Thick as Thieves

Thick as Thieves

Year: 2009

Runtime: 104 mins

Language: English

Director: Mimi Leder

CrimeThrillerActionCrime

Never trust a thief. A master thief recruits a notorious counterpart to pull off an audacious heist, targeting two famous Faberge eggs hidden in an impenetrable vault. The job is their last chance to settle a debt with the Russian mob and secure their freedom.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Thick as Thieves (2009)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Thick as Thieves (2009). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Late 2000s

The film is set in contemporary times, reflecting the era’s security tech and police procedures. The outfits, cars, and urban atmosphere point to the late 2000s. This timeframe supports a brisk, modern heist narrative rather than a historical setting.

Location

New York City, Russian Museum (New York)

The story unfolds across New York City, a bustling backdrop where high-society events mingle with underground crime. The Russian Museum serves as a high-stakes setting, hosting a gala and concealing a vault filled with smuggled treasures. The city’s dense streets, security, and nightlife amplify the tension between trust and betrayal.

🗽 City 🏛 Museum 🕵️ Crime 🌆 Urban

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:15

Main Characters – Thick as Thieves (2009)

Meet the key characters of Thick as Thieves (2009), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Keith Ripley (Morgan Freeman)

An experienced thief who hatches one final score to pay off a debt to the Russian mafia. He masterminds the plan and recruits a younger partner, displaying a cool, calculating demeanor. Haunted by the death of his former partner Victor Korolenko, he navigates risk with a willingness to bend rules.

🗡️ Veteran thief 🧠 Mastermind 🔥 Risk-taker

Gabriel Martin / Michaels

A younger crook recruited to help with the heist; initially wary of Ripley, he is later revealed to be an undercover Miami cop planted by Weber. He uses his cover to gather information, and his loyalties shift as events unfold. The undercover reveal threatens the plan and puts Alexandra at risk.

🧑‍💼 Young thief 🕵️‍♂️ Undercover 🤝 Doubtful ally

Alexandra Korolenko

Goddaughter of Ripley and daughter of Victor Korolenko; she influences Ripley to pursue the plan and advocates for Martin. Her presence introduces romantic tension and moral complexity, challenging Ripley’s judgment. She demonstrates courage while navigating loyalties between family and love.

👩‍💼 Goddaughter ❤️ Romantic tension 🕊️ Loyal

Nicky Petrovitch / Victor Korolenko

A ruthless Russian mob boss who kidnaps Alexandra and pushes Ripley to steal two Fabergé eggs. He exerts manipulation and control through threats, driving the criminal operation forward. The revelation that Victor faked his death with Ripley’s help adds a further layer of duplicity.

🦂 Mob boss 🗡️ Ruthless 🧭 Deceptive

Lt. Weber

A police lieutenant with a personal vendetta against Ripley, he plants Martin as an undercover asset and uses the case to pursue his own agenda. His actions shape the plan’s progress and intensify the risk for everyone involved. His manipulation of both sides highlights the blurred lines between duty and vengeance.

🛡️ Cop with vendetta 🕵️‍♂️ Manipulator ⚖️ Authority

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:15

Major Themes – Thick as Thieves (2009)

Explore the central themes of Thick as Thieves (2009), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🎭 Deception

Masks and double lives drive the plot, with Ripley and Martin assuming roles to orchestrate the heist. The infiltration of the museum party hinges on misdirection and calculated lies. As loyalties clash, characters reveal hidden motives that reshape the plan.

💰 Greed

Money fuels the conflict between criminals and law enforcement, driving risk and manipulation. The Fabergé eggs symbolize wealth and smuggling, even as their true nature remains a mystery. Greed blurs moral lines and tests what characters are willing to sacrifice.

🔎 Undercover

The line between cop and thief is blurred when Martin is revealed to be an undercover Miami officer planted by Weber. Ripley’s scheme collides with police manipulation, forcing everyone to improvise under pressure. The reveal intensifies the cat-and-mouse dynamic and questions who is truly in control.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:15

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High-Stakes Heist Thrillers like Thick as Thieves

Movies about meticulous criminals pulling off an impossible job against a ticking clock.If you enjoyed the tense, high-pressure heist in Thick as Thieves, you'll find similar movies here. These stories feature criminals forced into one last, dangerous job to pay off a debt or secure their freedom, blending methodical planning with fast-paced, high-stakes action.

high-stakessuspensefulmethodicaltenseurgentgrittycriminal underworld

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern follows a team or individual forced by external circumstances—often a powerful criminal organization—to undertake a seemingly impossible theft. The story builds through careful planning, introduces tension through unforeseen complications, and culminates in a race against time where success means freedom and failure means death.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped together because they share a core focus on the mechanics and suspense of a high-stakes robbery. They feature a similar blend of gritty underworld settings, methodical procedural details, and a fast-paced, tense tone driven by the urgency of the character's predicament.

Movies about Criminal Partnerships like in Thick as Thieves

Stories of tense alliances between criminals who must trust each other to survive.For viewers who liked the dynamic between the master thief and his counterpart in Thick as Thieves, this section highlights films about tense criminal alliances. These movies explore partnerships under pressure, where trust is fragile and success depends on a shaky collaboration in a high-stakes environment.

uneasy allianceprofessional partnershipunder pressuretensecriminal dynamicstrust and betrayal

Narrative Summary

The narrative journey centers on the development of a professional, often reluctant, partnership. It begins with distrust and conflicting styles, is tested under the pressure of the job and external threats, and explores whether a genuine bond can form or if the alliance will inevitably fracture.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped by their shared focus on the complex relationship at the heart of the crime. The viewing experience is defined by the chemistry and conflict between the partners, the tension of their uneasy alliance, and the question of whether they will succeed together or fail alone.

Unlock the Full Story of Thick as Thieves

Don't stop at just watching — explore Thick as Thieves in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Thick as Thieves is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Thick as Thieves Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Thick as Thieves, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Thick as Thieves Summary

Thick as Thieves Timeline

Track the full timeline of Thick as Thieves with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Thick as Thieves Timeline

More About Thick as Thieves

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Thick as Thieves: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Thick as Thieves

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Discover movies like Thick as Thieves that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.