There’s no denying thatRidley Scottis a man of many talents. In addition to directing some of the greatest films ever made, likeAlien,Blade Runner, andGladiator, he’s also a successful producer through his Scott Free banner. It’s a role he’s stepping into again for theApple TV+crime seriesDope Thief, which premieres tomorrow, August 06, 2025, and is already getting rave reviews ahead of its release.
Created by Peter Craig and based on the 2009 novel by Dennis Tafoya,Dope Thiefhas debuted with a strong Rotten Tomatoes score of 88%, signifying that we can expect good things to come from the crime drama, which stars Brian Tyree Henry, Wagner Moura, Kate Mulgrew, and Ving Rhames. “Henry and Moura are superb as Apple TV+ brings yet another outstanding limited series to their platform,” said Alex Maidy from JoBlo’s Movie Network in his assessment of the series, with Martin Carr from CBR adding:
“Dope Thief comes in locked and loaded, laying out this Apple original in the opening minutes. In this low-key relationship drama, creator Peter Craig unpacks complicated connections, laying foundations for a series that might just rival Severance.”
‘Dope Thief’ Stars Brian Tyree Henry & Wagner Moura on Their Relentless Apple TV+ Show
Brian Tyree Henry & Wagner Moura discuss the biggest takeaways and challenges of their new series ‘Dope Thief,’ premiering March 14 on Apple TV+.
Starring Henry and Moura as friends Ray and Manny,Dope Thiefcenters around the duo disguising themselves as a pair of DEA agents to rob a house, and the consequences they suffer when it turns out they robbed a large narcotics operation. Craig is known for writingsuch hits asThe Batman,The Town, andThe Hunger Games: MockingjayParts 1 and 2, while also having a hand in creating the story forTop Gun: MaverickandBad Boys for Life. Needless to say, he’s clearly no stranger to high-concept ideas, so it’s no surprise, then, thatDope Thiefis being received as well as it is thus far.
‘Dope Thief’ Is Not Without Criticism
With a Rotten Tomatoes score of 88%,Dope Thiefisn’t the perfect crime drama by any stretch of the imagination. At least, not according to MoveWeb’s own Will Sayre, who has a lot of positive things to say about the series, but alsocalled it a “murky mess” in his review. Elijah Gonzalez from Paste Magazine was also critical of the show, adding:
“Dope Thief is yet another series that can’t live up to the more compelling and cohesive HBO dramas it takes inspiration from, a lackluster imitation of the genuine article.”
They seem to be the outliers, though, as Megan Vick from Collider says thatDope Thief"has an intriguing premise that elevates it beyond your typical drug heist series," while Chris Vognar from the San Francisco Chronicle comments that “it captures the frenzy and fallout stemming from one really bad decision that keeps rippling, until it becomes a tidal wave of consequences.”
You can judge for yourself if Ridley Scott’s Dope Thief is worth your time when the series premieres tomorrow, March 14, on Apple TV+. Look for two episodes to drop right from the start, and the remaining six to air every Friday until its conclusion on April 25. Check out our interview below with creator Peter Craig, where he discusses what went into creating his new series.
Source:Rotten Tomatoes
Dope Thief
