What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Art Thief
Michael Finkel · Book
If you loved The Art Thief, start with True Story (Rupert Goold, 2015) — a film on the same thread. Below: 3 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Art Thief across media.
What hooked you in The Art Thief was the voyeuristic fascination with the psychological compulsions driving an obsessive, high-stakes criminal career.
Films on the same thread
True Story
Rupert Goold · Film · 2015
Explores: Identity Theft, Journalistic Ethics, The Nature of Truth.
If you were captivated by the author’s proximity to criminality in The Art Thief, this film’s exploration of the complex, manipulative relationship between journalist and criminal will resonate deeply.
To Catch a Thief
Alfred Hitchcock · Film · 1955
Explores: Mistaken Identity, Cat and Mouse, Redemption.
While The Art Thief focuses on the raw obsession of a thief, this classic captures the elegant, high-stakes atmosphere and the cat-and-mouse tension surrounding a legendary art burglar.
The Book Thief
Brian Percival · Film · 2013
Explores: The Power of Words, Resilience in the Face of Adversity, Innocence Lost.
Much like the protagonist of The Art Thief, Liesel finds a profound, personal connection to stolen objects, though she seeks resilience and moral courage rather than aesthetic possession.
Series on the same thread
Your Friends & Neighbors
Jonathan Tropper · Series · 2025
Explores: wealth inequality, midlife crisis, moral decay.
This series mirrors the exhilaration of the illicit found in The Art Thief, shifting the focus to a man whose midlife crisis manifests through a dangerous, addictive thieving habit.
White Collar
Jeff Eastin · Series · 2009
Explores: Partnership, Redemption, Moral Ambiguity.
You will appreciate how this series echoes the moral ambiguity of The Art Thief, pairing a charming, expert con artist with law enforcement to navigate a world of crime.
MINDHUNTER
Joe Penhall · Series · 2017
Explores: Serial Killers, FBI Investigation, Criminal Profiling.
If the criminal psychology in The Art Thief kept you turning pages, this series offers a rigorous look at the profiling techniques used to understand the minds of criminals.
RIPLEY
Steven Zaillian · Series · 2024
Explores: Identity Theft, Moral Ambiguity, Social Climbing.
Mirroring the life of deception portrayed in The Art Thief, this series tracks a grifter whose desperate need to inhabit a different life leads to fraud, theft, and murder.
Podcasts on the same thread
Unravelling Amy
Podcast
Shares a thread with The Art Thief: Criminal Psychology.
This podcast explores the same fascination with long-term criminal careers found in The Art Thief, detailing how a prolific thief uses manipulation and deception to sustain her lifestyle.
Scam Junkie
Podcast
Explores: scams, con artists, fraud.
Just as The Art Thief invites you into the mind of a repeat offender, this series features a legendary con man sharing the secrets behind his long criminal career.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Art Thief based on a true story?
Yes, The Art Thief is a non-fiction book written by Michael Finkel. It tells the true story of Stéphane Breitwieser, who successfully committed more than 200 art thefts over his career, motivated by his personal desire to admire the stolen pieces.
What is the main premise of The Art Thief?
The Art Thief chronicles the life of Stéphane Breitwieser, a man who stole over 200 works of art. Unlike typical thieves, he did not sell the items for profit, but instead stole them specifically to keep and admire the art for himself.
Who is the author of The Art Thief?
The Art Thief was written by Michael Finkel. He is also the author of The Stranger in the Woods, another non-fiction work that explores the life of an individual living outside of conventional societal norms.
Why did the subject of The Art Thief steal art?
Stéphane Breitwieser, the subject of The Art Thief, stole art more than 200 times for the sole purpose of personal admiration. He was not motivated by financial gain, but rather by an obsessive desire to possess and enjoy the artwork in his own private collection.