Crime 101
January 9th, 2026
MOVIE: CRIME 101
STARRING: CHRIS HEMSWORTH, HALLE BERRY, MARK RUFFALO, BARRY KEOGHAN, MONICA BARBARO
DIRECTED BY: BART LAYTON
AMovieGuy.com’s RATING: 3 STARS (Out of 4)
RATED: R
RUN TIME: 140 MINUTES
As someone who hosts a podcast about heist movies, I like to think I know a thing or two about what makes them work. The gold standard, of course, is Heat– along with Thief and The Town– each a masterpiece in its own way and incredibly hard to top. Crime 101, the newest film from director Bart Layton, comes close to those heights, but doesn’t quite clear the bar. What it does have, however, is intensity, tension, and a stellar cast that quenches anyone’s thirst for a classic cops-and-robbers drama.
The main character is Davis (Chris Hemsworth), introduced as a driver picking up a man headed to a jewelry store for a diamond exchange. After the deal is made, Davis tails the buyers and steals the haul for himself. It’s clearly not his first job. With a string of robberies along the 101 freeway, detective Lou Luesnick (Mark Ruffalo) begins to notice a pattern.
Like many heist films, the central question becomes: how much money is enough for Davis? When his fence (played perfectly by Nick Nolte) starts inserting a wildcard named Ormon (Barry Keoghan) into the jobs, things begin to unravel. Meanwhile, Sharon (Halle Berry), an insurance agent for the ultra-wealthy, offers another perspective. Through her connection to the victims, the film suggests there’s little difference between insurance companies and the thieves who operate in the night.
Written by Layton and adapted from Don Winslow’s novella of the same name, the story is less about the mechanics of the heists and more about its collection of characters, each on a collision course. That’s where the film works best. The narrative gradually reels us in, offering telling details about each character without revealing their fates until the end. Some arcs are stronger than others, but ultimately this is a morality tale about the lengths people will go to for wealth- or at least the appearance of status.
Layton succeeds through pacing and richly drawn characters. That’s no surprise, given his previous films, The Imposter and American Animals, which share a similar fascination with crime and consequence. The standout here, however, is Hemsworth. He feels completely at home as a brooding, solitary professional, channeling a bit of Robert De Niro in Heat. It’s a welcome echo of his performance in Blackhat and, hopefully, a lane he continues to explore.
Crime 101 is a reminder of how hungry we are for movies that scratch this particular itch. It’s a true nuts-and-bolts crime drama- the kind of movie your dad would love- and a solid gateway to the genre’s greats. While it may not redefine the heist film, it delivers a smooth, satisfying caper that knows exactly what it is.
3 STARS
CRIME 101 IS PLAYING IN THEATERS EVERYWHERE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13TH, 2026.
Written by: Leo Brady
