If you are looking for some adrenaline on the cheap, heist movies should be your best bet. People break into banks or jewelry stores, and the tension spirals out of control. Ultimately, the perpetrators flee with the reward in a near-impossible feat or mess up the plan beyond repair. No matter what the outcome is, heist thrillers are all the rage nowadays, especially with shows like ‘Money Heist’ smashing online streaming charts. Now, if you are looking for some great heist movies you can watch on HBO Max, we have prepared a list, gathering the genre’s classics for your consideration.

7. Empire State (2013)

Starring Liam Hemsworth, Dwayne Johnson, Emma Roberts, and Michael Angarano, ‘Empire State’ shows Chris Potamitis, a security guard at an armored truck company, getting inadvertently pulled into a cash heist after he reveals the flaws in his company’s security to his best friend Eddie. The heist is pulled off, but now the duo has to outrun Detective James Ransome. Stakes get higher by the minute as the local gang lords are also after the money, thanks to Eddie’s association with them. Directed by Dito Montiel, ‘Empire State’ gets its name from the armored truck company that was looted. You can watch it here.

6. The Hobbit Trilogy (2012-2014)

‘The Hobbit’ trilogy is an epic fantasy-adventure movie franchise directed by Peter Jackson. The series follows Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit who embarks on an unexpected adventure with a group of dwarves and the wizard Gandalf to reclaim their homeland from the fearsome dragon Smaug. As they journey through treacherous lands of Middle-Earth filled with mythical creatures and face daunting challenges, their ultimate goal is to steal the Arkenstone from Smaug’s lair. The film stars Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins, Ian McKellen as Gandalf, and Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield. Although not strictly a heist movie per se, ‘The Hobbit’ series does revolve around a daring mission to retrieve a precious artifact, an element that resonates within popular heist films. With its stunning visuals, captivating storytelling, and memorable performances, this cinematic masterpiece deserves a spot on this list. You may watch ‘The Hobbit’ here.

5. The Thomas Crown Affair (1999)

‘The Thomas Crown Affair,’ directed by John McTiernan, is a thrilling romantic heist film that will captivate audiences from start to finish. The movie is a remake of the 1968 film of the same name and follows the story of Thomas Crown, a wealthy businessman who becomes addicted to the thrill of stealing priceless artwork. The plot unravels with unexpected twists and turns as both Crown and his pursuer engage in a battle of wits. Starring Pierce Brosnan as Thomas Crown and Rene Russo as Catherine Banning, this talented duo brings their characters to life with incredible chemistry on screen. The Thomas Crown Affair stands out among other heist movies on HBO Max due to its sophisticated storytelling, impeccable cinematography, and memorable performances by its cast members. You can watch the movie here.

4. Now You See Me (2013)

Directed by Louis Leterrier, ‘Now You See Me’ is a heist movie that shows how four small-time magicians steal money from a bank via their performance and distribute the money among its audiences. This sets an FBI agent and an Interpol agent on their trail, assisted by a guy who is a professional exposer of illusions. What follows is how the trio looks into the case and the four magicians and find out how they pulled off the heist. It is a one-of-a-kind heist film that is packed with thrill and excitement from start to finish. Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Mark Ruffalo, Morgan Freeman, and Michael Caine, this film is a must-watch. You can stream it here.

3. No Sudden Move (2021)

‘No Sudden Move’ is an enthralling crime thriller film directed by Steven Soderbergh. The plot, set in the 1950s, revolves around a group of small-time criminals who are hired for what seems to be a simple job but quickly find themselves entangled in a complex web of deceit and danger. As they navigate through unexpected twists and turns, their lives become increasingly intertwined with powerful forces that will stop at nothing to protect their secrets.

The film boasts an impressive cast, including Julia Fox, Don Cheadle, Benicio Del Toro, Frankie Shaw, Ray Liotta, and Brendan Fraser. Whether you’re a fan of gripping suspense or masterful storytelling, this film is definitely worth watching for its intriguing plot and stellar performances from its star-studded cast. You may watch the film here.

2. Ronin (1998)

Starring Robert De Niro, Jean Reno, Natascha McElhone, Sean Bean, Stellan Skarsgård, and Jonathan Pryce, ‘Ronin’ is directed by John Frankenheimer. The film showcases the complex nature of a heist after a group of agents/mercs, formed by an operative, steals a briefcase successfully, but it gets switched. All the members are in doubt as each of them has his own motive. As time passes, the blame game worsens, and things get deadly. Will any of them make it out alive? ‘Ronin’ is a must-watch heist thriller that was lauded for its car chase sequences and performances. You can watch the film here.

1. Wanda (1970)

Barbara Loden graces the central role in her celebrated indie heist drama ‘Wanda.’ While chronicling a small-town ambiance, the movie lends a timely look at how women are traditionally portrayed in cinema. Furthermore, it drives its message home by taking the protagonist, Wanda’s plight to new heights. In a desolate Rust Belt town, she lives the life of a drifter, having given custody of her children to their father, as she fears that she is not enough to care for them. In due time, Wanda meets small-time criminal Norman Dennis, and the two plan a heist that goes awry. While not strictly a heist movie, it is one of the few female-centric movies on the list that conceals a theft in the plot. You can stream the film here.