Crime 101 (Crime 101) is a 2026 American-British crime thriller film directed by Bart Layton from a screenplay by Bart Layton, Peter Strawn, and Don Winslow. The film is set to be released in the United States on February 13, 2026.
With a rich cast and a theme of the "perfect crime," the film promises to put the viewer on the edge between hunter and victim, between criminal and law.
In the center is Davis (in the role Chris Hemsworth), a master thief who lives by a strict code called "„Crime 101“". He committed a series of jewelry thefts on the 101 Freeway in California that remained unsolved for a long time — the police attributed them to cartels, but Detective Lowe Lubesnik (Mark Ruffalo) does not believe this version.
As Davis prepares for his final and "biggest" hit, the lines between pursuer and pursued begin to blur. Meanwhile, insurance broker Sharon Colvin (Halle Berry) finds herself drawn into the game—whether of her own free will or forced?
The film traces the dynamics of crime, hunting, morality and consequences, when the "final blow" may also be the last chance for change.
Bart Layton, known for his unconventional approach to documentary-fiction, focuses on action, suspense, and a rollercoaster of moral choices. Set in Los Angeles, Highway 101 plays almost a hero role—with its line, traffic, nightlife, and architecture.
The camerawork is dynamic—fast movement, but also frequent montages of human faces, reactions, close-ups. The sound and light create a „low light, fast heart“ atmosphere: the hum of the engine, the sirens, the rattling of glass. The style is both the glamour of the criminal world and the harsh realism of the legal consequences—the film does not romanticize theft, but shows its cost.
„Crime 101“" looks like a modern, bold crime thriller that combines a star-studded cast, high concept, and visual suspense. If it delivers on its promise, the film could be one of the must-see titles of 2026 — not just for action fans, but also for those who enjoy suspenseful stories of intelligence, cunning, and morality.
Bart Layton seems to have gone for the "smart race movie" — heists, chases, but also the personalities behind their actions. We're looking forward to seeing if "„Crime 101“" will go beyond the title itself — and whether the criminal's code will prove stronger than the law.
