The Caper: Difference between revisions

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{{trope}}
{{trope}}
Told from the criminal viewpoint, a group plans and executes a robbery. The criminals are usually more rounded than the opposition, or at least more colorful. Usually contains at least one [[A-Team Montage]] or [[Avengers Assemble]] sequence. May feature a [[Plot Tailored to The Party]]. Alternately called a "heist." May be played seriously or as a comedy.
Told from the criminal viewpoint, a group plans and executes a robbery. The criminals are usually more rounded than the opposition, or at least more colorful. Usually contains at least one [[A-Team Montage]] or [[Avengers Assemble]] sequence. May feature a [[Plot Tailored to the Party]]. Alternately called a "heist." May be played seriously or as a comedy.


[[The Caper]] is more action-oriented than [[The Con]]. The members of a [[Caper Crew]] often fall into standard roles. See also [[Impossible Mission]], [[The Infiltration]], [[Armed Blag]], [[Train Job]], and [[Double Caper]]. Not to be confused with [[The Cape]].
[[The Caper]] is more action-oriented than [[The Con]]. The members of a [[Caper Crew]] often fall into standard roles. See also [[Impossible Mission]], [[The Infiltration]], [[Armed Blag]], [[Train Job]], and [[Double Caper]]. Not to be confused with [[The Cape]].
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== Anime and Manga ==
== Anime and Manga ==


* A lot of the filler arcs of ''[[Get Backers]]'' qualify as [[The Caper]]. Even though the titular characters only steal items to return then to their original owners, sometimes the definition of "original owner" can get really fuzzy (especially with Clayman).
* A lot of the filler arcs of ''[[GetBackers]]'' qualify as [[The Caper]]. Even though the titular characters only steal items to return then to their original owners, sometimes the definition of "original owner" can get really fuzzy (especially with Clayman).
* In an episode of ''[[Keroro Gunsou]]'', Momoka, Natsumi, and Moa form the "[[Phantom Thief]] Troupe: More Peach Summer" to steal the painting "The Birth of Venus"... which turns out to be {{spoiler|[[Embarrassing Old Photo|an embarrassing portrait of Momoka as a baby, naked]]}}.
* In an episode of ''[[Keroro Gunsou]]'', Momoka, Natsumi, and Moa form the "[[Phantom Thief]] Troupe: More Peach Summer" to steal the painting "The Birth of Venus"... which turns out to be {{spoiler|[[Embarrassing Old Photo|an embarrassing portrait of Momoka as a baby, naked]]}}.
* The point of virtually all ''[[Lupin the Third]]'' stories.
* The point of virtually all ''[[Lupin the Third]]'' stories.
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* ''How to Steal a Million''
* ''How to Steal a Million''
* ''[[Inside Man]]'', in a roundabout fashion.
* ''[[Inside Man]]'', in a roundabout fashion.
* ''[[The Italian Job]]'' - both [[The Italian Job 2003|the new one]] and the original one from 1969.
* ''[[The Italian Job]]'' - both [[The Italian Job (2003 film)|the new one]] and the original one from 1969.
* The Stanley Kubrick film ''[[The Killing (Film)|The Killing]]''.
* The Stanley Kubrick film ''[[The Killing (film)|The Killing]]''.
* ''Ocean's Eleven'' ([[Oceans 11|original]], [[Oceans Eleven|remake]], and remake sequels).
* ''Ocean's Eleven'' ([[Oceans 11|original]], [[Ocean's Eleven|remake]], and remake sequels).
* The Danish film-series ''Olsen-banden'' and its Swedish and Norwegian counterparts consists pretty much of nothing but this.
* The Danish film-series ''Olsen-banden'' and its Swedish and Norwegian counterparts consists pretty much of nothing but this.
* The latest ''St. Trinians'' movie (and the older ones, too).
* The latest ''St. Trinians'' movie (and the older ones, too).
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* Used in both straight and subverted forms in ''[[The Usual Suspects]]''.
* Used in both straight and subverted forms in ''[[The Usual Suspects]]''.
* ''Vabank'' ([[Market-Based Title|''Hit the bank'' in USA]]), as a revenge.
* ''Vabank'' ([[Market-Based Title|''Hit the bank'' in USA]]), as a revenge.
* ''[[Sexy Beast (Film)|Sexy Beast]]'', though the main character spends most of his energies trying to avoid participation in the caper.
* ''[[Sexy Beast]]'', though the main character spends most of his energies trying to avoid participation in the caper.
* The first part of ''[[Ronin (Film)|Ronin]]''.
* The first part of ''[[Ronin (film)|Ronin]]''.
* ''[[Reservoir Dogs (Film)|Reservoir Dogs]]'' does an interesting version by completely skipping the caper itself.
* ''[[Reservoir Dogs]]'' does an interesting version by completely skipping the caper itself.
** The video game of the film, on the other hand, is all about the heist.
** The video game of the film, on the other hand, is all about the heist.
* ''[[Film/Killing Zoe|Killing Zoe]] is what happens when [[The Caper]] is attempted [[This Is Your Premise On Drugs|while on heroin]]. Things don't end well.
* ''[[Film/Killing Zoe|Killing Zoe]] is what happens when [[The Caper]] is attempted [[This Is Your Premise on Drugs|while on heroin]]. Things don't end well.
* ''[[The Lady Killers]]''
* ''[[The Lady Killers]]''
* ''[[Kellys Heroes]]'' and ''[[Three Kings]]'' both feature soldiers going on a caper during war time.
* ''[[Kelly's Heroes]]'' and ''[[Three Kings]]'' both feature soldiers going on a caper during war time.
* ''[[Bottle Rocket]]'' is something of a caper parody, with a group of idle rich kids planning a series of ill-advised capers.
* ''[[Bottle Rocket]]'' is something of a caper parody, with a group of idle rich kids planning a series of ill-advised capers.
* ''Who's Minding the Mint?''
* ''Who's Minding the Mint?''
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* The ''[[Vlad Taltos]]'' novels often have at least elements of this. ''Jhereg'' and ''Yendi'' are straight examples.
* The ''[[Vlad Taltos]]'' novels often have at least elements of this. ''Jhereg'' and ''Yendi'' are straight examples.
* The novel ''[[Thunderball]]'' had SPECTRE doing this -- rather than an organised crime [[Cosmopolitan Council]], they were a gang of highly-professional criminals who were planning the [[Empty Quiver]] heist as [[One Last Job]].
* The novel ''[[Thunderball]]'' had SPECTRE doing this -- rather than an organised crime [[Cosmopolitan Council]], they were a gang of highly-professional criminals who were planning the [[Empty Quiver]] heist as [[One Last Job]].
* The ''[[Nick Velvet]]'' stories by [[Edward D Hoch]].
* The ''[[Nick Velvet]]'' stories by [[Edward D. Hoch]].
* Flawless is the story of the [[Real Life]] Antwerp diamond heist, where thieves stole an estimated 100+ million worth of diamonds in 2003.
* Flawless is the story of the [[Real Life]] Antwerp diamond heist, where thieves stole an estimated 100+ million worth of diamonds in 2003.


== Live Action TV ==
== Live Action TV ==


* ''[[Firefly (TV)|Firefly]]'': "The Train Job," "Ariel," and "Trash."
* ''[[Firefly]]'': "The Train Job," "Ariel," and "Trash."
* ''The Knights of Prosperity,'' originally titled ''Let's Rob Mick Jagger.''
* ''The Knights of Prosperity,'' originally titled ''Let's Rob Mick Jagger.''
* ''[[Leverage]]'' uses this trope as its main premise often mixing it with [[The Con]].
* ''[[Leverage]]'' uses this trope as its main premise often mixing it with [[The Con]].
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* The short-lived series ''Thieves''.
* The short-lived series ''Thieves''.
* The FX character drama ''Thief'' revolves around this trope, as does the NBC actioner, ''[[Heist]]''.
* The FX character drama ''Thief'' revolves around this trope, as does the NBC actioner, ''[[Heist]]''.
* ''[[Farscape (TV)|Farscape]]'' "Liars, Guns and Money."
* ''[[Farscape]]'' "Liars, Guns and Money."
* ''[[Star Trek Deep Space Nine]]'' "Badda-Bing, Badda-Bang." Although this episode is a direct parody of ''[[Oceans Eleven]]'', even taking place in a Holodeck recreation of Las Vegas.
* ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'' "Badda-Bing, Badda-Bang." Although this episode is a direct parody of ''[[Ocean's Eleven]]'', even taking place in a Holodeck recreation of Las Vegas.
* Every single episode of ''[[The A-Team (TV)|The A-Team]]''.
* Every single episode of ''[[The A-Team]]''.
* ''[[Hustle]]'' usually revolves around [[The Con]], but the season 2 finale, "Eye of the Beholder", is a classic caper plot in which the team steals one of the Crown Jewels. {{spoiler|Until the end, when it turns out that the entire point of the caper was to con a bunch of people into buying fakes...}}
* ''[[Hustle]]'' usually revolves around [[The Con]], but the season 2 finale, "Eye of the Beholder", is a classic caper plot in which the team steals one of the Crown Jewels. {{spoiler|Until the end, when it turns out that the entire point of the caper was to con a bunch of people into buying fakes...}}
** In an episode in season 5, ''New Recruits'', Hustle pulls a similar "caper" again. {{spoiler|This time, they're conning their mark, who had been advertising a completely foolproof security system, into thinking they'd stolen a painting. Really, they just hid it behind a false wall.}}
** In an episode in season 5, ''New Recruits'', Hustle pulls a similar "caper" again. {{spoiler|This time, they're conning their mark, who had been advertising a completely foolproof security system, into thinking they'd stolen a painting. Really, they just hid it behind a false wall.}}
* ''[[The X Files]]'' episode {{spoiler|"The Amazing Maleeni"}}. The title is spoilered because it's pulled off so ingeniously that you don't even know it's a heist until the later half of the episode.
* ''[[The X-Files]]'' episode {{spoiler|"The Amazing Maleeni"}}. The title is spoilered because it's pulled off so ingeniously that you don't even know it's a heist until the later half of the episode.
* Children's sitcom ''[[The Legend of Dick and Dom (TV)|The Legend of Dick and Dom]]'' has an episode called "The Heist"; the heroes have to rob a bank to get back the [[MacGuffin]] that the corrupt manager has stolen. Features cunning disguises, a decoy robbery {{spoiler|and tunnel digging}}. And [[Creepy Twins]], just for fun.
* Children's sitcom ''[[The Legend of Dick and Dom]]'' has an episode called "The Heist"; the heroes have to rob a bank to get back the [[MacGuffin]] that the corrupt manager has stolen. Features cunning disguises, a decoy robbery {{spoiler|and tunnel digging}}. And [[Creepy Twins]], just for fun.


== Video Games ==
== Video Games ==
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* Pulling off capers is the primary focus of Fragile Alliance, the multiplayer mode of the ''[[Kane and Lynch|Kane & Lynch]]'' games.
* Pulling off capers is the primary focus of Fragile Alliance, the multiplayer mode of the ''[[Kane and Lynch|Kane & Lynch]]'' games.
* Parodied in one ''[[Saints Row]] 2'' mission where an elaborate plan is thought up for a heist, but the plan is scrapped in favor of just walking through the front door and shooting everyone.
* Parodied in one ''[[Saints Row]] 2'' mission where an elaborate plan is thought up for a heist, but the plan is scrapped in favor of just walking through the front door and shooting everyone.
* ''[[Grand Theft Auto San Andreas]]'', in a clear homage to ''[[Oceans Eleven]]'', has CJ robbing a vegas casino with a colourful group of characters (Its GTA, they're always colourful)
* ''[[Grand Theft Auto San Andreas]]'', in a clear homage to ''[[Ocean's Eleven]]'', has CJ robbing a vegas casino with a colourful group of characters (Its GTA, they're always colourful)
* Pretty much the entire premise of the [[Sly Cooper]] series.
* Pretty much the entire premise of the [[Sly Cooper]] series.
* The ''[[Fallout New Vegas]]'' DLC Dead Money, where the player (who's been strapped with an [[Explosive Leash]]) is forced to help the insane Father Elijah loot the Sierra Madre casino with the help of three other NPCs, one of which has been at this for two centuries.
* The ''[[Fallout: New Vegas]]'' DLC Dead Money, where the player (who's been strapped with an [[Explosive Leash]]) is forced to help the insane Father Elijah loot the Sierra Madre casino with the help of three other NPCs, one of which has been at this for two centuries.
* ''[[Payday the Heist]]'' is basically "Heist Film: The Game".
* ''[[Payday: The Heist]]'' is basically "Heist Film: The Game".
* In ''[[Mass Effect 2 (Video Game)|Mass Effect 2]]'', [[Loveable Rogue|Kasumi's]] loyalty mission is to steal her deceased partner's graybox from the man who killed him
* In ''[[Mass Effect 2]]'', [[Loveable Rogue|Kasumi's]] loyalty mission is to steal her deceased partner's graybox from the man who killed him


== Web Animation ==
== Web Animation ==
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== Web Original ==
== Web Original ==
* ''[[Pay Me Bug (Literature)|Pay Me Bug]]'' involves the captain of a smuggling ship being blackmailed into stealing something from [[The Empire|The Empire of the Radiant Throne]]'s most secure facility. Good thing [[Miles Gloriosus|he's done this before]], right?
* ''[[Pay Me Bug]]'' involves the captain of a smuggling ship being blackmailed into stealing something from [[The Empire|The Empire of the Radiant Throne]]'s most secure facility. Good thing [[Miles Gloriosus|he's done this before]], right?




Retrieved from "https://allthetropes.org/wiki/The_Caper"