The episode argues that Den of Thieves is a hard-edged, rewatchable crime/heist movie that grew through cable and repeat viewing. The hosts praise its twists, macho energy, and Gerard Butler’s performance, while acknowledging its Heat influences and some plotting/logistical nits. The tone is enthusiastic, jokey, and very admiring.
Based only on this episode’s transcriptTimes approximateSpeakers were clearly identifiedExplore the connections
01The movie has multiple distinct phases, making it easy to jump into at any point and still be hooked. About 8 min
02It balances crime-movie culture and heist-movie mechanics. About 8 min
03The antagonistic stare-downs and macho one-upmanship are endlessly entertaining. About 8 min
04The final stretch of robbery and shootout material is especially intense and satisfying. About 1:12
05The Donnie reveal rewards repeat viewing because earlier scenes play differently once you know the twist. About 40 min
WHAT DID NOT WORK
Their main criticisms
moderateIt borrows heavily from Heat and other crime movies. About 8 min
moderateSome plot logistics require a lot of suspension of disbelief, especially around the shredding-money scheme and the traffic shootout. About 48 min
minorA few production details feel less convincingly Los Angeles because some scenes were shot in Atlanta. About 1:12
minorBig Nick’s donut-eating behavior and overall grime are deliberately disgusting, which they treat as both a joke and a flaw of character rather than a structural issue. About 24 min
SCENES THEY KEPT COMING BACK TO
Standout moments
Favorite
Opening donut-store robbery
The armored-truck opening is cited as a perfect setup that tells you what kind of crew this is.
About 24 min Favorite
Big Nick eating the crime-scene donut
The hosts love the grimy reveal of Nick’s exhaustion and appetite.
About 24 min positive
Donnie narrating how he met Merriman
Used to explain the crew dynamics and the movie’s reverse-engineered structure.
About 32 min Favorite
50 Cent’s prom-date intimidation
A comic-cruel father speech that the hosts repeatedly quote and praise.
About 40 min Favorite
Benihana confrontation
The crew’s intimidation of a former rival at dinner is treated as a signature scene.
About 40 min mixed
Murder tent / body disposal reveal
The scene is gross, tense, and memorable for showing how serious the crew is.
About 48 min positive
Gun-range showdown
A mutual recognition scene that heightens the inevitable clash between Big Nick and Merriman.
About 48 min positive
Chinese food heist inside the Fed
Donnie’s delivery infiltration is praised as a tense, absurdly specific heist beat.
About 48 min Favorite
Traffic shootout climax
The freeway firefight is treated as the film’s most cinematic stretch.
About 1:12
WHERE THEY DISAGREED
The biggest debates
They agreed About 8 min
Heat ripoff versus Heat inheritance
Bill Simmons
The movie is a worthy son of Heat, not a knockoff.
Chris Ryan
It meaningfully borrows Heat’s path-crossing cop-and-robber dynamic but uses it well.
They partly agreed About 1:04
Who should survive for a sequel
Bill Simmons
Keeping Ray alive could have helped the sequel setup.
Chris Ryan
Killing Ray works because the ending reinforces the predator/prey theme.
They left it as a friendly argument About 1:28
Best crew for a bank robbery
Bill Simmons
Merriman’s crew has size and menace and would be preferable in Miami.
Chris Ryan
Neil’s crew from Heat might be the better robbery crew.
They partly agreed About 1:20
Best Big Nick casting
Bill Simmons
Tom Hanks could have done it post-Saving Private Ryan.
Chris Ryan
Tom Cruise is too short relative to Pablo Schreiber; Hanks is the better fit.
Van Lathan
Gerard Butler is the right physical type and ages into the role.
10 People discussedActors, directors, writers, and producers
