Can a heist film based on a true story survive a box office flop?
In short: Mad Money, a 2008 crime comedy starring Diane Keaton and Queen Latifah, attempted to adapt a real-life British bank theft for American audiences. Despite five years of development and a star-studded cast, the film struggled to find its footing with critics and audiences alike, becoming a notable box office disappointment.
The film was inspired by the 2001 British television production Hot Money, which dramatized the true story of three women who stole banknotes destined for destruction at a Bank of England incinerating plant. Director Callie Khouri and producer Jay Cohen spent five years developing an Americanized version, tailoring the lead roles specifically for Keaton and Latifah. The plot follows Bridget Cardigan, who, facing financial ruin, recruits two coworkers at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City to steal worn-out currency marked for shredding.
The heist mechanism involves a clever, if implausible, swap of security locks on cash carts. Bridget, Nina, and Jackie successfully pilfer bills by dumping them into trash cans during their shifts. While the trio initially succeeds, their operation eventually draws the attention of a Federal Bank Examiner. The film concludes with a legal twist: because the authorities cannot prove the source of the cash found in the suspects' homes, the group avoids jail time, though they are forced to surrender their remaining illicit funds to the IRS to cover unpaid taxes.
Upon its January 18, 2008 release, the film faced immediate headwinds. It debuted in fifth place domestically, earning $2.3 million on its opening day, and ultimately grossed only $26.4 million worldwide. Critics were largely unimpressed, with Rotten Tomatoes reporting a 22% approval rating. Reviews often cited a sluggish pace and a lack of humor, with some critics specifically labeling Katie Holmes's performance as the film's weakest element. Despite the negative reception, some reviewers found the film to be a light, guiltless pleasure, praising the cast's energy even when the script failed to deliver.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Mad Money (film)
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