Thief

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Thief

R

1981

2h 2m

Crime

Drama

Action

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

80%

Tomatometer

86 Reviews

81%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

A highly skilled jewel thief, Frank (James Caan) longs to leave his dangerous trade and settle down with his girlfriend, Jessie (Tuesday Weld). Eager to make one last big score in order to begin living a legitimate life, Frank reluctantly associates with Leo (Robert Prosky), a powerful gangster. Unfortunately for Frank, Leo wants to keep him in his employ, resulting in a tense showdown when he finally tries to give up his criminal activities once and for all.

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Critics Consensus

Thief's enigmatic conclusion will rob some audiences of satisfaction, but it's an authentic and sleekly rendered neo-noir, powered by a swaggering James Caan at the peak of his charisma.

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Michael Maza

Arizona Republic

Their courting scenes are masterpieces of flat-out negotiation, harshly lit, and yet somehow Caan and Ms. Weld touch their mutual attraction with an aura of romance.

Jul 7, 2022

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Michael Blowen

Boston Globe

Thief looks like a good movie... But, in spite of director Michael Mann's authentic sets and a workmanlike performance by Caan, the film never crackles. It merely ambles across the screen with no particular place to go.

Jul 7, 2022

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Gene Siskel

Chicago Tribune

The film's big acting surprise is the performance by Robert Prosky as Leo. In addition to the film's nighttime photography, it is the character of Leo who gives Thief much of its power and realism.

Rated: 3/4

Jul 7, 2022

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David Harris

Spectrum Culture

Like Frank, the character he masterfully plays in Thief, it is impossible to fully like James Caan. But if you look closely, you can see how guys like Tony Soprano wouldn’t exist without Caan’s influence there to pave the way first.

Sep 3, 2025

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Ray Pride

Newcity

Chicago as a city of dreamy steely blues and sparkling orange and gleaming fluorescence and stately neon. The lights of late, lamented twenty-four-hour delis... always artfully doubled across blackest pavement.

Rated: 10/10

Jul 2, 2024

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

Michael Mann brought a new sensibility to the American crime movie with his feature debut ...

Sep 22, 2023

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Sebastian L

If nothing else Thief could be enjoyed solely for its cinematography and its score. It just so happens that besides from being a masterclass in mood and style it is also a story with real characters and real stakes. It might not take you on a intellectual voyage but it certainly will make you feel things.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/19/25

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Jonathan O

Before there's HEAT there's Thief and is an electrifying thrilling heist film filled with sparkling strong performance by James Caan and really great supporting role by not other than Willie Nelson and the rest of the cast are outstanding and really techno score by Tangerine Dream and really breathtaking cinematography and great editing and really outstanding sound design. Michael Mann did really incredible filmmaker and writing to make a masterpiece of heist film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/28/25

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Benyam E

Wonderfully nuanced fits of rage from Frank (James Caan) and bickering with Jessie (Tuesday Weld) in the car. “Baby, I am a thief.” Shockingly detailed safe-cracking scene, the iconic tinted glasses, Frank’s character complexity, the bitter monologue from Leo (Robert Prosky), the redemption in the final shootout scene. Timeless movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/27/25

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Alain E

In the first 22 minutes it ambles along. We watch several steps of drilling a door to a safe, then selecting what gemstones to steal, as if a burglar would discard inferior grade diamonds. Then, changing different vehicles for unclear reasons as this is happening in a city without any traffic on the streets. All this generate no suspense at all. I am not convinced to spend another 100 minutes, despite the 80% approval rate of this flick.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

06/12/25

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Farah R

Thief is a mind-blowing crime thriller with its stunning visual style, breathtaking cinematography, awesome soundtrack, and stellar performances. The fact that it’s Michael Mann’s directorial debut makes it all the more impressive. It captures the look and vibe of the early 80s in such a unique way. The film’s basic plot is enhanced by compelling characters that drive the narrative to its cathartic conclusion.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/30/25

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Insomniac X

Michael Mann injects style and substance into a familiar story in this bleak but cathartic crime thriller. Brooding performances and detailed, procedural heist sequences create an intriguing foundation for the story's social themes as James Caan's working class thief fights for independence from forces that seem intent on owning not only his labor, but his body and soul.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/27/25

Full Review

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Michael Mann

Director

James Caan

Frank

Tuesday Weld

Jessie

Willie Nelson

Okla

Jim Belushi

Barry

Robert Prosky

Leo

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Synopsis

A highly skilled jewel thief, Frank (James Caan) longs to leave his dangerous trade and settle down with his girlfriend, Jessie (Tuesday Weld). Eager to make one last big score in order to begin living a legitimate life, Frank reluctantly associates with Leo (Robert Prosky), a powerful gangster. Unfortunately for Frank, Leo wants to keep him in his employ, resulting in a tense showdown when he finally tries to give up his criminal activities once and for all.

Director: Michael Mann
Producer: Jerry Bruckheimer, Ronnie Caan
Screenwriter: Michael Mann
Distributor: United Artists
Production Co: United Artists
Rating: R
Genre: Crime, Drama, Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 27, 1981, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 16, 2008
Runtime: 2h 2m
Sound Mix: Surround

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