What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedTakers
John Luessenhop · Film · 2010
If you loved Takers, start with The Take (Martina Cole, 2009) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Takers across media.
If Takers hooked you with its high-stakes professional planning, you will love these stories of calculated risks and criminal dynamics.
Books on the same thread
The Lincoln Lawyer
Michael Connelly · Book · 2011
Explores: Moral Ambiguity, Redemption, Justice System.
Like the team in Takers, Mickey Haller navigates the dangerous intersection of crime and consequence, offering a gritty look at the moral ambiguity inherent in high-stakes legal maneuvering.
Heat 2
Michael Mann and Meg Gardiner · Book
Shares a thread with Takers: cat and mouse.
Fans of the cat and mouse tension in Takers will appreciate this deep dive into the professional obsession and criminal underworld that drives complex, long-game heist operations.
Crook Manifesto
Colson Whitehead · Book
Explores: systemic corruption, 1970s urban decay, criminal underworld.
This narrative mirrors the criminal underworld dynamics found in Takers, placing characters against violent, systemic forces while they attempt to manage their own high-stakes heist operations.
The Bad Guys
Aaron Blabey · Book
Explores: Redemption, Unlikely friendships, Subverting tropes.
While lighter in tone, this story captures the same thrill of a coordinated heist team working together, proving that the camaraderie found in Takers transcends traditional genre boundaries.
Series on the same thread
Money Heist
Álex Pina · Series · 2017
Explores: Mastermind, Underdog Story, Us vs. Them.
If you enjoyed the meticulous planning phase of Takers, you will be captivated by this masterclass in strategy, where a band of robbers executes the ultimate heist.
Leverage
John Rogers · Series · 2008
Explores: Robin Hood, Underdog, Justice for the Little Guy.
This show echoes the team-based structure of Takers, focusing on how a group of specialized professionals uses their unique skills to navigate complex, high-stakes criminal jobs.
The Mentalist
Bruno Heller · Series · 2008
Shares a thread with Takers: Police Procedural.
The psychological manipulation and cat and mouse games that define the tension in Takers are front and center here, as a brilliant mind deconstructs serious criminal activity.
The Take
Martina Cole · Series · 2009
Shares a thread with Takers: betrayal.
The fallout of prison release and the resulting power struggles mirror the internal conflicts seen in Takers, highlighting the heavy consequences that follow a life of crime.
Podcasts on the same thread
Criminal
Vox Media Podcast Network · Podcast · 2026
Explores: moral ambiguity, social justice, human behavior.
This podcast explores the same moral ambiguity that clouds the lives of the characters in Takers, examining the human stories of those caught in the criminal system.
Raiders Of The Lost Podcast
Podcast
Explores: film criticism, television criticism, blockbuster movies.
Use this podcast to dissect the cinematic techniques and narrative beats that made Takers an engaging watch, providing context for the heist genre you clearly enjoy.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What is the primary motivation for the team in Takers?
In Takers, the group of bank robbers enjoys a life of luxury after completing successful heists. They are motivated by the prospect of another significant score when a former team member, Ghost, convinces them to target an armored car carrying $20 million.
Who is the character that influences the heist plot in Takers?
The character Ghost is the catalyst for the central conflict in Takers. After being released from prison, he approaches the team of bank robbers and persuades them to execute a high-stakes heist involving an armored car transporting $20 million.
Is Takers based on a specific heist operation?
Takers follows a fictional team of bank robbers, including Gordon Jennings, John Rahway, A.J., and brothers Jake and Jesse Attica. The plot centers on their meticulous planning of a $20 million armored car heist after Ghost reunites with the group following his release from prison.
How many main bank robbers are identified in Takers?
The team in Takers consists of five primary members: Gordon Jennings, John Rahway, A.J., and the brothers Jake and Jesse Attica. These individuals work together to plan their heists and maintain their lifestyle before Ghost introduces the armored car job.