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Rififi

Play trailer Poster for Rififi 1956 2h 0m Crime Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
92% Tomatometer 52 Reviews 95% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Out of prison after a five-year stretch, jewel thief Tony (Jean Servais) turns down a quick job his friend Jo (Carl Mohner) offers him, until he discovers that his old girlfriend Mado (Marie Sabouret) has become the lover of local gangster Pierre Grutter (Marcel Lupovici) during Tony's absence. Expanding a minor smash-and-grab into a full-scale jewel heist, Tony and his crew appear to get away clean, but their actions after the job is completed threaten the lives of everyone involved.
Rififi

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Rififi depicts the perfect heist in more ways than one, telling its story so effectively that it essentially provided the template for an entire genre to follow.

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Critics Reviews

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John Wilcox Sight & Sound Mar 18, 2020
A pity that the film degenerates through attempting too much; for in the first half, when Dassin is working within his limitations, he creates an admirably incisive and entertaining piece of melodrama. Go to Full Review Alan Scherstuhl Village Voice Sep 1, 2015
Viewers become something like collaborators, invested in working out what, say, that umbrella is going to be used for - and then pleased to discover whether we've gotten it right or not. Go to Full Review Chris Cabin Slant Magazine Aug 28, 2015
4/4
Jules Dassin doesn't waste much time in expressing exactly what he thinks of the criminals and gangster culture that rule his underworld. Go to Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews Jul 21, 2026
3.5/4
...a first-class picture that lives up to its place as a classic example of the heist genre. Go to Full Review Raquel Stecher The Movie Palace Podcast May 16, 2024
A fantastic heist film... unrelenting brutality mixed with moments of humor and warmth. Go to Full Review Victor Pineyro Seventh Art Studio Jan 7, 2023
10/10
The guide for heist movies was created in 1955 with this film. A masterpiece that everyone has been trying to copy over the years. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jacob W @RT17896586 Oct 26, 2026 Before there was any of the heist movies like The Italian Job ,The Bank Job to name but a few. It all started with the original Heist. Without this movie there would be no heist movie. This is the blueprint that all since have followed. A true classic and a must see See more revolver.0 8 @Revolver08 Aug 2, 2025 Cinematic heist OG but its ludicrous in too many ways See more Jeff M. @Jmo54 Jul 28, 2025 Exceptional film noir with one of the greatest heist sequences in movie history. See more mark g @Mark_Alan_G. Jul 27, 2025 Film noir masterpiece. Elegantly shot, like a beautiful opium trip. See more Jens B @Jens97 Apr 14, 2025 French crooks simply have more style – but otherwise, they're just as wicked and violent as any other gangster. Dassin's film is essentially divided into three parts: the preparation, the jewel robbery, and the aftermath. And it all works so well precisely because the characters were given sufficient depth in the first part, because the script and direction ensure a breathless middle section, and because the finale is truly dramatic. Absolutely great cinema, captured in beautiful and thoughtful images and brilliantly acted! See more Alec B @Alec97 Feb 9, 2024 Obviously much has deservedly been written about the brilliance of it's wordless heist sequence but the rest of the movie is filled with brilliant little character observations, which is why the tragic ending plays so well. See more Read all reviews
Rififi

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Cast & Crew

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Jules Dassin

Director

Jean Servais

Tony le Stéphanois

Carl Mohner

Jo le Suedois

Robert Manuel

Mario Farrati

Magali Noël

Viviane

Janine Darcey

Louise

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Rififi

Rififi (1955) Rififi (1955) Rififi (1955) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Out of prison after a five-year stretch, jewel thief Tony (Jean Servais) turns down a quick job his friend Jo (Carl Mohner) offers him, until he discovers that his old girlfriend Mado (Marie Sabouret) has become the lover of local gangster Pierre Grutter (Marcel Lupovici) during Tony's absence. Expanding a minor smash-and-grab into a full-scale jewel heist, Tony and his crew appear to get away clean, but their actions after the job is completed threaten the lives of everyone involved.
Director
Jules Dassin
Producer
René Bezard, Henri Bérard, Pierre Cabaud, René Gaston Vuattoux
Screenwriter
Auguste Le Breton, Jules Dassin, René Wheeler, Auguste Le Breton
Distributor
UMPO, Criterion Collection, Rialto Pictures
Production Co
Indusfilms, Société Nouvelle Prodis, Prima Film
Genre
Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
Canadian French
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 5, 1956, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Jul 21, 2000
Release Date (DVD)
Apr 24, 2001
Box Office (Gross USA)
$57.2K
Runtime
2h 0m
Sound Mix
Mono
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