Crime 101 Movie Review

Crime 101 (2026)

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Written by: Bart Layton (screenplay by), Don Winslow (based on the novella by)
Directed by: Bart Layton
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Halle Berry, Barry Keoghan, Monica Barbaro, Corey Hawkins, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Nick Nolte
Rated: R
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Plot
An elusive thief, eyeing his final score, encounters a disillusioned insurance broker at her own crossroads. They plan a multi-million dollar heist while a relentless detective hopes to thwart them.

Verdict
It's a twisting plot with multiple people tangentially related to a heist. This struggles with making the characters anything more than stereotypes. The story falters whenever it strays too far from the score at the center of the plot. This needs more style, and by that I mean better writing to provide these characters emotional stakes. Even the conclusion falls prey to feeling generic. While it wraps everything up neatly, I struggle to see the character's motivations behind these actions. It's more just a gift wrapped ending. There's a neat idea in this movie that I wish was better developed.
It depends.

Review
An action packed opener features thief Mike (Chris Hemsworth) robbing a transport car containing jewelry out on delivery. He's a professional with a plan that minimizes damage and protects him from being caught. Mike is grazed by a bullet which causes him to wonder if it's a sign to finally cash out. He forgoes his next planned job to ruminate on his future which upsets his fence who in turn takes Mike's plan and hires Orman (Barry Keoghan) instead. Orman is just the kind of psychopath the movie needs. He's a contrast to Mike who deplores violence.

Chris Hemsworth plays Mike

To develop Mike, the movie makes him lonely. He's devoted to his work without acquaintances or girlfriends. That's not what I want in an action movie. The subplot is false stakes and shallow. It's padding we don't need. This is "Crime 101" not 'relationships 101,' when the movie could explore the differences between Mike and Orman.

Mike wants to retire, but of course he needs one more job. That involves Sharon Coombs (Halle Berry), a high end insurance broker. He tries to convince her to join his plan and feed him information but she resists. While she was adamant she wouldn't bend the rules, when she gets shafted at work and refused another promotion, she grows resentful. It's a clear line to what she does next. If the job won't pay her, she'll figure out an avenue that will. I guessed that would be Mike.

Halle Berry plays Sharon Coombs

Lou (Mark Ruffalo) is assigned to the original heist, and he begins to thing it's a string of related robberies. Of course no one believes him, and he's also facing a pending divorce. Later in the movie a cop shoots an unarmed suspect and plants a gun. Mike is too moral to corroborate that lie.

Orman is tasked by the fence with following Mike which leads to a wild chase and Mike confronting an injured Orman, demanding to know for whom Orman works. Undeterred, Orman continues to follow Mike and in turn follows Sharon after she and Mike meet. Sharon runs to the one cop she knows, Lou. From there it's a fun run to the finale as Mike, Lou, and Orman all play dress up to get the score of diamonds Mike seeks.

Mark Ruffalo, Jennifer Jason Leigh play Lou, Angie Lubesnick

The conclusion is too clean. So much of this movie clings to the generic, even the conclusion. The cast are props, not characters. There's a neat idea in this movie that's just not fully translated.

SPOILERS

Mike saves Lou, and this adamant rule follower lets Mike go. The movie set that up when Lou wouldn't bend the rules for a fellow cop. It's so on the nose it's silly. For that Mike gives Lou a Camaro. Lou gives Sharon diamonds because he's all about paying it forward now. I just don't buy it. There's no reason for the characters to behave like this other than a cute ending that ties all the story lines together.