# Dope Thief (2025)

> Two lifelong friends in Philadelphia pose as DEA agents to rob drug dealers until they pick the wrong mark.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/131556

## Facts

- Seasons: 1
- Episodes: 8
- Episode runtime: 49 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: crime, drama
- Created by: Peter Craig
- Network: Apple TV
- Cast: Brian Tyree Henry, Wagner Moura, Marin Ireland, Amir Arison, Nesta Cooper, Kate Mulgrew, Ving Rhames, Adam Petchel
- TMDB rating: 7.0/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21638826/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: strong
- Complexity: layered
- Violence: moderate
- Tone: tense, gritty, wry, bleak, propulsive

## What critics say

Audiences find the miniseries a tense, well-acted crime caper whose twists land unevenly, with mixed overall reception.

## Synopsis

Dope Thief (2025) is an American crime drama limited series created by Peter Craig for Apple TV. Brian Tyree Henry plays Ray Driscoll and Wagner Moura plays Manny Carvalho, two lifelong friends in Philadelphia who pose as DEA agents to rob small-time drug dealers. Marin Ireland plays Mina Campbell, and Ving Rhames plays Bartram Driscoll, whose presence keeps the family stakes close. Their scheme is a perfect grift built on forged badges, fake raids, and careful reading of marks, but the crew chooses the wrong target and finds itself hunted by a massive narcotics enterprise. The story unfolds across an eight-episode run, with each installment tightening the trap around the friends as every move carries a cost. Set in present-day Philadelphia, the series plays out in the neon-lit underside of the city, where the drug trade is violent and nobody is trustworthy. The tone is tense, gritty and bleakly wry, with a focus on loyalty and the price of greed. Fans of Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul and The Wire will find resonance in its morally compromised criminals and its grounded, dangerous underworld.

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