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.

Saw

951. Saw

Horror Mystery Crime Gore Horror Locked-Room Mystery
7.6

20041h 43min

United States

Director: James Wan

Two men wake up to find themselves shackled in a grimy, abandoned bathroom. As they struggle to comprehend their predicament, they discover a disturbing tape left behind by the sadistic mastermind known as Jigsaw. With a chilling voice and cryptic instructions, Jigsaw informs them that they must partake in a gruesome game in order to secure their freedom.

Themes

Deception and masks, Survival under pressure, Hidden surveillance, Authority and doubt, Coercive manipulation, Control through fear

Available on

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

Layer Cake

952. Layer Cake

Drama Thriller Crime Narcotics Crime Investigation Suspense
7.2

20041h 45min

United Kingdom

Director: Matthew Vaughn

When a seemingly straight-forward drug deal goes awry, XXXX has to break his die-hard rules and turn up the heat, not only to outwit the old regime and come out on top, but to save his own skin...

Themes

Loyalty under pressure, Betrayal within crime networks, Informant deception, Ambition versus safety, Power dynamics in criminal hierarchies, Deception as business strategy

Available on

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

Dead Man's Shoes

953. Dead Man's Shoes

Drama Thriller Crime Revenge Thriller Organized Crime
7.5

20041h 30min

United Kingdom

Director: Shane Meadows

A soldier returns to his small town and exacts a deadly revenge on the thugs who tormented his disabled brother while he was away.

Themes

Loyalty under pressure, Revenge across a town, Vigilante violence and cost, Military trauma shaping vengeance, Trauma from past abuse, Gang intimidation and fear

Available on

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

Cellular

954. Cellular

Action Thriller Drama Crime Epic Action
6.5

20041h 34min

United States, Germany

Director: David R. Ellis

A young man receives an emergency phone call on his cell phone from an older woman. She claims to have been kidnapped – and the kidnappers have targeted her husband and child next.

Themes

Trust in authorities under pressure, Family under threat, Deception through false identity, Coercion and leverage, Mistrust of security, Police corruption exposure, Video as leverage

Available on

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

Mean Creek

955. Mean Creek

Crime Drama Coming-of-Age Drama
7.1

20041h 30min

United States

Director: Jacob Aaron Estes

Teenagers living in small-town Oregon take a boat trip for a birthday celebration. When they get an idea to play a mean trick on the town bully, it suddenly goes too far. Soon they're forced to deal with the unexpected consequences of their actions.

Themes

Birthday pressure toward belonging, Prank as group deception, Lake setting instability, Video diary accountability, Bully presence shaping group dynamics, Loneliness and social danger

Available on

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

Collateral

956. Collateral

Drama Crime Thriller Organized Crime Modern Noir Thriller
7.5

20042h

United States

Director: Michael Mann

Cab driver Max picks up a man who offers him $600 to drive him around. But the promise of easy money sours when Max realizes his fare is an assassin.

Themes

Moral calculus under threat, Hitman coercion, Duty and self-preservation, Law and crime tension, Taxi vulnerability, Urban noir unease

Available on

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

Killing Cabos

957. Killing Cabos

Comedy Action Crime Buddy Comedy Heist
7.4

20041h 38min

Mexico

Director: Alejandro Lozano

Two young men get involved with some criminals while trying to free the tycoon they kidnapped.

Themes

Tycoon kidnapping, Two young men deception, Kidnapped hostage chaos, Tycoon party disruption, Two young men alliance, Criminals involvement

Available on

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

White Chicks

958. White Chicks

Comedy Crime Parody Undercover Sting Crime
5.9

20041h 49min

United States

Director: Keenen Ivory Wayans

Two FBI agent brothers, Marcus and Kevin Copeland, accidentally foil a drug bust. To avoid being fired they accept a mission escorting a pair of socialites to the Hamptons--but when the girls are disfigured in a car accident, they refuse to go. Left without options, Marcus and Kevin decide to pose as the sisters, transforming themselves from black men into rich white women.

Themes

Loyalty under pressure, Social deception as currency, Prestige through performance, Class status via impersonation, Power struggles in high society, Appearance as legitimacy

Available on

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

The Trixxer

959. The Trixxer

Comedy Crime Dark Comedy Serial Killer Crime
6.2

20041h 25min

Germany

Director: Tobi Baumann

A mysterious serial killer is shocking the underworld. Scotland Yard is investigating the case. Clues lead the detectives to Blackwhite Castle.

Themes

Criminal investigation momentum, Criminal mastermind manipulation, Serial killer deception, Scotland yard investigation, Police detective pressure, Murder witness impact

Available on

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

The Assassination of Richard Nixon

960. The Assassination of Richard Nixon

Drama History Thriller Crime Psychological Drama
6.9

20041h 35min

United States, Australia

Director: Niels Mueller

It’s 1974 and Sam Bicke has lost everything. His wife leaves him with his three kids, his boss fires him, his brother turns away from him, and the bank won’t give him any money to start anew. He tries to find someone to blame for his misfortunes and comes up with the President of the United States who he plans to murder.

Themes

Economic precarity, Disillusion with institutions, Fragile masculinity, Family fragmentation, Desperation and violence, Mental breakdown under strain

Available on

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