Crime 101

Set against the sun-bleached grit of Los Angeles, Crime 101 follows an elusive jewel thief, Davis, whose carefully planned heists along the 101 freeway have kept police guessing. When one final, high-stakes score comes into view, his path collides with Sharon, a disillusioned insurance broker facing a difficult crossroads of her own, and Lou, a relentless detective closing in on the case. As the operation grows more dangerous, the pursuit turns into a tense game of cat and mouse in which every character is forced to question loyalty, risk, and survival. Adapted from Don Winslow's novella and directed by Bart Layton, the film blends crime drama, mystery, and thriller elements into a sleek, LA-set heist story.

Crime 101 has been received as a generally favorable thriller, with critics praising its atmosphere, performances, and controlled momentum. Rotten Tomatoes reports an 88% Tomatometer from 178 reviews and an 85% Popcornmeter from verified audience ratings, suggesting broad appeal with both critics and viewers. Metacritic gives it a 68/100 based on 37 critic reviews, which falls in the “generally favorable” range; its user score is 6.9/10. Reviewers have highlighted Chris Hemsworth's charismatic turn, the strong ensemble, and Bart Layton's confident direction. RogerEbert.com called it a special film with unusual emotional force, while Collider described it as a fun, thrilling ride despite some familiar crime-story elements. Some criticism has focused on the film's familiar beats and occasional stretches in pacing, but the overall response points to a stylish, well-acted heist thriller that mostly delivers on its promise.