Barry Keoghan has this weird, twitchy energy that makes you unable to look away, even when he’s doing something absolutely horrific on screen. You know the vibe. Whether he's eating spaghetti in a way that haunts your dreams or dancing through a manor, he's basically the king of "unsettling but magnetic." Now, everyone is buzzing about Crime 101, the massive new thriller that's finally hitting theaters on February 13, 2026.
Honestly, the hype is real.
We aren't just talking about another generic bank robber flick. This is an adaptation of a Don Winslow novella, directed by Bart Layton—the guy who did American Animals. If you haven't seen that, go watch it tonight. It’s a masterclass in blending reality with heist tropes. Crime 101 looks like it's going to push Keoghan into a space we haven't quite seen him in yet: the cold, calculated world of high-stakes art theft.
Why Crime 101 is the Barry Keoghan New Movie Everyone's Watching
The cast is honestly ridiculous. Chris Hemsworth is playing Davis, a thief who follows a very strict set of rules to stay off the radar. Mark Ruffalo is the detective, Lou Lubesnick, who’s trying to piece it all together. But the wild card? That’s Barry. He plays Orman, a rival thief who doesn't exactly play by Davis’s "pro" handbook.
People keep assuming this is just a supporting role. They're wrong.
From what we’ve gathered, Orman is the chaotic mirror to Hemsworth’s disciplined criminal. While Davis is trying to pull off one last "clean" score to retire, Keoghan’s character represents the messy, violent reality that usually ruins these plans. It’s that classic "unstoppable force meets immovable object" thing, but with more expensive paintings and better outfits.
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A New Kind of Heist
Most heist movies are about the "how." How do they get past the lasers? How do they crack the safe? Crime 101 feels more like it's about the "why" and the inevitable friction between different generations of criminals. Keoghan is basically leading the charge for a grittier, less romanticized version of the professional thief.
He’s not playing a hero. He’s not even really playing a "likable" villain. He’s playing a predator.
Beyond the Heist: The 2026 Barry Keoghan Takeover
If you thought he was busy in 2024, 2026 is actually looking even more stacked. While Crime 101 is the immediate big-screen draw, there’s the whole Peaky Blinders situation.
Yeah, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man is officially a thing.
It’s scheduled to land in theaters on March 6, 2026, just a few weeks after the heist movie. Keoghan is starring alongside Cillian Murphy, and the rumor mill is spinning at about 100 miles per hour. People are desperate to know if he’s playing a Shelby, a rival, or some new chaotic element in post-war Birmingham. He’s been spotted in a leather jacket and a newsboy cap, looking every bit the part of a 1940s gangster. It’s a reunion with Murphy after Dunkirk, which is kind of a full-circle moment for him.
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The Saddam Project
Then there’s Amo Saddam. This one sounds heavy. It’s directed by Johan Renck—the mastermind behind the Chernobyl series—and it casts Keoghan as an American soldier guarding Saddam Hussein in the months leading up to his execution.
This isn't an action movie.
Renck has described it as a "genre-bending" prison drama that feels almost like a horror movie. Keoghan’s character has to navigate the psychological toll of being stuck in a bombed-out palace with a dictator. It’s based on the book The Prisoner in His Palace, and if Keoghan’s past work is any indication, he’s going to lean hard into the claustrophobia and moral ambiguity of that role.
What This Means for His Career
Look, Barry Keoghan doesn't do "normal." He could have easily coasted into big superhero franchises and stayed there (though his Joker is still looming in the background of the Batman sequels). Instead, he's picking projects that are genuinely risky.
- Versatility: He’s jumping from a slick heist to a period gangster epic to a psychological war drama.
- A-List Clout: Working with Hemsworth, Ruffalo, and Murphy in the span of a single year proves he's no longer just the "indie darling."
- Intensity: He hasn't lost that edge that made us notice him in The Killing of a Sacred Deer.
The guy is basically becoming the definitive actor of the mid-2020s. He represents a shift away from the "perfect" Hollywood lead toward something more textured and, frankly, more interesting to watch.
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How to Prepare for the Barry Keoghan New Movie Wave
If you want to stay ahead of the curve, you should probably do a few things. First, go read the original Crime 101 novella by Don Winslow. It’s short, punchy, and gives you a great idea of the tone Bart Layton is going for. It’ll help you spot the changes they’ve made for the big screen.
Next, keep an eye on the release schedule. February 13 is the date for Crime 101. It’s getting a wide theatrical release through Amazon MGM, which means it’ll likely hit streaming later in the year, but this is the kind of movie you want to see on a big screen with decent sound.
Finally, don't sleep on his smaller projects like Bird. It’s a totally different vibe—more magical realism and social drama—but it shows the range he’s bringing into these bigger 2026 blockbusters. He’s building a filmography that’s going to be studied for a long time. Basically, just clear your calendar for February and March. It's Barry's world; we're just buying the popcorn.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check Local Listings: Set a reminder for February 13, 2026, for the theatrical debut of Crime 101.
- Watch the Backlog: Catch up on American Animals to understand the director’s style before seeing the new heist.
- Stay Updated on Netflix: Keep a lookout for the Peaky Blinders trailer, which is expected to drop any day now to build hype for the March release.