CRIME 101 (2026)

Genre: Crime/Thriller
Director: Bart Layton
Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Halle Berry, Monica Barbaro, Barry Keoghan, Nick Nolte, Devon Bostick, Corey Hawkins, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tate Donovan
Runtime: 2 hr 21 mins
Rating: NC16 (Coarse Language & Nudity)
Released By: Sony Pictures
Official Website: 

Opening Day: 26 February 2026

Synopsis: Set against the sun-bleached grit of Los Angeles, CRIME 101 is the story of three strangers, played by Chris Hemsworth, Halle Berry and Mark Ruffalo, all at a breaking point in their lives, and whose paths collide when a thrilling and high-stakes multimillion-dollar heist tempts them with the promise of a life-changing outcome. As the stakes rise, they are forced to confront the cost of their choices and the realization that there's no turning back. 

Movie Review:

Why does every thief in a Hollywood crime movie dress so impeccably, drive a fancy car, and live in a luxury apartment? It certainly doesn’t help the illusion when the thief happens to be played by the hunky Chris Hemsworth.

In Bart Layton’s Crime 101, Hemsworth plays the mysterious Mike, a jewel thief whose grooming habits are as meticulous as his well-planned heists on couriers transporting diamonds. He is cool, calm, and never resorts to violence.

Then there is Lou (Mark Ruffalo), a dishevelled detective investigating the latest diamond robbery and hardly the favourite among his colleagues. There is also Sharon (Halle Berry), a 53-year-old insurance broker who has long been denied a promotion by her boss. Lastly, there’s Ormon (Barry Keoghan), an unhinged motorcycle punk who is the exact opposite of Mike and has no qualms about shooting his victims during robberies.

How these four individuals come together is what makes Crime 101 such a fascinating watch. Layton, who adapted the material from the Crime 101 novella by Don Winslow, delivers on almost every front from the slick cast and on-location shoots in the seedier parts of LA, to the unpredictable storyline and pulsing music score. It is, admittedly, a slow burner, taking its time to mould its characters and narrative but it never turns banal.

Layton’s handling of the main characters is a major plus. Mike is, strictly speaking, a “ghost” — highly intelligent yet yearning for connection, which comes in the form of love interest Maya (Monica Barbaro). Lou’s career and marriage are both coming apart; he clashes with his boss and colleagues and is separating from his wife (Jennifer Jason Leigh in a cameo). Sharon may not get to kick ass, but she does manage to deliver a sharp lecture to her entitled white boss.

It goes without saying that a good movie deserves character development and well-rounded performances, and Crime 101 certainly benefits from both. It’s mesmerising watching these individuals go about their business so much so that you almost forget there is a major heist unfolding at the centre of it all. There are at least two compelling, erratic car chases across the LA cityscape and a final showdown that, frankly, could have been far more dynamic and polished.

Still, Crime 101 is more than a decent crime thriller. It evokes the works of legends like Michael Mann and John Frankenheimer and as mentioned in the movie itself, Steve McQueen.

Movie Rating:

(Crime 101 is stylish and slick -a pleasant surprise entry in the crime genre)

Review by Linus Tee