How to Steal a Million
Common Sense says
- NR
- 1966
- 123 minutes
Parents say
Kids say
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A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that How to Steal a Million is a '60s romantic caper that doesn't teach how to steal anything. There's little to offer in terms of positive messages or role models, but there's no real evil here, either. Characters frequently drink and smoke, so it's a good opportunity to talk to kids about how that behavior glamorizes alcohol and tobacco use, and how society's attitudes have changed since the mid-'60s. Sexual content is limited to a few kisses. Some works of art depict nude female figures. Someone accidently shoots a gun.
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User Reviews
- Parents say
- Kids say
How to Steal a Million Review
Charming underrated heist comedy.
Lots of charm, little action in slow-paced heist comedy. Haha! CSM is right again!
What's the story?
Nicole's (Audrey Hepburn) father is an art forger. One of his sculptures on display is about to be inspected for authenticity. She decides she needs to steal the sculpture back and hide it away to keep her father from being exposed as a fake and save him from ruin. The only person she can call on for help is Simon (Peter O'Toole), the thief she caught trying to steal a painting from her home. But what's Simon really after?
Is it any good?
HOW TO STEAL A MILLION offers a lot of eye candy in the form of two gorgeous and talented stars it's almost impossible not to fall in love with. They bring an easy charm, and two of the most beautiful pairs of eyes in the history of cinema, to a lightweight, romantic, crime-caper comedy. And guided as they are by William Wyler, one of Hollywood's most-respected directors, expectations run high. But with little action, the wait is sometimes long for something to happen. The solid script provides some genuine laughs, but fails to bring real humanity to the characters and bogs down in extended sequences like walking around thinking or being stuck in a closet. Kids looking for an exciting caper are likely to be disappointed in this movie best saved for those with a real soft spot for old-school glamour.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about heist movies. Why do we enjoy them so much when they're about committing a crime?
How would the movie be different if it were made today? Would a heroine who can't think of or execute a plan to save her father seem realistic today? Do you think it seemed realistic in 1966?
Smoking in movies used to be a lot more common. Why have attitudes about smoking changed? What do we now know about the dangers of smoking?
Movie details
- In theaters: July 13, 1966
- On DVD or streaming: December 7, 2004
- Cast: Audrey Hepburn, Peter O'Toole, Eli Wallach
- Director: William Wyler
- Studio: World Wide Productions
- Genre: Comedy
- Run time: 123 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: February 13, 2020
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Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
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