The Fortune Cookie (1966)
The Movie Criminal: Harry Hinkle (Jack Lemmon), who's convinced by his brother-in-law - lawyer William (Walter Matthau) - to pretend he's paralysed after being injured by a football player.
All so they can claim a massive insurance payout.
Why We Like Him: Harry's a begrudging criminal at best, and only goes along with the plan in an attempt to win back his ex-wife.
Plus who doesn't love watching Lemmon and Matthau go nose-to-nose?
Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid (1969)
The Movie Criminals: Butch Cassidy (Paul Newman) and 'Sundance Kid' Harry Longabaugh (Robert Redford), who form the Hole-in-the-Wall gang, a band of train-raiding bounty hunters.
Why We Like Them: Even when the odds are stacked against them, Butch and Sundance remain optimistic - going so far as attempting to take on a Bolivian bank despite knowing little Spanish to make their demands.
Now that's the kind of gung-ho attitude we admire.
A Fish Called Wanda (1988)
The Movie Criminal: Brit-hating Otto (Kevin Kline), a weapons man who's called on by gangster George Thomason to help him take on a London heist.
Why We Like Him: He sings opera, draws strength from the stench of his own armpits and is a hopeless romantic.
It's IMPOSSIBLE to hate this guy.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)
The Movie Criminal: Harry Lockhart (Robert Downey Jr.) messes up a burglary and escapes police capture by hiding at an audition.
When he impresses the movie producers, he finds himself signed up for a film - and encountering investigator Perry Van Shrike (Val Kilmer).
Why We Like Him: We love a good case of mistaken identity, and Lockhart's attempts to live up to the lies he's created are hilarious.
Plus he gets to spout some absolutely golden dialogue, thanks to writer/director Shane Black.
Grosse Pointe Blank (1997)
The Movie Criminal: Martin Blank (John Cusack), an assassin who's increasingly disillusioned with his morbid working life.
It's the perfect time, then, for him to reflect on his chosen profession while attending his 10 year high school reunion…
Why We Like Him: Yes, Blank makes his living killing people, but he's also a regular guy dealing with regular life problems.
Like a high school reunion, for example, and the confusing/explosive passions of his ex-girlfriend.
X-Men (2000)
The Movie Criminal: Erik Lehnsherr (Ian McKellen), better known as the mutant Magneto.
He takes the law into his own hands when he hatches a plan to show prejudicial non-mutants who's boss by turning them all into mutants. Muwahahaha.
Why We Like Him: Magneto's got style by the stackload - not least thanks to his ability to manipulate anything made of metal.
He's also nifty when it comes to a one-liner or two ("Humans and their guns!"), meaning he's also one of the cattiest mutants you'll ever meet.
True Romance (1993)
The Movie Criminal: Clarence Worley (Christian Slater), who becomes a criminal sort of by accident when he kills a drug dealer, nabs his stash and decides to sell it on to a film producer.
Why We Like Him: Clarence is also a hopeless romantic, falling for hooker Alabama (Patricia Arquette).
We just want these kids to be happy - even if they make some pretty idiotic choices.
Batman Returns (1992)
The Movie Criminal: Shy secretary Selena Kyle (Michelle Pfeiffer). After being shoved out of a window by her boss (Christopher Walken), Selena transforms into Catwoman, and she ain't taking any prisoners in her quest for vengeance.
File this one under: Vigilante.
Why We Like Her: Um, you've seen her outfit, right?
Aside from looking hella awesome, Catwoman's also one of the coolest comic anti-heroines - as strong and smart as any man.
Thelma & Louise (1991)
The Movie Criminals: Regular small-town gals Thelma (Geena Davis) and Louise (Susan Sarandon), who are forced to go on the run when Louise shoots and kills a man who attacked Thelma.
They burn rubber on their way to Mexico - and safety.
Why We Like Them: For the very fact that they're not career criminals - nowhere near. They're two women caught up in overwhelmingly awful circumstances.
Also, we love the way Louise shrieks "God dammit Thelma!" every five minutes.
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
The Movie Criminal: Red (Morgan Freeman), a resident of Shawshank Sate Penitentiary.
He's there for life having killed somebody as an impressionable youth. "Only guilty man in Shawshank."
Why We Like Him: Red's the kind of wise, genuine and warm older guy you could only ever dream of meeting in prison.
He talks sense and he looks out for new inmate Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins), even procuring a pretty important Riya Hayworth poster for him…
