Crime 101 Review: Familiar Heist Thriller Tropes Overpower Interesting Ideas

The film starring Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo and Halle Berry has the right elements but struggles to break free of genre conventions.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Crime 101, a new heist thriller starring Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo and Halle Berry, has all the right ingredients of a standard crime movie - tense heist planning, car chases, and a ragtag group of characters with their own motivations. However, the film struggles to fully embrace the interesting ideas it introduces, like Hemsworth's shy, potentially neurodivergent thief or the class warfare themes, ultimately falling back on familiar genre tropes.

Why it matters

Crime 101 represents a missed opportunity to breathe new life into the well-worn heist thriller genre. While the film has a talented cast and some compelling character work, its inability to fully commit to the more unique elements holds it back from being something truly memorable.

The details

Director Bart Layton and the cast, including Hemsworth as an awkward thief, Ruffalo as a bitter detective, and Berry as a broker, try to inject some fresh ideas into Crime 101. However, the pull of classic heist movie tropes, like the 'one last score' plot, proves too strong. The film dips its toes into themes of class warfare and the exploitation of minority art, but never fully explores them. Overall, the interesting character work and social commentary feels at odds with the standard crime thriller structure.

  • Crime 101 opens in theaters on February 13, 2026.

The players

Chris Hemsworth

An acclaimed actor known for his roles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Thor, as well as films like Rush and Extraction.

Mark Ruffalo

A veteran actor who has starred in movies like Spotlight, Avengers: Endgame, and Dark Waters.

Halle Berry

An Oscar-winning actress who has appeared in films such as Monster's Ball, John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum, and Catwoman.

Bart Layton

The director of Crime 101, known for his work on documentaries like The Imposter and American Animals.

Barry Keoghan

A rising young actor who has appeared in films like Dunkirk, The Killing of a Sacred Deer, and Eternals.

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What’s next

Crime 101 will be released in theaters on February 13, 2026. Reviews and box office performance will determine if the film spawns any sequels or spin-offs.

The takeaway

While Crime 101 has a talented cast and some interesting ideas, its inability to fully commit to breaking free of familiar heist thriller tropes results in a film that, while competently made, ultimately feels like a missed opportunity to reinvigorate the genre.