Safe-cracking - Media Depictions

Media Depictions

Movies often depict a safe-cracker determining the combination of a safe lock using his fingers or a sensitive listening device to determine the combination of a rotary combination lock. Other films also depict an elaborate scheme of explosives and other devices to open safes.

Some of the more famous works include:

  • A Retrieved Reformation (1909)
  • The Asphalt Jungle (1950)
  • Rififi (1955)
  • The Cracksman (1963)
  • You Only Live Twice (1967)
  • Who's Minding the Mint? (1967)
  • Olsen Gang (1968–1998)
  • On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)
  • Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974)
  • No Deposit, No Return (1974)
  • Thief (1981)
  • Vabank (1981)
  • Blood Simple (1984)
  • Short Circuit 2 (1988)
  • Die Hard (1988)
  • Disorganized Crime (1989)
  • Hudson Hawk (1991)
  • Killing Zoe (1994)
  • Heat (1995)
  • Safe Men (1998)
  • The Newton Boys (1998)
  • Blue Streak (1999)
  • Small Time Crooks (2000)
  • Ocean's Eleven (2001)
  • The Score (2001)
  • Panic Room (2002)
  • The Italian Job (2003)
  • Bad Santa (2003) (2003)
  • Brainiac: Science Abuse (2003) – The safe was eventually cracked by a high-explosive round fired using a Challenger 2 Tank. The contents were destroyed.
  • The Ladykillers (2004)
  • The Bank Job (2008)
  • Burn Notice (2007–)

Three safecracking methods seen in movies were also tested on the television show MythBusters, with some success. While the team was able to blow the door off of a safe by filling the safe with water and detonating an explosive inside it, the contents of the safe were destroyed and filling the safe with water required sealing it from the inside. The safe had also sprung many leaks.

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