procedural backdrop

Movies with procedural vibe

The Professor and the Madman

1. The Professor and the Madman

History Drama Mystery Thriller Biographical History
7.2
20192h 4min

Overview

Professor James Murray begins work compiling words for the first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary in the mid 19th century, and receives over 10,000 entries from a patient at Broadmoor Criminal Lunatic Asylum, Dr. William Minor.

Themes

Public contribution to knowledge, Institutional gatekeeping of progress, Madness and intellect tension, Hidden contributions to language, Power dynamics in scholarly work, Care versus control in therapy

Available on

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

Who You Think I Am

2. Who You Think I Am

Drama Romance Relationship Drama Passionate Romance
6.8
20191h 41min

Overview

Claire, a 50-year-old divorced teacher, creates a fake Facebook profile of a 24-year-old woman to catfish Alex, the roommate of her former lover, Ludo.

Themes

Manipulation and control, Boundary between fantasy and reality, Loneliness and longing, Online deception, Cyber infidelity, Therapy and self perception

Available on

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

By the Grace of God

3. By the Grace of God

Drama Tragic Drama
7.2
20192h 17min

Overview

Alexandre, a man in his 40s living in Lyon with his wife and children, discovers that the priest who abused him decades ago continues to work with children. He joins forces with others victims of the priest, to bring justice and “lift the burden of silence” about what they endured.

Themes

Memory and trauma, Legal accountability, Institutional cover-up, Public exposure of abuse, Victim advocacy, Moral tension in faith

Available on

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

The Wolf's Call

4. The Wolf's Call

Thriller Action Adventure Investigation Suspense Military Action
6.9
20191h 56min

Overview

Shown from the perspective of a young submariner with unusually sensitive hearing and uncannily precise sound recognition. The fate of many often depends on his ability, and one time, whilst highly stressed, he makes a incorrect call which put his entire crew in mortal danger. Trying to regain the confidence of his comrades, he conducts an unauthorised investigation of an apparent plot which, it turns out, risks escalating into a nuclear apocalypse. Suddenly working under pressure with the fleet admiral, they must do whatever is necessary, even the unthinkable, to prevent a nuclear war, since a confirmed nuclear strike order cannot be countermanded.

Themes

Deception and manipulation, Crisis decision making, Institutional mistrust, Duty versus legality, Escalation through miscommunication, Pressure on individuals

Available on

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

The First King

5. The First King

History Drama Historical Event Tragic Drama
6.5
20192h 3min

Overview

Romulus and Remus, two shepherds and loyal brothers, end up taking part to a journey that will lead one of them to be the founder of the greatest nation ever seen. However, the fate of the chosen one will pass from killing his own brother.

Themes

Deception and manipulation, Power under pressure, Political maneuvering, Loyalty and dissent, Public legitimacy under threat, War as diplomacy

Available on

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

The Great Hack

6. The Great Hack

Documentary Social & Political Documentary
7.0
20191h 54min

Overview

Data—arguably the world’s most valuable asset—is being weaponized to wage cultural and political wars. The dark world of data exploitation is uncovered through the unpredictable, personal journeys of players on different sides of the explosive Cambridge Analytica/Facebook data story.

Themes

Data-driven political influence, Privacy regulation tension, Corporate accountability pressure, Whistleblower exposure, Microtargeting ethics, Public trust erosion

Available on

Netflix
Netflix Standard with Ads
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

On the Basis of Sex

7. On the Basis of Sex

Drama History Legal Drama Biographical History
7.1
20182h

Overview

Young lawyer Ruth Bader Ginsburg teams with her husband Marty to bring a groundbreaking case before the U.S. Court of Appeals and overturn a century of sex discrimination.

Themes

Gender-based legal discrimination, Advocacy and pro bono work, Barriers to women in law, Strategic civil rights litigation, Incremental legal reform, Systemic bias in judiciary

Available on

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

The Clovehitch Killer

8. The Clovehitch Killer

Drama Mystery Crime Whodunit Serial Killer Crime
6.5
20181h 49min

Overview

A picture-perfect family is torn apart after Tyler finds a cache of disturbing images in his father's possession. He begins to suspect that the man he trusts most in the world may be responsible for the murder of 13 women ten years prior.

Themes

Family secrecy under pressure, Deception within families, Coming-of-age under scrutiny, Community surveillance and judgment, Manipulation of truth, Burden of evidence

Available on

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

Kursk

9. Kursk

Drama History Thriller Action Historical Event
6.6
20181h 58min

Overview

Barents Sea, August 12th, 2000. During a Russian naval exercise, and after suffering a serious accident, the K-141 Kursk submarine sinks with 118 crew members on board. While the few sailors who are still alive barely manage to survive, their families push for accurate information and a British officer struggles to obtain from the Russian government a permit to attempt a rescue before it is late. But general incompetence are against all their efforts.

Themes

External aid hesitancy, Bureaucracy vs rescue, Families press for information, Military competence under doubt, Survival under extreme deadlines, Political tension during crisis

Available on

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

The Girl in the Spider's Web

10. The Girl in the Spider's Web

Action Crime Thriller Spy Action Organized Crime
6.1
20181h 55min

Overview

After being enlisted to recover a dangerous computer program, hacker Lisbeth Salander and journalist Mikael Blomkvist find themselves caught in a web of spies, cybercriminals and corrupt government officials.

Themes

Deception and betrayal, Crime syndicate power, Abusive family dynamics, Vigilantism vs institutions, Sisterly ties and rivalry, Reliance on technology

Available on

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