Chris Hemsworth’s New Action Thriller ‘Crime 101’ Hailed as “The First Great Movie of 2026”
MCU and Extraction star Chris Hemsworth is back in action in Crime 101, with the first reactions hailing the crime thriller as the first great movie of the year. Led by an all-star cast that includes Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Barry Keoghan, and Halle Berry, reactions following the movie’s debut liken it to several genre classics, including Heat and Collateral, suggesting that Crime 101 will join them in the pantheon of the all-time greats.
JoBlo declares Crime 101 “the first GREAT film of 2026,” and praises Amazon’s decision to release it in theaters rather than going straight to streaming.
#Crime101 is the first GREAT film of 2026. @AmazonMGMStudio was smart by releasing this into theaters and not to streaming. STACKED cast. The film is suspenseful throughout with a VERY satisfying ending. You NEED to see.
Echoing these sentiments, Erik Davis hypes up the sheer level of action on display in Crime 101, and backs up director Bart Layton’s recent promise that it’s the kind of movie Hollywood doesn’t often make anymore.
I’m a BIG fan of CRIME 101 — it’s the kind of classy heist thriller we don’t see much of these days. Think OUT OF SIGHT or Michael Mann’s THIEF, or even HEAT. Slickly made and well cast, it’s got explosive action moments, but it’s also about getting older, putting in the work and fighting for what you’ve earned. Definitely an early 2026 favorite – well done all around!
‘Crime 101’ Is “An Old Fashioned Winner!”
Davis (Chris Hemsworth) and Sharon (Halle Berry) in Crime 101Merrick Morton
Further reactions continue to heap glowing praise on Crime 101, with Don Winslow, the author behind the novella on which Crime 101 is based, loving the adaptation of his work, saying, “If you love movies like HEAT, THE TOWN, THE DEPARTED and COLLATERAL you’re going to love CRIME 101.” While Matt Neglia had a few issues with the movie, calling it “rocky at first,” he was ultimately enamored with the heist tale, calling it “A cool, mid-budget crowd-pleaser made for the dads.”
Finally, Tom Chatalbash loved Crime 101’s old-school sensibilities and once again likened it to two of Michael Mann’s crime thriller classics.
CRIME 101 is a rock-solid crime thriller. It’s slickly crafted, tightly written, and filled to the brim with compelling characters and a moody, immersive LA atmosphere. Think Heat combined with Drive with a dash of Collateral and you’ve got yourself an old fashioned winner!
Directed by Bart Layton (American Animals, The Imposter), Crime 101 is due to hit theaters on February 13, 2026. In the meantime, you can check out the official synopsis for the action crime thriller below…
Set against the sun-bleached grit of Los Angeles, Crime 101 weaves the tale of an elusive thief (Chris Hemsworth) whose high-stakes heists unfolding along the iconic 101 freeway have mystified police. When he eyes the score of a lifetime with hopes of this being his final job, his path collides with a disillusioned insurance broker (Halle Berry) who is facing her own crossroads, forcing the two to collaborate.
Determined to crack the case, a relentless detective (Mark Ruffalo) closes in on the operation, raising the stakes even higher. As the multimillion-dollar heist approaches, the line between hunter and hunted begins to blur, and all three are forced to confront the cost of their choices–and the realization that there’s no turning back.
Release Date
February 13, 2026
Runtime
140 Minutes
Director
Bart Layton
