Heat, 1995
As recommended by: FunctionalAtheist, MaltWhisney and Suertes
Robert De Niro, meet Al Pacino. In Heat Michael Mann put the pair on screen together for the first time, creating the heist movie to end all heist movies. De Niro is a criminal who has set his sights on a lucrative metals repository, and the only man who can stop him is LAPD lieutenant Vincent Hanna. What ensues is violence, betrayal and a ferocious cat-and-mouse game. FunctionalAtheist says De Niro's Neil McCauley is “a robber's robber – clever, effective, decisive, and cold-blooded about violence when necessary” Photograph: Moviestore Collection/Rex Features
Mesrine, 2008
As recommended by: thephilth, Proximo and yodamager
Vincent Cassel cultivates a moustache to star as France's Public Enemy Number One in this two-parter directed by Jean-François Richet. The film is based on Mesrine's autobiography and contains all the violence, women and gritty prison scenes you could wish for. Showmaster said that Cassel's Mesrine is “the greatest portrayal of a real character I can remember in any genre” Photograph: Everett /Rex Features
Bonnie and Clyde, 1967
As recommended by: DarkAnaemicI and herebutforfortune
Immortalised everywhere from Terrence Malick's Badlands to Beyoncé and Jay-Z's 2002 hit single, robbers and mass murderers Bonnie and Clyde show that a bit of charm and a well-cut suit mean anything can be forgiven. Arthur Penn's film stars Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway as the chisel-featured, impeccably attired star-crossed lovers. Whoever said that berets and cardigans weren't cool? Photograph: Sportsphoto Ltd/Allstar
The Thomas Crown Affair, 1968
As recommended by: DarkAnaemicI, Sussexperson and 24b4Jeff
Steve McQueen came up repeatedly for his roles in The Getaway and The Thomas Crown Affair. In Thomas Crown he stars as the eponymous hero, a handsome millionaire who pulls off elaborate heists to fend off ennui. Both versions – respectively starring McQueen and Faye Dunaway, and Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo in the 1999 remake – got a mention. Sussexperson said, “This is one rare case where the remake was as entertaining as the original”
Photograph: Rex features
Dog Day Afternoon, 1975
As recommended by: OrpheusLiar, elmondo2012 and rebeccazg
Sidney Lumet's anti-establishment classic sees Al Pacino deliver a career-defining performance as an improbable bank robber and countercultural hero. Based on a real-life robbery in a Brooklyn bank, the film shows what should have been a straightforward robbery escalate into a highly volatile hostage situation. Rebbecazg says Pacino's character is “the most tragic” screen robber Photograph: Moviestore Collection/Rex Features
Point Blank, 1967
As recommended by: SteelyTom, showmaster and OzMogwai
Showmaster tells us that it is “a poor list with no Walker”. Based on Donald E Westlake's pulp novel The Hunter, this John Boorman film stars Lee Marvin as Walker. Having been double-crossed and left for dead, Walker comes back to wreak revenge on his treacherous best friend, who has shacked up with his wife, and to get his money back Photograph: Everett Collection/Rex Features
The Italian Job, 1969
As recommended by: swqasw12, Lee Fagg and mattmcneany
Mafia, Italian birds and Mini Coopers form the backbone of this British classic, starring Michael Caine as mod gangster Charlie “You're only supposed to blow the bloody doors off!” Croker. After he is released from jail Croker is sent on a mission to steal $4m worth of Chinese gold. It ends with a cliffhanger Photograph: Moviestore Collection/Rex Features
To Catch a Thief, 1955
As recommended by: Scott Doering, davidcallun1957 and Brahaminda
Beginning with a chase through the flower market in Nice and growing gradually more glamorous, this French Riviera-set crime caper sees Cary Grant as a retired jewel thief. Nicknamed “The Cat” due to his stealth, he is accused of a new batch of robberies after a copycat thief goes on a spree. In her last Hitchcock role, Grace Kelly stars as a wealthy heiress; cue a barrage of flirtatious repartee and double entendres Photograph: Rex Features
The Usual Suspects, 1995
As recommended by: OrpheusLiar, scptic, londonhongkong and Noahfence
Although Keyser Söze's real identity is possibly the worst-kept secret in movie history, it hasn't stopped him from becoming one of everyone's favourite villains. The faceless criminal mastermind pulls the strings while everyone around him meets a gruesome end – but could there be a plot twist coming? Noahfence says the omission of Söze is “shocking” Photograph: Everett/Rex Features
Spring Breakers, 2012
As recommended by: deadcatclub
Deadcatclub says Harmony Korine's film is “unusual in showing young women being totally bad under their own volition (ie not corrupted by some man – although they are further corrupted by the Franco character later on)”. The pink-balaclava-wearing, bikini-clad gun-toting girls get a taste for crime at the start of the movie with a small-time robbery to fund their spring break. A gun-fellating scene and a Britney Spears serenade later, they're ready to rob drug kingpins Photograph: Rex Features
