Movie · 2011 · Action, Comedy · 1h 44m · PG-13 · English
Curator score: 2.5/10 (159.9K ratings)
It's not just a robbery. It's payback.
Overview
A luxury condo manager leads a staff of workers to seek payback on the Wall Street swindler who defrauded them. With only days until the billionaire gets away with the perfect crime, the unlikely crew of amateur thieves enlists the help of petty crook Slide to steal the $20 million they’re sure is hidden in the penthouse.
Ratings
Curator score: 2.5/10
IMDb: 6.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 67%
Metacritic: 59
TMDB: 6.1/10
Director
Brett Ratner
Production
Universal Pictures, Relativity Media, RAT Entertainment, Eddie Murphy Productions, Imagine Entertainment
Cast
Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy, Casey Affleck, Alan Alda, Matthew Broderick, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Judd Hirsch, Téa Leoni, Michael Peña, Gabourey Sidibe, Nina Arianda, Marcia Jean Kurtz, Juan Carlos Hernández, Harry O'Reilly, James Colby, Peter Van Wagner, Željko Ivanek, Lynne Rossetto Kasper, Annika Pergament, Clem Cheung
Where to watch
Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
Curator Review
Verdict
A breezy, uneven crowd-pleaser with a strong premise, a likable ensemble, and a clear anti-rich streak, but the comedy and heist mechanics never fully click into something sharper or more memorable. It’s easy to watch and intermittently funny, especially when the cast is allowed to riff, yet it feels like a polished mid-tier studio caper rather than a must-see.
Best for
Viewers who like light heist comedies with an ensemble cast
Fans of Eddie Murphy or Ben Stiller looking for an easy watch
People in the mood for a glossy, undemanding revenge fantasy
Anyone who enjoys movies about ordinary workers taking on wealthy crooks
Skip if
You want a tightly plotted or especially clever heist film
You prefer sharper, more consistent comedy
You’re looking for a memorable action movie with big set pieces
You dislike broad studio comedies that play things safely
Overview
Tower Heist has a clean, appealing hook: the people who keep a luxury building running decide to steal back from the billionaire who ruined them. That class resentment gives the movie a little extra snap, and the cast helps sell the fantasy even when the script is only half-committed to the bit.
Worth noting
The movie works best as a relaxed ensemble caper. Eddie Murphy brings the most energy, Ben Stiller stays in his familiar anxious-manager lane, and the supporting players give the film a lived-in New York texture. There are enough jokes and small pleasures to keep it moving, even if the actual heist material is more generic than inspired.
Bottom line
What keeps it from rising above “pretty good” is that it never fully sharpens its satire or its set pieces. The pacing is uneven, the twists are modest, and the ending lands more like a shrug than a payoff. Still, as a watchable, mildly satisfying revenge comedy, it does the job.
Top Letterboxd reviews
jaywill (3★) · 818 likes
The audacity to include a Shrek balloon in the parade but not a Donkey one, with Eddie Murphy standing RIGHT THERE
Mike Roseingrave (2.5★) · 519 likes
Ingredients1 cup Ben Stiller (plain or regular)1 cup Eddie Murphy (100% Norbit free)1 ½ tablespoons Matthew Broderick (check the best-before date)1 teaspoon Alan Alda (get the evil whole stuff, not the mash)1 bunch of Generic Supporting Cast (the more eclectic the better)1 heaped cup Generic Heist Plot Line (use an old The Italian Job if you've nothing better lying around)100g Skyscraper Set Piece Action (with extra rope dangling)1 Macguffin
Method1. Just add water and kind of mush everything together.
Serves Fewer than the movie execs hoped.
lauren (3★) · 455 likes
and in true brett ratner fashion, those included in the thanks to section in the credits include kanye west, roman polanski and donald trump
Joe A (2.5★) · 301 likes
The titular heist is underwhelming so you would assume the prep sequences would be fun but those are underwhelming, but it has a fun cast so the movie is…fun? Sometimes? Strange movie.