Crime 101 Early Buzz Hails Chris Hemsworth Thriller as the Ultimate Old-School Action Throwback

Early screenings of Crime 101 are rolling in, and the general vibe is catnip for anyone who misses when studio thrillers wore suits and smoked cigarettes. A few folks even tossed out the 'first great movie of the year' line. Big words for a heist flick with a very intentional 90s pulse.

The pitch

Chris Hemsworth plays an elusive thief who links up with a disillusioned insurance broker, played by Halle Berry, for one massive score. It is directed by Bart Layton, who went from true-crime documentaries to the stylish hybrid of American Animals and now into full-blooded neo-noir mode here. Think sun-faded Los Angeles, adult characters with actual jobs, and shootouts that sting because they mean something.

The vibe (and why critics are into it)

A lot of the praise zeroes in on the movie's throwback energy. Multiple reactions called it a love letter to Michael Mann-era crime stories, with a focus on character and craft over gadgetry. The cast keeps getting singled out: Berry and Mark Ruffalo draw MVP talk, and Barry Keoghan apparently sprints off with every scene he touches. Monica Barbaro also gets strong notices. The whole thing sounds engineered to scratch that Heat itch without pretending to be Heat.

'Crime 101 feels like a crime thriller ripped straight out of the early 90s and I mean that as the highest compliment.'

'Bart Layton’s CRIME 101 is a top-notch crime thriller of brooding style, thoughtful moralistic inquiries, and lively character work, a delicious throwback to the kind of intelligent, adult-oriented studio fare Hollywood used to make. Mark Ruffalo and Halle Berry are MVPs. See it.'

The quibbles

Not everyone is doing cartwheels. A few reactions say the movie takes its time getting in gear and juggles more story threads than it needs. One critic called it an homage to crime masters like Mann and Walter Hill, but felt the film trades their 'poetry' for a more no-nonsense, documentary-inflected approach. On the flip side, those same takes admit the movie pops every time Keoghan shows up and that the final act lands hard. Even the fans who rave about the 90s flavor admit it runs a bit long. Personally, I will take 'a bit long' over 'a bit empty' any day.

'Bart Layton’s #Crime101 is a love letter to Michael Mann’s character-driven crime thrillers Thief, Collateral & Heat... Barry Keoghan’s dirtbag on a dirt bike is unpredictable... Halle Berry’s all-timer monologue earns our applause. Monica Barbaro is radiant.'

Who is in this thing

• Chris Hemsworth as an elusive thief
• Halle Berry as a burned-out insurance broker drawn into the score
• Mark Ruffalo
• Barry Keoghan
• Monica Barbaro

Bottom line

Early word paints Crime 101 as a confident, grown-up heist thriller with a killer ensemble, heavy 90s DNA, and just enough swagger to feel fresh. If your sweet spot is grounded action and moral fog instead of wall-to-wall VFX, this looks aimed squarely at you.

Crime 101 opens in theaters on February 13, 2026.