Layer Cake is a 2004 British gangster thriller, directed by Matthew Vaughn. It is based on a novel of the same name, written by J. J. Connelly.

The title refers to the human social strata, especially in the British crime underworld, as well as the numerous plot layers in the film.

The film is often referred to in the same breath as Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch, as all three films focus on British gangsters, and Vaughn produced the first two. However, despite these obvious similarities, Layer Cake, although it contains many instances of darker comedy, has more sinister overtones, especially in the ending. Indeed, it was not written by Guy Ritchie, unlike the previous two that Vaughn produced, rather adapted from J. J. Connelly's novel.

The film is set in London, and focuses on an unnamed successful cocaine dealer (represented in the credits as XXXX, played by Daniel Craig). At only 29, he has a respected place amongst England's Mafia, and is secretly planning to retire from the business.

However, XXXX's boss, Jimmy Price (played by Kenneth Cranham), knowing he imminently intends to leave the business, gives him a tough assignment. XXXX is delegated with the task of tracking down the daughter of Jimmy's old friend Edward (Sir Michael Gambon), Charlotte Spencer-Temple, who has disappeared after developing a drug habit. There are multiple complications, however, including three million pounds' worth of Grade A Ecstasy stolen from a bloodthirsty militant Serbian gang, by some 'less sophisticated' British gangsters (giving rise to the yellow Range Rover that advertises the film), as well as numerous double-crossings. XXXX has to use all of his considerable talent to secure his own escape, without being drawn back into the 'cake mix'.