🎩 Top 10 Gentleman Thief Movies: Stories, Reviews, and Ratings

Gentleman thief movies blend class, charm, and cunning into irresistible tales of heists and high society. These films feature suave criminals—masters of disguise, wit, and style—who steal not just treasures, but hearts. Here are ten of the most celebrated gentleman thief movies, with story summaries, expert reviews, and IMDb ratings.

1. To Catch a Thief (1955)

   Director: Alfred Hitchcock
   Starring: Cary Grant, Grace Kelly

   Plot: Retired cat burglar John Robie must catch an imitator to clear his name on the glittering French Riviera.

   Review: Elegant, witty, and gorgeously filmed—Cary Grant is the archetype of the gentleman thief.

   IMDb Rating: 7.4/10

2. Catch Me If You Can (2002)

   Director: Steven Spielberg
   Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks

   Plot: The true story of Frank Abagnale, a master of cons and disguises, as he outwits the FBI while living the high life.

   Review: Stylish, breezy, and full of heart—Spielberg’s caper is endlessly entertaining.

   IMDb Rating: 8.1/10

3. Ocean’s Eleven (2001)

   Director: Steven Soderbergh
   Starring: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts

   Plot: Danny Ocean assembles a crack team to pull off the ultimate Vegas casino heist with smooth talking and clever twists.

   Review: Slick, witty, and impossibly cool—Ocean’s Eleven redefined the modern heist movie.

   IMDb Rating: 7.7/10

4. Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro (1979)

   Director: Hayao Miyazaki
   Starring: Yasuo Yamada, Eiko Masuyama

   Plot: Master thief Arsène Lupin III infiltrates a fortress to rescue a princess and unravel a counterfeiting ring.

   Review: Playful, action-packed, and beautifully animated—Miyazaki’s debut is an anime classic.

   IMDb Rating: 7.6/10

5. The Thomas Crown Affair (1999)

   Director: John McTiernan
   Starring: Pierce Brosnan, Rene Russo

   Plot: A suave millionaire pulls off an audacious art heist, pursued by a brilliant insurance investigator.

   Review: Stylish, sensual, and full of cat-and-mouse tension—Brosnan and Russo sizzle on screen.

   IMDb Rating: 6.8/10

6. The Pink Panther (1963)

   Director: Blake Edwards
   Starring: David Niven, Peter Sellers

   Plot: The suave Sir Charles Lytton (the “Phantom”) plots to steal a priceless diamond as bumbling Inspector Clouseau closes in.

   Review: Zany, glamorous, and charming—this classic blends slapstick with sophisticated heist antics.

   IMDb Rating: 7.1/10

7. Rififi (1955)

   Director: Jules Dassin
   Starring: Jean Servais, Carl Möhner

   Plot: An ex-con and his gang plan a daring Parisian jewelry heist—featuring one of cinema’s most iconic silent robbery sequences.

   Review: Tense, ingenious, and influential—“Rififi” is the blueprint for the modern heist film.

   IMDb Rating: 8.1/10

8. Now You See Me (2013)

   Director: Louis Leterrier
   Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson

   Plot: Four magicians pull off bank heists during their performances, staying a step ahead of law enforcement.

   Review: Flashy, clever, and full of spectacle—magic and heists collide in this modern romp.

   IMDb Rating: 7.2/10

9. Inside Man (2006)

   Director: Spike Lee
   Starring: Denzel Washington, Clive Owen, Jodie Foster

   Plot: A brilliant bank robber orchestrates the perfect heist, outsmarting police and revealing secrets hidden behind the vault.

   Review: Sharp, stylish, and full of twists—Inside Man is a cerebral cat-and-mouse thriller.

   IMDb Rating: 7.6/10

10. The Great Train Robbery (1978)

    Director: Michael Crichton
    Starring: Sean Connery, Donald Sutherland

    Plot: In Victorian England, a charming thief plots a daring gold heist on a moving train.

    Review: Rollicking, witty, and full of period flair—Connery’s charm leads this lively caper.

    IMDb Rating: 6.9/10

Honorable Mentions: Arsène Lupin, The Italian Job, Sneakers, Logan Lucky, The Saint