Thief (1981)

Crime Thriller Drama
→ Influenced 6 films ← Inspired by 5 films

Frank is an expert professional safecracker, specialized in high-profile diamond heists. He plans to use his ill-gotten income to retire from crime and build a nice life for himself complete with a home, wife and kids. To accelerate the process, he signs on with a top gangster for a big score.

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Connections

← Inspired By

Metropolis
Metropolis (1927)1
 M
M (1931)2
 The Castle of Cagliostro
The Castle of Cagliostro (1979)3
 The Third Man
The Third Man (1949)4
 Eraserhead
Eraserhead (1977)5

→ Influenced

Heat
Heat (1995)6
 Drive
Drive (2011)7
 The Dark Knight
The Dark Knight (2008)8
 Public Enemies
Public Enemies (2009)9
 The Town
The Town (2010)10
 Moneyball
Moneyball (2011)11

Sources

Influenced By

  1. Metropolis (1927)
    "Fritz Lang's "Metropolis" significantly influenced the visual design of "Thief II: The Metal Age." The game's lead artist, Mark Lizotte, captured over two thousand photographs during his European vacation, which served as the basis for many of the game's textures. The team also drew inspiration from the Art Deco themes of "Metropolis" to provide a "sort of a Batman feel," referencing the 1989 film." Thief II Wikipedia
  2. M (1931)
    "Another of Fritz Lang's films, "M," was cited as a major aesthetic influence on "Thief II." The development team regularly watched films pertinent to Garrett's character and the game's visual design, with "M" being one of the significant inspirations." Thief II Wikipedia
  3. The Castle of Cagliostro (1979)
    "This anime film was among those viewed by the "Thief II" development team to inspire the game's fiction and visual style. The team gathered to watch films pertinent to Garrett's character and the game's visual design, including "The Castle of Cagliostro."" Thief II Wikipedia
  4. The Third Man (1949)
    "The noir aesthetic of "The Third Man" influenced the atmosphere and visual design of "Thief II." The development team regularly watched films pertinent to Garrett's character and the game's visual design, with "The Third Man" being one of the significant inspirations." Thief II Wikipedia
  5. Eraserhead (1977)
    "David Lynch's "Eraserhead" influenced the unique cutscene style of "Thief II." The game's cutscenes feature multiple layers of artwork and footage of live actors filmed against a green screen, a technique developed as an evolution of designer Ken Levine's suggestion to use motion comic cutscenes." Thief II Wikipedia

Influenced

  1. Heat (1995)
    "Mann's first feature film, *Thief*, delves into the life of a professional criminal. The film's style and themes laid the groundwork for the narrative and aesthetic elements Mann would later explore in *Heat*." Heat Deep Focus Review
  2. Drive (2011)
    "Nicolas Winding Refn's *Drive* mirrors *Thief* in its neo-noir aesthetic, focusing on a solitary protagonist involved in criminal activities. The film's atmospheric visuals and synth-heavy soundtrack are reminiscent of the mood established in *Thief*." To Understand the Modern Crime Thriller, Watch Michael Mann’s Thief Bilge Ebiri Vulture
  3. The Dark Knight (2008)
    "Christopher Nolan drew inspiration from *Thief* and *Heat* for the portrayal of Gotham City and its criminal underworld. The film's opening bank heist and the intricate cat-and-mouse dynamics between Batman and the Joker reflect Mann's influence." Heat %281995 film%29 Wikipedia
  4. Public Enemies (2009)
    "Another Michael Mann film, *Public Enemies* continues the exploration of crime and law enforcement dynamics seen in *Thief*. The film's focus on the personal lives of criminals and its stylized depiction of historical events echo themes from Mann's earlier work." Public Enemies %282009 film%29 Wikipedia
  5. The Town (2010)
    "Directed by Ben Affleck, *The Town* shares thematic similarities with *Thief*, particularly in its portrayal of a professional thief seeking a way out of his criminal life. The film's detailed heist sequences and character development reflect Mann's influence." To Understand the Modern Crime Thriller, Watch Michael Mann’s Thief Bilge Ebiri Vulture
  6. Moneyball (2011)
    "Michael Mann's crime drama centers on a professional safecracker planning his final heist. Pitt referenced "Thief" as an example of films that explore the intricacies of a profession, drawing parallels to the analytical approach in "Moneyball."" Why Brad Pitt Was Willing to Go to Bat for ‘Moneyball’ - Fall Preview 2011 -- New York Magazine Mark Harris New York Magazine