Crime 101 movie review by Movie Review Mom

MOVIE TITLE: Crime 101

The crime thriller Crime 101 had its world premiere in London on January 28, 2026. It then opened in theaters across the United States on February 13, 2026 (distributed by Sony Pictures), just in time for Valentine’s Day weekend. Following its theatrical run, the film became available to stream on Amazon Prime Video on April 1, 2026.

RATING: R

LENGTH: 140 minutes

Movie Review Mom GRADE: B+

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The vintage car is featured in the movie Crime 101!

IN A NUTSHELL:

Based on the novella by Don Winslow, Crime 101 is a gritty crime thriller that feels like a modern-day homage to the heist classics of the 90s. Chris Hemsworth stars as Mike Davis, a “civilized” jewel thief who lives by a strict set of rules…until he doesn’t. He finds himself caught between a relentless, rumpled detective (played by a fantastic Mark Ruffalo) and a savvy insurance broker (played by the gorgeous Halle Berry) who has her own agenda. It’s a sleek, sun-drenched Los Angeles game of cat-and-mouse that asks: Can you ever really retire from a life of crime?

The film was directed by Bart Layton. Writing credits also go to him, as well as to Don Winslow.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

• Language: This is a hard “R” for a reason. There are over 100 profanities, with the “F-bomb” being the word of choice for almost every character.

• Violence: While Mike Davis tries to be a “clean” thief, things get messy. Expect intense shootouts, physical brawls, and some realistic, bloody injuries.

• Adult Themes: There is implied sexual activity and a brief scene showing a pornographic website on a computer screen.

• Complex Morality: The “hero” is a thief, and the line between good and bad guys gets very blurry by the end. It’s a great jumping-off point for a talk with older teens about ethics, but definitely too cynical for the younger crowd.

THEMES:

• The weight of the past and personal trauma

• Discipline vs. impulse

• The corruption of “corporate” and criminal systems

• Consequences of our choices

• Integrity

THINGS I LIKED:

• The Performances: The cast is fantastic. Chris Hemsworth reminds us he’s more than just a superhero with a haunted, internal performance. Mark Ruffalo is an absolute delight as the “Columbo-esque” detective Lou. He’s quirky, rumpled, and steals every scene he’s in!

• Visual Style: The cinematography is gorgeous. It uses a lot of handheld camera work that makes the heist scenes feel raw and immediate.

• Halle Berry: When is she going to start aging? She looks incredible! She brings so much class and intelligence to the role of Sharon. There’s a specific moment involving her character that just might have you cheer, especially if you’ve ever had a terrible boss. 

• Tension: The “Rule 101” mechanics of how the heists are pulled off are fascinating to watch. You know there will probably be twists, but you often don’t see them coming.

• Balance: There is a great balance between crime, action, and human emotion.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

• The Pacing: At 140 minutes, it definitely feels its length. There are several long drone shots of LA and subplots that could have been trimmed to make it a tighter two-hour movie.

• Underused Talent: Barry Keoghan is fantastic as an unpredictable enforcer, so I found myself wishing he had more screen time. He’s like a secret weapon the director didn’t use enough!

• The Slurring: Nick Nolte is a legend, but I’ll be honest, I had a hard time understanding some of his dialogue because of his raspy delivery. When I was in college, a friend of mine told me Nick Nolte was his half-brother. They looked so much alike that I believed him. It was 20 years later when my friend revealed he was just joking! ha ha

• Questionable Heroes: Every single person was a dishonest criminal. It’s hard to root for characters like that. Many are saying the film is just a rip-off of the classic movie Heat.
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FUNNY LINES:

• “Yoga definitely looks good on him.”

INTERESTING LINES:

• “Eleven million dollars. Isn’t that what you guys call ‘walk-away money’?” – Sharon   “That’s the thing about walk-away money. You have to be able to actually walk away with it.” – Davis

MOVIES LIKE THIS YOU ALSO MIGHT LIKE:

• Heat (The DNA of this movie is everywhere here!)  https://amzn.to/4tx78F7

• The Town  https://amzn.to/41swR5M 

• Bullitt (Look out for the green Ford Mustang—a total nod to Steve McQueen!)  https://amzn.to/48pcABT

  

   

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