“Thunderingly good”: 10 underrated heist dramas to watch now on BBC, ITV, Netflix and more

Let’s be honest, most people have at least imagined what it would take to rob a bank. It’s just a thought experiment, and you’d probably donate any money to a good cause like a children’s hospital or animal shelter, but you’ve likely considered how a heist might actually work.

These 10 dramas all put a fresh spin on the classic heist story. They typically feature clever, sometimes ethically questionable, characters who devise a plan to steal something valuable, assemble a quirky team of specialists, and then carry out the robbery.

Whether rooted in reality or pure imagination, these stories tap into our fascination with desire and acquisition. It’s not that we’re inherently greedy, but rather that we enjoy vicariously experiencing the thrill of taking – like browsing expensive items without intending to buy them, but for criminal acts.

So get your swag bags out and let’s see what we can swipe…

1. Frauds (ITVX)

Jodie Whittaker and Suranne Jones star as a pair of con artists plotting one final, massive heist. Suranne Jones’ character, Bert, has just been released after a decade in prison, while Jodie Whittaker’s Sam has been living a peaceful life away from it all. But with Bert facing a terminal illness, can she convince Sam to come out of retirement and steal a valuable Salvador Dalí painting from a Spanish museum?

Featuring two incredibly charming main actors and beautiful Spanish locations, Frauds is both a compelling thriller and a sharp exploration of a damaging female friendship.

2. Steal (Prime Video)

Sophie Turner plays Zara, an office worker who gets caught in the middle of a big robbery at her workplace. However, things aren’t what they appear, and Zara’s involvement might be deeper than it seems – she’s actually connected to the crime.

This fast-paced thriller dives into the dangerous intersection of high finance, cryptocurrency, and police corruption, offering a current and gripping story.

3. The Great Train Robbery (Channel 4)

While it feels wrong to glamorize such a messy crime that seriously injured a train driver, this detailed drama doesn’t hold back in showing exactly how Bruce Reynolds and his team stole £2.6 million from a train traveling between Glasgow and London in 1963. The first part of the story is told from the robbers’ side, and the second focuses on the police investigation.

Putting aside the ridiculous claims that this theft was some kind of political statement, it’s really a captivating story driven by strong acting from Luke Evans and Jim Broadbent.

4. Kaleidoscope (Netflix)

Looking for a unique story? Kaleidoscope follows a group of thieves over 24 years as they become caught up in a complex plot involving revenge, an FBI investigation, and the pursuit of $7 billion in stolen bonds.

What’s really cool about this game is you don’t have to play the episodes in order. It’s not one big story told straight through. Instead, it’s like eight different character’s stories, each showing things from their point of view at different times before the big heist. But the awesome part is they all lead to the same ending – it all comes together in the finale!

5. The Gold (BBC iPlayer)

This film is based on the real story of the 1983 Brink’s-Mat robbery at Heathrow Airport, and the long-lasting consequences that followed. Jack Lowden plays Kenneth Noye, the man who cleverly hid the stolen gold, with only half of it ever being recovered even today.

Over two seasons, The Gold expertly examines how greed leads to corruption. It’s a compelling story driven by determined police investigation, a detailed look at how money was potentially laundered, and a sharp portrayal of the distrust among criminals.

6. Lupin (Netflix)

Premiering in 2021, Lupin is a French series inspired by the classic stories of Arsène Lupin, a charming and skillful thief. The show follows his journey as he uses clever disguises and intricate schemes to get revenge for his father’s wrongful death.

Omar Sy plays a charming trickster who’s always several steps ahead, making it hard to follow his clever schemes.

7. Joan (ITVX)

Sophie Turner, known for her role in Game of Thrones, recently returned to television in a thrilling 2024 drama based on a true story. She plays Joan Hannington, a single mother and former car thief who takes a job at a jewelry store and then begins stealing diamonds – by swallowing them!

Honestly, we only really have Dorothy Harrington’s side of the story – she never faced any legal consequences – but it’s still a really captivating tale of someone going from having nothing to becoming incredibly wealthy, and it perfectly captures the over-the-top vibe of the 1980s. It’s just a wild ride!

8. Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist (ITVX)

The new film, Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist, dramatizes the real story of an armed robbery that happened at an afterparty following Muhammad Ali’s famous comeback fight in 1970. The movie features a well-known cast, including Samuel L. Jackson, Kevin Hart, Taraji P. Henson, and Don Cheadle.

Capturing the look and feel of the 1970s – with its big hairstyles and wide suit collars – would almost require a comedic approach, and this eight-episode series delivers just that.

Kevin Hart plays Gordon Williams, nicknamed ‘Chicken Man,’ a local Atlanta guy with big ambitions. He dreams of transforming his city into a Black version of Las Vegas, but his plans fall apart when he’s betrayed, and everything – even the city’s future – is thrown into chaos. It’s a role that perfectly suits Hart’s comedic talents.

9. Hustle (BBC iPlayer)

This BBC show, which aired from 2004 to 2012, gained a dedicated following because of its consistently enjoyable format. It stars Adrian Lester as the head of a team of brilliant con artists who pull off a new scam each week, but only target dishonest people.

Despite being made with a more modest budget than many shows on this list, it’s the cleverness and genuine enjoyment of pulling off a great scam that truly makes it special.

10. Money Heist (Netflix)

This popular show, brought to viewers by Netflix, won an Emmy for Best Drama Series in 2018.

A diverse group of robbers in Madrid, each using a city name as a code name for secrecy and inspired by films like those of Quentin Tarantino, pull off daring and ambitious heists. Their targets include a massive multi-billion Euro theft from the Royal Mint of Spain and a heist involving gold from the national bank.

Okay, so trying to figure out how Netflix breaks up Money Heist is kinda confusing. They call it three seasons, or five parts, or even 41 episodes – honestly, it’s a mess! And it doesn’t stop there. They also made a Korean version called Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area, and now there’s a sequel focusing on the character Berlin, called Money Heist: Berlin. It’s a whole universe of heists now!

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2026-03-16 11:22