After robbery at the Louvre, remember films with museum robberies – 10/20/2025 – Illustrated

The theft of the eight jewels from the Louvre Museum, the most famous in the world, on the morning of last Sunday (19), brings to mind, in the field of fiction, not just a film or book, but a whole genre of works centered on criminal operations like these.

This is the case of “The Mastermind”, a new feature by Kelly Reichardt, showing in Brazilian cinemas since last Thursday, which, in turn, evokes classics such as “The Pink Panther”, from 1963, in which the clumsy Inspector Clouseau tries to stop a famous thief from getting his hands on the priceless pink diamond that gives the film its title.

There is also “Ocean’s Twelve”, from 2004, a sequel to “Ocean’s Eleven”, in which a group of cool thieves try to steal a Fabergé egg from an exhibition in Rome, before another famous thief does. The female film in the franchise, “Ocean’s 8”, from 2018, also follows the same line — the coveted item, in this case, is a celebrity necklace, in the midst of the Met Gala.

In comic book literature, “The Great Odalisque”, by Bastien Vivès, Florent Ruppert and Jérôme Mulot, follows a trio of extroverted thieves who try to steal from the Louvre not a jewel, but the masterpiece by Jean-Auguste Dominique Ingres, which gives the comic book its title.

See below a list of works in the same genre.

A Cor-de-Rosa Pantera (1963)

In the 1963 film, a crazy French inspector, Jacques Clouseau, played by Peter Sellers, tries to prevent a famous thief known as “The Phantom” from stealing the valuable diamond that gives the title to the work of Princess Dala, played in Blake Edwards’ film by Claudia Cardinale. The plot would receive a remake in 2006, starring Steve Martin.

Where to see: Available on MGM+ and for rent and purchase on digital platforms

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Ocean’s Twelve (2004)

After the successful robbery of Terry Benedict’s casino in “Ocean’s Eleven”, Danny Ocean’s team, played by George Clooney, reunites in Europe when Benedict — the antagonist played by Andy García — reappears, demanding his money back. With this, the gang will have to try to steal a Fabergé egg from an exhibition in Rome.

Where to see: Available to rent or purchase on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV

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A Night at the Museum (2006)

In this comedy that became a classic on Brazilian open TV, a divorced father, played by Ben Stiller, accepts a job as a night watchman at the American Museum of Natural History and, by chance, discovers that an ancient curse causes all the exhibits to come to life after dark.

Where to see: Available on Disney+

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Picasso and the Theft of the Mona Lisa (2012)

The fictional film is based on the real story and the suspicions that fell on Pablo Picasso and Guillaume Apollinaire after the theft of the “Mona Lisa” from the Louvre Museum in 1911.

Where to see: Available on Looke

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Women’s 8 (2018)

Fresh out of prison, Debbie Ocean, a professional thief played by Sandra Bullock and sister of Danny Ocean, brings together a team of talented women to execute the heist of the century — stealing a $150 million necklace during the trendy Met Gala.

Where to watch: Available on HBO Max

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Museum (2018)

Inspired by facts, the film starring Gael García Bernal follows two young people who, in 1985, carry out a daring robbery at the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City, taking 140 Mayan and Aztec pieces.

Where to see: Available on Disney+ and for rent or purchase on digital platforms

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Red Alert (2021)

Starring Gal Gadot, Dwayne Johnson and Ryan Reynolds, the film follows an FBI agent who is forced to team up with the world’s greatest art thief to capture a cunning international thief who is always one step ahead of them.

Where to see: Available on Netflix

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The Mastermind (2025)

Now showing in theaters, the new film directed by Kelly Reichardt and starring Josh O’Connor follows a failed carpenter and artist, in 1970s Massachusetts, who plans an amateur robbery on an art museum. When the plan fails, his life and that of his family begin to fall apart.

Where to see: Showing at the cinema and, in the future, in the Mubi catalog

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A Grande Odalisque

A pair of thieves recruit an escape specialist for a risky mission — steal Ingres’s masterpiece “The Great Odalisque” from the Louvre Museum in Paris. The partnership of Bastien Vivès, Florent Ruppert and Jérôme Mulot continues on other albums, following the same characters, in titles such as “Olympia”.

Published in Brazil by Pipoca & Nanquim. R$ 49.90 (128 pages; ebook – physical edition sold out)

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Portrait of an Unknown Woman

After cutting his ties with Israeli intelligence, the protagonist finds refuge in Venice with his Venice, but is forced to return to his old job when an art dealer reports to him the theft of a painting by Anthony van Dyck, which was forged and sold for millions.

The book by American Daniel Silva was published by HarperCollins (R$ 69.90; 432 pages; R$ 49.90, ebook)