Chris Hemsworth's Mid-Budget Crime Thriller Finds Audience at Box Office

The neo-noir film "Crime 101" opened to $15 million, tapping into the "dad market" over Valentine's Day weekend.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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Chris Hemsworth's new mid-budget crime thriller "Crime 101" opened to $15 million at the domestic box office over the Valentine's Day weekend, landing in the top 5. The neo-noir film, directed by Bart Layton, features a star-studded cast including Mark Ruffalo, Barry Keoghan, Halle Berry, and others. While it has a reported $90 million budget to recoup, the film's solid reviews and audience score suggest it could have a healthy run in theaters.

Why it matters

The performance of "Crime 101" demonstrates the continued audience demand for mid-budget, star-driven crime dramas - a market that has seen success with films like the "Jason Statham" and "Gerard Butler" heist sequels. The film's ability to attract male moviegoers over a traditionally female-skewing holiday weekend also highlights its potential to tap into the "dad market" for adult-oriented thrillers.

The details

Directed by Bart Layton, "Crime 101" follows a cat-and-mouse game between a jewel thief and an LAPD detective, set in Los Angeles. The film has a reported $90 million budget, making it more expensive than the weekend's top film "Wuthering Heights." However, its $15 million opening is on par with recent debuts for similar mid-budget crime thrillers. The movie currently holds an 87% critics score and 83% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.

  • "Crime 101" opened in theaters over the Valentine's Day weekend (February 14-17, 2026).

The players

Chris Hemsworth

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

Bart Layton

The British director of "Crime 101," who previously found critical acclaim with the true-crime documentary "The Imposter" and the docudrama "American Animals."

Rotten Tomatoes

A popular review aggregation website that collects and analyzes film and television reviews.

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What they’re saying

“The fingerprints of other all-time hits from crime movies' past are undeniably present, and perhaps there's one too many of them, but they don't stop Crime 101 from showing that it has the formula behind a great, entertaining crime thriller down to a tee.”

— Aidan Kelley, Collider Critic (Collider)

What’s next

The film will look to continue its box office run in the coming weeks, as it aims to recoup its $90 million budget.

The takeaway

"Crime 101" demonstrates the ongoing appeal of mid-budget, star-driven crime thrillers that can attract male moviegoers, even on traditionally female-skewing holiday weekends. The film's solid reviews and audience reception suggest it could have a healthy theatrical run in the months ahead.