Thief (1981)

Cast

James Caan
as Frank
James Belushi
as Barry
William Petersen
as Katz & Jammer Bartender
Tuesday Weld
as Jessie

Get more information about Thief (1981) on IMDb

Genres & Description

Action Crime Drama Thriller

7.4 / 10

Frank is an expert professional safecracker, specializing in high-profile diamond jobs. After having spent many years in prison, he has a very concrete picture of what he wants out of life--including a nice home, a wife, and kids. As soon as he is able to assemble the pieces of this collage, by means of his chosen profession, he intends to retire and become a model citizen. In an effort to accelerate this process, he signs on to take down a huge score for a big-time gangster. Unfortunately, Frank's obsession for his version of the American Dream allows him to overlook his natural wariness and mistrust, when making the deal for his final job. He is thus ensnared and robbed of his freedom, his independence, and, ultimately, his dream.

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Comments on this trailer
Comments may include spoiler!

ForceMaximus84

One of the best directorial debuts in cinematic history! - @Sunday, July 22, 2018 12:25 AM

Megan Holly

all of these shots are absolutely beautiful - @Tuesday, May 22, 2018 8:27 AM

Lucas B

Great film + Tangerine Dream = Classic - @Tuesday, September 19, 2017 6:00 AM

novusvoss

Overall good movie, really enjoyed the acting. I found the ending a bit lame tho.. the movie's just trying to show one more time how badass he is with that cheesy 80s music on top. Just felt a bit plain. Would've been cooler if he'd died from the last shooting and just has enough strength to get his photo collage out of his wallet, look at it and then die. Instead he just walks off because he's too badass for this world.. Oh well. - @Sunday, January 17, 2016 1:22 AM

huverdoose

Fun fact -- That was a real thermic lance in the movie cutting through a real vault door. I don't think that's been done in any other movie. - @Monday, May 18, 2015 2:10 AM

huverdoose

...from a dark era in film-making when there was more emphasis on plot and story than explosions - @Monday, May 18, 2015 2:07 AM

JohnDoe89

Very cool. I hope Heat, Manns masterpiece, gets remastered. I found a petition about this and signed it, Warner should know how many people wish for a remaster: https://www.change.org/p/warner-home-video-heat-needs-a-anniversary-edition?just_created=true - @Sunday, March 1, 2015 1:34 AM

Serna Terki

amazing movie.. - @Monday, May 19, 2014 2:55 PM

SirludwigvanTHETHIRD

Just watched this on netflix yesterday, Michael Mann is a fucking amazing director. James Cann was great in this movie. - @Thursday, January 23, 2014 12:51 AM

Matt Attack

Getting a Criterion release for January of 2014. - @Monday, October 21, 2013 8:32 AM

Tommy Sands

"im pulling a lot of exposure here" check out THE KEEP - @Thursday, October 17, 2013 5:15 AM

supergoing7

Cool as ice. Mann is our best living filmmaker, and most would kill to have a feature debut as assured as this - @Wednesday, September 18, 2013 3:43 AM

david duhoux

good film saw it yesterday - @Tuesday, August 13, 2013 2:07 PM

Jon Bernstein

yeah Drive felt to me like it was a tribute to Michael Mann, though not to this movie specifically but to the general tone and style of most of his movies. - @Monday, July 22, 2013 6:00 PM

ginocasio

As a film buff this genre of film is a near classic and would put it on my top 10 even top 5 James Cann is superb and the Tangerine Dream soundtrack is sublime. When i first seen it , Video was the format and as soon as i seen it i bought the soundtrack on vinyl.AMAZING!!!!! - @Sunday, November 18, 2012 11:59 PM

Miguel Mendoza

@yfzjypa yeah. i couldnt believe it when my friend told me about this site. but i can tell you one thing, even my friend purchased the iphone 4s kit for $475 after signup in this site. i got it from here. you can also try it ==> bit.ly/Tubl4O?=ytctcx - @Wednesday, October 17, 2012 3:51 AM

Red Phillip

james caan.......seeeeeefffff - @Saturday, August 18, 2012 6:27 PM

Orlando Costa

Good movie! - @Tuesday, August 7, 2012 9:55 AM

ElectricDreams

Hey this looks really cool, do you guys recomend this film? i mostly like old movies like 1970-1980 and all the awesome flicks of the 90s. Please tell in a few words what is awesome about it. - @Saturday, May 26, 2012 9:18 PM

MrKeepitunderyourhat

It's clearly owes a huge debt to it, in the same way that The Driver owes a lot to Le Samourai. Films referencing other films is nothing new. - @Friday, May 4, 2012 3:40 PM

Joseph Redensek

Drive anyone? - @Monday, April 23, 2012 11:56 PM

libville

Just love this movie. Michael Mann is some director. - @Friday, April 13, 2012 2:05 PM

ginocasio

Top film and a superb soundtrack from Tangerine dream.... - @Tuesday, April 10, 2012 10:56 PM

Maiden Utah

@MovieMaster0001 He probably took his cue from the movie "Jaws". I understand that since 1975 and the years immediately following, not only Hollywood, but the publishing world followed suit with one or two worded titles. - @Wednesday, March 14, 2012 1:17 AM

Maiden Utah

@jpost2129 I remember it being pretty cool and informative with the commentary. Commentaries on some movies tend to be a little too long winded. Whereas Mann and Caan seem to know how to inform and entertain their audience regarding the nuts and bolts of this movie without being too technical. I say check it out. - @Wednesday, March 14, 2012 1:14 AM

Jay RP

@MaidenUtah1 I was thinking about re-watching it with the commentary, how is it on this one? - @Tuesday, March 13, 2012 5:41 AM

Stephen Gill

@RDPublic the film DRIVE is a ripoff of a geat film The Driver staring Ryan O'Neil. it's high art cinematography and screenplay rivals that dreck. - @Monday, February 6, 2012 7:15 AM

Chris L

Yeah thats a Real Film , they should show this in history class in schools to teach kids about real films, I'm sure most kids dont know what they are. - @Friday, January 13, 2012 3:25 PM

Riahi Ridha

Super j'aime ,jesper que tu va aimer aussi - @Monday, January 9, 2012 4:46 PM

Chicago Pixels Multimedia

Movie Magic Mondays, was Here! - @Monday, January 2, 2012 6:41 PM

MovieMaster0001

Michael Mann likes one word titles. Lol. Thief. Heat. Collateral. - @Sunday, November 20, 2011 2:15 AM

Jose Torres

i wanna know what the trailer music is.. :'( sounds futuristic and so awesome!! Dx - @Monday, November 14, 2011 5:59 AM

MateuszTTT

michael mann had a great cinematic style back then - @Saturday, October 22, 2011 7:17 AM

MateuszTTT

@gjc82071 i have seen it and i own a dvd. it's one of my favorite movies.but thanks anyway - @Saturday, October 22, 2011 7:12 AM

gjc82071

@rlinfinity Depends on your taste in movies. If you're a person who likes only action, special FX, CGI & weak story lines, you won't like this movie. This is plot oriented films w/great acting & cast. This isn't for you. No offense. Stick with "Avatar", X-Men, Captain America, etc. Those might be more up to your speed. Again, no offense. It's all a matter of taste. Some people like really great movies & some people like shit flicks that lack substance. It's just a personal preference,. - @Wednesday, October 19, 2011 8:24 AM

gjc82071

@MateuszTTT Petersen went on to star in the Mann film "Manhunter". If you;ve not seen it, it was similar to Silence of the Lambs, but it came out before SotL. It is a long movie with a a similar plot and Hannibal Lecter is in it. (but not A. Hopkins). - @Wednesday, October 19, 2011 8:19 AM

Maiden Utah

@MateuszTTT Son of a bitch!!! Man, I thought I knew my Michael Mann trivia. Thanks for the info. I watched the DVD with the Mann/Caan commentary and I don't think that one part was mentioned. - @Sunday, October 9, 2011 10:35 PM

Lord Commander Joer Mormont

I wasted 53 secs of my life before deciding this shit is shit - @Sunday, October 9, 2011 2:12 PM

MateuszTTT

csi William Petersen in his first role 0:52 - @Saturday, October 8, 2011 8:48 AM

thekiddie73

I absolutely love michael manns movies and this is prob his second best imo, caans best performance, love the style of the movie and tangerine dreams music is perfect for the imagery. One of the best films of this genre ever made. - @Saturday, September 3, 2011 9:54 AM

Matt Kinch

"james caan, seeeeef" - @Monday, May 16, 2011 8:36 PM

Hot80s

moviepix & history channel play casino & goodfellas every other weekend...give them a rest & play this movie. - @Monday, May 9, 2011 6:08 AM

5eurocups2005

Nobody fucks with Frank as Leo found out. - @Monday, March 7, 2011 3:46 PM

Marco Mortale

@spazquestt you're so right! - @Saturday, December 4, 2010 6:12 PM

Sh4h33d

i always told my mates that Steven seagal stole the magazine reload technique from Caan @ 1:41... there you have it!! BTW Class movie, One of Mann's best work IMO - @Saturday, November 27, 2010 1:14 AM

coreyagraph

the late, great robert prosky.............badass - @Sunday, October 3, 2010 7:57 AM

5eurocups2005

No other director is better than Michael Mann when it comes to dealing with Crime - @Monday, September 27, 2010 4:56 PM

Michael Yzerman

michael mann sure as hell has directed some great movies over the last 30 years. - @Sunday, September 26, 2010 8:40 PM

Marco Mortale

I am selfemployed... thanks 4 posting! - @Tuesday, August 24, 2010 10:44 AM

faffaflunkie

Most underrated movie ever. - @Wednesday, July 28, 2010 2:06 PM