Smuggling Thrills: Top 10 Crime Films

Description: While not strictly about smuggling, this classic caper involves a gold heist in Turin, Italy, and the subsequent escape with the loot. It's a film that's as much about the stylish getaway as it is about the crime itself.

Fact: The iconic Mini Cooper chase scene was filmed in Turin, and the film's popularity led to a 2003 remake starring Mark Wahlberg.

Description: Bob Hoskins delivers a career-defining performance as a London gangster whose empire is threatened by an IRA bombing campaign. It's a film that captures the changing face of crime in Britain.

Fact: The film was initially banned by the BBC for its portrayal of the IRA, but it has since been recognized as a classic of British cinema.

Description: Terence Stamp stars as an ex-con from England who travels to Los Angeles to investigate his daughter's death, leading him into a world of drug smuggling and revenge. It's a film that's as much about character as it is about crime.

Fact: The film's non-linear narrative was inspired by the editing style of Jean-Luc Godard's 'Breathless'.

Description: Based on the true story of the 1971 Baker Street robbery, this film explores the heist of a bank vault that was rumoured to contain compromising photos of the British Royal Family. It's a thrilling tale of crime, politics, and the unexpected.

Fact: The film was banned in the UK for 30 years due to the sensitive nature of the real-life events it portrays.

Description: This film features Ben Kingsley in a role that's worlds away from Gandhi, as a menacing gangster who forces a retired criminal back into the game for one last heist. It's a tense, darkly humorous exploration of crime and coercion.

Fact: Kingsley's character, Don Logan, was inspired by a real-life gangster known to the film's writer, Louis Mellis.

Description: Another Guy Ritchie classic, 'Snatch' weaves together several criminal plots, including diamond smuggling, illegal boxing, and a stolen dog. It's a whirlwind of dark comedy and crime that's as unpredictable as it is entertaining.

Fact: Brad Pitt's character, Mickey O'Neil, speaks in an almost unintelligible Irish accent, which was reportedly inspired by a real-life traveller Ritchie met.

Description: Set in the 1980s, this film follows a young man who gets involved in the drug trade on the Costa del Sol, Spain. It's a gritty, stylish look at the expat criminal scene with a soundtrack that's as cool as the film itself.

Fact: The film was inspired by the real-life experiences of writer-director Nick Love, who worked as a club promoter in Spain during that era.

Description: Another Guy Ritchie film, this one involves a real estate scam, a missing painting, and a cast of characters all looking to make a quick buck. It's a fast-paced, stylish romp through London's underworld.

Fact: The film was originally intended to be the first in a trilogy, but its box office performance led to the sequels being shelved.

Description: Guy Ritchie's latest caper dives into the world of marijuana smuggling in London, with a cast of colourful characters that could only come from his mind. It's a rollercoaster ride through the criminal underworld with a distinctly British twist.

Fact: The film was initially intended to be a TV series before being adapted into a feature film. Also, it features a cameo from Charlie Hunnam's real-life girlfriend, Morgana McNelis.

Description: This film follows an unnamed drug dealer, played by Daniel Craig, who wants to retire but gets pulled into one last job involving a massive ecstasy deal. It's a stylish, gritty look at the drug trade with a plot as layered as its title suggests.

Fact: This was one of the films that helped Daniel Craig land the role of James Bond. Also, the character played by Craig was originally named "Mr. X" in the novel by J.J. Connolly.