6 Memorable Movie Scenes Set in Banks
Banks are an important setting in the lives of many people and nearly everyone has a memorable story involving a trip to the bank at some point in their lives. For this reason, it’s no surprise that many amazing film scenes have also taken place at banks. Let’s take a look at six of the most memorable.
1- It’s a Wonderful Life
Frank Capra’s “It’s a Wonderful Life” is widely considered one of the best films of all time. The scene of Uncle Billy wrapping $8,000 in a newspaper and accidentally leaving it behind sets off the events that make up most of the rest of the film. This is perhaps the most iconic bank scene in a movie that doesn’t involve a robbery or heist.
2- Dog Day Afternoon
Almost the entirety of “Dog Day Afternoon” is set in a bank, as the plot revolves around bank robbers played by Al Pacino and John Cazale. Their interactions with each other, the police, the bank manager, and the women who work at the bank make watching the film an unforgettable experience. Sadly, Cazale died of cancer five years later.
3- Heat
Considered one of the greatest crime thrillers ever made, “Heat” directed by Michael Mann is centered around a thief played by Robert DeNiro who robs multiple banks throughout the film, including a memorable heist that is immediately followed by a shootout with the police, lead by an LAPD detective played by Al Pacino.
4- The Dark Knight
The opening scene of “The Dark Knight” takes place at a bank in Gotham City as we follow the perfectly planned and executed robbery committed by a series of masked men dressed as clowns. Near the end, it’s revealed that the heist was planned by The Joker, in an iconic performance by the late Heath Ledger, for which he won a posthumous Academy Award.
5- Point Break
The plot of “Point Break” involves a series of bank robberies committed by four men wearing masks depicting former Presidents Richard Nixon, LBJ, Jimmy Carter, and Ronald Reagan. We would have accepted either the 1991 original or the 2015 remake, although the former is held in much higher regard.
6- Spider-Man 2
One of the few memorable banking scenes that doesn’t involve the theft of money, the bank scene in “Spider-Man 2” still involves a crime. As Peter Parker and his Aunt May visit an uncaring and cynical bank employee portrayed by Joel McHale in an attempt to get a loan, Doctor Octopus arrives to wreak havoc and kidnap Aunt May, not realizing that her nephew is actually the Spider-Man himself.
These are just a few of the most memorable film scenes that take place in banks. Most of them involve robberies, as it’s a classic crime that’s been perpetrated many times over the past few thousand years. We highly recommend that you don’t try it, though – some things are best left to the movies. After watching one of these bank-inspired movies, be sure to visit your local bank to check out your financial options.
