Crime 101 Races to the Finish Line
Crime 101 was released earlier this month, and it’s safe to say this thriller is a smash hit. The film has three main characters and shows how their lives become intertwined with this heist.
Chris Hemsworth plays a meticulous and socially awkward thief who tries not to harm anyone. All his heists take place on the 101 freeway, hence the name of the film. Halle Berry plays an increasingly disillusioned insurance agent getting strung along by her company. Lastly, Mark Ruffalo plays a detective on the outs with his superiors for pursuing the case.
The film also stars Barry Keohgan, Monica Barbaro, Corey Hawkins, and Nick Nolte. Not a single actor in the film gives a bad performance, though among the major characters, Mark Ruffalo delivers the weakest one.
The plot has been compared to Heat, though since I personally haven’t seen it, I’m not entirely sure how similar they are.
The film is tense during the heists, and it successfully keeps you guessing as to what will happen next. It feels like there is always a chance for failure. Along with this, the cinematography is great—and there are some fun drone shots along the 101 freeway. The score is decent; however, the music is not that big in this film.
The action is sparse but well done when it happens. It’s never overindulgent, always short and realistic. While the reviews are good, the film has only grossed 30 million worldwide against a budget of 90 million dollars.
I recommend seeing this in theaters—so far the best film of 2026!
