The film's plot centres on Cockney criminal Charlie Croker, recently released from prison, who forms a gang for the job of stealing a cache of gold bullion being transported through the city of Turin, Italy, in an armoured security truck.

Several elements became symbolic cult features, including a rare never-resolved cliffhanger ending,[5][6] and Caine's famous line about only blowing the doors off.

After reuniting with his girlfriend, Lorna, to celebrate his freedom, Croker goes to meet Beckerman to discuss a heist, but is shocked to find only his widow.

She insists that Croker continue with Beckerman's final masterpiece: an ambitious heist of $4 million in gold bullion,[a] from a convoy transport in the city of Turin, Italy.

With Bridger's right-hand man, Camp Freddie, Croker recruits a crew of specialists, including Lorna, professional drivers, and lecherous computer expert Professor Simon Peach.

He discloses that the Mafia are expecting them, as they killed Beckerman over his planned heist and see the prospect of foreigners stealing Italian gold as an insult to their pride.

However, Croker's group are confronted by Mafia boss Altabani and his men, who destroy their backup escape cars and warn against continuing the plan.

On the day of the heist, as the gold arrives at Turin airport, Croker sends Lorna to Geneva to keep her safe, promising to meet her there later.

The remaining crew escape disguised as British football fans, while Croker leads the Mini Cooper drivers out of the city, evading the police and the Mafia using an ingenious route designed by Beckerman that avoids the stalled traffic by taking them over stairs, pedestrian streets, rooftops, and through sewers.

Mr. Bridger receives word of the successful heist and celebrates with his fellow inmates and prison staff, as the crew escapes Turin and conceals the Minis in the back of a modified coach.

Other cast includes John Clive as a Garage manager who Charlie sees after being released from prison; Graham Payn as Keats, Bridger's sycophantic right-hand man in prison; Barry Cox as Chris , one of the Mini drivers for the heist; David Salamone as Dominic, one of the Mini drivers for the heist; Richard Essame as Tony, one of the Mini drivers for the heist; Mario Valgoi as Manzo, Renato Romano [it] as Cosca, Franco Norvelli as Altabani's driver, Robert Rietti as the Police chief, Timothy Bateson as the Dentist, David Kelly as the Vicar at the fake funeral; Arnold Diamond as Senior computer room official, Simon Dee as the Shirtmaker who Charlie sees after being released from prison; Alistair Hunter as Warder, Lana Gatto as Mrs. Cosca, Louis Mansi as Computer room official, Henry McGee as the Tailor who Charlie seees after being released from prison; Lelia Goldoni as Mrs Beckerman, Roger Beckerman's widow; and Valerie Leon as Hotel Receptionist.

According to producer Michael Deeley the film started "as a modest concept for a TV drama concerning a robbery set in and around a traffic jam in London's hectic Oxford Street thoroughfare," that was originally conceived by Ian Kennedy Martin.

In interviews in 2003 and 2008, Michael Caine revealed that the ending would have had Croker "crawl up, switch on the engine and stay there for four hours until all the petrol runs out...

[18] The training sessions shown for the Mini drivers were at the Crystal Palace race track in Upper Norwood, South London.

Collinson also appeared in the scene on the highway when the ramps get jettisoned, clinging to the right-hand rear door of the coach as the Minis enter at speed.

[13] The final escape from Turin was filmed on the road from Ceresole Reale via Lago Agnel to Nivolet Pass (the highway does not lead to France or Switzerland because it is a dead end).

Production took place just as the manufacturer, the British Motor Corporation was preparing for the introduction of the Mk2 Mini, which was launched just before the film's public release.

[23] A Land Rover Series IIa Estate, registration BKO 686C, was used to get to the convoy before attacking and was modified with window bars and a towbar.

A Ford Thames 400E was used for the football fans' decorated van; this was referred to as the Dormobile, the name of a common camper-van conversion coachbuilder.

[24] The black Fiat Dino coupé of Mafia boss Altabani was bought by Peter Collinson but became so rusty that only its doors remain.

[25] The bus used to transport the three Mini Coopers was a Bedford VAL with Harrington Legionnaire bodywork, registration ALR 453B, new in April 1964 and specially converted for the film.

The website's critical consensus reads, "The Italian Job is a wildly fun romp that epitomizes the height of Britannia style.

[28] Most positive reviews focus on the climactic car chase and the acting of both Michael Caine and Noël Coward, complementing Peter Collinson's directing.

[29] In a modern review Nik Higgins of Future Movies claims that the film makes Austin Powers's wardrobe appear "drab and grey".

Canby also expressed concern that Coward's appearance in the film, although intended to be kind, "exploits him in vaguely unpleasant ways" by surrounding his character with images of the royal family, which had not knighted him at the time.

[39] As part of a celebration of British culture at 2012 Summer Olympics, which were held in London, a replica of the bus was made and was exhibited balanced on the edge of the roof of The De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill-on-Sea.

[41] In September 2016, NBC and Paramount Television began work on a TV series inspired by the original and the remake,[42] though this never surpassed the development stage.

It is set to revolve around Croker's grandchildren, who inherit his old safety deposit box, and a quest to find the Italian bullion is reignited.

A physical security breach allows the tape to be inserted into the computer which controls the traffic system (SCADA) for Turin, at the same time several cameras are de-activated during the course of the film by devices which cause interference.