These are the top films in the genre.

The 50 best crime movies of all time, from hard-boiled detective stories to gritty gangster dramas

These are the top films in the genre.

By Eric Farwell and Kevin Jacobsen

June 12, 2026 5:00 p.m. ET

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Ray Liotta as Henry Hill in 'Goodfellas'; Uma Thurman as Mia Wallace in 'Pulp Fiction'; Song Kang-ho as Park Doo-man in 'Memories of Murder'. Credit:

The parameters of a great crime movie are wider than they may seem at first glance. Amusing stories of small-time crooks and epic sagas of Shakespearean proportions are among the exemplars of their genre, and no matter how preposterous the criminal scheme is, if the plotting is well-considered and the performances draw us in, we will inevitably find ourselves enjoying the ride.

Crime films often deal with complex emotions as characters grapple with the morality of their actions. Some are motivated to commit unthinkable acts out of sheer desperation; others are corrupted by the allure of power, regardless of whether their actions allow them to sleep at night. The best in the genre are morality tales that deftly mine their themes without getting too heavy-handed, exploring the intricacies of human nature.

Ahead, we're highlighting 50 of the best crime movies of all time, spanning cinematic history from *Double Indemnity* (1944) to *Red Rooms* (2024).

Aaranya Kaandam (2010)

Ravi Krishna as Sappai in 'Aaranya Kaandam'. Capital Film Works

Thiagarajan Kumararaja's directorial debut set the international film scene on fire with a story of class warfare that features a rooster as a key plot device. Two differing criminal factions want a load of cocaine, but when a poor farmer named Kaalayan (Guru Somasundaram) gets wind of it, his life briefly entangles with the crime bosses, resulting in a bloody final showdown and a delightful twist ending. The movie is operatic and impressive for a first feature, and fans looking to see how it's done outside the U.S. shouldn't sleep on it. —*Eric Farwell*

Where to watch *Aaranya Kaandam*: YouTube

Blue Velvet (1986)

Isabella Rossellini as Dorothy Vallens in 'Blue Velvet'.

De Laurentis Group/Courtesy Everett

Four years before changing television forever with *Twin Peaks*, David Lynch crafted this unforgettable neo-noir that similarly examines the moral rot buried under the perfectly manicured lawns of suburbia. Kyle MacLachlan plays college student Jeffrey Beaumont, whose morbid curiosity upon finding a severed ear in his hometown leads him down a dark path that involves a tortured nightclub singer (Isabella Rossellini), a barbaric gangster with a sadomasochistic streak (Dennis Hopper), and multiple dead bodies. Lynch's vision is off-kilter yet strangely transfixing, mirroring Jeffrey's own fascination with a dangerous world he never knew existed. —*Kevin Jacobsen*

Where to watch *Blue Velvet*: Tubi

Bonnie and Clyde (1967)

Faye Dunaway as Bonnie Parker and Warren Beatty as Clyde Barrow in 'Bonnie and Clyde'. Everett Collection

The film that inspired everything from *True Romance* (1993) to *Queen & Slim *(2019), this Arthur Penn caper follows Clyde Barrow (Warren Beatty) and Bonnie Parker (Faye Dunaway) as criminal lovers destined for tragedy. Made toward the tail end of a romance boom we wouldn't see again until the '90s, *Bonnie and Clyde* perfected the intoxicating motif of two young people in love with each other *and* destruction. There's incredible chemistry between Beatty and Dunaway, who elevate a relatively straightforward movie into something that seems alive, as if the actors and the real historical characters are one and the same. When they are inevitably killed, it feels like the end of more than just a film, even if it's meant to capture the desperation of the Great Depression. —*E.F.*

Where to watch *Bonnie and Clyde*: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

Bound (1996)

Gina Gershon as Corky and Jennifer Tilly as Violet in 'Bound'.

Gramercy Pictures/Courtesy Everett

Before the Wachowskis invented a new cinematic language with *The Matrix* (1999), the siblings directed one of the most gripping erotic thrillers of the '90s. *Bound* stars Gina Gershon as Corky, an ex-convict hired to fix up a Chicago apartment building where she meets Violet (Jennifer Tilly), a gangster's moll. The women strike up a fast connection that blossoms into a full-blown affair, and they devise a plan to abscond with $2 million in Mob money. Dripping with passion and lovingly imbued with film noir tropes, *Bound* is a pulpy delight. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Bound*: Pluto TV

Chinatown (1974)

Jack Nicholson as J.J. 'Jake' Gittes and Faye Dunaway as Evelyn Mulwray in 'Chinatown'. Everett Collection

With an early example of the twisty, complicated narratives that would become popular in '90s thrillers (and middling 2010s Netflix shows), Jack Nicholson's Jake Gittes helps Faye Dunaway's Evelyn Mulwray and gets pulled into her orbit — and in over his head — while investigating a murder conspiracy. The film's themes of city corruption and inexplicable injustice ripple across countless lesser projects, but the way *Chinatown* lands is so nihilistic that it's downright soul-crushing. —*E.F.*

Where to watch *Chinatown*: Peacock

City of God (2002)

Alexandre Rodrigues as Rocket in 'City of God'. Miramax/Courtesy Everett

*City of God* is an indie that broke big in the aughts, and for good reason. Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund's film feels like a good novel, with art, crime, love, and squalor all intersecting in a cohesive story that manages to astonish. The cast was largely without acting experience, but it's hard to parse that as a viewer since there's a real naturalism to their performances, which creates a sense of freedom and discovery. Photography plays a large part in the story, with photos serving as both a means of expression and a running narrative device, and the way it connects to Seu Jorge's "Knockout Ned," the film's heart and soul, is beautiful in every instance. —*E.F.*

Where to watch *City of God*: Kanopy

The Conversation (1974)

Gene Hackman as Harry N. Caul in 'The Conversation'. Mary Evans/Ronald Grant/Everett Collection

The best-composed film of Francis Ford Coppola's career, *The Conversation* seems to always be in motion, with the camera floating through different iterations of cinematic reality. Gene Hackman plays a surveillance expert named Harry Caul, who captures a conversation he obsesses over to mesmerizing effect, with the film functioning as a character study and thriller in equal measure. Paranoid and living his life in as much privacy as possible, the film's ending is an incredible feat of powerful acting — and a generous reminder that Hackman never lost a step in his effusive career. —*E.F.*

Where to watch *The Conversation*: Amazon Prime Video

Decision to Leave (2022)

Tang Wei as Song Seo-rae and Park Hae-il as Det. Jang Hae-jun in 'Decision to Leave'. Mubi

Romantic from the first frame to the last, Park Chan-wook's 2022 masterpiece is a culmination of his steady and coherent approach to disturbing characters and his love for Hitchcock. Most of the films on this list paint dogged detectives as do-gooders in pursuit of their criminals, but here, we see a sleuth lovesick for the murderer he's supposed to be taking down. Park Hae-il's insomniac investigator Jang Hae-jun is brimming with longing despite having a loving wife, and Tang Wei's Song Seo-rae is sympathetic and flirtatious enough that you're willing to look the other way about their romance (and her killings). *Decision to Leave* may leave you in tears, be it from the love story or the way Chan-wook captures the beauty of everything from the crashing waves to falling snow. —*E.F.*

Where to watch *Decision to Leave*: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

Deep Cover (1992)

Laurence Fishburne as Agent Russell Stevens Jr. in 'Deep Cover'. Everett Collection

Bill Duke, hot off 1991's *A Rage in Harlem*, directs this compelling story about identity, obsession, and the murkiness of police task forces. Laurence Fishburne turns in a tremendous performance as a DEA agent living a complicated life undercover as a cocaine dealer who slowly begins to see both sides of the corruption more clearly. Jeff Goldblum does a fine job as a drug trafficker who gets close to Fishburne, but it's the latter alone who makes the whole film sing. —*E.F.*

Where to watch *Deep Cover*: Tubi

The Departed (2006)

Matt Damon as Colin Sullivan and Leonardo DiCaprio as William 'Billy' Costigan Jr. in 'The Departed'. Warner Bros./Courtesy Everett Collection

After a long and illustrious career, no one expected any more surprises from Jack Nicholson, yet here he is, giving the complex Irish Mafia boss Frank Costello the best he has to offer. With venom and shrewd determination, Nicholson paints his character as a swaggering monster who milks every syllable of his dialogue with vitriolic relish. When you factor in Leonardo DiCaprio's ongoing hot streak of dramatic roles around this time — and that Matt Damon was hitting his golden-era stride here as a Mafia informant working for the police — it's almost easy to overlook director Martin Scorsese's efforts behind the camera. Here, he manages to have his fingerprints all over the film without it feeling too wishy-washy or grandiose, an arguably new skill set for the director that came into sharp focus with *The Aviator *(2004), which also stars DiCaprio. The final sequence of *The Departed* features what might be the most surprising and stunning death in a Scorsese movie, to the point that it makes shoes wrapped in bagged booties a genuinely terrifying sight. —*E.F.*

Where to watch *The Departed*: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

Dog Day Afternoon (1975)

Al Pacino as Sonny Wortzik in 'Dog Day Afternoon'.

Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett

Sidney Lumet's Oscar-winning crime drama is a master class in tension and suspense. Al Pacino, in one of his most iconic roles, stars as Sonny Wortzik, a real-life bundle of raw nerves who attempts a bank robbery that quickly spirals out of control. Wortzik's motives are gradually revealed after his lover comes forward, turning a local incident into a media frenzy. *Dog Day Afternoon* is a definitive '70s film, with its gritty, unpolished vision of a restless New York and a dark sense of humor in its portrayal of a heist gone horribly wrong. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Dog Day Afternoon*: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

Double Indemnity (1944)

Barbara Stanwyck as Phyllis Dietrichson and Fred MacMurray as Walter Neff in 'Double Indemnity'. Everett Collection

Billy Wilder crafted this story of fraud and murder with crime writer Raymond Chandler. Another film that gave the genre a new language, *Double Indemnity* is a confession by shoddy insurance salesman Walter Neff (Fred MacMurray), told mostly in flashbacks, detailing his involvement with a killing and cover-up that saw him pose as the dead man on a train. While retrospective scenes were not new to cinema (having been used in the 1939 adaptation of *Wuthering Heights* to great effect before), this was one of the first instances in a crime story. Impeccably acted and paced, the film launched Wilder to success, paving the way for his future classics like *The Seven Year Itch* (1955) and *Some Like It Hot *(1959). —*E.F.*

Where to watch *Double Indemnity*: TCM

Fargo (1996)

Frances McDormand as Marge Gunderson in 'Fargo'. Gramercy Pictures/Getty

As the film that proved crime movies could be dryly funny *and* uniquely ironic, *Fargo** *operates on its own frequency, following Frances McDormand's pregnant police officer as she tracks down killers in snowy Fargo, N.D. Dark humor and violence are on equal display here, as the Coen brothers confidently showcase a young-ish Steve Buscemi, a wood chipper, and Midwest goofiness against the backdrop of a state where nothing and everything happens. The Coens would follow this odd template to success throughout the better part of their careers as codirectors. —*E.F.*

Where to watch *Fargo*: HBO Max

The French Connection (1971)

Roy Scheider as Buddy Russo and Gene Hackman as Jimmy 'Popeye' Doyle in 'The French Connection'. Everett Collection

This William Friedkin neo-noir masterpiece all but swept the 44th Academy Awards. The adaptation of Robin Moore's nonfiction book sees two detectives try to bring down a drug kingpin with complications arising at every turn. Countless films have tried to emulate its greatness since, but *The French Connection* is the modern blueprint of the genre for a reason. Gene Hackman — who developed new shades of menace and gravitas with each passing year — turns in a career-best performance as the determined and obsessive Det. Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle, who, along with Roy Scheider as his partner, seems truly willing to lose his life if it means catching Fernando Rey's Alain "Frog One" Charnier.

Friedkin knew where he wanted the camera for every shot, and that includes the famous car chase sequence, which still manages to instill dread and anxiety as Hackman crashes into vehicles while in hot pursuit of a villain on a train. It's ambitious, dogmatic, and insanely neglectful of everything but the pursuit of justice, a perfect metaphor for the film itself. —*E.F.*

Where to watch *The French Connection*: Amazon Prime Video

Get Carter (1971)

Michael Caine as Jack Carter in 'Get Carter'. Mary Evans/Ronald Grant/Everett Collection

There's something fascinating about what Michael Caine has come to represent to American audiences. After a long career playing leads and coleads, he later gained a reputation as a gentle paternal figure (see: his Alfred in Christopher Nolan's* Batman *trilogy). But here, in the strongest era of his leading man status, Caine is a dashing, moral, relentless badass who takes out an entire family of rich creeps. Director Mike Hodges uncorks him as a criminal with a good — albeit violent — heart, who is capable of true masculine terror. *Get Carter* doesn't just give him a great role; it gives us something to reference when we start to forget what he's capable of. —*E.F.*

Where to watch *Get Carter*: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

The Godfather (1972) and The Godfather Part II (1974)

The cast of 'The Godfather'. Getty

Francis Ford Coppola's career high mark gave audiences the American crime saga of the Corleone mafia family toward the end of the '50s, with *Part II* looking back on the criminal clan after Vito Corleone (Robert De Niro) moves to the States from Sicily. With an ensemble including Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Diane Keaton, Talia Shire, Richard Bright, Abe Vigoda, and Bruno Kirby, the prequel was already destined to be memorable, but Coppola's sense of timing and rhythm makes the film feel like a true achievement even decades later.

In an era where movies increasingly suffer from bloated runtimes, Coppola made the first installment's three-hour length riveting, packing the story with a grand wedding, shootouts, a love story in Italy, surprise murders, and the death of a patriarch, all while having time left over for excursions in Hollywood and Las Vegas. With the role split between Brando and De Niro, Vito emerged as a tragic and vicious figure who looms over his family, leaving a legacy that haunts everyone he loves. Truly, the two performances gave us one of the most in-depth portraits of a fictitious character we've ever seen on screen. —*E.F.*

Where to watch *The Godfather* and *The Godfather Part II*: Paramount+

Goodfellas (1990)

Ray Liotta as Henry Hill, Robert De Niro as James Conway, Paul Sorvino as Paul Cicero, and Joe Pesci as Tommy DeVito in ‘Goodfellas’. Everett Collection

A damn fun product of its time, *Goodfellas* is a perfect film to start a decade following 10 years of excess, power suits, and explosions. By telling a relatively straightforward story that blends real people from the era of the Gotti Mafia family with imagined characters, Martin Scorsese's dramedy biopic about a kid who falls in love with the gangster life is as even-keeled as anything the director has made.

Prior to this film, he often had big ideas that felt hampered by a frenetic energy and less-than-clear direction. Here — with generous assistance from Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and an excellent Ray Liotta as players in a propulsive story about the romance and horror of being a knock-around guy — Scorsese finds momentum. The film not only clicked into place something for the director, but for culture as a whole, as the oft-imitated use of voice-over, classic rock, and a breezy approach to intense characters has been used to make television and movies pop ever since *Goodfellas *hit the scene. —*E.F.*

Where to watch *Goodfellas*: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

Hard Boiled (1992)

Tony Leung Chiu-wai as Alan in 'Hard Boiled'.

This influential Hong Kong masterpiece seamlessly blends one dazzling action set piece after another with genuine emotional stakes. Chow Yun-fat stars as a steely, toothpick-chewing detective who seeks vengeance after gun smugglers kill his partner. His quest for revenge leads him to an undercover cop (Tony Leung Chiu-wai), with whom he teams up to take down the ring leaders. Director John Woo brings a balletic style that exudes confidence and flair, particularly in the stunning one-take hospital shootout sequence. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Hard Boiled*: Tubi

Heat (1995)

Al Pacino as Vincent Hanna and Robert De Niro as Neil McCauley in 'Heat'.

Warner Brothers/Everett

Notable for being the first onscreen partnership of Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, this crime epic had a lot of, well, heat, ahead of its 1995 release, and it more than lived up to expectations. Michael Mann's *Heat* centers on experienced thief Neil McCauley (De Niro), whose various heists are detected by LAPD cop Vincent Hanna (Pacino). As McCauley continues to chase the high of a well-orchestrated theft, Hanna loves the pursuit, leading to an iconic scene of the two of them calling a brief truce over some coffee at a diner, where they learn they're more alike than they thought. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Heat*: Amazon Prime Video

A History of Violence (2005)

William Hurt as Richie Cusack in 'A History of Violence'. Everett

The brilliance of David Cronenberg's crime drama lies in how it subverts the genre's often stylized sensibility to reveal the raw impact of violence and bloodshed. Viggo Mortensen plays Tom, a family man who swiftly kills a pair of would-be robbers at his diner and becomes a media sensation. After a mysterious man emerges from the woodwork, claiming Tom is a former Mafia hitman by a different name, Tom is forced to confront his demons to preserve his carefully constructed new life. As is his trademark, Cronenberg isn't afraid of making his audience uncomfortable, and *A History of Violence* demonstrates this by delivering a morally complex tale about how you can never really change who you are. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *A History of Violence*: HBO Max

In the Cut (2003)

Jane Campion's stylish consideration of crime from an eyewitness' point of view raises many questions: Who can you trust? What does a believable relationship between siblings look like on screen? Why is Mark Ruffalo's penis making eye contact with me? Starring Ruffalo as (what else) a detective investigating a slaying, Jennifer Jason Leigh as an off-kilter sister to Meg Ryan's witness, Patrice O'Neal as a hustler, and Kevin Bacon as an obsessive, abusive ex-boyfriend, the film does its best to wrangle these performances into something mostly comprehensive. Campion has a knack for unsettling timing and imagery while, with a killer on the loose, Ryan has to contend with possibly being stalked and gore that needs to be seen to be believed. What the movie lacks in cohesion, it more than makes up for in atmosphere. —*E.F.*

Where to watch *In the Cut*: Tubi

Inside Man (2006)

Chiwetel Ejiofor as Det. Bill Mitchell and Denzel Washington as Det. Keith Frazier in ‘Inside Man’. Everett Collection

Denzel Washington teams up with consummate collaborator Spike Lee for a film that uses cool energy to brilliant effect. With Clive Owen in the antagonist role of Dalton Russell, the film locks into a clever heist that mixes elements of *Heat*, *Ocean's 11 *(2001), and more into something that's distinctly a Lee joint. The director's love for capturing real people moving, unguarded, can be seen as Washington's hostage negotiator talks things through with his team outside the bank. The ultimate reveal — and Dalton's decision to target Nazi money — give the film a uniquely Lee quality, as it meditates on cosmic justice in an intricate way only he could manage. Owen is also undeniable here, turning in maybe the most memorable performance of a bank robber ever committed to film. —*E.F.*

Where to watch *Inside Man*: Netflix

Kill List (2011)

MyAnna Buring as Shel in 'Kill List'.

Ben Wheatley's breakthrough film is like a shapeshifter: The British domestic drama realism of its beginning bears little resemblance to the folklore horror and depravity of its ending. And yet, the through-line of its main character's desperation connects *Kill List*'s shifting tones, following a PTSD-addled war veteran's attempts to provide for his family by accepting his friend's offer to team up on a high-paying contract killing job. As he finds himself in over his head, Wheatley smartly invests in dread over cheap thrills, leaving the audience shaken by the film's conclusion. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Kill List*: AMC+

The Killing of a Chinese Bookie (1976)

Robert Phillips as Phil, Ben Gazzara as Cosmo Vittelli, Morgan Woodward as the Boss, and Seymour Cassel as Mort Weil in 'The Killing of a Chinese Bookie'.

Independent film legend John Cassavetes helmed this gritty crime drama about strip club owner Cosmo Vittelli (Ben Gazzara), who, shortly after making his last gambling debt payment, loses tens of thousands of dollars in a poker game. His loan shark then asks him to execute the titular killing of a Chinese bookie in exchange for wiping away his new debt, but things become complicated when Cosmo learns the true identity of the bookie, leading to a chaotic series of events. Cassavetes' signature unvarnished style is present throughout, imbuing the film with palpable dread. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *The Killing of a Chinese Bookie*: HBO Max

King of New York (1990)

Christopher Walken as Frank White in 'King of New York'. Everett Collection

This '90s crime drama doesn't reinvent the wheel, but its performances and stylistic flair more than make up for any familiar tropes. Christopher Walken stars as Frank White, a drug kingpin recently released from prison who looks to monopolize power by targeting his enemies. After a trio of NYPD detectives discovers Frank's crimes, it becomes a classic battle of cops vs. criminals, and no one is safe. Walken brings his signature idiosyncratic charm to his portrayal of Frank, whose motivations make for a fascinating web of contradictions. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *King of New York*: Amazon Prime Video

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L.A. Confidential (1997)

Russell Crowe as Wendell 'Bud' White and Guy Pearce as Edmund 'Shotgun Ed' Exley in 'L.A. Confidential'.

Warner Bros./Courtesy Everett Collection

Like the best crime novels, *L.A. Confidential* unfurls like a yarn as it depicts a crime-riddled Los Angeles in the 1950s. This neo-noir favorite tells the intricate story of detectives whose investigation into a robbery and homicide at a coffee shop leads to revelation after revelation of the corruption that interconnects the self-proclaimed City of Angels. Featuring an all-star cast including Guy Pearce and Russell Crowe in breakout roles and Kim Basinger, who won an Oscar for her performance as a sex worker/Veronica Lake lookalike, *L.A. Confidential* crackles with style and well-earned plot twists. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *L.A. Confidential*: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)**

The Long Good Friday (1980)

Helen Mirren as Victoria and Bob Hoskins as Harold Shand in 'The Long Good Friday'.

Embassy Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

Morals and ethics are at the heart of this British crime classic, which follows Harold Shand (Bob Hoskins), a prideful London gangster with lofty ambitions to restore England to its former glory. After an associate is mysteriously killed, Harold soon finds his empire crumbling before his eyes as he tries to get to the bottom of his enemies' motives. Hoskins rose to prominence with his enthralling performance as Harold, a charismatic emblem of British hubris. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *The Long Good Friday*: HBO Max

The Long Goodbye (1973)

Sterling Hayden as Roger Wade and Elliott Gould as Philip Marlowe in ‘The Long Goodbye’. Everett Collection

As with all Robert Altman films, the magic is in the meandering. Here, Elliott Gould brings a deft touch to his hang-dog detective Philip Marlowe, moving with a lightness that's hard to pin down but is undeniably comic. The first 10 minutes are an incredible swirl of paranoia, alcoholism, and sluggish dumbness when Gould just needs to feed his cat. With a narrative split between Philip's mania and the world of Hollywood crime, Altman's sense of film language and impeccably composed shots tie the two together cohesively. If you don't mind hanging out, this is as good as it gets for messy, bumbling detectives and their cases — and the harmonica playing at the end justifies the runtime alone. —*E.F.*

Where to watch *The Long Goodbye*: Tubi

Memories of Murder (2003)

Song Kang-ho as Park Doo-man and Kim Sang-kyung as Seo Tae-yoon in 'Memories of Murder'.

Neon/Courtesy Everett Collection

Bong Joon Ho's noir thriller about an unsolved series of killings (based on a true story) and the dogged pursuit of detectives obsessed with the case was a forerunner to David Fincher's examination of similar themes in *Zodiac *(2007). *Memories of Murder* stars Song Kang-ho and Kim Sang-kyung as investigators looking into the Hwaesong serial murders in late-'80s South Korea. Their pursuit leads them down a highly unusual path with no easy answers, and Bong masterfully balances tonal shifts from bleak tragedy to absurdist humor to highlight why the case remains so compelling. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Memories of Murder*: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

Menace II Society (1993)

Jullian Roy Doster as Anthony and Jada Pinkett Smith as Ronnie in ‘Menace II Society’. Everett Collection

A tale every bit as interesting, nuanced, and complex as *The Godfather*, the Hughes brothers' central players are caught in a socio-economic system that's governed by an unforgiving set of implicit rules. Here, violence and death are daily occurrences, and getting ahead feels impossible but is always top of mind. In the low-income, neglected, and overpoliced Watts and Crenshaw neighborhoods of L.A., Tyrin Turner's Caine Lawson and Larenz Tate's Kevin "O-Dog" Anderson (not to mention a brilliant turn from Jada Pinkett Smith) are just trying to hustle — even if that means bodies have to pile up.

Neither overly sentimental nor unsympathetic, Albert and Allen Hughes craft realistic characters with more nuance and complexity than traditional gangster films. In *Menace II Society*, their motivations extend beyond simple obligation or loyalty to family, and the weight of it all is constantly resting on the shoulders of everyone around them, despite how much they want it to change. —*E.F.*

Where to watch *Menace II Society*: Tubi

New World (2013)

Hwang Jung-min as Jung Chung and Lee Jung-jae as Lee Ja-seong in ‘New World’. Sanai Pictures

Park Hoon-jung's epic Korean film focuses on the oft-overlooked world of corporate crime, with undercover cop Lee Ja-sung (Lee Jung-jae) caught up in a war between an obsessive police captain and Moongold, the corporation syndicate he works for. The movie is a study of loyalty, with Ja-sung ultimately committing to the operation after having struggled and been lied to by his law enforcement mentor. Unlike every other film on this list, our protagonist isn't in it for himself, just trying to stay alive, or ultimately seeking a happy life. Instead, we watch a man who spent nearly a decade living a shadow life submit more and more to darkness in a stunningly shot movie. —*E.F.*

Where to watch *New World*: Kanopy

Night Moves (1975)

Gene Hackman as Harry Moseby in 'Night Moves'.

Courtesy Everett

Following his Oscar-winning performance in *The French Connection* and his unforgettable work in *The Conversation*, Gene Hackman added yet another mesmerizing crime drama to his filmography with this neo-noir classic. Hackman plays a chess-loving private investigator tasked with finding the 16-year-old daughter (Melanie Griffith, in her film debut) of a fading actress. His quest to find the troubled teen is simply the tip of the iceberg, though, as the film deftly subverts expectations, revealing it has much more on its mind than a simple detective story. The cynicism and paranoia of the '70s are ever-present, exploring America's moral decay amid troubled times. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Night Moves*: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

No Country for Old Men (2007)

Javier Bardem as Anton Chigurh in 'No Country for Old Men'. Everett Collection

This bleakly entertaining crime thriller, adapted from Cormac McCarthy's novel of the same name, is an essential Coen brothers text. The film revolves around a stolen briefcase full of money, taken by a Vietnam War veteran named Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin). As a ruthless hitman (Javier Bardem) tries to track him down, the local sheriff (Tommy Lee Jones) tries to make sense of it all and faces an existential crisis about the senseless violence of the world today. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *No Country for Old Men*: Paramount+

One False Move (1992)

Bill Paxton as Chief Dale ‘Hurricane’ Dixon and Cynda Williams as Lila ‘Fantasia’ Walker in ‘One False Move’. IRS Media/Courtesy Everett

The late Bill Paxton and Billy Bob Thornton serve as steady characters for Cynda Williams, Earl Billings, and the underrated Michael Beach to bounce off of in Carl Franklin's stunner of a film. *One False Move* rests somewhere comfortably between his *Devil in a Blue Dress *(1995) and the bonkers *Out of Time *(2003) in terms of voice. The story follows three Black men as they confront, confide, and cut deals in racist Arkansas, with one carrying an intimate connection with Paxton's sheriff. The film isn't particularly strange or different for the genre, but the confidence Franklin directs with — and memorable performances from Williams and Beach — make this something to seek out. —*E.F.*

Where to watch *One False Move*: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

Out of Sight (1998)

Jennifer Lopez as Karen Sisco and George Clooney as Jack Foley in ‘Out of Sight’. Merrick Morton/Universal

George Clooney (in the midst of his *ER* run) and a dedicated Jennifer Lopez have more than enough room to heat up the screen in this sexy heist film about a charming thief, a formidable tender officer, and all the mischief within a mansion. Lopez is at the top of her acting game here, and the film catches Steven Soderbergh at a time when he wants to flex a bit, resulting in an unforgettable opener involving a body in a trunk and a finale shoot-out that's an impressive sequence for a director drowning in them. —*E.F.*

Where to watch *Out of Sight*: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

Pulp Fiction (1994)

John Travolta as Vincent Vega and Uma Thurman as Mia Wallace in ‘Pulp Fiction’. Miramax Films/Courtesy Everett

While Hollywood was busy churning out thrillers (and mostly bad comedies) in the 1980s, Quentin Tarantino was busy figuring out how he would define the next era of cinema. After populating his debut, 1992's *Reservoir Dogs*, with "that guy" actors, he managed to one-up himself with* Pulp Fiction*, recruiting Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman, John Travolta, Bruce Willis, Tim Roth, and Christopher Walken to give voice to his quick-witted, pop-culture heavy banter, all while wrapping it in a plot so meticulous and elegant that it would influence a whole new generation of filmmakers. Tarantino proved himself to be a master of the unexpected here, as his gangsters brushed existential elbows with a boxer, a sex worker, an actor, an army vet, and desperate criminals all looking to make it through another day in California. —*E.F.*

Where to watch *Pulp Fiction*: Paramount+

Red Rooms (2024)

Juliette Gariépy as Kelly-Anne in 'Red Rooms'.

Utopia/Courtesy Everett

The most recent entry on this list is a hypnotic probe into true-crime obsession in the modern age. A model named Kelly-Anne (Juliette Gariépy) attends the trial of Ludovic Chevalier (Maxwell McCabe-Lokos), a serial killer accused of broadcasting his murders of three teenage girls on the dark web. Morbidly fascinated by the case, Kelly-Anne begins to exhibit disturbing behavior as she tries to procure the evidence herself. Writer-director Pascal Plante skillfully enhances the themes of his film with a cold, unsettling atmosphere, often implicating us as voyeurs with our own fixation on the dark side of humanity. —*K.J.*

Where to watch *Red Rooms*: AMC+

Rope (1948)

John Dall as Brandon and Farley Granger as Phillip in ‘Rope’. Warner Brothers/Getty

Jimmy Stewart is incredible as Nietzsche-obsessed teacher Rupert Cadell, but he's far from the most impressive aspect of Alfred Hitchcock's groundbreaking film. Shot in Technicolor, occurring in real time, and edited to appear as four long takes, everything from *Birdman *(2014)* *to *The Bear* likely wouldn't exist without Hitchcock's ingenious work here circa 1940. The murder at the center — a strangulation committed as an intellectual exercise, with the body hidden in the buffet used for hosting the victim's loved ones — is grim for any era, and even the best modern crime movies rarely live up to such cruelty. —*E.F.*

Where to watch *Rope*: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

Scarface (1983)

Al Pacino as Tony Montana (center) in ‘Scarface’. Everett Collection

Arguably the defining crime film of a decade brimming with decadence, *Scarface* is excessive in every way, which only enhances its appeal. Focused on the rise and fall of cocaine tsar Tony Montana, the Brian De Palma film stars Al Pacino, Michelle Pfeiffer, and F. Murray Abraham. Though Pacino's portrayal of a Cuban refugee turned gangster is in poor taste, his brazen, simmering energy and willingness to go over the top are a perfect match for De Palma's vicious, neatly unhinged vision for Tony and his crew. While it's hard to tell whether the film is being critical of or celebrating Tony, the decapitation, debauchery, and almost cartoonish plot points toward the end make this spectacle a towering ode to the idea of crime as a fantasy, with the reality of it encroaching at the edges. —*E.F.*

Where to watch *Scarface*: Amazon Prime Video

Set It Off (1996)

Queen Latifah as Cleo, Kimberly Elise as Tisean, Vivica A. Fox as Frankie, and Jada Pinkett Smith as Stony in ‘Set It Off’. Everett Collection

It's easy to recognize how great Queen Latifah is now, but in the 1990s, she was still fighting for recognition, be it for her musical talent, her impeccable comedy chops on the legendary* Living Single*, or as an actor in more dramatic fare. Here, F. Gary Gray manages to help her and the ensemble shine as women who turn to crime after getting fed up with racist work environments. Jada Pinkett Smith, Latifah, Vivica A. Fox, and the always-winning Kimberly Elise absolutely run circles around a very good Blair Underwood playing a loverboy and John C. McGinley as a detective trying to take them down. It's been 30 years since *Set It Off*'s release, and there's arguably no group of actors in a crime movie locked so fully into the same vibe before or since. —*E.F.*

Where to watch *Set It Off*: Tubi

Se7en (1995)

Morgan Freeman as William Somerset in ‘Se7en’. New Line Cinema/Courtesy Everett

With its violent and disgusting script, *Se7en* defied Hollywood conventions and was a perfect match for David Fincher, who was then known for directing *Alien 3 *(1992) along with gritty and inventive music videos. Seeing two detectives (Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman), a young wife (Gwyneth Paltrow), and a serial killer (Kevin Spacey) murdering in accordance with his ideas of punishment for the seven deadly sins, the film benefited from the darkened skies, ultra-drab cityscape, and quiet longing in the performances that would all become Fincher staples. Of all the director's work, this ending still breaks your heart the most. —*E.F.*

Where to watch *Se7en*: Tubi

Sexy Beast (2000)

Ben Kingsley as Don Logan in ‘Sexy Beast’. 20th Century Fox Film Corp/Courtesy Everett

In his absurd farce of a career criminal being brought in for one last job, Jonathan Glazer's film may be the first to consider how annoying it is to be a thief. Retired Gary Dove (Ray Winstone) just wants to live a good life in Spain, but British underworld recruiter Don Logan (Ben Kingsley) won't let him rest. If you've ever wondered how Kingsley landed his role as Trevor Slattery in the MCU, look no further. Here, he torments Winstone with a profane version of his character in the Marvel films. There's also an incredible underwater vault sequence that makes full use of Glazer's music video know-how. —*E.F.*

Where to watch *Sexy Beast*: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

Thelma & Louise (1991)

Susan Sarandon as Louise and Geena Davis as Thelma in ‘Thelma & Louise’. Everett Collection

When you think of Ridley Scott, you might recall epic historical sagas and sci-fi films, but in *Thelma & Louise*, he proved he's just as apt at stripped-down crime movies. Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon star as the titular duo who kill a bad man and do their best to stay free until their last breath. A story about friendship may seem simple, but careful and acute chemistry is required to pull it off, and Davis and Sarandon manage to seem like true friends as they find pockets of fun in their bleak situation. Harvey Keitel and Stephen Tobolowsky round out the cast, while Brad Pitt enjoys his breakout role here. —*E.F.*

Where to watch *Thelma & Louise*: Amazon Prime Video

They Live by Night (1948)

Cathy O’Donnell as Keechie and Farley Granger as Bowie in ‘They Live by Night’. Everett Collection

Farley Granger and Cathy O'Donnell charm as two lovers trying to find a way out of a life of crime while confronting danger at every turn. The film was an early effort to tell an ill-fated romance story set in the gruesome world of crooks and thieves, with a pregnancy providing the emotional motivation for all that happens in the back two-thirds of the runtime. It's also one of the few features on this list that considers escape a dream rather than a nightmare, a burden, or a failure. Granger's intentions are honorable, and O'Donnell sparks his performance with life, making his tragic end that much more gutting. —*E.F.*

Where to watch *They Live by Night*: TCM

Thief (1981)

James Caan as Frank in ‘Thief’. Everett Collection

Michael Mann wanted audiences to take the journey with James Caan's career criminal, Frank, from getting out of jail to setting up shop, stealing, being double-crossed, and everything else that goes into the making of a fugitive. Of course, as a Mann film, things aren't straightforward. In the tradition of classic crime movies, Frank's ambitions are complicated by love and parenthood, and when his life away from work is threatened by criminal boss Leo (an in-the-pocket Robert Prosky), he moves everyone to safety and blows up his own house. The image remains a stark and evocative metaphor for characters caught at a crossroads between one dark road and a dimly lit path out of trouble. —*E.F.*

Where to watch *Thief*: Amazon Prime Video

Traffic (2000)

Michael Douglas in 'Traffic'. Bob Marshak/USA films

Crime movies are Steven Soderbergh's bread and butter, and here, he cracks open a (literally) colorful story about the way drugs are spawned, supplied, sold, and used in America, exploring the overlooked labor and death that go into meeting market demand. Don Cheadle, Luis Guzmán, Benicio Del Toro, Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Topher Grace (playing a perfect asshole) help explain the complicated web of how things work for both the supplier and someone looking to buy some rock. Each narrative thread had its own distinct color to help the audience follow the storylines, but even with that assist, it's a tangled web that's a joy to unfurl. —*E.F.*

Where to watch *Traffic*: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

Training Day (2001)

Denzel Washington as Alonzo Harris and Ethan Hawke as Jake Hoyt in ‘Training Day’. Everett Collection

This bombastic tale of a corrupt cop and a rookie trainee having one bad day together feels in line with the stark and serious cinematography of the time, yet it's so distinctly an Antoine Fuqua work. With Ethan Hawke's newbie simmering against the go-for-broke finesse of Denzel Washington's very bad, no-good officer, *Training Day* revels in tension, with washes of blue and green augmenting scenes where Hawke is bullied into getting high. But when things become *too* true to life, Fuqua knows to cut the style and let the actors carry the scene. We've seen Washington excel countless times, but the wild-eyed machismo he drenches his crooked character in here is yet to be topped. —*E.F.*

Where to watch *Training Day*: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

The Untouchables (1987)

Sean Connery as James ‘Jimmy’ Malone and Kevin Costner as Eliot Ness in ‘The Untouchables’. Paramount Pictures/Courtesy Everett

Brian De Palma's works between 1976 and 2000 are some of the oddest, most ambitious pieces of filmmaking out there, with *The Untouchables* serving as a great bellwether for his singular touch. More grounded than *Scarface* and tenfold beyond *The Bonfire of the Vanities *(1990), the film focuses on Eliot Ness' attempt to bring down Al Capone during the 1930s prohibition. Kevin Costner and Robert De Niro dazzle as the two historical figures, but Sean Connery is the heart of the movie, playing courageous and upright agent James Malone, whose death gives Ness all the more reason to topple Capone's liquor empire. —*E.F.*

Where to watch *The Untouchables*: Peacock

Widows (2018)

Viola Davis as Veronica and Cynthia Erivo as Belle in ‘Widows’. Merrick Morton/Fox

The underrated *Widows *was Steve McQueen's follow-up to the incredible *12 Years a Slave *(2013), pivoting to tell a fluid and complex story that weaves meditations on marriage and betrayal. Liam Neeson casts a shadow over the film as an allegedly deceased career criminal/devoted husband; but the narrative centers Viola Davis, Cynthia Erivo, Brian Tyree Henry, Daniel Kaluuya, Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki, and Colin Farrell in a surprisingly explosive story about revenge, corruption, legacy racism in powerful families, and the flow of money from the underworld of crime to the underworld of politics. Come for the cast, stay for the hatred of Neeson's crooked con. —*E.F.*

Where to watch *Widows*: Starz

Zodiac (2007)

Jake Gyllenhaal as Robert Graysmith in ‘Zodiac’. Everett Collection

Try as he might, David Fincher will likely never make a better film than *Zodiac*, as it's a work that's uniquely personal to him. The director was a school-age boy when the eponymous killer was running rampant in his home state of California, and getting the details right became so crucial that, according to his DVD commentary, he reportedly had orange trees flown to set so he could better replicate his memory.

A film by an obsessive about obsession, Jake Gyllenhaal is perfectly cast as the fastidious crossword writer determined to crack the case at the cost of his marriage. Robert Downey Jr. is dually excellent as a washed-up reporter in this pre-Iron Man career comeback film, with Mark Ruffalo holding steady as a San Francisco detective while John Carroll Lynch is the ever-creepy Arthur Leigh Allen, who lurks on screen as if conjured from the depths of Fincher's lived-experience fear. The director is known for his meticulous and tiring amount of takes, which are designed to break the actors of their quirks and get them to show us their raw selves on screen. In some of his other films, this can seem like auteur nonsense, but here, it only enhances the depths of despair and darkness that await these characters in the glittering lights of the city. —*E.F.*

Where to watch *Zodiac*: Paramount+

Original Article on Source

Source: “EW Crime”