LA Heist Film 'Crime 101' Draws Comparisons to 'Heat'

Writer/director Bart Layton's latest crime thriller borrows heavily from the Michael Mann classic.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Bart Layton's new film "Crime 101" is a Los Angeles-based crime drama that draws heavy inspiration from Michael Mann's 1995 epic "Heat". The film follows a meticulous jewel thief named Davis (Chris Hemsworth) and the LAPD detective Lou Lubesnick (Mark Ruffalo) who pursues him, as well as an insurance broker named Sharon (Halle Berry) who gets entangled in Davis' final heist scheme. While the film features strong performances, particularly from Barry Keoghan, it is criticized for being overly derivative and lacking in subtlety, with characters often stating the obvious and the dialogue lacking nuance.

Why it matters

"Crime 101" is the latest in a long line of Los Angeles crime dramas that have tried to emulate the success and critical acclaim of "Heat". While the film is well-made and features some strong individual elements, its heavy-handed homage to the Michael Mann classic ultimately holds it back from being a truly compelling crime thriller in its own right.

The details

The film opens by establishing the meticulous preparation rituals of its thief protagonist Davis, including an "American Psycho"-esque cleanliness routine set to the soothing sounds of a guided meditation. This juxtaposition of violence and wellness becomes a running theme, as both Davis and the pursuing detective Lou Lubesnick are shown engaging in yoga and healthy living habits. The film follows Davis as he pulls off a diamond heist, with the insurance broker Sharon getting drawn into his final planned job. Meanwhile, the unhinged criminal Ormon (Barry Keoghan) becomes a destabilizing force that threatens to derail Davis' carefully laid plans.

  • The film is set to be released in theaters on February 13, 2026.

The players

Bart Layton

The writer and director of "Crime 101", who previously made the art heist thriller "American Animals".

Chris Hemsworth

The actor who plays the lead role of Davis, the meticulous jewel thief at the center of the film's plot.

Mark Ruffalo

The actor who portrays Lou Lubesnick, the LAPD detective pursuing Davis.

Halle Berry

The actress who plays Sharon, the insurance broker who gets drawn into Davis' final heist scheme.

Barry Keoghan

The actor who plays Ormon, the unhinged criminal who threatens to derail Davis' carefully laid plans.

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What they’re saying

“Everything is on the surface, characters state the obvious, and the dialogue has the delicacy of a sledgehammer.”

— Katie Walsh, Film Critic (thenewstribune.com)

“Hemsworth moves right, but he feels tight and stiff playing stoic - this kind of role is not in his strike zone as a performer, and he doesn't connect.”

— Katie Walsh, Film Critic (thenewstribune.com)

“Layton strives to capture L.A., and he gets parts of it right: the gritty side streets and strip malls and streaky headlights at night are all certainly comforting as familiar signifiers of L.A. crime movies, at least. But he fumbles the fixation on Los Angeles wellness culture as a running theme - or joke?”

— Katie Walsh, Film Critic (thenewstribune.com)

What’s next

The film is set to be released in theaters on February 13, 2026.

The takeaway

While "Crime 101" features strong individual performances and production values, its heavy-handed homage to the Michael Mann classic "Heat" ultimately holds it back from being a truly compelling crime thriller in its own right. The film's lack of subtlety and nuance in its storytelling and dialogue prevent it from fully capturing the psychological complexity and gritty realism that made "Heat" such an influential and acclaimed crime drama.