Heist films are your safest bet if you need some adrenaline at a budget. Individuals burgle banks or jewelry shops, and the pressure gets out of hand. Finally, the criminals escape with the prize in an almost impossible escape or sabotage the plan beyond recognition.

Regardless of what happens, heist thrillers are all the rage these days, particularly with shows like ‘Money Heist’ dominating online streaming charts. Now, if you’re in search of some amazing heist movies you can watch on HBO Max, we have listed below, compiling the genre’s best ones for you to choose from.

8. War on Everyone (2016)

John Michael McDonagh’s action-comedy film ‘War on Everyone’ is about buddy cops, Terry Monroe (Alexander Skarsgård) and Bob Bolaño (Michael Peña), who are nice individuals but corrupt. Their profession is such that they are expected to abide by the law, but instead of doing that, they take it upon themselves and go against as many of its provisions as they can while “meting out justice.” Once seemingly let go of their job for the same reason, Terry and Bob clash with gangster James Mangan (Theo James) when they target $1 million that has been withdrawn from a heist. ‘War on Everyone’ names itself very seriously in a sardonic way, much to the amusement of the viewers, with Skarsgård and Peña being special mentions. You can view it here.

7. Mad Money (2008)

Crime comedy ‘Mad Money’ by Callie Khouri tells us about three women who draw up a blueprint to swipe destroyed dollar bills from the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City before they get shredded. But once the women experience success, they keep at it until their destiny turns upside down, and they end up in legal waters. Starring Diane Keaton, Queen Latifah, and Katie Holmes, ‘Mad Money’ is a light-hearted heist drama that won’t make you break your head over the heist, but just enjoy watching the proceedings. You can watch it here.

6. The Forger (2014)

John Travolta stars as a felon who’s assigned forgery work by Philip Martin’s ‘The Forger.’ Raymond Cutter renegotiates on an agreement with a subterranean art dealer. It gets him out of prison early and allows him to see his tumor-stricken son. As a reward, he has to steal a Monet from the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. What increases the risk factor is that his father and son also become part of the theft, which, in case of failure, will hurt all three of them. Starring alongside Christopher Plummer and Tye Sheridan, ‘The Forger’ doesn’t so much reveal the heist as it reveals Travolta, thus making a feast of the eyes for his fans. If you too are his fan, you are free to watch the movie here.

5. Wanda (1970)

Barbara Loden leads the title role in her iconic indie heist film ‘Wanda.’ In documenting a small-town atmosphere, the film lends a contemporary eye to how women are stereotypically represented on film. Additionally, it makes its point by pushing the story of Wanda’s oppression to new extremes. In a depressed Rust Belt town, she exists as a drifter, having placed her children in their father’s custody because she believes she is not enough to provide for them. Eventually, Wanda encounters part-time crook Norman Dennis, and the two plot a robbery that goes wrong. Although not a heist film per se, it is one of the few female-focused films on the list that has a theft hidden in the narrative. You can watch the film here.

4. The Hobbit Trilogy (2012-2014)

‘The Hobbit’ trilogy is an epic fantasy-adventure film series directed by Peter Jackson. The trilogy is about Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit who goes on an unplanned adventure with a band of dwarves and the wizard Gandalf to recover their homeland from the notorious dragon Smaug. While they travel through Middle-Earth’s perilous territories inhabited by mythical beings and encounter fearsome obstacles, they plan to steal the Arkenstone from the lair of Smaug. Starring Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins, Ian McKellen as Gandalf, and Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield, the film is not strictly a heist film in itself but features a bold rescue operation to reclaim a valuable artifact, an element very much present in popular heist films. With its breathtaking cinematography, engaging narrative, and iconic performances, this movie masterpiece is worthy of inclusion on this list. You can view ‘The Hobbit’ here.

3. No Sudden Move (2021)

‘No Sudden Move’ is a thrilling crime movie by Steven Soderbergh. Based on the 1950s, the story is about a team of petty criminals who are recruited for what looks like an easy job but soon get themselves in a knotty situation of fraud and threat. As they navigate unexpected twists and turns, their lives become increasingly intertwined with powerful forces that will stop at nothing to protect their secrets. The film boasts an impressive cast, including Julia Fox, Don Cheadle, Benicio Del Toro, Frankie Shaw, Ray Liotta, and Brendan Fraser. Whether you like suspenseful storylines or great storytelling, this movie is well worth seeing based on its great plot and great acting by its all-star cast. You can view the movie here.

2. The Bling Ring (2013)

Adapted from the burglaries committed by the Bling Ring gang from October 2008 to August 2009, described by Nancy Jo Sales in the 2010 Vanity Fair article ‘The Suspects Wore Louboutins’, ‘The Bling Ring’ is a crime drama directed by Sofia Coppola. It follows the self-absorbed group of teens known as the titular Bling Ring crew who hunt for celebrities’ locations to steal their mansions when they are away. How they ended up here and what became of them is what we witness in this sexy spin on money, class, and morality. Starring Emma Watson, Israel Broussard, Katie Chang, and Taissa Farmiga, ‘The Bling Ring’ is a gem of a heist drama deserving of binge watch. It can be streamed here.

1. Dog Day Afternoon (1975)

Nominated for 6 Oscars, Sidney Lumet’s ‘Dog Day Afternoon’ is a crime drama of the events that occurred within the Chase Manhattan Bank in Gravesend, Brooklyn, on August 22, 1972. It features Al Pacino as Sonny Wortzik and John Cazale as Sal Naturile, two burglars who rob the bank to steal money. It’s Sonny’s first bank robbery, and it gets botched royally once they discover that there is virtually no cash there. While all this is happening, outside the bank, there is a massive crowd, police, and media. What you might have thought would have been a typical bank heist movie becomes a close-up affair once we discover about Sonny’s life, which is discovered as the story unfolds. His words, his actions towards the hostages, and information about his private life constitute the core of the movie, and Pacino provides us with one of his finest performances to enjoy. ‘Dog Day Afternoon’ must be seen and is available here to stream. Read More: Best Heist Movies on Netflix