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The Thief Collector

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The Thief Collector

Released May 19, 2023

1h 33m

Documentary

Crime

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

91%

Tomatometer

43 Reviews

82%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

It was one of the most audacious and puzzling art thefts of a generation; In 1985, Willem de Kooning's seminal work, "Woman Ochre," was sliced from it's frame and stolen from the walls of an Arizona art museum, disappearing into the desert. Over thirty years later, in a remote town in New Mexico, the $160 million dollar painting was rediscovered in the unlikeliest of places.

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Critics Consensus

An effortlessly engaging true-crime documentary, The Thief Collector reaffirms that reality can be stranger than fiction -- and sometimes just as entertaining.

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Nell Minow

AWFJ.org

We often speak of a “who done it” as though the answer to the mystery is simply the identity of the person committing the crime. But The Thief Collector entreatingly and insightfully shows us that is just the beginning of the story.

Aug 5, 2023

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Noel Murray

Los Angeles Times

Allison Otto’s snappy documentary “The Thief Collector” ponders how and why the Alters got away with their one famous crime — and perhaps many more.

May 18, 2023

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Cath Clarke

Guardian

If nothing else, this documentary ought to give someone working in television the idea of making a detective series about house clearance experts.

Rated: 3/5

Mar 29, 2023

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Marya E. Gates

Cool People Have Feelings, Too. (Substack)

It’s got a breezy touch as it makes its way through the labyrinthine story of the painting and how it intersects with the twisted life of the Alters

May 17, 2024

Full Review

Tim Miller

Cape Cod Wave Magazine

A Willem de Kooning painting stolen decades earlier from an art museum is discovered hidden in the home of Jerry and Rita Alter after they’ve died. ... in this compellingly offbeat true-life crime documentary.

Rated: 3.5/4

Dec 17, 2023

Full Review

Linda Cook

OurQuadCities / WHBF-TV (Illinois)

You can't make this stuff up.

Rated: 4 stars

Sep 15, 2023

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PJ J

Unless you lived in Tucson and were paying attention to local news in 2017, or lived in Silver City, NM then, you almost certainly will have no clue about this amazing story. Truth truly stranger than fiction, a documentary that engages as a docu-drama.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

12/22/24

Full Review

Michael H

A solid documentary about a big heist perpetrated by a genuinely bizarre couple living in nowhere, New Mexico. Re-enactments (which often are dopey and boring) here are witty and tongue-in-cheek.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/04/23

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Adam G

An extraordinary, stranger-than-fiction story that must be seen to be believed. I loved this movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/31/23

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anna w

Interesting story but it felt like they were making a 30 minute story into a movie. Repetitive interviews that weren't adding much.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

05/26/23

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StephenPaul C

The greatest 01 hour: and 33 minutes of real criminals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/21/23

Full Review

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Allison Otto

Director

Glenn Howerton

Jerry Alter

Sarah Minnich

Rita Alter

Scott Takeda

Actor

Matt Pittenger

Actor

Mark Monroe

Screenwriter

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Synopsis

It was one of the most audacious and puzzling art thefts of a generation; In 1985, Willem de Kooning's seminal work, "Woman Ochre," was sliced from it's frame and stolen from the walls of an Arizona art museum, disappearing into the desert. Over thirty years later, in a remote town in New Mexico, the $160 million dollar painting was rediscovered in the unlikeliest of places.

Director: Allison Otto
Producer: Caryn Capotosto, Jill Latiano, Joshua A. Kunau
Screenwriter: Mark Monroe, Nick Andert
Distributor: FilmRise
Production Co: Roots Productions, Diamond Docs, Museum & Crane, XTR
Genre: Documentary, Crime
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 19, 2023, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 19, 2023
Runtime: 1h 33m

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