Director Bart Layton’s slick crime thriller features a star-studded cast and a fresh take on Los Angeles’ underworld, debuting later this year.
Las Vegas, April 3:
Lights, freeways, and flawless crimes—Chris Hemsworth and Halle Berry are ready to take audiences deep into the shadows of Los Angeles with the upcoming thriller Crime 101, unveiled at CinemaCon 2025.
Director Bart Layton joined his stars on stage to present the first look at the film, which follows a series of high-profile jewel heists that spark a tense cat-and-mouse game between criminals and cops. The adaptation of Don Winslow’s 2021 novella boasts an all-star ensemble including Mark Ruffalo, Barry Keoghan, Monica Barbaro, Corey Hawkins, Tate Donovan, Devon Bostick, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Nick Nolte.
“In the driver’s seat of this exciting ride is none other than our fearless director, Bart Layton,” said Berry, introducing the sleek and suspenseful clip.
🚨 Heists, Rules, and Los Angeles Like You’ve Never Seen It
At the center of the story is Detective Lou Lubesnick (Ruffalo), tasked with cracking a string of robberies tied together by one thing: the thief follows a strict criminal code, known as “Crime 101.” The stakes rise as a mysterious crew led by Hemsworth’s character pulls off meticulously planned hits across L.A.
Layton, best known for American Animals, emphasized that the film is also a love letter to the city.
“The 101 Freeway isn’t just part of the setting—it’s part of the story,” he said. “We wanted to capture L.A. in a way that feels fresh and untapped.”
🎥 First-Look Highlights:
- A brooding Hemsworth responds, “Money, I guess,” when asked what motivates him.
- In a heated exchange, Nick Nolte warns Keoghan’s character: “You’re not your dad. You might not have the stomach he had.”
“I have the stomach for a lot of things,” Keoghan snaps back. - Berry, playing an elite insurance expert, adds intrigue: “I write insurance policies for people who have more money than they know what to do with.”
🎞️ About the Film:
Directed and co-written by Bart Layton, with Peter Straughan contributing to the screenplay, Crime 101 is produced by Working Title’s Eric Fellner and Tim Bevan, RAW’s Dimitri Doganis and Layton, along with Derrin Schlesinger and Shane Salerno. Joely Fether serves as executive producer for RAW.
📅 Release Date:
Crime 101 is set to release later in 2025, bringing noir heat and high-octane thrills to cinemas.