Quick Links
With its sequel currently in theaters, Gerard Butler’s 2018 heist thriller,Den of Thieves, has been holding steady on Max’s list of Top Ten for quite some time. The film followsDetective Nick O’Brien (Gerard Butler)of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, whose unit has its sights set on stopping Ray Merrimen (Pablo Schreiber) and his gang of local criminals.
Recently released from prison, Merrimen and his crew are no regular street thieves. Instead, they’re comprised of former top-notch MARSOC Marines whose skills are seemingly unmatched. After ripping off various banks, they’re ready to leave it all behind. For their final heist, they plan to rob the city’s Federal Reserve building. A gritty story with gritty characters,Den of Thievesmight not be a film for everyone, but there’s no denying it’s an entertaining addition to the genre.
While there areplenty of heist movies out there, they can often feel derivative or flat. WhileDen of Thievesis certainly not a perfect film, it doesn’t feel flat. Rather, it’s quite intense and surprisingly satisfying. As with many heist thrillers, includingDen of Thieves, there’s always more to the story that keeps viewers guessing until the very end. As such, fans of the film would also enjoy Denzel Washington’s 2006 heist thriller,Inside Man. In fact, it’s the perfect choice for their next movie night.Directed by Spike Lee and stacked with a stellar cast,Inside Manwas a box-office hit upon its theatrical release, making over four times its budget of $45 million. Nearly 20 years later, it remains Lee’s highest-grossing movie.
What Is ‘Inside Man’ About?
Inside Man
Inside Manisa nuanced heist thrillerthatfollows a bank robber named Dalton Russell (Clive Owen) and a police detective named Keith Frazier (Denzel Washington), who are seemingly locked in a stalled negotiation during a robbery of the Manhattan Trust bank.Clearly a situation wrought with secrets, the institution’s founder, Arthur Case (Christopher Plummer), brings in a high-power broker named Madeleine White (Jodie Foster) to help navigate the developing situation. However, their involvement only seems to hinder Frazier’s efforts with Dalton. Seeing as Case wants to retrieve something of paramount importance inside the bank without sounding any alarms, he’s merely placed another hurdle in the detective’s path.
Clive Owen Was a Perfect Detective in 2024’s Underrated Mystery Series
2024 saw Clive Owen give the best performance of his career in AMC’s Monsieur Spade.
To make matters worse, Frazier is seemingly one step behind at every turn. Furthermore, he can’t seem to figure out Dalton’s motives. Calm and soft-spoken in contrast to other crooks, nothing about the ingenious criminal and his meticulously planned robbery adds up. Rather than moving with haste, Dalton and the other thieves inside the bank appear to be purposefully stalling, and Frazier can’t figure out why. Already desperate to prove himself following a recent scandal, the New York detective isn’t sure what to think about Dalton.
How Are ‘Inside Man’ and ‘Den of Thieves’ Similar Movies?
Aside from belonging to the same genre,Inside ManandDen of Thieveshave similar entertainment values. They’re bothgreat popcorn flicksthat succeed in captivating viewers for the entire duration of their screen time. Both have fairly long runtimes, which can sometimes feel like a drudge, but surprisingly, neither overstays their welcome. In fact, both films are rather self-aware and don’t stray from their objective. Furthermore,neither fall victim to a convoluted plot, which can often be the case with such films.
Make no mistake, the films are very different in tone, but they both offer viewers a captivating and entertaining story centered around bank robbers and their law enforcement counterparts. While they have differing tones, each successfully keeps viewers guessing until the end. Not all heist films are created equally, and these movies definitely occupy different facets of the heist genre, but their throughline makes them appealing across the board.
Sylvester Stallone’s Action Heist Film Didn’t Deserve Its Worst Picture Nomination
The Razzies have an obsession with nominating Sylvester Stallone. But Cliffhanger didn’t deserve it.
Arguably,Inside Manis a better heist film thanDen of Thieves. Where the latter is littered with violence, guns, and masculine abrasiveness, the former is rife with nuance and wit while offering its audience a more sophisticated and orchestrated narrative.Fans ofDen of Thieveswill undoubtedly enjoyInside Man, but the same can’t necessarily be said about the reverse. Butler’s movie is the kind of film enjoyed at face value, whereas Washington’s movie makes audiences think a bit more. They each have their place, and both are enjoyable experiences in their own ways.
Den of Thievesis currently streaming onMax, andDen of Thieves 2: Panterais currently playing in theaters.Inside Manis available to buy or rent viaPrime Video.
