Films like The Rip (2026)

The Rip plot: Trust frays when a team of Miami cops discovers millions in cash inside a run-down stash house, calling everyone — and everything — into question.

Keywords: Violent, Mistrust, Crime drama, Betrayal, Crime thriller, Moral ambiguity, Suspenseful, Corruption, Police corruption, Twist

Style characteristics: Tension, Bleakness, Pacing, Action, Darkness, Violence, Complexity

1. 21 Bridges

IMDB: 6.7

2019 · 1h 39minUnited States, China

Director: Brian Kirk

Overview

Detective Andre Davis leads a massive manhunt for the criminals who killed two police officers. As tensions rise, the authorities order all bridges out of Manhattan to be shut down to keep the killers from escaping the island.

Similarity

Closest characteristics: Darkness, Action, Tension, Tone, ConflictNotable differences: Bleakness (-15%)

Shared keywords

Corruption, Police corruption, Investigation, Procedural

2. NARC

IMDB: 7.1

2002 · 1h 45minUnited States, Germany

Director: Joe Carnahan

Overview

When the investigation into a police officer’s murder hits a dead end, a narcotics cop who was previously suspended is brought in. His task is to track down the killer and, in the end, solve the crime.

Similarity

Closest characteristics: Complexity, Violence, Tension, Tone, ConflictNotable differences: Darkness (+17%), Action (-22%)

Shared keywords

Violent, Moral ambiguity, Corruption, Police corruption, Investigation, Mystery, Neo noir, Procedural

3. Den of Thieves

IMDB: 7.0

2018 · 2h 20minUnited States

Director: Christian Gudegast

Overview

Right under the nose of Los Angeles’ elite police unit, the most successful crew of robbers in the state plans a brazen, seemingly impossible heist of the Federal Reserve Bank.

Similarity

Closest characteristics: Action, Tension, Pacing, Tone, ThemesNotable differences: Bleakness (-15%)

Shared keywords

Betrayal, Twist, Twist ending, Cynical, Investigation, Neo noir

4. Street Kings

IMDB: 6.8

2008 · 1h 49minUnited States

Director: David Ayer

Overview

An undercover cop who recently lost his wife is accused of murdering a police officer. Now he has no choice but to clear his name and find the real killer.

Similarity

Closest characteristics: Bleakness, Pacing, Violence, Tone, ThemesNotable differences: Darkness (+13%)

Shared keywords

Violent, Corruption, Police corruption, Twist, Cynical, Investigation

5. Training Day

IMDB: 7.8

2001 · 2h 2minUnited States

Director: Antoine Fuqua

Overview

On his first day on the job, rookie cop Jake is partnered with Alonzo, a seasoned detective in the narcotics unit. Within the first few hours, Jake starts to doubt the methods and approaches Alonzo uses.

Similarity

Closest characteristics: Violence, Pacing, Tension, Tone, ConflictNotable differences: Darkness (+13%), Action (-12%)

Shared keywords

Violent, Mistrust, Betrayal, Corruption, Police corruption, Neo noir

6. Sicario

IMDB: 7.7

2015 · 2h 2minUnited States, Mexico

Director: Denis Villeneuve

Overview

FBI agent Kate Macer joins an elite anti-drug unit. Alongside the task force, she becomes drawn into a brutal war against drug cartels on the U.S.–Mexico border.

Similarity

Closest characteristics: Complexity, Violence, Bleakness, Tone, ConflictNotable differences: Darkness (+21%), Tension (+12%), Action (-12%)

Shared keywords

Violent, Moral ambiguity, Corruption, Investigation, Neo noir

7. The Departed

IMDB: 8.5

2006 · 2h 31minUnited States, Hong Kong SAR China

Director: Martin Scorsese

Overview

A young Boston cop goes undercover and infiltrates a mob crew led by crime boss Frank Costello. At the same time, Costello plants his own man in the police to uncover the “rat.”

Similarity

Closest characteristics: Complexity, Pacing, Violence, Tone, ThemesNotable differences: Darkness (+17%), Action (-15%)

Shared keywords

Mistrust, Betrayal, Corruption, Police corruption, Twist, Investigation

8. Heat

IMDB: 8.3

1995 · 2h 50minUnited States

Director: Michael Mann

Overview

Los Angeles’ best detective picks up the trail of a crew of top-tier robbers after they make a mistake during their latest heist.

Similarity

Closest characteristics: Action, Complexity, Bleakness, Tone, ConflictNotable differences: Darkness (+13%)

Shared keywords

Violent, Betrayal, Moral ambiguity, Investigation, Neo noir

9. The Negotiator

IMDB: 7.3

1998 · 2h 20minUnited States, Germany

Director: F. Gary Gray

Overview

After being falsely accused of murder, a former police negotiator sees no other way out than to take hostages himself in a skyscraper.

Similarity

Closest characteristics: Pacing, Darkness, Tension, Themes, ToneNotable differences: Bleakness (-25%)

Shared keywords

Mistrust, Betrayal, Corruption, Police corruption, Procedural

10. Ronin

IMDB: 7.2

1998 · 2h 2minUnited States, United Kingdom

Director: John Frankenheimer

Overview

A former U.S. intelligence agent tries to track down a mysterious package that both Russian and Irish secret services are hunting at the same time.

Similarity

Closest characteristics: Tension, Pacing, Complexity, Tone, ThemesNotable differences: Bleakness (-15%)

Shared keywords

Violent, Mistrust, Betrayal, Moral ambiguity, Cynical, Neo noir