Emily the Criminal (2022)

Emily the Criminal grabs you by the collar with the rare kind of thriller that feels uncomfortably real, turning everyday money stress into a pressure cooker you can’t look away from. Aubrey Plaza is electric here—sharp, vulnerable, and quietly ferocious—making Emily’s choices feel less like movie plotting and more like survival instinct with consequences. The film moves with a taut, street-level momentum, balancing pulse-quickening tension with pointed social commentary about how the system corners people long before they corner themselves. It isn’t a glossy caper or a feel-good ride, but if you want a gripping, smart crime drama that leaves you thinking as much as it leaves you breathless, this one delivers.

Emily the Criminal is trying to be a grounded, street-level crime thriller about how quickly desperation can turn into rationalized wrongdoing, and it mostly succeeds on tension and mood rather than big twists. Aubrey Plaza is the main reason to watch—she makes Emily compelling even when she’s making choices you won’t want to cheer for—but the film doesn’t always push its characters into the kind of shocking spiral some viewers expect. If you need a fast, high-stakes thriller with a dramatic descent and clear likability, this may feel a bit mellow and more like a solid “pass-the-time” watch than a gut-punch. If you’re good with a slower burn that leans on character and anxiety, it’s a decent, tightly acted ride.