

Once a Thief
1996, English. Directed by John Woo.
Set in Hong Kong and Vancouver, the story follows Mac Ramsey and Li Ann Tsei, lovers and professional thieves who are separated while fleeing the powerful Hong Kong underworld crime lord who raised and trained them. After being imprisoned in Hong Kong, Mac is forcefully recruited into a clandestine international crime-fighting unit by a hard-nosed, menacing Director. He is teamed in Vancouver with Li Ann, who thought Mac was dead, and her new fiancé Victor Mansfield, an ex-cop who is attracted to the unorthodox methods of the agency. Conflict flares between Mac and Victor as the trio take on their assignment. They soon learn that their principal target is their foster brother Michael Tang, who had been given Li Ann as his future wife and who has vowed to hunt down the pair for their disloyalty to the "family".
- Runtime
- 1h 36m
- Post-credits
- None listed
- Language
- English
- Rated
- PG
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Where to watch Once a Thief
Once a Thief is streaming on fuboTV and Howdy in India.
Free
Availability in India as of 9 November 2026. Streaming data by JustWatch.
Cast & crew
Details
- Released
- 29 September 1996
- Country
- Canada
- Written by
- William Laurin, Glenn Davis
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Once a Thief: quick answers
Is Once a Thief worth watching?
Once a Thief doesn’t have enough ratings for a verdict yet.
How long is Once a Thief?
Once a Thief runs 96 minutes (1h 36m).
Does Once a Thief have a post-credits scene?
None is listed for Once a Thief. Viewers tag these on TMDB, so a brand-new film may not be tagged yet.
Once a Thief parents guide: is it suitable for kids?
Once a Thief is rated PG in India. That rating means it is generally fine for children.
Which OTT platform is Once a Thief on?
Once a Thief is streaming on fuboTV and Howdy in India. (Checked 9 November 2026.)
What movies are like Once a Thief?
If you liked Once a Thief, try The Protector, Wire Room, Trap House.
Who directed Once a Thief?
Once a Thief (1996) was directed by John Woo and stars Sandrine Holt, Ivan Sergei, Nicholas Lea.