Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- brash
- streetwise
- thanksgiving
- lazy sunday
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film entertaining and well cast, especially praising Eddie Murphy's return to comic form while noting its formulaic plot and implausible heist logistics.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Josh and fellow employees target Arthur Shaw after their pension funds disappear through his fraud.
Josh recruits fired employees, an evicted tenant, and criminal acquaintance Slide for the break-in.
The central target is Shaw's heavily secured high-rise penthouse within a Manhattan tower.
Critics repeatedly identified Eddie Murphy's confrontational, wisecracking Slide as the film's main energy boost.
Films like Tower Heist, and why
Ocean's Eleven
shared heist-comedy structure, ensemble teamwork, workplace grievances, and accessible action
The Italian Job
shared caper comedy tone, mismatched criminals, urban setting, and comic ensemble chemistry
Fun with Dick and Jane
shared blue-collar revenge premise, comic plotting, and a group targeting a wealthy criminal
The Other Guys
shared workplace satire, economic resentment, and broad action-comedy energy
Movie Details
- Director
- Brett Ratner
- Release Date
- 2011-11-02
- Runtime
- 104 min
- Rating
- 6.1 / 10 (3277)
Cast
- Ben Stiller
- Eddie Murphy
- Casey Affleck
- Alan Alda
- Matthew Broderick
- Stephen McKinley Henderson
- Judd Hirsch
- Téa Leoni
- Michael Peña
- Gabourey Sidibe
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Tower Heist about?
- When a disgraced tower manager discovers his employees’ pensions vanished into a billionaire’s fraud, he assembles an unlikely crew to steal back what they lost.
- What is Tower Heist like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Tower Heist as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Tower Heist violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Tower Heist as mild.
- What did critics think of Tower Heist?
- Critics broadly found the film entertaining and well cast, especially praising Eddie Murphy's return to comic form while noting its formulaic plot and implausible heist logistics.
- Which films are like Tower Heist?
- Films with a similar feel include Ocean's Eleven, The Italian Job, Fun with Dick and Jane, and The Other Guys.
- How long is Tower Heist?
- Tower Heist runs 104 minutes.
- Where can I watch Tower Heist?
- In United States, Tower Heist is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
