Bank robbery movies would suggest that all one needs to execute the perfect heist is a gun, a duffle bag, a getaway car, and a clever disguise. However, the success or failure of the heist is usually less dependent on the tools of the trade and more dependent on the team dynamics and the scheme itself. The most interesting bank robbery movies are ones that do not follow the conventional formula. In examining popular bank robbery movies of the last century, they vary greatly in form and formula, ranging from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, who rode off on getaway horses, to Wisdom, wherein the Robin Hood-esque robbers favor wiping out people’s debt records over stealing their money.
Bank robbery movies have kept audiences engaged for as long as one can remember. Here, we celebrate the best of the heist subgenre.