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Crime 101 backdrop

Crime 101

11 February 2026English2h 21m
out of 10
Mixedlukewarm or divided
Monk Score · 3 scored reviews · 2 not rated

Weighted from a 7.0 average · Why?

Gritty noir with strong performances, let down by a tangled plot and hasty ending.

Verdict tier Mixed, lukewarm or divided, on a scale of Unfavorable, Mixed, Recommended, Exceptional.

  • Praised: performances and moral ambiguity
  • Criticised: convoluted plot and rushed ending

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Critic consensus

What 5 critics are saying

Crime 101 receives a broadly positive reception, with most critics appreciating its performances, moral ambiguity, and old-school noir sensibility. Reviewers consistently highlight the film's refusal to moralize and its textured, gritty atmosphere set against a Los Angeles backdrop. The main dissent comes from one critic who finds the plot around the diamonds unnecessarily convoluted, the ending rushed, and the treatment of class divide somewhat pretentious rather than genuinely grey.

How the 3 scores spread

2 not-rated reviews aren't plotted

The Monk Score is weighted from a plain average of 7.0 · how scores work

Positive / mixed / negative reviews

Positive = 6.5/10 and up · negative = below 5/10

AI-generated summary of 5 critic reviews · may contain errors

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From the papers

Critic reviews (5)

Top critics first, then by score · not-rated last · updated

  1. Top critic

    Indian Express

    Film review

    A faster wrapping up of the ending, a simpler plot around the moving of diamonds, lesser pretentiousness about the class divide, and a world that is more grey than the film's preferred black and white – and Crime 101 would be home and dry.
  2. Filmfare

    Film review

    Crime 101 is gritty, moody and refreshingly non-judgemental. It refuses to sermonise about crime or righteousness. Watch Crime 101 for its performances, for its textured exploration of moral ambiguity, and for the pleasure of seeing seasoned actors allowed to be human.
  3. India Today

    Film review

    Crime 101 is a polished thriller set against Los Angeles' sunlit menace. The film explores crime and morality through strong performances and classic noir style.
  4. Times Of India

    Film review

    It's an old-school thriller that doesn't limit itself to action and obvious cleverness. A throwback thriller that charms with its storytelling, simplicity, and performances.
  5. Deccan Chronicle

    Film review

    Crime 101 is a one-of-a-kind movie that every movie must watch and contains an ambiguous essence unlike any other crime thrillers. Overall, the film had excelled itself in terms of the overall direction, acting, screenplay and especially cinematography.

Credits

Cast & crew

Cast

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