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Honest Thief
Honest Thief
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Honest Thief
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMark Williams
Written by
Produced by
  • Mark Williams
  • Myles Nestel
  • Tai Duncan
  • Craig Chapman
Starring
CinematographyShelly Johnson
Edited byMichael Shawver
Music byMark Isham[1]
Production
companies
  • The Solution Entertainment Group
  • Zero Gravity Management
  • Samuel Marshall Films
  • Ingenious Media
Distributed by
Release date
  • October 16, 2020 (2020-10-16)
Running time
99 minutes[2]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$30 million[3]
Box office$32.6 million[4][5]

Honest Thief is a 2020 American action thriller film[6] directed by Mark Williams, from a screenplay by Williams and Steve Allrich. The film stars Liam Neeson, Kate Walsh, Jai Courtney, Jeffrey Donovan, Anthony Ramos and Robert Patrick, and follows a former bank robber (Liam Neeson) who decides to turn himself in to the FBI, only to be set up by corrupt agents.

Honest Thief was theatrically released, including in IMAX, in the United States on October 16, 2020, by Open Road Films and Briarcliff Entertainment. The film received mixed reviews from critics, who praised Neeson's performance, but noted the film's familiarity.[7][8]

Plot

[edit]

Tom Dolan is a former US Marine demolitions expert. After years of service, Tom decides to use his knowledge and skills to become a bank robber. He successfully robs a string of banks, and becomes known to the public as the "In-and-Out Bandit". One day, while he is storing stolen money in a storage unit, he meets Annie Wilkins, a psychology graduate student employed by the storage facility. Unaware that the money is stolen, Annie helps him store the money, and the two of them hit it off and are soon inseparable.

A year later, Tom, wanting to live a life with Annie without the guilt of his past, calls the FBI and offers to surrender himself and the ill-gotten money to the government in exchange for a much more lenient sentence. FBI special agent Sam Baker agrees to meet with him the next day. However, tied up with other business, Baker assigns the case to lower-ranking agents John Nivens and Ramon Hall.

Nivens and Hall meet with Tom to take his statement, and Tom reveals the location of the stolen money, in the storage unit he had rented. The agents visit the storage unit, realize he was telling the truth, and decide to keep the money for themselves. They go back to the hotel to kill off Tom, but Tom reveals that they only have three million dollars, not nine. At this point, Agent Baker arrives at Tom’s hotel room. Nivens shoots and kills Baker with a 9mm, then points the gun at Tom, who charges at him. Tom and Nivens fall through the hotel window and land in front of Annie, who is on her way to visit Tom.

Tom and Annie drive away; Nivens and Hall keep shooting at them, and they barely escape safely. Tom then confesses to Annie that he had turned to bank robbery as revenge for his father's CEO's unfair treatment of him. (Tom’s father had become depressed after the death of Tom’s mother, and had later committed suicide.) Tom explains that once he’d started robbing banks he kept doing it because it was exhilarating. He advises Annie to board a bus to keep herself safe, which she does. However, unbeknownst to Tom, Annie gets off the bus near Tom’s storage unit, planning to pick up the storage unit's security-footage card. While she is at the storage unit, Nivens and Hall arrive; they too have come to pick up the security-footage card, to cover their tracks. Nivens knocks Annie unconscious and he and Hall leave. Tom soon finds her and rushes her to the hospital. When Baker's partner, Sean Meyers, attempts to arrest Tom, Tom explains everything and then escapes, managing to evade capture by Meyers. Driven by angst and suspicion, Meyers begins to notice discrepancies in Nivens' story.

Tom goes to Hall’s home, ambushes him there, gets him to reveal the location of the safe house, and gets the security-footage card from him. Hall warns Tom to get Annie out of the hospital before Nivens kills her, which he does. Tom then asks Annie for her help in getting the security-footage card to Meyers. Meanwhile, Nivens barely escapes a bomb planted to destroy his home, and makes his way to the safe house, expecting to find Hall there alone. To his surprise, Tom is also waiting for him there. When Nivens learns that Tom had already gotten the security-footage card from Hall and had arranged for it to be turned in to Meyers, he flies into a rage and murders Hall. Tom struggles with Nivens and is wounded, but manages to fight him off. Nivens takes the money and gets into his car to drive away. But Tom calls Nivens and tells him he can’t leave his car because there is a pressure-sensitive IED under his car seat. Nivens is forced to call the bomb squad and wait for them in his car. Meyers quickly arrives to apprehend Nivens; his car is searched; the stolen money is recovered; and it’s revealed that the IED is a dud.

Annie gives Meyers the rest of the stolen money (hidden in another storage unit) as well as Hall’s voice recording of Tom's confrontation with Nivens, in which Nivens admits to murdering both Baker and Hall.

Knowing that he must take responsibility for the bank robberies and for stealing the nine million dollars, Tom confesses and turns himself in. Meyers recognizes Tom’s integrity, admires his dedication, and gives him credit for exposing Nivens' illegal activities. He promises that he will do what he can to lessen Tom’s sentence, and muses that, under different circumstances, Tom would have made a terrific FBI agent.

Cast

[edit]

Production

[edit]

On October 12, 2018, it was announced that Liam Neeson and Kate Walsh would star in the thriller film Honest Thief, as bank robber Tom and his love interest Annie, respectively, with Mark Williams directing. Jai Courtney and Jeffrey Donovan were also in talks for roles, with Tai Duncan, Myles Nestel, Williams, and Craig Chapman producing the film.[9] Courtney and Donovan were later confirmed along with Anthony Ramos, and Robert Patrick added to the cast in November, with filming set to begin on November 5.[10][11] The film was set in Boston, and shot in and around Worcester, Massachusetts.[12]

Release

[edit]

In January 2020, Briarcliff Entertainment acquired distribution rights to the film and set it for a September 4, 2020 release.[13] It was then rescheduled to be released on October 9, 2020.[14] In June 2020, it was announced Open Road Films would co-distribute the film with Briarcliff.[15] After temporarily being pulled from the schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the film's ultimate U.S. release date was October 16, 2020.[16] Due to the lack of big-budget competition, the film also played in IMAX and Dolby theaters.[17][18]

Reception

[edit]

Box office

[edit]

Honest Thief grossed $14.2 million in the United States and Canada, and $18.4 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $32.6 million.[4][5]

In the United States, the film grossed $1.3 million from 2,425 theaters on its first day, including $225,000 from Thursday night preview screenings. It went on to debut to $3.6 million, or $4.1 million including Canada's opening weekend the previous week, topping the box office.[17] In its second weekend the film made $2.4 million, remaining in first,[19] before being dethroned by newcomer Come Play in its third weekend.[20]

Critical response

[edit]

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, Honest Thief holds an approval rating of 41% based on 111 reviews, with an average score of 5/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "Guilty of first-degree squandering, Honest Thief returns Liam Neeson to late-period action thriller mode but neglects to supply much of a story."[21] On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 46 out of 100, based on 21 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[22] According to PostTrak, 75% of audience members gave the film a positive score, with 53% saying they would definitely recommend it.[17]

Owen Gleiberman of Variety complimented Neeson for not phoning in his performance, but added, "Honest Thief isn't incompetent (for a certain kind of pulp action fan, it delivers just enough of the goods), but it's a textbook case of an action movie that goes through the motions."[23] Frank Scheck for The Hollywood Reporter said the film "delivers exactly what you expect" and wrote, "Running a sleek 90 minutes before the credits roll, Honest Thief is certainly efficient if not exactly original, with writer/director Williams infusing it with enough quirky character touches — such as Tom crankily complaining how much he hates his 'In and Out Bandit' moniker — to distract from the derivative feeling of it all."[24]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Honest Thief is a 2020 American action directed by Mark Williams from a screenplay co-written by Williams and Steve Allrich. The film stars as Tom Carter, a meticulous robber known as the "In and Out Bandit" who has stolen $9 million from small-town banks across the while maintaining his . Seeking to start an honest life after , Carter decides to turn himself in to the FBI and return the stolen money, but he is betrayed by two corrupt agents who attempt to seize the cash for themselves, forcing him to fight back using his skills as a former Marine expert. Supporting roles are played by Kate Walsh as Carter's girlfriend Annie, as FBI agent Sean Meyers, and as agent Sam Baker. The film was distributed by and Briarcliff Entertainment, with taking place in the Boston area, , in late 2018. It premiered in select theaters and on in the United States on October 16, 2020, amid the , which limited its theatrical run. Honest Thief grossed $14.2 million at the domestic and an additional $17.1 million internationally against a $30 million budget, for a worldwide total of $31.3 million. Critically, the film received mixed reviews, with a 41% approval rating on based on 111 reviews, where the critics' consensus noted, "Guilty of first-degree squandering, Honest Thief returns to late-period action thriller mode but neglects to supply much of a story." On , it holds a score of 46 out of 100, indicating "mixed or average" reception. Audiences were more favorable, giving it an 87% approval rating on and a 6.0 out of 10 average on from over 62,000 user ratings.

Narrative Elements

Plot

Tom Dolan, a skilled and non-violent bank robber known as the "In-and-Out Bandit," has successfully stolen $9 million from 12 small-town banks across seven states over eight years, always escaping without detection or harm to others. Tom's robberies were motivated by revenge for his father's suicide, caused by a bank's wrongful foreclosure on their home due to a false fraud accusation. Motivated by his newfound love for Annie Wilkins, a kind-hearted woman he meets while renting a storage unit, Tom decides to confess his crimes and return the stolen money in exchange for a reduced prison sentence, seeking redemption and a fresh start together. To facilitate his surrender, Tom contacts the FBI directly by phone, providing proof of his identity and the locations of the hidden cash. The meeting is arranged with Sam Baker, but the case draws the attention of two corrupt agents, John Nivens and Ramon Hall, who view the situation as an opportunity for personal gain rather than justice. Instead of honoring the deal, Nivens and Hall Baker during a meeting and frame Tom for the killing, igniting a desperate pursuit to seize the money for themselves. As the agents close in, Tom races to protect Annie, who is shot in the head by Nivens while retrieving at the storage unit and ends up hospitalized in critical condition. Tom confronts the agents at one of his storage units in a tense standoff, revealing his over his criminal past and his determination to trust in the system one last time for Annie's sake and his own redemption. The narrative builds to a high-stakes showdown, underscoring themes of , , and the possibility of through Tom's unyielding fight against .

Cast

Liam Neeson as Tom Dolan
Liam Neeson stars as Tom Dolan, a reformed professional bank robber nicknamed the "In-and-Out Bandit" due to his efficient heists, who seeks to make amends for his past crimes after finding love. A former Marine and demolitions expert, Dolan's character embodies a quest for redemption while leveraging his skills in tense confrontations. Neeson, who has built a career in late-career action thrillers like the Taken franchise and The Grey, delivers a performance that highlights the protagonist's internal conflict and physical prowess.
Kate Walsh as Annie Wilkins
Kate Walsh portrays Annie Wilkins, Tom Dolan's love interest and emotional anchor, a storage facility manager whose relationship with Dolan provides him stability and motivation to change his life. Wilkins represents a grounding influence amid the film's high-stakes drama, offering moments of tenderness that contrast the action elements.
Jai Courtney as Special Agent John Nivens
plays Special Agent John Nivens, an ambitious and corrupt FBI agent serving as the primary , whose drive for personal gain propels much of the story's conflict. Nivens' role underscores themes of institutional , with Courtney drawing on his experience in antagonistic parts from films like .
Jeffrey Donovan as Special Agent Sean Meyers
appears as Special Agent Sean Meyers, the seasoned FBI supervisor overseeing the investigation into Dolan, whose personal struggles add depth to his authoritative presence. Meyers functions as a more principled within the bureau, navigating professional duties alongside family issues.
Robert Patrick as Special Agent Sam Baker
portrays Special Agent Sam Baker, an honest FBI agent who is killed by Nivens early in the plot, sparking the central conflict. Known for tough roles in films like , Patrick brings intensity to Baker's straightforward integrity.
Anthony Ramos as Special Agent Ramon Hall
plays Special Agent Ramon Hall, a younger FBI agent drawn into the corrupt plot by his superiors, highlighting the vulnerabilities of junior officers in a flawed system. Hall's role adds layers to the ensemble, showcasing Ramos' transition from Broadway and musical films like to thriller territory. Notably, Hall's wife Beth is played by Ramos' real-life fiancée, .

Production

Development

The screenplay for Honest Thief was co-written by Mark Williams and Steve Allrich, with the story credited to Allrich and Williams. The script originated as an original concept exploring redemption in the crime thriller genre, initially developed under Solution Entertainment Group. Mark Williams was attached as director in 2018, marking his second feature film after A Family Man (2016) and drawing on his expertise from co-creating the Netflix series Ozark, where he honed skills in tense, character-focused storytelling within action-oriented narratives. The production had an estimated budget of $30 million and was financed by Solution Entertainment Group, , and Zero Gravity Management. Key creative decisions emphasized character-driven action sequences over large-scale spectacle, with script revisions incorporating Liam Neeson's suggestions to heighten the protagonist's emotional vulnerability and quest for . Neeson's involvement early in development helped shape the film's intimate tone centered on personal redemption.

Casting

Liam Neeson was cast as the lead thief, Tom Carter, in October 2018, selected for his established reputation in action thrillers following successes like the Taken series. On October 12, 2018, Kate Walsh joined the production as Carter’s love interest, Annie Wilkins, with her casting emphasizing the need for strong romantic dynamics in the narrative. The ensemble expanded rapidly in November 2018, as was announced on November 1 to play a supporting role, bringing diversity and fresh energy from his breakout performance in Hamilton. Shortly before filming commenced, and were added on November 26 to portray the corrupt FBI agents, chosen for their prior work in high-stakes antagonist roles in films such as and , respectively. was also in talks at that time for another key part, completing the core lineup. The casting process faced the challenge of quickly assembling a balanced ensemble for a modest $30 million independent production, blending seasoned performers like Neeson with emerging talent such as to enhance appeal without major delays or reported replacements. This expedited timeline allowed to begin in by late November 2018, prioritizing efficiency in .

Filming

Principal photography for Honest Thief took place over approximately 30 days in late 2018, primarily in , which served as a for settings throughout the film. Filming began in late November and continued through early December, with production crews causing temporary road closures in downtown Worcester to capture street-level action. Key locations included the UMass Memorial Medical Center on the University Campus for hospital scenes, various Worcester streets and warehouses for chase and confrontation sequences, and a facility for pivotal scenes involving the stolen money's hiding place. Additional sites featured the AC Hotel by Marriott, City Square, and Federal Square for urban exteriors, as well as a residential house on Blackthorn Drive where an explosion was filmed. Cinematographer Shelly Johnson handled the visuals, emphasizing practical effects and stunts in the robbery and action sequences to maintain a grounded, realistic tone despite the film's modest $30 million budget. Production faced challenges from ' winter weather, including chilly temperatures that complicated outdoor shoots, as well as low-budget constraints that necessitated efficient scheduling and minimal reshoots. On set, performed most of his own stunts, drawing on his action-hero experience to add authenticity to the physical demands. noted that Worcester's industrial vibe reminded him of his roots, fostering positive cast interactions and some location-inspired improvisations during dialogue scenes.

Release

Distribution

The release of Honest Thief was impacted by the , with the film originally slated for a September 4, 2020, debut before being postponed to October 16, 2020. In , distribution was managed by and Briarcliff Entertainment, which handled the limited theatrical rollout—including select screenings—alongside a simultaneous premium video-on-demand (PVOD) launch on platforms such as and Apple . The film was later released digitally on November 20, 2020, and on Blu-ray and DVD on December 29, 2020, by . The film received an MPAA rating of PG-13 for strong violence, crude references, and brief strong language, with a runtime of 99 minutes. Internationally, the rollout commenced in late 2020 following pre-sales coordinated by The Solution Group at the 2018 , with releases varying by region—for instance, November 5 in and November 12 in —through local distributors.

Marketing and Promotion

The marketing campaign for Honest Thief centered on leveraging Liam Neeson's established reputation as to appeal to fans of high-stakes thrillers. The first trailer debuted on July 30, 2020, distributed via by , which highlighted Neeson's character as a skilled robber seeking redemption, underscoring intense chase sequences and personal stakes to reinforce his "Taken"-style persona. Subsequent promotional materials included TV spots, such as the "Dangerous" 60-second ad released on October 1, 2020, and teasers shared on platforms like and , featuring clipped action scenes and the film's to build anticipation ahead of the theatrical release. Publicity efforts were adapted to the , relying on virtual press junkets conducted via Zoom, where Neeson and co-star Kate Walsh participated in interviews emphasizing the film's themes of redemption and second chances. In these sessions, Neeson discussed his character's moral dilemma, portraying the story as a tale of personal atonement, which aligned with the tagline "Never steal a man's second chance." Additional interviews, such as those with outlets like and Cinemark, focused on Neeson's affinity for action roles and the film's filming locations to generate media buzz without in-person events. The overall strategy targeted core action-thriller audiences through Neeson's brand reliability, with partnerships facilitating video-on-demand (VOD) promotion on platforms like Apple TV and following the limited theatrical run. Limited premieres included a drive-in screening at the Calabasas International Film Festival on September 25, 2020, serving as an early audience event amid theater restrictions, though the film skipped major festivals in favor of online and virtual outreach. This approach timed promotions with the VOD launch to maximize accessibility during the pandemic.

Reception

Box Office Performance

Honest Thief earned $3.7 million in its domestic opening weekend of October 16–18, 2020, from 2,425 theaters. The film ultimately grossed $14.2 million in the United States and . Internationally, it collected $17.1 million, resulting in a worldwide theatrical total of $31.3 million. Produced on a of approximately $30 million, the movie's performance was hampered by the , which restricted theater capacities and limited its run in many markets. This led to lower attendance compared to Neeson's prior action thrillers, such as The Commuter, which achieved $36.3 million domestically in 2018. Despite the theatrical challenges, ancillary markets including contributed additional revenue, with North American DVD sales alone reaching about $4 million.

Critical Response

Honest Thief received mixed reviews from critics, who praised elements of its action and lead performance while criticizing its formulaic storytelling and lack of depth. On , the film holds a 41% approval rating based on 111 reviews, with an average rating of 5.1/10; the site's critical consensus states, "Guilty of first-degree squandering, Honest Thief returns to late-period action mode for a thriller that squanders its intriguing premise." On , it has a weighted average score of 46 out of 100 based on 21 reviews, signifying "mixed or average reviews." In contrast, audience reception was more favorable, with an 87% approval rating on from over 1,000 verified ratings. Critics commended Liam Neeson's committed performance as the remorseful thief Tom Carter, noting his reliable intensity and emotional range in portraying redemption. Variety highlighted Neeson's energetic portrayal, describing him as "mad as hell again" in a role that leverages his action-hero persona effectively. The film's efficient action sequences were also appreciated for their straightforward execution, avoiding unnecessary complexity. Themes of redemption and moral reckoning added a layer of sincerity, with some reviewers finding the romantic subplot between Carter and Annie (Kate Walsh) endearingly corny. Neeson and Walsh shared positive chemistry, providing a grounding emotional core amid the thriller elements. Director Mark Williams, known for co-creating Ozark, received nods for his brisk pacing and competent handling of the genre conventions. However, much of the criticism centered on the film's formulaic plot and lack of within the action-thriller genre, often comparing it unfavorably to Neeson's Taken series. Supporting characters, including and as corrupt FBI agents, were seen as underdeveloped and stereotypical, serving primarily as plot devices rather than fully realized figures. of awarded it 2 out of 4 stars, calling it "perfectly serviceable and utterly forgettable," with a few pleasing details but no lasting impact. The New York Times described it as an "utterly forgettable thriller" with predictable thrills and insincere characters. Some reviews briefly noted the hybrid theatrical and VOD release's influence, suggesting pandemic-era production constraints contributed to uneven pacing. Overall, critical discourse provided limited analysis of diversity representation, such as Anthony Ramos's role as the more principled FBI agent, or the broader effects of pandemic-era filming on the film's tone and execution. As of 2025, the film has seen renewed interest as a streaming hit on , contributing to its enduring audience appeal despite the initial mixed .

References

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