Overview
A con man's passport troubles lead him into a high-stakes heist in Istanbul.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- playful
- glamorous
- classic movie night
- heist movie marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as a brilliantly colorful, expertly plotted caper elevated by Peter Ustinov’s comic performance.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The gang’s central objective is the theft of a jewel-encrusted dagger from Istanbul’s Topkapi museum.
Arthur Simon Simpson is a small-time con man whose passport troubles make him an unwilling participant and eventual patsy in the robbery.
The film uses brilliant Technicolor and Istanbul locations, including the palace and Golden Horn, to heighten its comic burglary fantasy.
Elizabeth Lipp’s gang assembles distinct talents, including gadget expertise and acrobatic skill, for the seemingly impossible museum robbery.
Films like Topkapi, and why
Rififi
playful ensemble caper, international locations, and comic burglary mechanics
The Pink Panther
stylish jewel heist, charismatic thieves, and breezy comic tension
How to Steal a Million
globetrotting crime comedy centered on an elaborate theft and colorful ensemble
Movie Details
- Director
- Jules Dassin
- Release Date
- 1964-09-02
- Runtime
- 119 min
- Rating
- 6.5 / 10 (225)
Cast
- Melina Mercouri
- Peter Ustinov
- Maximilian Schell
- Robert Morley
- Jess Hahn
- Gilles Ségal
- Akim Tamiroff
- Titos Vandis
- Ege Ernart
- Senih Orkan
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- ScreenPix Apple TV channel, ScreenPix Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Topkapi about?
- A hapless tourist swindler becomes the comic weak link in a dazzling international plot to steal a jeweled dagger from Istanbul’s Topkapi museum.
- What is Topkapi like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Topkapi as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Topkapi violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Topkapi.
- What did critics think of Topkapi?
- Critics broadly praised the film as a brilliantly colorful, expertly plotted caper elevated by Peter Ustinov’s comic performance.
- Which films are like Topkapi?
- Films with a similar feel include Rififi, The Pink Panther, and How to Steal a Million.
- How long is Topkapi?
- Topkapi runs 119 minutes.
- Where can I watch Topkapi?
- In United States, Topkapi streams on ScreenPix Apple TV channel, ScreenPix Amazon Channel .
