250 Best Crime Movies of All Time
Crime films are among the most iconic and captivating genres in cinema. This genre takes viewers into the world of crime, dark characters, detectives, and intrigues, offering them a mesmerizing experience. Crime films are centered around murders, thefts, frauds, and intricate crime stories, thus urging the audience to solve puzzles and uncover the mysteries behind the crimes.
One of the primary features of crime films is their cleverly woven stories. They often narrate the commission of crimes and delve into the motives of criminals. These stories guide the audience towards unraveling complex crime mysteries, presenting scenes filled with surprises and twists and turns.
Additionally, crime films place significant importance on character development and internal conflicts. The complex personalities of criminal characters or detectives deepen the audience’s connection to the story. These characters frequently grapple with ethical dilemmas and undergo internal conflicts while seeking to deliver justice.
Crime films are also renowned for their suspenseful and thrilling scenes. The moments when crimes are committed draw the audience in, holding their attention with curiosity. These films are brimming with perilous chases, hidden alliances, and unexpected plot developments.
Often, crime films are visually and artistically striking. Stunning cinematography, atmospheric music, and captivating visual effects enhance the overall impact of the film. Crime films offer viewers a visual and auditory spectacle, amplifying their atmospheres and tensions.
In conclusion, crime films enthrall audiences with a desire to understand the complexity and mystery behind crimes. This genre immerses viewers into the story, challenging them to solve the enigma concealed within the crimes. By following the process of solving murders, delivering justice, and untangling intricacies, crime films captivate their audience, earning their place as one of the most iconic and compelling genres in cinema.
Here are 250 of the best Crime movies
The French Connection (1971) – IMDb Rating: 7.7
Summary: The film is a crime thriller that follows two New York City detectives as they pursue and try to dismantle a drug smuggling operation.
Starring:
Gene Hackman (Detective Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle)
Roy Scheider (Detective Buddy “Cloudy” Russo)
Gone Girl (2014) – IMDb Rating: 8.1
Summary: The film is a mystery thriller about a man who becomes the prime suspect in the disappearance of his wife, and the secrets and twists that unfold.
Starring:
Ben Affleck (Nick Dunne)
Rosamund Pike (Amy Dunne)
Catch Me If You Can (2002) – IMDb Rating: 8.1
Summary: The film is a biographical crime drama that tells the true story of Frank Abagnale Jr., a master con artist, and the FBI agent determined to catch him.
Starring:
Leonardo DiCaprio (Frank Abagnale Jr.)
Tom Hanks (Carl Hanratty)
Inside Man (2006) – IMDb Rating: 7.6
Summary: The film is a heist thriller that centers on a bank robbery and the ensuing hostage situation, which leads to a complex cat-and-mouse game.
Starring:
Denzel Washington (Detective Keith Frazier)
Clive Owen (Dalton Russell)
Chinatown (1974) – IMDb Rating: 8.2
Summary: The film is a neo-noir mystery that follows a private investigator as he unravels a web of corruption and scandal in 1930s Los Angeles.
Starring:
Jack Nicholson (J.J. Gittes)
Faye Dunaway (Evelyn Mulwray)
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011) – IMDb Rating: 7.8
Summary: The film is a psychological thriller that follows a journalist and a hacker as they investigate the disappearance of a wealthy industrialist’s niece.
Starring:
Daniel Craig (Mikael Blomkvist)
Rooney Mara (Lisbeth Salander)
Infernal Affairs (2002) – IMDb Rating: 8.1
Summary: The film is a Hong Kong crime thriller about two undercover agents—one infiltrating the police force and the other embedded in a criminal organization.
Starring:
Andy Lau (Inspector Lau Kin Ming)
Tony Leung (Chan Wing Yan)
Léon: The Professional (1994) – IMDb Rating: 8.5
Summary: The film is an action thriller about a hitman who forms an unlikely bond with a young girl after her family is murdered by corrupt DEA agents.
Starring:
Jean Reno (Léon)
Natalie Portman (Mathilda)
Heat (1995) – IMDb Rating: 8.2
Summary: The film is a crime drama that explores the lives of a master thief and a dedicated detective on opposite sides of the law as they engage in a high-stakes cat-and-mouse game.
Starring:
Al Pacino (Lt. Vincent Hanna)
Robert De Niro (Neil McCauley)
Mystic River (2003) – IMDb Rating: 7.9
Summary: The film is a crime drama that follows the lives of three childhood friends who are brought back together by a tragic event from their past.
Starring:
Sean Penn (Jimmy Markum)
Tim Robbins (Dave Boyle)
Kevin Bacon (Sean Devine)
Prisoners (2013) – IMDb Rating: 8.1
Summary: The film is a thriller about a father who takes matters into his own hands after his daughter and her friend go missing, leading to a tense investigation.
Starring:
Hugh Jackman (Keller Dover)
Jake Gyllenhaal (Detective Loki)
The Killing (1956) – IMDb Rating: 8.0
Summary: The film is a classic crime drama that follows the meticulous planning and execution of a racetrack heist and its aftermath.
Starring:
Sterling Hayden (Johnny Clay)
Collateral (2004) – IMDb Rating: 7.5
Summary: The film is a thriller about a taxi driver who becomes unwittingly involved in a contract killer’s mission over the course of one night in Los Angeles.
Starring:
Tom Cruise (Vincent)
Jamie Foxx (Max Durocher)
Fargo (1996) – IMDb Rating: 8.1
Summary: The film is a dark comedy crime thriller that follows a car salesman’s descent into criminality after a botched kidnapping scheme in snowy Minnesota.
Starring:
Frances McDormand (Marge Gunderson)
William H. Macy (Jerry Lundegaard)
Donnie Brasco (1997) – IMDb Rating: 7.7
Summary: The film is a crime drama based on the true story of an FBI agent who goes undercover to infiltrate the mob and befriends a low-level hitman.
Starring:
Johnny Depp (Donnie Brasco)
Al Pacino (Lefty Ruggiero)
Eastern Promises (2007) – IMDb Rating: 7.6
Summary: The film is a crime thriller that delves into the Russian mafia in London and the efforts of a midwife to protect a young girl who is a key to their secrets.
Starring:
Viggo Mortensen (Nikolai Luzhin)
Naomi Watts (Anna Khitrova)
Panic Room (2002) – IMDb Rating: 6.8
Summary: The film is a thriller about a mother and daughter who take refuge in their home’s panic room when burglars break in, leading to a tense standoff.
Starring:
Jodie Foster (Meg Altman)
Kristen Stewart (Sarah Altman)
The Bone Collector (1999) – IMDb Rating: 6.7
Summary: The film is a crime thriller about a quadriplegic detective and his assistant as they investigate a series of murders in New York City.
Starring:
Denzel Washington (Lincoln Rhyme)
Angelina Jolie (Amelia Donaghy)
A Prophet (2009) – IMDb Rating: 7.8
Summary: The film is a French crime drama that depicts the rise of a young Arab man in a French prison and his transformation into a powerful figure.
Starring:
Tahar Rahim (Malik El Djebena)
The Others (2001) – IMDb Rating: 7.6
Summary: The film is a psychological horror-thriller about a woman who believes her old, dark house is haunted, leading to disturbing revelations.
Starring:
Nicole Kidman (Grace Stewart)
Pain & Gain (2013) – IMDb Rating: 6.4
Summary: The film is a dark comedy crime story based on a true story about a group of bodybuilders who become involved in a criminal enterprise.
Starring:
Mark Wahlberg (Daniel Lugo)
Dwayne Johnson (Paul Doyle)
Layer Cake (2004) – IMDb Rating: 7.3
Summary: The film is a British crime thriller that follows a successful drug dealer’s attempt to retire, which leads to a series of unexpected challenges.
Starring:
Daniel Craig (XXXX)
The Italian Job (2003) – IMDb Rating: 7.0
Summary: The film is a heist action-comedy about a group of thieves who plan and execute a gold heist in Venice.
Starring:
Mark Wahlberg (Charlie Croker)
Charlize Theron (Stella Bridger)
Edward Norton (Steve)
Shutter Island (2010) – IMDb Rating: 8.1
Summary: The film is a psychological thriller that follows two U.S. Marshals as they investigate the disappearance of a patient from a mental institution on a remote island.
Starring:
Leonardo DiCaprio (Teddy Daniels)
Mark Ruffalo (Chuck Aule)
Munich (2005) – IMDb Rating: 7.5
Summary: The film is a historical drama-thriller that depicts the aftermath of the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre and the Israeli government’s secret retaliation against those responsible.
Starring:
Eric Bana (Avner)
Daniel Craig (Steve)
Geoffrey Rush (Ephraim)
Casino (1995) – IMDb Rating: 8.2
Summary: The film is a crime drama that explores the dark and violent world of organized crime in Las Vegas, focusing on a casino manager’s tumultuous life.
Starring:
Robert De Niro (Sam “Ace” Rothstein)
Sharon Stone (Ginger McKenna)
Joe Pesci (Nicky Santoro)
The Third Man (1949) – IMDb Rating: 8.1
Summary: The film is a classic British film noir set in post-World War II Vienna, where an American writer becomes entangled in a mystery surrounding his friend’s death.
Starring:
Joseph Cotten (Holly Martins)
Orson Welles (Harry Lime)
The Town (2010) – IMDb Rating: 7.5
Summary: The film is a crime drama that follows a group of bank robbers in Boston and the complications that arise when one of them becomes romantically involved with a hostage.
Starring:
Ben Affleck (Doug MacRay)
Jeremy Renner (James Coughlin)
Zodiac (2007) – IMDb Rating: 7.7
Summary: The film is a crime thriller based on the real-life hunt for the Zodiac Killer in San Francisco during the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Starring:
Jake Gyllenhaal (Robert Graysmith)
Mark Ruffalo (Inspector David Toschi)
Sicario (2015) – IMDb Rating: 7.6
Summary: The film is a crime thriller that follows an FBI agent’s journey into the violent world of drug cartels on the U.S.-Mexico border.
Starring:
Emily Blunt (Kate Macer)
Benicio Del Toro (Alejandro Gillick)
Josh Brolin (Matt Graver)
The Girl on the Train (2016) – IMDb Rating: 6.5
Summary: The film is a psychological thriller about a woman who becomes entangled in a missing person investigation and begins to unravel dark secrets.
Starring:
Emily Blunt (Rachel Watson)
Blow (2001) – IMDb Rating: 7.6
Summary: The film is a crime drama based on the true story of George Jung, a drug trafficker who played a significant role in the cocaine trade in the 1970s and 1980s.
Starring:
Johnny Depp (George Jung)
Penélope Cruz (Mirtha Jung)
The Untouchables (1987) – IMDb Rating: 7.9
Summary: The film is a crime drama set during the Prohibition era, focusing on the efforts of law enforcement to bring down the notorious gangster Al Capone.
Starring:
Kevin Costner (Eliot Ness)
Sean Connery (Jim Malone)
Robert De Niro (Al Capone)
Training Day (2001) – IMDb Rating: 7.7
Summary: The film is a crime thriller that explores a day in the life of a corrupt narcotics detective and the rookie officer assigned to shadow him.
Starring:
Denzel Washington (Detective Alonzo Harris)
Ethan Hawke (Officer Jake Hoyt)
Gone Baby Gone (2007) – IMDb Rating: 7.6
Summary: The film is a crime mystery-drama about two private investigators who are hired to find a missing girl in a working-class Boston neighborhood.
Starring:
Casey Affleck (Patrick Kenzie)
Michelle Monaghan (Angie Gennaro)
Morgan Freeman (Captain Jack Doyle)
True Romance (1993) – IMDb Rating: 7.9
Summary: The film is a crime romance that follows a young couple on the run with a suitcase full of stolen cocaine after a chance encounter with the mob.
Starring:
Christian Slater (Clarence Worley)
Patricia Arquette (Alabama Whitman)
Dennis Hopper (Clifford Worley)
Out of Sight (1998) – IMDb Rating: 7.0
Summary: The film is a crime comedy-drama that revolves around a U.S. Marshal and a bank robber who form an unlikely connection during a prison break.
Starring:
George Clooney (Jack Foley)
Jennifer Lopez (Karen Sisco)
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009) – IMDb Rating: 7.8
Summary: The film is a Swedish crime thriller that follows a journalist and a computer hacker as they investigate a decades-old disappearance in a wealthy family.
Starring:
Michael Nyqvist (Mikael Blomkvist)
Noomi Rapace (Lisbeth Salander)
Layer Cake (2004) – IMDb Rating: 7.3
Summary: The film is a British crime thriller that centers around a successful drug dealer’s attempt to retire, leading to a series of unexpected challenges.
Starring:
Daniel Craig (XXXX)
A History of Violence (2005) – IMDb Rating: 7.4
Summary: The film is a thriller that tells the story of a small-town restaurant owner whose past as a violent criminal comes back to haunt him.
Starring:
Viggo Mortensen (Tom Stall)
Gone in 60 Seconds (2000) – IMDb Rating: 6.5
Summary: The film is an action thriller about a retired car thief who is forced to steal 50 cars in one night to save his brother’s life.
Starring:
Nicolas Cage (Randall “Memphis” Raines)
Angelina Jolie (Sara “Sway” Wayland)
Ocean’s Eleven (2001) – IMDb Rating: 7.7
Summary: The film is a heist comedy about a group of skilled criminals who plan to rob three Las Vegas casinos simultaneously.
Starring:
George Clooney (Danny Ocean)
Brad Pitt (Rusty Ryan)
Julia Roberts (Tess Ocean)
Sexy Beast (2000) – IMDb Rating: 7.3
Summary: The film is a crime drama that follows a retired gangster whose peaceful life is disrupted when a menacing former associate comes to visit.
Starring:
Ray Winstone (Gary “Gal” Dove)
Ben Kingsley (Don Logan)
American Gangster (2007) – IMDb Rating: 7.8
Summary: The film is a crime drama based on the true story of Frank Lucas, a drug lord in 1970s Harlem, and the detective trying to bring him down.
Starring:
Denzel Washington (Frank Lucas)
Russell Crowe (Richie Roberts)
American Psycho (2000) – IMDb Rating: 7.6
Summary: The film is a dark comedy-drama that follows the life of a wealthy New York City investment banker who leads a secret life as a serial killer.
Starring:
Christian Bale (Patrick Bateman)
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005) – IMDb Rating: 7.5
Summary: The film is a neo-noir crime comedy that combines murder mystery with humor as a petty thief finds himself involved in a Hollywood murder case.
Starring:
Robert Downey Jr. (Harry Lockhart)
Val Kilmer (Gay Perry)
The Score (2001) – IMDb Rating: 6.7
Summary: The film is a heist thriller about a master thief who is pulled into one last job, involving a priceless French scepter.
Starring:
Robert De Niro (Nick Wells)
Edward Norton (Jack Teller)
The Town (2010) – IMDb Rating: 7.5
Summary: The film is a crime drama that follows a group of bank robbers in Boston and the complications that arise when one of them becomes romantically involved with a hostage.
Starring:
Ben Affleck (Doug MacRay)
Jeremy Renner (James Coughlin)
Matchstick Men (2003) – IMDb Rating: 7.3
Summary: The film is a crime-comedy-drama that revolves around two con artists and their attempts to pull off a big swindle.
Starring:
Nicolas Cage (Roy Waller)
Sam Rockwell (Frank Mercer)
Black Mass (2015) – IMDb Rating: 6.9
Summary: The film is a crime drama based on the true story of James “Whitey” Bulger, a notorious Boston mobster and FBI informant.
Starring:
Johnny Depp (James “Whitey” Bulger)
Joel Edgerton (John Connolly)
The Godfather (1972) – IMDb Rating: 9.2
Summary: The film is a classic crime drama that tells the story of the Corleone crime family and their patriarch’s struggle to maintain power.
Starring:
Marlon Brando (Don Vito Corleone)
Al Pacino (Michael Corleone)
The Shawshank Redemption (1994) – IMDb Rating: 9.3
Summary: The film is a drama set in a prison that follows the friendship between two inmates, one of whom is wrongly convicted.
Starring:
Tim Robbins (Andy Dufresne)
Morgan Freeman (Ellis “Red” Redding)
Pulp Fiction (1994) – IMDb Rating: 8.9
Summary: The film is a crime anthology that weaves together multiple interconnected stories involving crime, redemption, and unusual characters.
Starring:
John Travolta (Vincent Vega)
Samuel L. Jackson (Jules Winnfield)
Uma Thurman (Mia Wallace)
The Godfather: Part II (1974) – IMDb Rating: 9.0
Summary: The sequel to “The Godfather” continues the saga of the Corleone family, with a parallel storyline set in the past and present.
Starring:
Al Pacino (Michael Corleone)
Robert De Niro (Young Vito Corleone)
Goodfellas (1990) – IMDb Rating: 8.7
Summary: The film is a crime drama that follows the rise and fall of Henry Hill, a mobster involved in organized crime in New York City.
Starring:
Ray Liotta (Henry Hill)
Robert De Niro (James Conway)
Joe Pesci (Tommy DeVito)
The Departed (2006) – IMDb Rating: 8.5
Summary: The film is a crime thriller that explores the undercover work of a Massachusetts State Police officer who infiltrates the Irish mafia.
Starring:
Leonardo DiCaprio (Billy Costigan)
Matt Damon (Colin Sullivan)
Jack Nicholson (Frank Costello)
Se7en (1995) – IMDb Rating: 8.6
Summary: The film is a psychological thriller that follows two detectives as they investigate a series of gruesome murders inspired by the seven deadly sins.
Starring:
Brad Pitt (Detective David Mills)
Morgan Freeman (Detective William Somerset)
The Silence of the Lambs (1991) – IMDb Rating: 8.6
Summary: The film is a psychological thriller that follows an FBI trainee who seeks the help of the imprisoned Dr. Hannibal Lecter to catch a serial killer.
Starring:
Jodie Foster (Clarice Starling)
Anthony Hopkins (Dr. Hannibal Lecter)
No Country for Old Men (2007) – IMDb Rating: 8.1
Summary: The film is a neo-western crime thriller about a hunter who stumbles upon a drug deal gone wrong and the relentless hitman pursuing him.
Starring:
Tommy Lee Jones (Ed Tom Bell)
Javier Bardem (Anton Chigurh)
Heat (1995) – IMDb Rating: 8.2
Summary: The film is a crime drama that follows the intense cat-and-mouse game between a skilled detective and a professional bank robber.
Starring:
Al Pacino (Lt. Vincent Hanna)
Robert De Niro (Neil McCauley)
Fight Club (1999) – IMDb Rating: 8.8
Summary: The film is a psychological thriller that explores the lives of two men who form an underground fight club with unexpected consequences.
Starring:
Edward Norton (The Narrator)
Brad Pitt (Tyler Durden)
The Usual Suspects (1995) – IMDb Rating: 8.5
Summary: The film is a crime mystery that follows a group of criminals who are brought together for a heist and the enigmatic figure, Keyser Söze.
Starring:
Kevin Spacey (Roger “Verbal” Kint)
Gabriel Byrne (Dean Keaton)
Scarface (1983) – IMDb Rating: 8.3
Summary: This crime drama follows the rise and fall of Tony Montana, a Cuban immigrant who becomes a powerful drug lord in Miami’s criminal underworld.
Starring:
Al Pacino (Tony Montana)
L.A. Confidential (1997) – IMDb Rating: 8.2
Summary: In this neo-noir crime film, three detectives investigate a series of interconnected crimes in 1950s Los Angeles, uncovering corruption and secrets.
Starring:
Kevin Spacey (Jack Vincennes)
Russell Crowe (Wendell “Bud” White)
Guy Pearce (Ed Exley)
Reservoir Dogs (1992) – IMDb Rating: 8.3
Summary: This crime thriller follows a group of criminals who come together for a diamond heist, but the heist goes awry, leading to suspicion and betrayal.
Starring:
Harvey Keitel (Mr. White)
Tim Roth (Mr. Orange)
Michael Madsen (Mr. Blonde)
Memento (2000) – IMDb Rating: 8.4
Summary: A psychological thriller that tells the story of a man with short-term memory loss who is trying to find his wife’s murderer by leaving himself notes and clues.
Starring:
Guy Pearce (Leonard Shelby)
Carrie-Anne Moss (Natalie)
Taxi Driver (1976) – IMDb Rating: 8.2
Summary: This psychological thriller follows Travis Bickle, a mentally unstable Vietnam War veteran who becomes a taxi driver in New York City.
Starring:
Robert De Niro (Travis Bickle)
Jodie Foster (Iris)
The Big Lebowski (1998) – IMDb Rating: 8.1
Summary: A quirky crime-comedy about Jeff “The Dude” Lebowski, who gets embroiled in a case of mistaken identity and becomes involved in a bizarre kidnapping plot.
Starring:
Jeff Bridges (Jeff “The Dude” Lebowski)
John Goodman (Walter Sobchak)
Sin City (2005) – IMDb Rating: 8.0
Summary: Based on the graphic novel, this neo-noir crime film weaves together multiple dark and interconnected stories set in the fictional Basin City.
Starring:
Bruce Willis (Hartigan)
Mickey Rourke (Marv)
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) – IMDb Rating: 8.2
Summary: A British crime comedy about a group of friends who get caught up in the London underground gambling scene and owe a huge debt to a dangerous mobster.
Starring:
Jason Flemyng (Tom)
Dexter Fletcher (Soap)
Training Day (2001) – IMDb Rating: 7.7
Summary: A crime thriller that follows a rookie detective paired with a corrupt and ruthless veteran detective as they navigate the dangerous streets of Los Angeles.
Starring:
Denzel Washington (Alonzo Harris)
Ethan Hawke (Jake Hoyt)
A Clockwork Orange (1971) – IMDb Rating: 8.3
Summary: A dystopian crime film that explores the violent and antisocial behavior of a young delinquent, Alex DeLarge, and his experience with a controversial rehabilitation program.
Starring:
Malcolm McDowell (Alex DeLarge)
Mystic River (2003) – IMDb Rating: 7.9
Summary: This crime drama tells the story of three childhood friends whose lives are forever changed when a tragedy resurfaces and exposes dark secrets.
Starring:
Sean Penn (Jimmy Markum)
Tim Robbins (Dave Boyle)
Kevin Bacon (Sean Devine)