Thieves Like Us

Play trailer

Thieves Like Us

R,

1974,

2h 3m,

Crime/

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

79%

28 Reviews

Tomatometer

72%

500+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

79%

Tomatometer

28 Reviews

72%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

In this Robert Altman period drama, Bowie (Keith Carradine) is an escaped convict who embarks on a crime spree with fellow former prisoners Chicamaw (John Schuck) and T-Dub (Bert Remsen). While in hiding between bank robberies, Bowie meets a young woman named Keechie (Shelley Duvall), and the two quickly fall in love. A life of crime doesn't sit well with Keechie, however, so she and Bowie try to settle down, but the law is determined to bring him to justice.

Patrick Gibbs

Daily Telegraph (UK)

Apr 2, 2026

A puzzling, unsatisfactory, but not unstylish film, it would seem to be attempting some feat of alienation -- and succeeding, I would say, but not quite as intended.

Go to Full Review

Anton Bitel

Little White Lies

Jul 6, 2023

Altman, revisiting territories already familiar from his McCabe & Mrs Miller, here uses the past – this time the Great Depression – as a prism to America’s present, while finding warts-and-all sympathy for the nation’s marginalised outlaws.

Go to Full Review

Judith Crist

New York Magazine/Vulture

Oct 2, 2019

It is, is, perhaps, the most demanding of his recent films -- but as always, the demands are justified and rewarding.

Go to Full Review

Brian Orndorf

Blu-ray.com

Mar 9, 2025

B

"Thieves Like Us" remains in line with other Altman offerings, but it's hard to grasp the purpose of its glacial pace, which strains dramatic engagement as cinematic indulgence tends to dominate the viewing experience.

Go to Full Review

George Anderson

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Sep 24, 2024

This poor man's Bonne and Clyde deals with a boring handful of two-bit bank robbers in Depression Mississippi. It is suitably depressing.

Go to Full Review

Joanne Laurier

World Socialist Web Site

May 30, 2024

The film was made at a time of upheaval and convulsion, even chaos, qualities that the master improviser Altman thrived on. The period’s rebelliousness undoubtedly played a role in making Thieves Like Us one of his most compelling films.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Leia W

Nov 29, 2018

Robert Altman surely was a rule changer, his films defy all expectations and drastically differ from movies of the same genre from earlier decades. This film is heavily influenced by 'Bonnie and Clyde', as was the majority of crime movies at the time, and it has this peculiar realism. Even though the plot seems to be living its own life, it comes natural with the characters being not scripted but as a living human beings; that was surely a fresh breathe in the cinema. But as for me, though I admit its novelty, I wasn't particularly enthusiastic about this venture.

See more

Ron R

Feb 12, 2018

Weird. But good! The Bowie character is especially enjoyable.

Draco W

Jul 9, 2017

nice but only once. very 70-th in mood, colours and directing

Read all reviews

Robert Altman

Director

Keith Carradine

Bowie

Shelley Duvall

Keechie Mobley

John Schuck

Elmo (Chicamaw) Mobley

Bert Remsen

T-Dub Masefield

Louise Fletcher

Mattie

Steal This Movie

52%

71%

Steal This Movie

Watchlist

Mo' Better Blues

71%

75%

Mo' Better Blues

Watchlist

Mississippi Mermaid

83%

73%

Mississippi Mermaid

Watchlist

Place Vendome

85%

57%

Place Vendome

Watchlist

Sarafina!

60%

87%

Sarafina!

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

In this Robert Altman period drama, Bowie (Keith Carradine) is an escaped convict who embarks on a crime spree with fellow former prisoners Chicamaw (John Schuck) and T-Dub (Bert Remsen). While in hiding between bank robberies, Bowie meets a young woman named Keechie (Shelley Duvall), and the two quickly fall in love. A life of crime doesn't sit well with Keechie, however, so she and Bowie try to settle down, but the law is determined to bring him to justice.

Director: Robert Altman
Producer: Jerry Bick
Screenwriter: Robert Altman, Joan Tewkesbury, Calder Willingham
Distributor: United Artists
Production Co: United Artists, George Litto Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 18, 1974, Original
Release Date (DVD): Apr 17, 2007
Runtime: 2h 3m

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings