The Bank Job is a gripping British heist thriller based on the real-life 1971 Baker Street robbery in London. The film centers on Terry Leather (Jason Statham), a small-time car dealer struggling to make ends meet. He is approached by Martine Love (Saffron Burrows), a former flame, with a seemingly straightforward proposition: rob a bank vault through a tunnel. Unbeknownst to Terry, the robbery has deeper implications involving government secrets.

Terry assembles a crew of trusted friends to dig a tunnel from a neighboring shop into the bank’s underground vault. They communicate via walkie-talkies, which allows amateur radio operators to partially intercept their conversations, drawing some police attention. Despite this, the crew successfully accesses the vault and steals cash, jewels, and safety deposit box contents. Among their haul are scandalous photographs of Princess Margaret, kept in the bank by a shady figure named Michael X—an activist and criminal being watched by MI5.

The robbery triggers chaos in the criminal underworld and political circles. One box contains incriminating records tied to police corruption and brothels operated by the violent gangster Lew Vogel. As Terry’s crew tries to cash in on their heist, they are hunted by both Vogel’s men and British intelligence.

As events escalate, some of Terry’s crew are captured or killed. Martine reveals that she was working with MI5 from the start, seeking to recover the compromising photographs to protect the royal family. Terry ultimately uses the contents of the boxes to blackmail both the government and criminals, ensuring immunity and protection for himself and his family.

In the end, Michael X is arrested and executed in Trinidad, and Lew Vogel is exposed and arrested. Terry and his crew members who survived quietly enjoy their newfound wealth, while Martine disappears. The scandal involving Princess Margaret is quietly buried by the government.

The Bank Job blends real history with fictional elements, offering a smart, suspenseful look at greed, loyalty, and the secret underworld of 1970s London. The film ends on a victorious but morally gray note, with justice served in unconventional ways.