Thief (1981): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Thief is a 1981 action thriller directed by Michael Mann, starring James Caan and Tuesday Weld. It runs 2 hours 2 minutes and earned $11.5 million worldwide. It was nominated for 1 Oscar. Critics gave it 78 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 2m (122 min)
- Director
- Michael Mann
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- United Artists
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Thief About?
The premise of Thief without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A ruthless Russian gangster takes three young men under his wing, offering them a shortcut to wealth and influence within the criminal underworld. As they become increasingly involved in a world of violence and deceit, they discover the dark and dangerous reality behind their promises and face the consequences of their choices.
Thief Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- thief
- one last job
- bus
- fully clothed sex
- ethnic slur
- life of crime
- male protagonist
- theft
- murder victim
- crime victim
- envelope of money
- safecracking
+38 more Show fewer
- man wears eyeglasses
- woman wears eyeglasses
- lying on a bed
- man in a bed
- n word
- adopting a child
- thermal lance
- playing
- character repeats someone else's dialogue
- car
- u.s. car
- cadillac eldorado
- chevrolet corvette
- pontiac grand am
- criminal underworld
- united states of america
- safe cracking tool
- jewel thief
- police scanner
- jewel heist
- fencing stolen jewelry
- stolen diamonds
- chicago outfit
- letter from prison
- former cell mate
- criminal fence
- police surveillance
- payphone
- planning a heist
- facial scar
- adoption application
- corrupt police detective
- hospital visit
- dying friend
- loss of a friend
- adopting a baby
- pulled over by the police
- arrest
Thief Cast
James Caan leads the cast, with Tuesday Weld. Directed by Michael Mann.
-
Director Michael Mann
Thief Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Thief 78 on Metacritic.
-
Metacritic 78 Metascore
User score 7.5
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 72% User score
See on TMDB
Thief Plot Summary
What happens in Thief from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Frank, portrayed by James Caan, is a seasoned jewel thief with a well-structured life shaped by his past as a hardened ex-convict. He operates his lucrative criminal activities under the guise of legitimate businesses—a bar and a car dealership in Chicago. However, beneath this veneer of normalcy lies his yearning for something more profound—a family. This aspiration begins to materialize with his romance with Jessie, played by Tuesday Weld, a charming cashier he has recently started dating.
Full summary
The whole story of Thief, scene by scene
Thief Box Office
Thief grossed $11.5 million worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$11.5M
- US & Canada
- $11.5M
Thief Awards & Nominations
Thief was nominated for 1 Oscar.
1 nomination1 ceremony
-
Oscars 1998 1 nomination- Nominated Foreign Language Film
Thief Trailers & Videos
6 videos: 2 trailers, 1 clip, 2 featurettes and 1 behind-the-scenes video.
- Trailer Thief (1981) ORIGINAL TRAILER
- Clip The First Heist
- Featurette Three Reasons
- Featurette The Arrow Video Story
How Well Do You Know Thief?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who plays the lead role of Frank in 'Thief'?
Cars in Thief
27 cars on screen, including the 1980 Cadillac Eldorado and the 1977 Chevrolet Corvette C3.
-
1980 Cadillac Eldorado Main role -
1977 Chevrolet Corvette C3 Important role -
1974 Pontiac Grand Am Important role -
1980 Buick Regal Minor role
Thief Also Known As
31 alternative titles, including “Violent Streets” and “Suurkaupungin lait”.
- Also known as
-
- Violent Streets
- Suurkaupungin lait
- Thief - Der Einzelgänger
- Lladre
- Violent Streets - Der Einzelgänger
- 도둑
- 비정의 거리
- Ladrón
- Der Einzelgänger
- Strade violente
- Le Solitaire
- Hırsız
+19 more Show fewer
- 大盗独行
- Η λεωφόρος της βίας
- גנב
- Az erőszak utcái
- Profissão - Ladrão
- Złodziej
- O Ladrão Profissional
- Vagis
- Вор
- Крадец
- Злодій
- Zloděj
- Suurkaupungin hait
- دزد
- Hoțul
- Gatans lag
- Voldens gade
- 大盜
- Kẻ Trộm
Seen Thief?
Movies Like Thief
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Thick as Thieves, Thieves and Thieves.
Thief FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Thief, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Thief?
Thief runs 2 hours 2 minutes (122 minutes).
When was Thief released?
Thief was released on March 27, 1981.
Who directed Thief?
Thief was directed by Michael Mann.
More films by Michael Mann Who is in the cast of Thief?
Thief stars James Caan and Tuesday Weld.
How much did Thief make at the box office?
Thief grossed $11.5 million worldwide.
How is Thief rated?
Thief has 78 on Metacritic and 72% on TMDB.
Was Thief nominated for any awards?
Thief received 1 nomination across 1 ceremony.
Does Thief have a post-credit scene?
No. Thief has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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