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Thief (1981)

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Top Critics

Average Rating: 7.6/10
Reviews Counted: 20
Fresh: 19 | Rotten: 1

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 3
Fresh: 2 | Rotten: 1

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Average Rating: 3.6/5
User Ratings: 5,614

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Movie Info

In Thief, James Caan plays Frank, a professional jewel thief who wants to marry Jessie (Tuesday Weld) and settle down into a normal life. In order to achieve his dream of a family, Frank--who is used to working solo--has to align himself with a crime boss named Leo (Robert Prosky), who will help him gain the money he needs to begin his domestic life. Frank plans to retire after the heist, yet he finds himself indebted to Leo and he struggles to break free. Thief is the first feature film from

R, 2 hr. 2 min.

Drama, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense

Directed By: Michael Mann

In Theaters: Mar 27, 1981 Wide

On DVD: May 15, 2001

MGM Home Entertainment

Thief Trailer & Photos

Cast

James Caan
Frank
Tuesday Weld
Jessie
Willie Nelson
Okla
James Belushi
Barry
Robert Prosky
Leo
Tom Signorelli
Attaglia
Chuck Adamson
Ancell
Spero Anast
Bukowski
W.R. [Bill] Brown
Mitch
Michael Paul Chan
Waiter
Sam Cirone
Martello
Del Close
Mechanic #1
Nathan Davis
Grossman
Dennis Farina
Carl
John Kapelos
Mechanic
Marge Kotlisky
Mrs. Knowles
Gavin MacFayden
Boreksco
Nick Nickeas
Nick
Elizabeth Pe�a
William L. Petersen
Katz & Jammer Bartender
John Santucci
Urizzi
J. Jay Saunders
Doctor
Lora Staley
Paula
Norm Tobin
Guido
Bruce A. Young
Mechanic #2
Walter Scott
D. Simpson
Tom Howard
Thomas O. Erhart Jr.
Judge
Hal Frank
Joe Gags
Richard Karie
Salesman
Mike Genovese
Bartender at Green Mill

Critic Reviews for Thief

All Critics (20) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (19) | Rotten (1) | DVD (3)

A slick Chicago crime-drama with a well-developed sense of pathos running throughout.

March 26, 2009 Full Review Source: Variety

| Comment

Variety Staff

Variety

Top Critic

It's one of those films where you feel the authority right away: This movie knows its characters, knows its story, and knows exactly how it wants to tell us about them.

October 23, 2004 Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times

| Comment

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Top Critic

Mr. Mann may well become a very good theatrical film maker but, among other things, he's going to have to learn how to edit himself, to resist the temptation to allow dialogue that is colorful to turn, all of a sudden, into deep, abiding purple.

August 30, 2004 Full Review Source: New York Times

| Comment

Vincent Canby

New York Times

Top Critic

neo-Melvillian existentialism

April 19, 2010 Full Review Source: CinePassion

| Comment

Fernando F. Croce

CinePassion

Not just the best film of [Michael Mann's] career, but one of the best American films of the whole of the 1980s.

June 5, 2009 Full Review Source: Antagony & Ecstasy

| Comment

Tim Brayton

Antagony & Ecstasy

A philosophical thriller filled with modernist cool.

January 26, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out

| Comment

Geoff Andrew

Time Out

A tough and intense crime thriller. James Caan gives one of his finest performances.

October 8, 2005 Comment

Chuck O'Leary

Fantastica Daily

A cool action film.

November 28, 2004 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews

| Comment

Dennis Schwartz

Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Thief embues the crime story genre with fresh sophistication.

January 31, 2004 Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice

| Comment

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat

Spirituality and Practice

An engrossing early effort from Michael Mann

April 18, 2003 Comment

Dan Lybarger

Nitrate Online

It's a shame Thief isn't better remembered by people. If you really enjoy films about robberies, this one is right up your alley. Caan is terrific, and Mann's budding talent is evident.

August 8, 2002 Comment

Larry Carroll

Countingdown.com

Good guys and bad guys have never been harder to peg, which is why Thief is so much fun, filled with nuance and subtlety not often found among caper flicks.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com

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Christopher Null

Filmcritic.com

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Thief

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A stylish all star movie with a simple and utterly predictable story. It's just okay.

September 6, 2010

AJ Verser

Super Reviewer

You probably don't know this about me. Part of what I do for a living is cracking safes open. I'm pretty good at it. So, when watching heist films, it's usually difficult for me to enjoy them due to the hokey, corny steps filmmakers use in various heist films. Ocean's 11, 12, and 13 come to mind. However, there is

April 27, 2008

El Hombre Invisible

Super Reviewer

Thief Quotes

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1. Frank: Your criteria are so far up your ass, they can't see daylight!
– Submitted by Saetre S (6 months ago)
1. Okla: Lie to no one. If there 's somebody close to you, you'll ruin it with a lie. If they're a stranger, who the fuck are they you gotta lie to them?
– Submitted by Saetre S (6 months ago)
1. Okla: Lie to no one. If there 's somebody close to you, you'll ruin it with a lie. If they're a stranger, who the fuck are they you gotta lie to them?
– Submitted by Alex A (9 months ago)
1. Frank: I am the last guy in the world that you wanna fuck with.
– Submitted by Alex A (9 months ago)