Crime backdrop

Crime movies

A deep dive into the underworld of gangsters, detectives, and heists where the line between right and wrong blurs.

Subgenres include: Organized Crime, Heist, Con Artist Crime.

Shaft

1131. Shaft

Action Adventure Crime Thriller Organized Crime
6.0

20001h 39min

Germany, United States

Director: John Singleton

New York police detective John Shaft arrests Walter Wade Jr. for a racially motivated slaying. But the only eyewitness disappears, and Wade jumps bail for Switzerland. Two years later Wade returns to face trial, confident his money and influence will get him acquitted -- especially since he's paid a drug kingpin to kill the witness.

Themes

Racially motivated violence, Wealth and influence, Corruption and power dynamics, Vigilantism vs justice, Witness manipulation, Organized crime networks

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
fuboTV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Gangster No. 1

1132. Gangster No. 1

Action Drama Thriller Crime Organized Crime
6.7

20001h 43min

Germany, Ireland

Director: Paul McGuigan

An old gangster is advised that Freddie Mays would leave jail after thirty years in prison. His mood changes and he recalls when he was a young punk and who joined Freddie's gang—a man he both envied and ultimately betrayed.

Themes

Revenge and consequences, Loyalty under pressure, Betrayal within crime networks, Rise and fall of crime, Leadership through violence, Prison as turning point

Available on

YouTube
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Gone in Sixty Seconds

1133. Gone in Sixty Seconds

Action Crime Thriller Vehicle-Driven Action Heist
6.5

20001h 58min

United States

Director: Dominic Sena

Upon learning that he has to come out of retirement to steal 50 cars in one night to save his brother Kip's life, former car thief Randall "Memphis" Raines enlists help from a few "boost happy" pals to accomplish a seemingly impossible feat. From countless car chases to relentless cops, the high-octane excitement builds as Randall swerves around more than a few roadblocks to keep Kip alive.

Themes

Loyalty under pressure, Risk and improvisation, Trust under deception, Family stakes, Crime and pursuit, Mentorship influence

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
fuboTV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Small Time Crooks

1134. Small Time Crooks

Comedy Crime Satire Con Artist Crime
6.7

20001h 34min

United States

Director: Woody Allen

A loser of a crook and his wife strike it rich when a botched bank job's cover business becomes a spectacular success.

Themes

Front business disguise, Crime financing ambition, Class tension through social climbing, Deception and exploitation, Taste as status marker, Materialism shaping identity

Available on

Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Video
Apple TV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Frequency

1135. Frequency

Science Fiction Thriller Family Crime Time Travel Sci-Fi
7.4

20001h 58min

United States

Director: Gregory Hoblit

When a rare phenomenon gives police officer John Sullivan the chance to speak to his father, 30 years in the past, he takes the opportunity to prevent his dad's tragic death. After his actions inadvertently give rise to a series of brutal murders he and his father must find a way to fix the consequences of altering time.

Themes

Deception and framing, Altering history consequences, Cross-generational communication, Family bonds across time, Unintended collateral damage, Duty under danger

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

The Yards

1136. The Yards

Crime Drama Thriller Organized Crime Investigation Suspense
6.4

20001h 55min

United States

Director: James Gray

In the rail yards of Queens, contractors repair and rebuild the city's subway cars. These contracts are lucrative, so graft and corruption are rife. When Leo Handler gets out of prison, he finds his aunt married to Frank Olchin, one of the big contractors; he's battling with a minority-owned firm for contracts.

Themes

Deception under pressure, Urban contract corruption, Competition with minority firms, Power struggles in business, Crime in infrastructure, Betrayal within alliances

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Hoopla
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Detective Conan: Captured in Her Eyes

1137. Detective Conan: Captured in Her Eyes

Animation Crime Drama Mystery Adventure
7.5

20001h 40min

Japan

Director: Kenji Kodama

Police officers around Tokyo are being murdered by an unknown assailant. When Ran witnesses an attempt on the life of one of her friends in the police, she loses her memory. Now, Conan and Inspector Megure must find the murderer while Ran attempts to regain her lost memories.


Taxi 2

1138. Taxi 2

Action Comedy Adventure Crime Vehicle-Driven Action
6.5

20001h 22min

France

Director: Gérard Krawczyk

A cabdriver and a cop race to Paris to rescue a love interest and the Japanese minister of defense from kidnappers.

Themes

Law enforcement pressure, Deception as tactic, Duty vs danger, Crime disruption ethics, Time pressure urgency, Policy and crime clash

Available on

Apple TV
Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Video
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Romeo Must Die

1139. Romeo Must Die

Action Crime Thriller Martial Arts Action Organized Crime
6.1

20001h 55min

United States

Director: Andrzej Bartkowiak

Two warring gang families (one African-American, the other Chinese) maneuver for bragging rights to the Oakland, California, docks. Hang Sing and Trish O'Day uncover a trail of deceit that leaves most of the warring factions dead … or worse!

Themes

Deception and coercion, Wealth and influence, Gang conflict and extortion, Family loyalty vs greed, Property driven leverage, Violence as control

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Boys Don't Cry

1140. Boys Don't Cry

Comedy Crime Organized Crime
7.6

20001h 40min

Poland

Director: Olaf Lubaszenko

A young aspiring violinist unwittingly becomes involved with a criminal gang.

Themes

Loyalty under pressure, Coming of age, Crime and ambition, Father son tension, Money and risk, Art vs crime