The hit Netflix movie Lift is one of the most popular new releases on the streaming platform, prompting viewers to search for similar films to watch next. Lift stars comedic actor Kevin Hart in one of the most serious roles of his lengthy career alongside Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Belle, Beauty and the Beast), Sam Worthington (Avatar, Avatar: The Way of Water), and Vincent D’Onofrio (Men in Black, Full Metal Jacket). Lift marks Kevin Hart’s first leading role in a Netflix movie since the 2022 buddy comedy Me Time starring Mark Wahlberg.
Lift is directed by F. Gary Gray, the acclaimed director behind Friday (1995), Set If Off (1996), The Negotiator (1998), and Law Abiding Citizen (2009). Hart plays a master thief named Cyrus who is convinced by his Interpol agent ex-girlfriend Abby (Mbatha-Raw) to steal $500 million in gold that is being secretly transported on a passenger flight. Despite the film’s Netflix popularity and intriguing premise, the action comedy has been poorly reviewed by audiences and critics alike on Rotten Tomatoes, with scores of 33% and 32%, respectively.
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10 Focus
2015
Focus features similarities to Lift in which both leading men play con artists. Will Smith stars alongside Margot Robbie in this caper movie that is also a dark comedy. Focus features a complicated romantic dynamic between its two leads who must work together to acquire a major payday mixed inside a story full of laughs, twists, and action. The onscreen chemistry between Robbie and Smith is more than enough reason to check out Focus, which can be streamed on MAX.
9 The Fate of the Furious
2017
The Fate of the Furious was also directed by F. Gary Gray, which is why viewers of Lift might notice some similarities between the two films. The Fast franchise has notably shifted gears from racing to heist operations over the years, particularly in Fast Five (2011). While The Fate of the Furious is not a heist movie, fans of F. Gary Gray’s work in Lift should definitely check out one of the most popular movies of the Fast franchise, which stars Vin Diesel, Jason Statham, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
8 Three Kings
1999
Three Kings is a highly original heist movie starring George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, and Ice Cube. From Academy Award-winning director David O. Russell, Three Kings follows a group of American soldiers in Iraq who are on a mission to find hidden gold at the end of the Gulf War. They come across a secret treasure map that guides them to the gold but are faced with humanitarian conflicts regarding Iraqi citizens. As far as unique and entertaining heist movies go, Three Kings is among the best.
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7 Central Intelligence
2016
For fans of Kevin Hart in particular, Central Intelligence is one of his most hilarious must-watch movies. The comedic pairing of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Kevin Hart is naturally funny and the espionage story their characters are taken on is full of humor and great action sequences. Often rated among the best Kevin Hart movies, Central Intelligence is a highly enjoyable and rewatchable movie that is required viewing for every Kevin Hart supporter.
6 The Italian Job
2003
Arguably F. Gary Gray’s best movie, The Italian Job is one of the most enjoyable heist movies ever made. The film has an all-star cast of Mark Wahlberg, Edward Norton, Jason Statham, Charlize Theron, Yasiin Bay, and Donald Sutherland. Similar to Lift, the main objective in The Italian Job is to acquire gold bars through a daring heist operation. For viewers who thought that Kevin Hart’s Lift didn’t excite them as much as they had hoped, The Italian Job will certainly make up for some of that lost entertainment value.
5 Tower Heist
2011
Tower Heist is another star-studded classic featuring performances from Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy, Casey Affleck, Matthew Broderick, and Michael Peña. This caper action comedy follows a group of hard workers who fall for a Ponzi scheme that ruins their promised pension plans and set out on a mission of revenge to rob the man responsible. The cast is enough of a draw alone to attract viewers of the heist comedy genre that is sure to provide a lot of laughs mixed with some impressive action sequences.
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4 Bullet Train
2022
Fans of Lift should check out Bullet Train, which is an action-packed yet underrated comedy thriller with an outstanding cast. Led by Brad Pitt as Ladybug, Bullet Train follows a group of assassins on a moving train who discover several key overlaps in their objectives. The suspenseful action comedy isn’t a heist film but carries a similar tone and aesthetic to Lift, supported by its star-studded cast of Pitt, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Joey King, Michael Shannon, Sandra Bullock, and Bad Bunny.
3 Logan Lucky
2017
Logan Lucky is one of the greatest heist action comedy movies made in recent cinematic history. Directed by acclaimed director Steven Soderbergh, Logan Lucky stars Channing Tatum and Adam Driver as two brothers who attempt to pull off a risky heist at a NASCAR race in North Carolina with the help of convicted safe-cracker Joe Bang (Daniel Craig). For a heist action comedy done right with great directorial precision, outstanding acting, and a unique story, Logan Lucky is an exceptional choice.
2 Baby Driver
2017
Baby Driver is full of style, from the slick dialogue to the carefully chosen music and everything in between. From acclaimed writer/director Edgar Wright (Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, Shaun of the Dead), Baby Driver follows a young getaway driver who gets caught up in an extremely risky heist operation. The fast-paced and electric film features great performances from Jamie Foxx, Jon Bernthal, John Hamm, and Lily James and is a highly energized take on the caper heist genre.
1 Ocean’s Eleven
2001
As far as modern classic heist movies go, Ocean’s Eleven will forever be a difficult one to top. Featuring a star-studded cast of George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Julia Roberts, Don Cheadle, and Bernie Mac, Ocean’s Eleven remains one of the quintessential examples of a stylized and enjoyable action heist comedy. After watching Kevin Hart’s Lift on Netflix, Ocean’s Eleven, and its two sequels Ocean’s Twelve and Ocean’s Thirteen, can be streamed on Peacock.
Lift
/ 10
From F. Gary Gray, the director of Friday and The Italian Job comes Lift – an action-heist movie starring Kevin Hart and Gugu Mbatha-Raw. In the film, an international crew with several heists under their belts is recruited to stop a terrorist attack from happening. To do that, the team will have to conduct a high-stakes heist on a plane mid-flight.
- Release Date
- January 12, 2024
- Director
- F. Gary Gray
- Cast
- Kevin Hart , Gugu Mbatha-Raw , Sam Worthington , Vincent D’Onofrio , Úrsula Corberó , Billy Magnussen , Jacob Batalon , Jean Reno
- Main Genre
- Action
- Writers
- Daniel Kunka , Emerald Fennell , Simon Kinberg
- Cinematographer
- Bernhard Jasper
- Producer
- Audrey Chon, Kevin Hart, Adam Kassan, Simon Kinberg, Matt Reeves, Bryan Smiley
- Production Company
- 6th & Idaho Productions, Genre Pictures, Hartbeat Productions
- Sfx Supervisor
- Tez Palmer
