The Thomas Crown Affair (1999)

67% of critics liked it
(91 reviews)
70% of users liked it
(73,881 ratings)

When a priceless Monet painting is stolen from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the police find themselves wondering which world-class art thief pulled the job. What they don't know is that the thief wasn't a professional, but an amateur. Thomas Crown (Pierce Brosnan) was born poor but made his way… More When a priceless Monet painting is stolen from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the police find themselves wondering which world-class art thief pulled the job. What they don't know is that the thief wasn't a professional, but an amateur. Thomas Crown (Pierce Brosnan) was born poor but made his way through Oxford on a boxing scholarship. With his sharp sense for business and ruthless ambition, Crown has become a self-made billionaire; but despite his wealth and power, he still seeks new challenges, and he steals art not for the profits but for the sheer excitement. However, as fun as art theft might be, it's still illegal, and investigator Catherine Banning (Rene Russo) is brought in to track down the culprit. Certain clues point to Crown, so Banning introduces herself into Crown's social circle. Police detective Michael McCann (Denis Leary) warns Banning against getting too close to Crown. She takes McCann's suggestion lightly -- until she finds herself falling for the suave thief. The Thomas Crown Affair was adapted from the popular 1968 caper film of the same name starring Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway; Dunaway appears in the new film as Crown's analyst. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 49 min.
Directed By: John McTiernan
Written By: Leslie Dixon, Kurt Wimmer
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Romance, Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Aug 6, 1999 Wide
On DVD: Jan 4, 2000
Studio: MGM/UA

Critic Reviews

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
It might be fun to see on an airplane or rent on video.
Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune
Remade with lots of pizzazz but little wit or soul.
Todd McCarthy, Variety
Production has been lavished with extravagant sets and locations that welcome the audience into a fantasy world of untold luxury.
Steve Murray, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Crown is a guilt-free pleasure, a way to waste a couple of hours happily at the theater without encountering computer-generated monsters or teenagers losing their virginity.
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
The Thomas Crown Affair plays as a very grown-up, cynical and slick quasi-thriller, with a couple of hot sex scenes that look as if they're the ones missing from Stanley Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut.
Jay Carr, Boston Globe
Elaborate and inventive!
Betty Jo Tucker, ReelTalk Movie Reviews
Hhandsome Pierce Brosnan and elegant Rene Russo look fabulous here, but they fail to ignite an exciting on-screen chemistry.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
A fine remake for older teens and adults.
Scott Nash, Three Movie Buffs
In 1999, was there a more suave man on the planet than Pierce Brosnan?
Chris Cabin, Slant Magazine
John McTiernan's efficient, if inscrutably slight, remake of The Thomas Crown Affair arrives on Blu-Ray confident in its own sleek presentation and the chemistry of its central, seductive diptych.
Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
...professional Hollywood movie-making, which means it's at once very impressive and utterly dismissable.
Jeffrey Overstreet, Looking Closer
For those who still have a shred of sophistication left, and an appreciation for mind games rather than mere shock-treatment, here's a summer movie for you.
Jeffrey Westhoff, Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)
The best thing about "The Thomas Crown Affair" is that it doesn't give a hang if the 14-year-olds show up.

Read all 13 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Dean M

This striking, style remake succeeds on its own merits, very average. Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo are perfectly suited to these characters; dueling titans who must appear icily superficial and above common worldly concerns. The heist seems in both are superbly conceived and well… More
This striking, style remake succeeds on its own merits, very average. Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo are perfectly suited to these characters; dueling titans who must appear icily superficial and above common worldly concerns. The heist seems in both are superbly conceived and well filmed, with just the right amount of tension about the problems arising. Good stuff.
Dean !

I thought this was a pretty decent light hearted, sexy, crime thriller. More of a heist film to be honest. it's fun seeing how they did it, if the cops can figure it out and if he can get away with it. Strong cast and a well put together film overall.
Anthony L

Really hated this film. Rene Russo was awful! The random nude scene was disturbing too!
Jani H

A very mediocre film about a billionaire who obviously wants challenges. The film looks good and the lead actors have a good chemistry between them. But I just didn't warm up for the movie. It's boring and slow paced and never really gets that exiting. Predictable from the… More
A very mediocre film about a billionaire who obviously wants challenges. The film looks good and the lead actors have a good chemistry between them. But I just didn't warm up for the movie. It's boring and slow paced and never really gets that exiting. Predictable from the first moment when the two main characters meet on the screen. Denis Leary's screen time should've been a lot bigger. He was the most interesting character in the movie. In the beginning we find out stuff about his past and so on, but when the two lovebirds start their teasing, Leary's character is gone... Nice views, a lot of sex scenes and some obvious "twists" in the end... No effort here.
Lewis C

Heist films are usually fun, but I've yet to see one that has more to offer than a few thrills. The Thomas Crown Affair is often clever, occasionally unbelievable, and consistently entertaining. The only problem is, I can think of five films in the same genre that do the… More
Heist films are usually fun, but I've yet to see one that has more to offer than a few thrills. The Thomas Crown Affair is often clever, occasionally unbelievable, and consistently entertaining. The only problem is, I can think of five films in the same genre that do the exact same things.
Candy R

Great adaptation of the Steve McQueen movie. Great chemistry between Pierce and Renee. Good plot about an art thief and an insurance investigator who fall in love. I love the scene with the bowler hats. It's very clever.
danny d

rene russo ruins an otherwise great movie with a terrible performance. one of the worst actress performances of all time, which is sad becasue sometimes shes really good
Ginny

Quoted: The new "Thomas Crown" is a flighty affair, but it's colorfully acted and tautly directed by John McTiernan, who makes it look almost as handsome as the paintings that decorate the backgrounds. The season isn't likely to bring a better Bondian… More
Quoted: The new "Thomas Crown" is a flighty affair, but it's colorfully acted and tautly directed by John McTiernan, who makes it look almost as handsome as the paintings that decorate the backgrounds. The season isn't likely to bring a better Bondian entertainment.
moon r

love it
Red L

I love all the bowler hats in the museum.
Cindy I

HATED this movie! Didn't even finish watching it. I got so sick of Brosnan and Russo making eyes at each other I turned it off. Have no plans to give it another chance.
Cassandra M

THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR, in my opinion, is an excellent action movie with a little romance thrown in that has excellent performances. If you ask me, Thomas (Pierce Brosnan) and Catherine (Rene Russo) made a cute couple. As far as I could see, they looked really good in the attire they… More
THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR, in my opinion, is an excellent action movie with a little romance thrown in that has excellent performances. If you ask me, Thomas (Pierce Brosnan) and Catherine (Rene Russo) made a cute couple. As far as I could see, they looked really good in the attire they wore to the ball. I just don't understand why he wanted to rip off a piece of artwork, though. Before I wrap this up, I'd like to say that everyone involved in this project did an excellent job. Now, in conclusion, I highly recommend excellent action movie with a little romance thrown in that has excellent performances to all you Pierce Brosnan or Rene Russo fans who haven't seen it. When you see it, prepare to be dazzled.
Drew S

I'm sure this was a good movie, but I'll be damned if I can remember a thing about it, except the scene where Rene Russo throws a towel at Pierce Brosnan.
Jason S

I liked this hiest flick. I thought the cast worked well together and the story flowed easily.
Leigh R

Interesting film.
Michael G

A Bond movie without Bond.
Khris N

Not as good as the original - rene russo tries too hard and brosnan is kinda dry with the suave and bondish style roles. A disapointment from McTeirnan - the original was far better - i did not appreciate watching a 50 y/o naked ass getttin down with Brosnan - kinda made the story… More
Not as good as the original - rene russo tries too hard and brosnan is kinda dry with the suave and bondish style roles. A disapointment from McTeirnan - the original was far better - i did not appreciate watching a 50 y/o naked ass getttin down with Brosnan - kinda made the story sleazy.
Lesley N

I love this film, mostly for this one scene, courtesy of Pierce Brosnan, Nina Simone and Henri Magritte.... please, please, (please!) don't watch unless you've seen the film or never never ever intend to see it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhxTQ7rK_HU
matt s

Rene Russo's nudity!
Bill C

Rene Russo at here stunning finest. Brosnan’s and Russo’s roles seem to be written for them. Rene Russo has the life that anyone would want. She is a well paid detective/trouble shooter for an insurance company. She is self-secure, intelligent and beautiful. The kind of characteristic… More
Rene Russo at here stunning finest. Brosnan’s and Russo’s roles seem to be written for them. Rene Russo has the life that anyone would want. She is a well paid detective/trouble shooter for an insurance company. She is self-secure, intelligent and beautiful. The kind of characteristic any one would want to know or be male or female. Sadly, this appears to be Russo’s best shot to be a lead actress in anything but B type derivative movies. Part of her beauty in this movie is tinge of age that shows around here eyes. That she’s not that latest 17 year old chicka from ex-eastern block countries we have been showered with lately. Brosnan owns a successful investment firm the specializes in leverage buy outs. He is a self made man who has everything he thinks he wants and is a part time thief for his own amusement. Brosnan fit this role better than he ever fit into James Bond. Besides the enjoyment of watching Russo Move across the screen, this movie has beautiful cinematography. The most memorable are the shots in the Glider where the music and the visuals blend together so well they make you hair on the back of your neck stand-up. Comparing this with the 1968 version there really is no comparison but the name and vaguely the plot. I’m a big Steve Mc queen fan and the original is just painful to watch. Maybe just Faye Dunaway just can’t stand watching a movie with her in it. She does have a bit part as Brosnan Psychiatrist. I own this movie and my wife and I through it in on rainy days when we just want to grab a blanket and snuggle on the couch.