Story Overview

Bandits tells the story of Joe Blake (Bruce Willis) and Terry Collins (Billy Bob Thornton), two bank robbers on the run whose ultimate goal is to pull off a final series of heists, retire quietly, and settle somewhere down south. Joe is charming and confident, while Terry is anxious and clumsy, yet together they form an oddly effective duo. Their unconventional robbery technique quickly turns them into national celebrities, making them the most wanted criminals from Oregon to California, while simultaneously earning them the public’s admiration.

Their carefully balanced partnership takes an unexpected turn after one of their robberies, when Kate Wheeler (Cate Blanchett) accidentally collides with the panicked Terry during their escape. Circumstances force her to flee with them, and she soon becomes part of the team. Kate is an ordinary housewife trapped in a life filled with quiet disappointments, and her sudden plunge into a life of crime awakens emotions and desires she never knew she had.

As the trio continues their run from the law, Kate proves to be more than just an unwilling accomplice. She adapts quickly, even stealing something far more valuable than money: the hearts of both men. Joe and Terry each fall in love with her, creating a complicated emotional triangle that mirrors the contradictions within their partnership.

Neither Joe nor Terry is an ideal romantic partner on his own, yet together they seem to complete each other in ways neither can achieve alone. Blending crime, romance, and offbeat humor, Bandits is a stylish and character-driven crime comedy that explores love, identity, and the unexpected bonds formed on the road between freedom and capture.