Heist movies in the modern age have set a great example of what new and exciting caper stories are capable of on the big screen. The 2010s had classics like Christopher Nolan's Inception and Edgar Wright's Baby Driver, while the first half of the 2020s had more unconventional winners like Ambulance and The Bad Guys. Before those decades started showcasing the possibilities for modern heist films, the 2000s set an incredible example of how to create intelligent and thrilling heist adventures.

At the beginning of the 21st century, fans of heist movies were delightfully treated with popular and influential releases by prestigious filmmakers like Guy Ritchie and Steven Soderbergh. The momentum didn't stop there, as the heist subgenre made more impactful products that defined the 2000s and underrated gems that more viewers should check out. From Snatch to Ocean's Eleven, these heist films started the new century off on a high note.

10 Gone in 60 Seconds Exhilarated Car Lovers

• IMDB Rating: 6.5
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 25%
• Rent on Prime Video

Starring the always-entertaining Nicolas Cage, Gone in 60 Seconds follows a car thief named Memphis, who was once called the best car thief in California. When Memphis finds out his brother has been kidnapped by a dangerous crime boss, he gets tasked with stealing 50 cars in one night. Knowing he can't do it all alone, Memphis assembles his old crew to accomplish the near-impossible mission.

While critical praise was low during its release, Gone in 60 Seconds found some appreciation from car lovers and admirers of high-octane action. For a movie about stealing cars, especially when the number is as high as 50, Gone in 60 Seconds has plenty of car chases and other related action one would expect. The stunts are exciting, while Cage gets to be both quirky and dramatic with his lead performance. Furthermore, Gone in 60 Seconds feels forgotten compared to other car heist movies like the Fast and Furious series.

9 The Fast And The Furious Kicked Off a Long-Running Franchise

• IMDB Rating: 6.8
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 54%
• Watch on Peacock

Before the Fast & Furious franchise went off the rails with its jumping-the-shark moments, it started as a simple street racing series. 2001's The Fast and the Furious introduced the world to characters like Dominic Toretto and Brian O'Connor, two men on opposite sides of the law. Dominic is a Los Angeles street racer behind a series of heists, while Brian is an undercover cop infiltrating his crew and later becomes torn about which side he is truly on.

Instead of having the physics-defying action the franchise is now known for, The Fast and the Furious is a strong reminder of where things began with its enthralling street racing action and heist sequences. The film feels grounded, and the car chases have some sense of realism. The strained friendship between Dominic and Brian is also gripping, becoming prominent in future installments. Additionally, the heists are not too over-the-top since the characters are performing truck robberies on streets and highways.

8 The Italian Job Was a Solid Remake

• IMDB Rating: 7
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 72%
• Watch on Paramount+

1969's The Italian Job was already a fun caper film that starred Michael Caine as a British thief robbing gold in Italy, yet the 2003 American remake was still a solidly enjoyable time. In F. Gary Gray's adaptation, a robbery crew gets betrayed by team member Steve, who kills safecracker John and takes the gold for himself. Wanting revenge, the crew reassembles and brings in John's daughter to take back the gold.

Action movie remakes can be a heavy task to pull off, but the American version of The Italian Job succeeded while forging its own identity. It's a classic revenge tale that features some satisfying action, particularly when the team engages in a car chase where they drive Mini Coopers. In addition, the remake has an impressive ensemble cast, which features Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, Jason Statham, Edward Norton, Mos Def, Seth Green, and Donald Sutherland.

7 Over The Hedge is a Fast-Paced Heist Adventure For All Ages

• IMDB Rating: 6.7
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 75%
• Watch on Peacock

One of DreamWorks' most underrated films, Over the Hedge, works as both a family film and a hilarious heist adventure. Over the Hedge follows a mischievous raccoon named RJ who finds himself in a pickle when he must repay a debt to a bear. Searching for help, he recruits a family of forest critters to help him steal food from the suburban neighborhood on the other side of a hedge. But, through these escapades, RJ starts to bond closer with the family and learns some valuable lessons.

While Over the Hedge mostly caters to children, it remains a fast-paced watch for all audiences and one that will leave them feeling hungry. In terms of heists, the film includes multiple scenes and montages where the animals sneakily obtain food while scored by an amusing soundtrack. Although it does have some nonsensical moments, Over the Hedge still has time to present a nice message about finding a new home and family. Plus, the voice cast is stacked, with the likes of Bruce Willis, Garry Shandling, and Steve Carell leading the bunch.

6 Before The Devil Knows You're Dead Was Sidney Lumet's Final Film

• IMDB Rating: 7.3
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89%
• Watch on Tubi, Peacock, and Prime Video

Sidney Lumet was a well-respected director who had a long and exceptional career in the filmmaking industry. Between 12 Angry Men and another heist film, Dog Day Afternoon, Lumet's directing chops were incredible. His last film, Before The Devil Knows You're Dead, ended his career on a high note. The film follows two brothers who need quick cash and organize a robbery of their parent's jewelry store. However, the heist falls apart quickly, leading to serious consequences for them and their family.

Before The Devil Knows You're Dead is an excellent examination of how desperate some humans can become. Like any gripping heist film, the main characters' plan should have been simple where no one gets hurt, but it resulted in the opposite. Aided by Lumet's direction and two magnetic performances from Philip Seymour Hoffman and Ethan Hawke, Before The Devil Knows You're Dead has all the makings of an intense and shocking heist film, especially one with flawed family relationships.

5 Matchstick Men Tackles Mental Health Alongside Its Hustles

• IMDB Rating: 7.3
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 83%
• Rent on Prime Video

With his stacked filmography, Ridley Scott has a few films that have fallen under the radar, and Matchstick Men is one of them. Nicolas Cage stars as Roy Waller, a skilled con artist who suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). As he and his partner Frank - played by Sam Rockwell - figure out their latest hustle, Roy is thrown off-guard by the arrival of his estranged teenage daughter Angela. When Angela grows curious about her father's business, Roy decides to teach her how to become a scammer.

Matchstick Men is an uncommon Ridley Scott movie since it does not present grand imagery and spectacle. However, this heist drama succeeds with its acting performances and careful depiction of a mental disorder. When playing Roy, Cage has a fine balance between being his usual extravagant self and finding the proper moments to be emotional. While not intricate, the heists - or scams in the case of this film - bring plenty of worry about the characters because one wrong move can cause everything to crumble.

4 National Treasure is Endlessly Rewatchable

• IMDB Rating: 6.9
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 46%
• Watch on Disney+

Nicolas Cage developed a knack for appearing in heist films throughout the 2000s, but National Treasure is the best one he was involved in. Cage plays Ben Gates, a historian and treasure hunter searching for an abundance of gold that dates back to the birth of the United States. While on an expedition in the Arctic, Ben gets betrayed by his colleague Ian. Ben then must face off against his new enemy and use clues from the Declaration of Independence to find the hidden treasure.

Since its 2004 release, National Treasure has become a quotable and rewatchable adventure film that lives up to its name. National Treasure knows what kind of movie it wants to be, even if the logic of stealing a national document is rather silly. While the crucial heist of obtaining the Declaration of Independence happens early on, the rest of the film is equally adventurous and lively. Anyone who loves a good treasure-hunting movie will find lots of enjoyment in National Treasure as each new clue provides exciting answers.

3 Inside Man is an Underappreciated Yet Enthralling Viewing Experience

• IMDB Rating: 7.6
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 86%
• Watch on Netflix

Spike Lee is a director no one would associate with the heist subgenre, but his courageous venture with Inside Man was a welcome addition to his filmmaking career. In Inside Man, robber Dalton Russell and his team hold a New York bank hostage, leading many police members - including protagonist Detective Keith Frazier - to attempt to resolve the crisis. At first, Dalton's robbery plan seems easy to figure out, but there is more to this heist than initially thought.

With powerful direction from Lee and a tight screenplay, Inside Man is an underappreciated heist film that will leave viewers hooked throughout. When Dalton and his team take the bank in the opening minutes, it kickstarts a viewing experience full of twists and turns, leading to surprising revelations about the central plan. Plus, Denzel Washington and Clive Owen bring their A-game as Keith and Dalton, providing a dynamic that is hard to resist. Additionally, there are solid supporting performances from Jodie Foster, Willem Dafoe, Christopher Plummer, and Chiwetel Ejiofor.

2 Snatch Put Guy Ritchie Further on The Map