Heist movies filled with adrenaline and excitement have captivated audiences, often focusing on daring car thefts or bank heists that showcase glittering gold bars and stacks of cash in secure vaults. A less common but equally thrilling subgenre is the art heist film, where cunning thieves expertly bypass intricate security systems to steal invaluable artworks. Recently released, ‘Ocean’s 8’ is a female-led addition to the ‘Ocean’s 11’ series, centering on a meticulously planned jewelry heist set in New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. The location allows for cameos by several well-known masterpieces.
Gary Ross, director and co-writer of ‘Ocean’s 8’, expressed excitement about filming at the Met over ten days. He stated in an interview, “To be able to shoot in the Met every day, and everywhere you look… I mean, there’s a Cézanne there, there’s a Miró there, it’s like, ‘oh, I’m pointing at a van Gogh.’ I got a shot of one of my favorite paintings ever, a Winslow Homer.” This setting brings classic art into a pop culture context, offering viewers the chance to see famous works alongside iconic actors like Audrey Hepburn and Pierce Brosnan.
While art enthusiasts enjoy spotting beloved artworks in such films, they might also notice creative liberties are often taken: iconic paintings are stolen from museums that never owned them, fictional museums are created, and forgeries use materials inappropriate for their supposed era. Despite these inaccuracies, films like ‘Ocean’s 8’ deliver a unique blend of art and entertainment, as seen in its impressive lineup of art and museum heist movies.
‘How to Steal a Million’ (1966) features Audrey Hepburn in a comedic role, teaming up with Peter O’Toole to steal a forged sculpture from a Paris museum. ‘Hudson Hawk’ (1991) sees Bruce Willis as a burglar coerced into stealing works by Leonardo da Vinci. ‘Bean’ (1997) involves Mr. Bean’s chaotic escort of ‘Whistler’s Mother’ from London to Los Angeles, while ‘The Thomas Crown Affair’ (1999) has Pierce Brosnan plotting to steal a Monet from the Met. Other films like ‘Entrapment’ (1999), ‘The Maiden Heist’ (2009), and ‘Trance’ (2013) contribute to this rich cinematic tradition with their own unique heist narratives.
‘Ocean’s 8’ stands out in the heist genre with its all-female ensemble plotting the theft of a valuable jewel during the Met Gala, creating a thrilling narrative that allows art lovers to root for the protagonists without compromising the Met’s collection. The film is currently screening in theaters across the United States.
