One of crime cinema’s most enduring myths is the promise of “one last job.” A retired thief, aging gangster, or reluctant criminal agrees to a final score with the hope of leaving the underworld forever. Instead, carefully laid plans unravel through betrayal, bad luck, or forces beyond anyone’s control. This page examines films built around the irresistible but often tragic belief that one final crime can purchase a new beginning.

Bob le Flambeur (1956)

Payroll (1961)

The Asphalt Jungle (1950)

The Killers (1946)

The Killing (1956)

Strongroom (1962)