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2024 marks the 20th anniversary of the second release of the Ocean’s Trilogy, Ocean’s Twelve. This star-studded sequel to Ocean’s Eleven is considered to be the favourite of Steven Soderbergh, who directed the entire trilogy. The follow-up saw Danny Ocean (George Clooney) and his motley crew of expert criminals regroup for another ambitious heist, this time thousands of miles away from the Las Vegas Strip.
The story, which heavily features Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia), the casino owner Ocean’s Eleven robbed in Vegas, sees him track down Ocean and co. in search of retribution. He demands restitution for his losses, as well as interest for his inconvenience. Most of the crew had already spent their share of the heist from Benedict’s casino, so the onus was on them to carry out a fresh heist in Europe to repay Benedict and be free of his clutches.
This means the stakes are even higher in Ocean’s Twelve. There’s still plenty of dry wit, charm and intricate plotting, bearing all the hallmarks of the original, without the Las Vegas razzamatazz. Maybe it’s the lack of the glitz and glamour of “Sin City”, but the film failed to secure widespread critical acclaim. While some movie critics praised its ambition and continued playful narrative, others found it unnecessarily complex and self-indulgent. Entertainment Weekly even went as far as listing it in its “Worst 25 Sequels Ever Made” rankings.
The allure of heists in popular culture
Elaborate heists remain a fascinating storyline for all kinds of entertainment in 2024. Online slot games, like the land-based conversion Action Bank, give players the opportunity to try safes and uncover treasure. It’s a similar story in video games, with the Grand Theft Auto (GTA) series and Red Dead Redemption 2 both incorporating meticulously designed heist missions, which give players the virtual ability to orchestrate their own operations, just like Danny Ocean.
The Ocean’s Trilogy itself is largely inspired by many real-world heists that captured the imagination of the public. Whether it’s the 1971 Baker Street Robbery in central London or the Diamond Heist of Antwerp as recently as 2003, these movies attempt to mirror the audacity of these famous crimes, blurring the lines between reality and fiction.
Will the Ocean’s Trilogy become a four-parter?
Fans of the Ocean’s Trilogy will also be excited to find that there could yet be a fourth movie release on the horizon. According to Deadline’s reporter, Mike Fleming Jr, momentum is building for an “Ocean’s 14” release. Both George Clooney and Brad Pitt are reportedly on board with the idea, and are working on Edward Berger to assume the mantle of directing duties. Berger, who oversaw Oscar-winning hit, All Quiet on the Western Front, and Conclave, he’s very much a director in demand right now.
Fleming Jr said that Warner Bros and Smokehouse have been working hard in the background on an Ocean’s 14 plot. Clooney was quizzed on the prospect during his promotion of his role in Boys on the Boat. He intimated that the two organisations had devised a script in the mould of Going in Style, which should certainly whet the appetite given its undoubted box office success, raking in more than a three-fold return on its $25m budget.