Movie · 2003 · Action, Crime · 1h 50m · PG-13 · English
Curator score: 3.6/10 (591.3K ratings)
Get in. Get out. Get even.
Overview
Charlie Croker pulled off the crime of a lifetime. The one thing that he didn't plan on was being double-crossed. Along with a drop-dead gorgeous safecracker, Croker and his team take off to re-steal the loot and end up in a pulse-pounding, pedal-to-the-metal chase that careens up, down, above and below the streets of Los Angeles.
Ratings
Curator score: 3.6/10
IMDb: 7.0/10
Letterboxd: 3.23/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 72%
Metacritic: 68
TMDB: 6.8/10
Director
F. Gary Gray
Production
De Line Pictures, Working Title Films, Paramount Pictures, Peninsula Films, Senator International
Cast
Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, Edward Norton, Seth Green, Jason Statham, Yasiin Bey, Donald Sutherland, Olek Krupa, Boris Lee Krutonog, Fausto Callegarini, Stefano Petronelli, Fabio Scarpa, Cristiano Bonora, Tiberio Greco, Jimmy Shubert, Tammi Cubilette, Mary Portser, Shawn Fanning, Christopher Moore Jr., Terrelle Jones
Where to watch
Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Starz, Philo, History Vault
Curator Review
Verdict
A glossy, crowd-pleasing heist caper with real momentum, strong ensemble chemistry, and a standout Mini Cooper chase that still sells the movie’s whole appeal. It’s lighter and less intricate than the greats of the genre, but as a slick early-2000s action-crime ride, it works very well.
Best for
heist-movie fans
viewers who want fast, easy entertainment
people who like ensemble banter and team dynamics
fans of practical car chases and stunt work
early-2000s action nostalgia
Skip if
you want a tightly plotted, twist-heavy crime film
you dislike breezy tone or light comedy in action movies
you need deep character development
you’re looking for a serious or gritty caper
Overview
This remake updates the classic caper into a polished, high-energy Los Angeles chase movie, and its biggest asset is how cleanly it delivers on the premise. The setup is simple, the betrayals are easy to follow, and the film knows exactly when to get out of the way and let the cars, timing, and geography do the work.
Worth noting
The ensemble is appealing, with enough personality spread around the team to keep the movie from feeling mechanical. Charlize Theron gives it extra spark, Edward Norton makes a satisfying slimeball, and the Mini Cooper sequences are the kind of crowd-pleasing stunt filmmaking that can carry a whole movie.
Bottom line
It’s not especially deep, and some of the early-2000s style choices date it a bit, but that’s part of the charm. If you want a slick, accessible heist film that moves fast and doesn’t overstay its welcome, this is an easy recommendation.
Top Letterboxd reviews
liam f (3.5★) · 1044 likes
they were in Italy for twenty-four minutes
Andy Summers 🤠 (3.5★) · 804 likes
Did anyone else think it was strange that Mos Def played a guy who was deaf in one ear?
chloe 💓 (4.5★) · 792 likes
i mean yeah it's a good heist film but it doesn't compare to the wild animals stealing food from the humans in 2006's animated classic Over the Hedge
eely (2★) · 640 likes
points for: -respecting mini coopers and not smashing them like they do in the original film- not showing me mark wahlberg’s triple nipples - every scene with mos def
minus points for:- ed norton’s villain mustache and soul patch combo- trying to get me to believe mark wahlberg and charlize theron could be in a relationship - implying that justin timberlake was not the actual founder of napster and that it was instead SETH GREEN?? no
adambolt (3★) · 451 likes
the upbeat cheery music that plays as the villain is taken away to be tortured by burly russian men