As we settle into the first month of 2026, the streaming wars are heating up with high-budget spectacles, and Amazon Prime Video has just thrown its latest contender into the ring. Starring the ever-captivating Sophie Turner, Steal promised a heart-pounding journey through the chaos of a high-stakes heist. However, as the first reviews roll in, it seems this $4 billion robbery might be leaving audiences feeling a bit short-changed.
The Setup: A Billion-Dollar Nightmare
In Steal, Turner steps away from her genre roots to play an ordinary office worker who finds herself at the epicenter of the most ambitious armed robbery in history. The target? A staggering four billion dollars. The six-part series aims to capture the claustrophobic terror of being caught in the crossfire of a professional heist gone wrong. Turner is joined by a powerhouse supporting cast, including Archie Madekwe (Gran Turismo, Saltburn) and Jacob Fortune-Lloyd (The Queen’s Gambit), both of whom bring a necessary gravitas to the high-pressure situation.
For horror fans, the appeal here is clear: the psychological horror of a situation spiraling out of control. There is a primal fear in the 'wrong place, wrong time' trope, and the early episodes of Steal lean heavily into the white-knuckle tension of survival. However, according to recent reports from industry insiders like The Hollywood Reporter, the series struggles to sustain that level of dread across its entire runtime.
Diminishing Returns on a Promising Premise
While the first two episodes are described as a masterclass in suspense, the consensus suggests that Steal suffers from 'diminishing returns.' As the narrative expands beyond the initial robbery, the focus shifts, and the pacing begins to lag. For a genre that thrives on momentum, this is a dangerous pitfall. While Turner’s performance remains a highlight—capturing the frantic, raw energy of a woman pushed to her absolute limit— the script reportedly stretches the central conflict thinner than it can handle.
A Horror Journalist’s Perspective
At ScreamDesk, we love a good thriller that crosses the line into terror. The concept of Steal had the potential to be a Panic Room for the streaming era, focusing on the visceral, terrifying reality of modern crime. Unfortunately, it seems the transition from a tight feature-length concept to a six-part miniseries has led to some unnecessary padding. While Archie Madekwe and Jacob Fortune-Lloyd provide stellar performances that keep the interpersonal drama grounded, the 'horror' of the heist eventually gives way to more traditional, and perhaps less exciting, thriller tropes.
Is it worth the binge? For fans of Sophie Turner, the answer is a resounding yes. She continues to prove her range, delivering a performance that is both vulnerable and fierce. However, for those seeking a relentless, terrifying experience from start to finish, you might find yourself checking your watch by episode four. Steal is a stylish, well-acted journey that unfortunately loses its edge just when it should be sharpening it.
The Verdict
As 2026 continues to deliver a mixed bag of genre content, Steal stands as a reminder that bigger isn't always better. A $4 billion stakes should feel world-ending, but by the finale, the stakes feel surprisingly low. Keep your eyes on ScreamDesk as we continue to track the latest in suspense and survival horror throughout the year.