gritty backdrop

Movies with gritty vibe

Saturday Night

1. Saturday Night

Comedy Drama Satire Entertainment Industry Drama
6.9
20241h 49min

Overview

At 11:30pm on October 11, 1975, a ferocious troupe of young comedians and writers changed television forever. This is the story of what happened behind the scenes in the 90 minutes leading up to the first broadcast of Saturday Night Live.

Themes

Backstage pressure dynamics, Producer-led improvisation, Live broadcast urgency, Cast rebellion against authority, Audience presence pressure, Real-time script adaptation

Available on

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

Officer Black Belt

2. Officer Black Belt

Action Comedy Crime Martial Arts Action High-Concept Comedy
6.9
20241h 48min

Overview

A talented martial artist who can't walk past a person in need unites with a probation officer to fight and prevent crime as a martial arts officer.

Themes

Mentorship under pressure, Justice through action, Duty vs mercy, Team based policing, Protecting civilians, Discipline in law enforcement

Available on

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

Hold Your Breath

3. Hold Your Breath

Horror Thriller Drama Psychological Horror Survival Thriller
5.3
20241h 34min

Overview

In 1930s Oklahoma amid the region's horrific dust storms, a woman is convinced that a sinister presence is threatening her family.

Themes

"movie: hold your breath. genres: horror, Thriller, Drama, Horror, Thriller, Drama main themes: oklahoma, Dust bowl, Paranoid, Oklahoma, Dust bowl, Paranoid full keywords list: oklahoma, Dust bowl, Paranoid, 1930s. concept analysis: the film explores the depths of grief and the fragility of mental health in the face of overwhelming loss and isolation. it examines the lengths a mother will go to protect her children, Even as her grip on reality slips away."

Available on

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

Rebel Ridge

4. Rebel Ridge

Crime Action Thriller One-Person Army Organized Crime
6.8
20242h 12min

Overview

A former Marine confronts corruption in a small town when local law enforcement unjustly seizes the bag of cash he needs to post his cousin's bail.

Themes

Economic coercion, Accountability under pressure, Institutional coverups, Police corruption in small towns, Civil forfeiture abuse, Social issues and law enforcement

Available on

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

Greedy People

5. Greedy People

Comedy Mystery Crime Thriller Dark Comedy
6.2
20241h 53min

Overview

The eclectic residents of a small, picturesque island town must navigate a sensational murder and the discovery of a million dollars, leading to a series of increasingly bad decisions which upend the once-peaceful community.

Themes

Deception under pressure, Small town paranoia, Money as motive, Retaliation and collapse, Loyalty vs fear, Police corruption risk

Available on

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

The Forge

6. The Forge

Drama Family Coming-of-Age Drama
6.8
20242h 3min

Overview

19 year old Isaiah Wright lives for basketball and video games. A year out of high school, he has no job, no plans, and no idea how to be a man. At odds with his single mother Cynthia, Isaiah is given an ultimatum – to step up or move out. Feeling the pull from his friends and the push from his mom, Isaiah is hired by Moore Fitness, unaware of how the owner will personally impact his life. With the prayers of his mother and unexpected guidance from his new mentor, Isaiah is forced to deal with his past, sacrifice his selfishness and discover how God might have a greater purpose for his life.

Themes

Family obligation, Parental expectations, Mentorship dynamics, Faith under pressure, Work ethic and duty, Self-discovery through hardship

Available on

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

The Killer

7. The Killer

Action Thriller Crime One-Person Army Organized Crime
5.7
20242h 6min

Overview

Zee is a feared contract killer known as "the Queen of the Dead," but when she refuses to murder a young blind woman, she finds herself hunted both by criminal colleagues and a determined police detective.

Themes

Deception and betrayal, Loyalty under pressure, Power struggles, Police corruption, Disguise and manipulation, Survival and risk

Available on

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

Strange Darling

8. Strange Darling

Horror Thriller Slasher Horror Erotic Thriller
7.1
20241h 38min

Overview

Nothing is what it seems when a twisted one-night stand spirals into a serial killer’s vicious murder spree.

Themes

Deception and manipulation, Power dynamics, Gendered violence, Psychological tension, Crime and survival, Nonlinear storytelling

Available on

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

Kneecap

9. Kneecap

Music Comedy Drama Narrative Musical Parody
7.6
20241h 45min

Overview

When fate brings Belfast teacher JJ into the orbit of self-confessed "low life scum" Naoise and Liam Óg, the needle drops on a hip-hop act like no other. Rapping in their native Irish, they lead a movement to save their mother tongue.

Themes

Language act activism, Language preservation through art, Political expression through music, Anti-establishment resistance, Art as social movement, Youth culture and identity

Available on

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

Sing Sing

10. Sing Sing

Drama Entertainment Industry Drama
7.6
20241h 47min

Overview

Divine G, imprisoned at Sing Sing for a crime he didn't commit, finds purpose by acting in a theatre group alongside other incarcerated men in this story of resilience, humanity, and the transformative power of art.

Themes

Identity through performance, Mentorship and leadership, Art as transformation, Resilience through group work, Confinement and rehabilitation, Rivalry and collaboration

Available on

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