high-stakes backdrop

Movies with high-stakes vibe

201. Battle of the Year

Battle of the Year
Music Drama Dance-Centered Music Film Sports Competition
5.0
20131h 50minUnited States
Director: Benson Lee

Overview

A down-on-his-luck coach is hired to prepare a team of the best American dancers for an international tournament that attracts all the best crews from around the world, but the Americans haven't won in fifteen years.

Themes

Teamwork under pressure, Coaching mentorship and growth, Underdog status and resilience, Cross-cultural competition dynamics, Pursuit of excellence

Available on

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

202. Life of Crime

Life of Crime
Comedy Crime Dark Comedy Con Artist Crime
5.8
20131h 34minUnited States
Director: Daniel Schechter

Overview

Two common criminals get more than they bargained for after kidnapping the wife of a corrupt real-estate developer who shows no interest in paying the $1 million dollar ransom for her safe return.

Themes

Class inequality, Deception and manipulation, Loyalty under pressure, Moral ambiguity, Wealth and crime, Ransom dynamics, Marital infidelity

Available on

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

203. The Family

The Family
Crime Comedy Action Organized Crime Dark Comedy
6.3
20131h 51minFrance, United States
Director: Luc Besson

Overview

After ratting out his Mafia cohorts, Giovanni Manzoni and his family enter the Witness Protection Program and relocate to a sleepy town in France. Despite the best efforts of their handler to keep them in line, Giovanni (now called Fred Blake), his wife and children can't help but resort to doing things the "family" way. However, their dependence on such old habits places everyone in danger from vengeful mobsters.

Themes

Deception under protection, Loyalty vs old habits, Family violence escalation, Hidden crime networks, Reinvention under duress, Public confrontation with crime

Available on

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

204. Machete Kills

Machete Kills
Action Crime Thriller One-Person Army Organized Crime
5.6
20131h 48minUnited States, Russia
Director: Robert Rodriguez

Overview

Ex-Federale agent Machete is recruited by the President of the United States for a mission which would be impossible for any mortal man – he must take down a madman revolutionary and an eccentric billionaire arms dealer who has hatched a plan to spread war and anarchy across the planet.

Themes

Technology as control, Betrayal through deception, Corruption under pressure, Global threat manipulation, Military complicity, Power via manipulation

Available on

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

205. Paranoia

Paranoia
Drama Thriller Professional Drama Cover-Up Thriller
5.6
20131h 46minIndia, United States
Director: Robert Luketic

Overview

An entry-level employee at a powerful corporation finds himself occupying a corner office, but at a dangerous price—he must spy on his boss's old mentor to secure for him a multi-billion dollar advantage.

Themes

Deception and coercion, Loyalty under manipulation, Ambition and consequence, Risk vs reward in information, Corporate espionage pressures

Available on

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

206. 12 Rounds 2: Reloaded

12 Rounds 2: Reloaded
Action Adventure Thriller Epic Action Revenge Thriller
5.3
20131h 35minUnited States, Canada
Director: Roel Reiné

Overview

Nick Malloy portrays an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) who finds himself caught in a deadly 12-round game of cat and mouse with a vigilante tied to the paramedic's past. With little time to spare and his wife's life hanging in the balance, the EMT must figure out why he's been chosen to be the pawn in this maniac's game before it's too late.

Themes

Revenge as motive, Investigative pressure, Duty vs family, Family under threat, Past actions haunting present, Cat and mouse dynamics

Available on

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

207. The Purge

The Purge
Science Fiction Horror Thriller Dystopian Sci-Fi Home Invasion Horror
5.8
20131h 25minFrance, United States
Director: James DeMonaco

Overview

Given the country's overcrowded prisons, the U.S. government begins to allow 12-hour periods of time in which all illegal activity is legal. During one of these free-for-alls, a family must protect themselves from a home invasion.

Themes

Class inequality, Wealth and security, Social allegory, Neighborhood hostility, Economic collapse implications, Security dependence, Mob rule versus order

Available on

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

208. Star Trek Into Darkness

Star Trek Into Darkness
Action Adventure Science Fiction Epic Action Space Sci-Fi
7.7
20132h 12minUnited States
Director: J.J. Abrams

Overview

When the crew of the Enterprise is called back home, they find an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization has detonated the fleet and everything it stands for, leaving our world in a state of crisis. With a personal score to settle, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one man weapon of mass destruction. As our heroes are propelled into an epic chess game of life and death, love will be challenged, friendships will be torn apart, and sacrifices must be made for the only family Kirk has left: his crew.

Themes

Loyalty versus duty, Deception within leadership, Power struggles under crisis, Weaponization ethics, Trust and betrayal in war, Obedience versus rebellion

Available on

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

209. The Reluctant Fundamentalist

The Reluctant Fundamentalist
Thriller Political Thriller
6.8
20132h 10minQatar, United States
Director: Mira Nair

Overview

In New York, a Pakistani native finds that his American Dream has collapsed in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Themes

Economic precarity, Surveillance and control, Cross-cultural tension, Homeland vs dream, Disillusionment with institutions, Diasporic belonging

Available on

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

210. Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods

Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods
Animation Action Science Fiction Anime Superhero Action
7.1
20131h 25minJapan
Director: Masahiro Hosoda

Overview

The events of Battle of Gods take place some years after the battle with Majin Buu, which determined the fate of the entire universe. After awakening from a long slumber, Beerus, the God of Destruction is visited by Whis, his attendant and learns that the galactic overlord Frieza has been defeated by a Super Saiyan from the North Quadrant of the universe named Goku, who is also a former student of the North Kai. Ecstatic over the new challenge, Goku ignores King Kai's advice and battles Beerus, but he is easily overwhelmed and defeated. Beerus leaves, but his eerie remark of "Is there nobody on Earth more worthy to destroy?" lingers on. Now it is up to the heroes to stop the God of Destruction before all is lost.

Themes

Rivalries among powerful beings, Cosmic duty vs personal glory, Power escalation and restraint, Energy channeling for form, Protection of a home world, Disruption of peace

Available on

Netflix
Apple TV
Hulu
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.