Crime 101: a Los Angeles heist with an ensemble cast
Amazon MGM Studios’ Crime 101 is a high-stakes heist thriller directed by Bart Layton (The Imposter) and adapted from a Don Winslow novella. The film centers on Mike Davis (Chris Hemsworth), an elusive thief whose elaborate robberies revolve around the 101 Freeway. What he intends to be his final, multimillion-dollar score instead pulls him into the sights of Detective Lou Lubesnick, played by Mark Ruffalo. Rounding out the cast are Barry Keoghan, Corey Hawkins, Monica Barbaro, Nick Nolte, and Jennifer Jason Leigh.
Hemsworth serves as a producer on the project. The screenplay credits go to Bart Layton and Peter Straughan; producers include Derrin Schlesinger, Eric Fellner, Shane Salerno, Tim Bevan, Ben Grayson, Dimitri Doganis, and Chris Hemsworth. Crime 101 opened in theaters on February 13, 2026, with a runtime of 140 minutes.
Why Hemsworth and Berry were drawn to the script
In a conversation with Collider’s Steve Weintraub, both Hemsworth and Academy Award winner Halle Berry explained what made the material stand out among the many scripts they read.
Berry described Crime 101 as “one of the best things I’ve read in a very, very long time.” She said the characters leapt off the page and that she appreciated how the film explores moral ambiguity—how characters wrestle with questions of right and wrong, identity, and where they belong. Berry also noted the satisfaction of the story’s conclusion and that working alongside Hemsworth and Ruffalo made the project an easy yes.
Hemsworth echoed Berry’s praise, pointing to the film’s rare combination of cinematic spectacle and emotional complexity. He said Crime 101 offers big-screen action and intensity while leaving space for character-driven ambiguity—posing questions about value, identity, and the systems people fight against without forcing tidy answers.
Los Angeles as a character: the decision to shoot on location
A recurring theme in the interview was the movie’s relationship to Los Angeles. Layton and the filmmakers insisted that L.A. be more than a backdrop—its neighborhoods, glitz, and underbelly are integral to the story.
Hemsworth recounted the production debate over locations. He initially pushed to shoot in Australia (where he lives), but the director was adamant: “L.A. is a character.” Hemsworth acknowledged that filming in Los Angeles was more expensive and that there were last-minute conversations about whether to relocate production, but ultimately they stayed in L.A. He said the city reveals both glamour and its tragic corners—highlighting the distance between the haves and have-nots and amplifying themes of status, identity, and materialism.
Berry, who lives in Los Angeles, added a personal note: for “selfish reasons” she wanted the production to film there because it’s where her family is. Both actors agreed that shooting in L.A. added a specific heartbeat and nostalgia to the film that would have been difficult to recreate elsewhere.
The films that shaped them: Nolan, Spielberg, Scorsese, Kubrick
Weintraub asked Hemsworth and Berry to name influential favorites from four major directors. Their answers reveal the movies that left lasting impressions and, in some cases, specific moments or emotions they carry with them.
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Christopher Nolan: Both actors singled out Inception. Hemsworth said Nolan’s work—Memento, The Prestige, Inception—made him take notice of the director’s craftsmanship; Inception, he said, prompted him to ask, “Who is this guy?” Berry also chose Inception, recalling where she was when she first saw it and how it stayed with her.
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Steven Spielberg: Responses varied but underscored Spielberg’s emotional reach. Hemsworth named Jurassic Park and Saving Private Ryan. Berry cited E.T. for opening her eyes to a larger, living universe and also mentioned how Schindler’s List and Jaws had profound, formative effects on her.
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Martin Scorsese: Both Hemsworth and Berry agreed on Goodfellas as their favorite Scorsese film.
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Stanley Kubrick: Each picked A Clockwork Orange, with Berry calling it her favorite and Hemsworth concurring.
Hemsworth admitted the line of questioning felt increasingly difficult—“These are the most difficult questions”—but the pair’s selections reveal a shared appreciation for films that combine technical ambition with emotional or moral complexity.
What audiences can expect
Crime 101 promises a blend of high-concept heist action and character-driven drama set against the textures of Los Angeles. The film’s tonal ambitions—spectacle mixed with moral ambiguity—are reflected in the cast’s attraction to layered material and a director intent on preserving setting as a narrative force.
Credits and release
- Title: Crime 101
- Director: Bart Layton
- Writers: Bart Layton, Peter Straughan
- Producers: Derrin Schlesinger, Eric Fellner, Shane Salerno, Tim Bevan, Chris Hemsworth, Ben Grayson, Dimitri Doganis, Bart Layton
- Principal cast: Chris Hemsworth (Mike Davis), Mark Ruffalo (Detective Lou Lubesnick), Halle Berry, Barry Keoghan, Corey Hawkins, Monica Barbaro, Nick Nolte, Jennifer Jason Leigh
- Runtime: 140 minutes
- Release date: February 13, 2026
Crime 101 is currently in theaters.