Crime 101 Ending Explained: Who Dies, Who Escapes, And What The Chris Hemsworth-Led Thriller Is All About

The following contains spoilers for Crime 101Crime 101 is a twisty crime thriller that never loses sight of the characters at the heart of the story, with their respective fates all playing into the overall theme of the critically acclaimed movie. The movie focuses on Mike, a perfectionist criminal whose bloodless approach to robberies has kept him hidden from the authorities for years.

However, just as he finally lets his guard down and forms an emotional connection with someone, he finds himself with an opportunity of a lifetime, a detective on his trail, and a wildcard criminal poised to wreck everything. The resulting chaos drives much of Crime 101 leading to a surprisingly optimistic ending despite the harsh moral of the story.

Why Lubesnick Lets Mike Escape In Crime 101's Ending

The big twist in Crime 101's finale is that Lubesnick allows Mike to flee his attempted robbery. Although Lubesnick has been on the hunt for Mike for the entire film, he's gradually come to appreciate the criminal's restraint compared to other robbers. While he does attempt to bring down Mike, the arrival of Ormon throws everything into chaos.

When Mike shoots Ormon to save Lubesnick, the officer decides to give the career criminal a break and allows him to escape. He even quietly threatens Steven Monroe with a larger investigation into his own finances, covering for himself and Mike. Lubesnick then tells the authorities that he killed Ormon, who was the 101 bandit the entire time.

Lubesnick's actions fly in the face of his earlier frustrations with the police hiding evidence to corroborate their own story, but come entirely from a place of understanding towards Mike and a clear sense of gratitude for his actions to save his life. It also plays into the arc for both characters and how it reflects the film's central theme.

What Happens To Everyone Else In Crime 101

Crime 101 largely splits focus between Mike, his love interest Maya, the insurance broker Sasha, and Lubesnick. After Ormon's death, the investigation into the 101 crimes comes to a halt, and it's presumed that Lubesnick will be heralded for his efforts. He also makes sure Sasha receives the diamonds Mike had stolen in the film's first act.

Meanwhile, Sasha confronted her sexist boss and quit her job. Notably, the pair had been gradually implied to be forming a somewhat flirtatious dynamic by that point, with their final scene together hinting that they may continue seeing each other. As they'd both established as lonely in their lives, it's a sweet moment of empathy for both.

Maya and Mike are the film's primary love story, with Maya's growing frustration over his mysterious background serving as their primary drama. Although she leaves him over these issues, Mike's final act in the film is to send her a letter revealing more about himself and sharing a hope that it's not "too late" for them.

The film ends with Maya running out of her office, implicitly to find Mike. This effectively gives all the characters an open-ended but optimistic conclusion to their story. It also plays into the film's central theme of characters who can't escape the system, but can find ways to make it work for them while retaining their humanity and empathy.

What Is Mike's Backstory In Crime 101

One of the intriguing slow burns of Crime 101 is the mystery behind Mike's identity. Mike does everything he can to hide his true self from the world, Maya. However, as the film progresses, there are a few clues that others piece together about him that offer an explanation of his younger years and explain his current mentality.

Mike grew up poor in Los Angeles, moving frequently. He alludes to Lou that he was homeless as a child, seemingly confirming Sharon's earlier assumption that, as someone raised in a chaotic world, he strives for order as an adult. This explains his methodical approach to life. He also suggests this background is why he values wealth so much.

A DNA sample of Mike that is found in his car leads Lou to discover that he's operating under a false name and spent time at a foster home in the city. This is the only connection to his past that appears in the film, although his final letter to Maya reveals that he has (or had) two brothers.

There's little concrete information about Mike in Crime 101, which is likely for the better. It plays into his mysterious qualities, making him a more elusive criminal and a more intriguing character. It also clearly weighs on him and impacts his ability to connect to others, something he must overcome by the film's conclusion.

The True Meaning Of Crime 101

There's an interesting and morally tricky thematic conclusion to Crime 101. The film depicts the systems of modern society as an overarching problem, taking aim at the selfish desires of the 1%, the police, the insurance companies, and the criminal underworld. However, the film does present a way to beat that back.

In Crime 101, the insatiable hunger for wealth and security can't be beaten. There's no comeuppance for the authorities who lie about the shooting death of an unarmed robber. There's no payback against the insurance company that has used Sharon but refuses to acknowledge her as a partner.

The only good cop in the film implicitly allows a corrupt billionaire to escape accountability for his own decision to spare someone else. It's notably not a film where the public finds out about anyone's wrongdoing, and many of the film's sleazy figures, like Steven Monroe, Mark, Captain Stewart, and Money, get away with their crimes.

In Crime 101, the system is broken, but we're stuck in it. Instead, the moral of the film is centered around characters finding their moralities even while "playing the game," which ends with them being rewarded. Sharon quits her job, but also goes out on her own terms and warns a young co-worker to avoid her mistakes.

Mike reveals a willingness to kill to save a life, earning Lou's empathy and his freedom. Lou, who'd been established as the most morally upstanding member of the cast, hides evidence and even makes off with the initially stolen diamonds, showing that he can "play the game" but for the benefit of those he feels deserve it.

In turn, Sharon and Lou form a connection, and he gets Mike's car. The film rewards him for this empathy and his willingness to bend the rules like he'd previously judged others for. For someone who'd been previously called out for sticking by his beat-up old car, the green Mustang is a major improvement.

In Crime 101, the rules are the rules. You can't beat the system or break it down, and playing by your own only gets you killed; just ask Ormon. Crime 101 highlights how you still have to make moral choices, and how empathy in that harsh system is the only real way to survive.