Following several glowing first reactions to MCU star Chris Hemsworth’s new action thriller, Crime 101, the praise (largely) continues as more early reactions to the heist flick emerge. Praised by initial responses as “the first great movie of the year,” these latest takes heap praise on the “killer cast,” which includes Hemsworth alongside fellow MCU actor Mark Ruffalo and Oscar-winner Halle Berry, while commending the movie’s 90s throwback approach.
Critic Scott Menzel paid Crime 101 the “highest compliment” when likening the action crime thriller to something “ripped straight out of the early 90s.”
Crime 101 feels like a crime thriller ripped straight out of the early 90s and I mean that as the highest compliment. The entire cast is excellent, carrying that old-school charm and energy that took me right back to watching movies like this with my mom and dad. While it’s a bit too long, Crime 101 is a reminder that engaging action thrillers don’t need wall-to-wall visual effects to work. A really great time at the movies.
Similarly, Courtney Howard hailed Crime 101 as a love letter to Michael Mann and his crime thriller classics Heat, Collateral, and the criminally underrated Thief, as well as highlighting the standout performances from Oscar-nominee Barry Keoghan and Hollywood icon Halle Berry.
Bart Layton’s #Crime101 is a love letter to Michael Mann’s character-driven crime thrillers Thief, Collateral & Heat. Mark Rufallo’s fantastic. Barry Keoghan’s dirtbag on a dirt bike is unpredictable. @halleberry’s all-timer monologue earns our applause. Monica Barbaro is radiant
What Are Other Critics Saying About ‘Crime 101’?
However, unlike the previous reactions, a few negatives have started to creep through. While critic Jonathan Sim also appreciated the lean towards old-school 90s flare, Crime 101 “takes far too long to become interesting. Too many storylines that all feel pedestrian.” But there were some serious positives, with the movie roaring “to life every time Barry Keoghan’s unhinged character arrives on screen. An excellent final act.”
Bill Bria echoed several of these sentiments, saying, “#Crime101 pays homage to the works of crime poets Mann & Hill, but without the poetry. Instead, Bart Layton brings his documentary background to bear on a no-nonsense tale of middle age ennui, where the job is less about wealth & more about escaping life’s failures. Killer cast!”
But we shall end things on a more upbeat note, with Dustin Putman hailing Crime 101 as “a top-notch crime thriller” the kind of which Hollywood “used to make.”
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.
Directed by Bart Layton (American Animals, The Imposter), Crime 101 stars Chris Hemsworth as an elusive thief who teams up with a disillusioned insurance broker (Berry) for the score of a lifetime. Crime 101 is due to hit theaters on February 13, 2026.
- Release Date
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February 13, 2026
- Runtime
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140 Minutes
- Director
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Bart Layton
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
