On January 12, 2024, another F Gary Gray directorial film, injected with a fast-paced plot that’s guaranteed to give you an adrenaline rush like no other, premiered on Netflix, and now we’re looking at 6 more heist movies like Lift to fill the void in our hearts that’s aching for more such grand spectacles that have no plans of stopping or slowing own. If looked at closely, each of these heist films on OTT share certain common characteristics that have somehow also come to define the genre itself.
Each one of these movies call for uncalled betrayals in the mix that tend to spice things up halfway down the runtime. Moreover, the basic heist plan or task always has a silver lining that comes shrouded as some sort of secret or additional profit for the team, to be revealed during the grand finale. Most importantly, one of the most eye-catching defining elements of such movies is that a great percentage of them sport a stellar group of actors, eventually coming together as members of a motley crew.
Lift Netflix flick similarly starred an ensemble of popular actors with Kevin Hart, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Úrsula Corberó, Kim Yoon-ji, Vincent D’Onofrio, Jean Reno, Billy Magnussen, Viveik Kalra, Sam Worthington and Jacob Batalon coming to the forefront. Despite many of these movies following the same cliched track of revelations and tropes, the heist twist has come to be loved as one such theme that never fails at keeping the audience hooked to the screen. To indulge in more titles of the sort and kill time, do check out the films listed below.
Heist Movies Like Lift
The Italian Job
Streaming on: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, JioCinema, Paramount Plus
Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Jason Statham, Edward Norton, Charlize Theron, Donald Sutherland, Seth Green and others.
About the film: As an American remake of the 1969 British film, also another movie directed by F Gary Gray, The Italian Job too is categorised as a “team film”, wherein a a crew of thieves decide to answer back being double crossed by a former associate by stealing gold in his possession. Much like Lift, this Gray directorial also focusses on stealing from the bad guys, who too may have recently stolen the acquired artefacts. A motley crew’s gathering involves the coming together of people from various fields, each an expert in their respective domain.
While the overarching heist theme itself is enough to get you glued to the seat while watching this film, the additional revenge stories, betrayals and counter attacks between people, who may have once constituted as members of the same squad, up the ante and interest you with a high-paced entertainment package.
Fast and Furious Movies
Streaming on: Netflix, JioCinema, Zee5, Amazon Prime Video (Rent)
Cast: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Jason Statham, Dwayne Johnson, Gal Gadot and others.
About the film: The never-ending and ever-expanding saga of Dominic Toretto’s found family may have a bazillion instalments, and they all share specific founding pillars centred around heists, street racing, spying and more in common. It all began in 2001 with Walker’s Brian, an LAPD officer going undercover to look into the matter of high-speed robberies possibly being led by Dominic Toretto, a street racer.
Before you know it, these two opposite worlds collide with a force unlike any other, and Brian and Dom are forever etched into each other’s memories and lives, resulting in a life designed by and for speed. They’re perennially on the run from federal agents and far worse bad guys who compel them to hop onto accomplish nasty missions one way or another, holding their families at gunpoint.
Now You See Me
Streaming on: Apple TV (Rent), Amazon Prime Video (select locations)
Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman and others.
About the film: Four street magicians having teamed up under the banner of The Horsemen are targeted by the FBI and Interpol after they use their crafty tricks to rob a grand sum of money owned by a tycoon. The Horsemen are wildly famed for facilitating such robberies during their performances as an act of grand gesture to reward their audience.
Again, much like how Kevin Hart’s character only robs those people in Lift who deserve the excruciating pain of loss, the Now You See Me illusionists also use their tricks to tip the justice scale and rob corrupt figures. As yet another fast-paced all-star caper, this 2016 film directed by Louis Leterrier intertwines magic with heist elements and despite its cheesiness, its chase sequences and masterplans get you thinking.
Ocean’s Movies
Streaming on: JioCinema, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube Movies
Cast: George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia, Casey Affleck, and others.
About the film: This franchise of heist movies (with this particular group of cast members) has had three iterations under the banner, in addition to the more recent spin-off (Ocean’s 8). All instalments focus at the crew attempting risky heists, as the stakes climb higher each time around. Ocean’s Eleven began with looting casino chains in Las Vegas, to the team members having to deal with the consequences of their actions in Ocean’s Twelve, which again pushes them to green light even more heists so as to be able to pay off their debts. And finally, Ocean’s team coming back in Ocean’s Thirteen to reply to being double-crossed in kind.
With the Ocean’s 8 spin-off, an all women team takes over the hefty task as Danny Ocean’s sister, Debby, gathers a group of ladies to facilitate a heist at the Met Gala that’ll help them bag around 150 million dollars. This film stars Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter, Rihanna, Mindy Kaling and others.
Red Notice
Streaming on: Netflix
Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gadot, Dwayne Johnson
About the film: Like Lift, Red Notice too leads with art thieves and the Interpol at the centre of its main plot. On the same wavelength, this Netflix film also works well as a fast-paced and fun premiere despite the many cliches that drive its derivative storyline and events, reminding you that sometimes one just needs to let loose and enjoy the action without thinking too much of it.
The A-list cast and high budget scale shape up an action adventure laced with comedy, wherein the world’s most wanted art thief becomes the prime target of the FBI until the criminal and the agent after him forge an unexpected partnership to catch another slippery lawbreaker.
Baby Driver
Streaming on: SonyLIV
Cast: Ansel Elgort, Lily James, Jon Hamm, Jamie Foxx, Eiza Gonzalez, Jon Bernthal and others.
About the film: With a killer soundtrack, Baby Driver wins you over with its heart-thumping and breathless car chase sequences with Ansel Elgort as ‘Baby’ behind the wheel, navigating his way through the criminal world waiting to wipe his slate clean and break off any and every blood-ridden association with criminals as soon as his debt to a big-shot mastermind is paid off. He’s forced to partake as a getaway driver in several heist plans even though he wants nothing to do with blood on his hands.
Nevertheless, he keeps his head down and does his best to finish off his pending assignments ASAP, until Debora enters his life, thus making taking on such tasks way riskier for both of them. As fate has it, one day it all flips Baby’s world upside down when a major bust goes sideways.
Which of these films have you rewatched to the extent that they’ve simply become your guilty pleasure at this point? Let us know your personal favourite heist films on OTT in the comments section below.
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