief is streaming on Prime Video, Hoopla, Fandango at Home Free, YouTube (free), Fawesome, and Tubi in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Fandango At Home.
Ratings
IMDb 7.4/10, Rotten Tomatoes 80%
Where it fits
- Release order: after Dog Day Afternoon, before Reservoir Dogs.
- Chronological order: after Dog Day Afternoon, before Reservoir Dogs.
Cast
- James Caan as Frank
- Tuesday Weld as Jessie
- Robert Prosky as Leo Alderman
- Willie Nelson as David 'Okla' Bertinneau
- Jim Belushi as Barry Stratagakis
- Tom Signorelli as Vincent Attaglia
- Dennis Farina as Carl
- Nick Nickeas as Nick
- W.R. Brown as Mitch Kanoff
- Norm Tobin as Guido
- John Santucci as Sgt. Urizzi
- Gavin MacFadyen as Det. Boreksco
Directed by Michael Mann.