6 Best Pickpocket and Con Artist Movies

By Vlad Zakh · June 15, 2026

The nimble-fingered charm and street-smart deception of pickpockets and con artists have powered some of cinema’s most entertaining crime tales. In Paper Moon (1973): A small-time con man and a sharp-tongued young girl team up to swindle their way across Depression-era America. Just as strong is Slumdog Millionaire (2008): A poor Mumbai teenager’s unlikely success on a game show is retraced through the painful memories that gave him the answers.

Focus (2015)

TMDB ★ 6.9

A veteran con artist takes a novice thief under his wing before their old partnership resurfaces during a high-stakes job.

Directed by John Requa & Glenn Ficarra · 1h 45m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Starz, Starz Apple TV channel, Starz Roku Premium Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

TMDB ★ 7.7

A poor Mumbai teenager's unlikely success on a game show is retraced through the painful memories that gave him the answers.

Directed by Danny Boyle · 2h 01m · Rated R

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Apple TV Store

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Confidence (2003)

TMDB ★ 6.3

A con artist assembles a crew for one final, elaborate grift against a ruthless crime boss.

Directed by James Foley · 1h 37m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel, Starz, Starz Apple TV channel, Starz Roku Premium Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Paper Moon (1973)

TMDB ★ 7.9

A small-time con man and a sharp-tongued young girl team up to swindle their way across Depression-era America.

Directed by Peter Bogdanovich · 1h 42m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Oliver! (1968)

IMDb ★ 7.4 RT 90% Metacritic 74

A musical retelling of an orphaned boy's journey through a gang of pickpockets in Victorian London.

Directed by Carol Reed · 2h 33m · Rated G

Won 5 Oscars13 wins & 25 nominations

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Oliver Twist (1948)

TMDB ★ 7.6

An orphaned boy falls in with a gang of young pickpockets led by a cunning criminal mastermind.

Directed by David Lean · 2h 01m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, HBO Max Amazon Channel, Criterion Channel, FlixFling, HBO Max · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix, built to fix a specific annoyance: most recommendation sites are just algorithm-driven noise. Our lists are researched and organized by who's in a film, where it's from, and the mood you're actually in tonight.

6 Best Pickpocket and Con Artist Movies

Focus (2015)

Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

Confidence (2003)

Paper Moon (1973)

Oliver! (1968)

Oliver Twist (1948)

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