72+ Best Crime Thriller Movies [The Ultimate List]
Are you searching for the best crime thriller movies ever? You may want to uncover action crime movies or thrillers for crime, or a cinematic drama. We’ve got you under protection. Crime thriller movies often imply a bunch of things; we opted to leave many courtroom dramas, action films, and people driven by beliefs rather than individual profit.
We rate our list on the basis of how the film portrays the category of crime thriller movies over other categories and afterward bring the film’s overall quality into account.
List Of The Greatest Crime Thriller Movies:
1. The Godfather (1972)
As well as the lead runner for the biggest overall movie of all time, The Godfather is the best crime thriller movies ever made. It is indeed correct to conclude they’re The Godfather of American crime movies and crime dramas.
The unique voice of Don Vito Corleone was based on an actual gang leader Frank Costello. Mostly during Estes Kefauver’s trials in 1951, Marlon Brando had seen him on display and imitated his husky voice in the movie.
2. Heat (1995)
Although in America there are several great epic crime films, this is the definitive modern American crime film. It is the most-watched action crime film, featuring one of Robert De Niro’s best appearances and the biggest heist shot of all history.
Michael Mann had microphones strategically positioned across the set instead of dubbing in the gunshots during the bank robbery shoot-out so that the sound can be recorded live. It contributed to the scene’s effect since it sounds like no other on-screen gunfight shown.
3. Goodfellas (1990)
Since the criminals in this film are so uninteresting, this is perhaps the most significant crime thriller movies ever to be made. Although gangsters are humanized by the movie, it also reveals to them what they’re like.
Joe Pesci’s depiction of Tommy DeSimone was 90-99 percent authentic, with one notable exception, according to Henry Hill, whose existence was the inspiration for the novel and movie. The actual Tommy DeSimone has been massively constructed.
4. The Godfather Part II (1974)
Many claim this crime film is significantly better than its predecessor, but it is one of the best crime thriller movies of all time, irrespective of where you put this movie. Francis Ford Coppola had a rough time managing The Godfather (1972) and called for the sequel to select another director thus keeping the producer’s credit for himself.
He preferred Martin Scorsese, who was refused by the movie executives. Hence, Coppola accepted, with some criteria, to direct the movie.
5. L.A. Confidential (1997)
This would be the greatest ever created as far as thriller movies go. It isn’t a decent crime movie. It’s a fantastic crime movie and a perfect crime thriller.
In Stanley Kubrick’s The Killing (1956), Russell Crowe focused his appearance on that of Sterling Hayden “for that beefy manliness that came out of World War II”.
6. Scarface (1983)
Scarface is one of those crime thriller movies that, after you have seen it, you can’t take out of your mind. Most of the people have a Tony Montana picture on their wall. As the term for cocaine, Tony Montana says “yeyo”.
When practicing the Cuban accent, Al Pacino discovered the phrase and ad-libbed it throughout the chainsaw shot. All through the movie, Brian De Palma enjoyed it well enough to continue using it.
7. Pulp Fiction (1994)
He tried to take all the iconic crime themes from his favorite movies, as Quentin Tarantino himself stated, and put them together in such a manner that was creatively and cinematically fascinating.
The very last part of the movie, sequentially, is Butch and Fabienne driving a chopper away. The first sound you can encounter in a movie is from the same engine as the chopper.
8. Once Upon A Time In America (1984)
Although the whole film was made with an Italian team and an Italian director, it is one of the greatest American crime thriller movies. From Washington Lane, Brooklyn, New York, you can also see the view of the street of the Manhattan Bridge.
9. Casino (1995)
This is undoubtedly one of all-time’s top Martin Scorsese films, and many believe this is a finer crime movie than Goodfellas. $1 million was the outfit expenditure for the movie.
Throughout the movie, Robert De Niro had seventy distinct outfits; Sharon Stone seemed to have forty. They were all permitted to retain their outfits afterward.
10. The Killing (1956)
This is one of the greatest films by Kubrick and undoubtedly laid the basis for numerous crime thriller movies. The non-linear framework is as innovative as anything you’ve seen, and centuries back it was pulled off by The Killing. Early test screenings were bad, stating the key issue as the non-linear design.
Linearly, Stanley Kubrick was supposed to move back and fix the video, ultimately making the film much more complicated. It was finally published in its original state and is widely mentioned as a significant effect on some other nonlinear movies such as Reservoir Dogs (1992) and Pulp Fiction (1994).
11. No Country For Old Men (2007)
There are very few as interesting as this film, and so far as crime thriller movies go. The movie has become one of the finest Coen Brothers films, featuring one of the finest antagonists of any period.
The scenario in this movie that carried the money was the same scenario that was also seen in Fargo (1996) for the same reason.
12. The Departed (2006)
This is not just one of the greatest achievements by Jack Nicholson, but the only movie that ended up in the best film being won by Martin Scorsese. Martin Scorsese had said that the “is the first movie I have ever done with a plot.”
When he received the top prize from the Director’s Guild of America for this movie.
13. City Of God (2002)
You need to see this movie as quickly as possible if you’ve never seen it because it’s one of the most accurate and is one of the best crime thriller movies ever made.
This movie will certainly touch your heart, and you can watch it a hundred times and never get sick of it.
14. Training Day (2001)
It is one of the best movies of all time for a crime thriller and it reveals how much the boundaries of crime and crime fighters are blurred.
The registration number on Alonzo’s car is ORP 967, a reference to Officer Rafael Perez, the discredited L.A.P.D. officer born in 1967, upon whom the role was centered.
15. Carlito’s Way (1993)
One of the best crime thriller movies ever released, this Brain De Palma film portrays a criminal who intends to redeem himself. In The Godfather (1972), also featuring Al Pacino, the layout of the hospital where Carlito meets his bedridden lawyer is like the one where Vito Corleone is captured.
16. The Unusual Suspects (1995)
Bryan Singer and Christopher McQuarrie began their careers through this crime thriller film. A great crime movie with plenty to know from the script of the Oscar-winning Usual Suspects.
Christopher McQuarrie also served for a detective department before, and this affected the script’s representation of offenders and law enforcement officials.
17. American Gangster (2007)
American Gangster is a brilliant movie about organized crime and probably the best film made by director Ridley Scott about crime. Ridley Scott remembers that one of the most significant initiatives of his career was this development. From over 180 multiple places, there were 360 scenes shot.
18. Ocean’s Eleven (2001)
Steven Soderbergh’s sequel is one of the greatest crime comedy films of all time, accompanied by several good sequels. A 45-degree shutter effect was used by Steven Soderbergh for the flashback scenes.
This allows less duration than normal for the movie to be exposed to light and leads to a more choppy feeling.
19. Snatch (2001)
This is director Guy Ritchie’s best crime movie of all time, and likely the greatest British crime film ever created. It’s also a very powerful crime comedy movie that has crystallized the distinctive style of Ritchie.
Every error made by Sol, Vincent, and Tyrone was motivated by several late-night TV shows that got out of hand with actual crimes.
20. The French Connection (1971)
It is one of the big action crime thriller movies ever made, it is one of the best crime thriller movies ever created. During the chase scene, the car accident was unanticipated and, because of its authenticity, has been included.
The man whose car was damaged had just left his house to go to duty a few miles from the collision and was ignorant that there was a car chase being recorded. The manufacturers later paid the bill for his vehicle’s maintenance.
21. The Maltese Falcon (1941)
You have to begin with the initial phases if you would like to see how many of the good crime thriller movies have been created, and that implies this crime movie.
Two “Maltese Falcons”, were used as the original was mistakenly fallen by Humphrey Bogart when shooting. This is on show at Warner Bros. Studios in the film museum; its tail feathers are damaged from when it was slipped by Bogart.
22. Touch Of Evil (1958)
This crime movie is from Orson Welles and is one of the greatest crime thriller movies and the basis of the long, suspenseful take. As are most of his Hollywood movies, Orson Welles said that this was the most enjoyable he’d ever had filming a movie, because he wasn’t distracted by studio intervention.
23. Chinatown (1974)
This movie is both a very nice crime drama film and a suspenseful crime thriller movies. It is worth watching. In each moment of the movie, Jack Nicholson is there.
24. Double Indemnity (1944)
Although this is kind of a detective noir movie, without this movie, it’s impossible to have a list of the greatest crime movies ever made. Billy Wilder inserted the scene where Neff and Dietrichson can’t get their engine started after the assassination after his car wouldn’t run at the close of a shooting day.
25. Fargo (1996)
It’s also a very fun crime drama, apart from being one of the great crime comedy films. This is just one of the best films ever made about crime. In an interview, William H. Macy claimed that, amid facts to the contrary, he did almost no ad-libbing at all.
Almost all of the stuttering mannerisms of his role have been described in the script precisely the way he performs them in the movie.
26. Thief (1981)
It is one of the greatest crime thriller movies to choose from, and a brilliant examination of the life of a real criminal. This is James Caan’s Favorite movie since The Godfather (1972).
He has confirmed that the scenario he is most glad of throughout his life is his monologue in the diner.
27. Gangs Of New York (2002)
It is one of the greatest action crime films ever made, produced by Martin Scorsese in particular, which presents us with some substantial diversity. While shooting a battle scene, Leonardo DiCaprio inadvertently broke Daniel Day-nose.
Despite the injury, Day-Lewis proceeded to shoot a scene.
28. On The Waterfront (1954)
This crime film has been one of the finest crime drama films ever made and is one of the best films ever created by Marlon Brando. Sam Spiegel failed to pay for rear-projection devices, which is why there are blinds in the cab when Marlon Brando and Rod Steiger act out some of the most classic scenes of the movie.
29. The Bad Sleep Well (1960)
Akira Kurosawa is among the biggest and best filmmakers of all period, and you will have the satisfaction of witnessing one of the leading crime thriller movies. To help to make the limp of her character quite realistic and true, ‘Kyoko Kagawa’ wore both uneven footwear and a knee brace.
30. Collateral (2004)
One of the best crime thriller films out there that have really powerful actors and a wonderful storyline. Vincent is a guy capable of getting in and out of everywhere without even noticing or acknowledging him, as per Michael Mann.
To prepare for the film, in a busy Los Angeles market, Tom Cruise had to do FedEx deliveries without anyone noticing him.
31. Baby Driver (2017)
Action crime thriller movies could be a huge amount of fun, by creating a conflict by blending a great character in the lead role encircled by greedy criminals, director Edgar Wright does a wonderful job. The best in the two worlds.
You may hear a slight sound in the background (the audio of Baby’s Tinnitus) almost in every shot in which no music is running.
32. Taxi Driver (1976)
This is truly one of the best crime drama films of all time, and the association of a character with crime and perceived justice is examined instead of concentrating on crime as a plot point. Director Martin Scorsese states that when Bickle is on the mobile attempting to have another Betsy date, that’s the most significant scene in the movie.
As though to indicate that the phone call is too frustrating and miserable to handle, the camera turns gradually to the side and moves down the long, empty corridor beside Bickle.
33. Blow Out (1981)
Not only does Brian De Palma create the perfect crime thriller movies, but he also knows how to combine the art form of crime drama into his movies. In an interview, Quentin Tarantino confirmed that this movie is his beloved Brian De Palma movie.
Currently, because he liked his role in this movie so much.
34. Reservoir Dogs (1992)
Since this movie is one of Tarantino’s greatest films, it is also a clear indication of a very good American crime film. In a 2009 BBC interview, Quentin Tarantino said that he was glad that the film is always included in the 10 leading heist films.
35. Ronin (1998)
Action crime films demand some few things to be perfect, and one of the finest descriptions of how to shoot a thrilling car chase scene in this film. During the car chases, SkippSudduth applied to do his stunt riding, and John Frankenheimer accepted.
Sudduth was told by Frankenheimer, “I wouldn’t wanna see any brake lights.”
36. The Wolf Of Wall Street (2013)
Many of the greatest movies ever made concentrate on white-collar crime, which is just as harmful to people who stick to the rules.Martin Scorsese revealed that several of the editings is weird on purpose.
Particularly the moments in which or more characters are high, the scenarios that follow have continuity problems and sometimes flow strangely every time Jordan can be seen taking drugs.
37. The Untouchables (1987)
It is a crime drama that occurs in the times of Al Capone and the organized crime era. The last member of the actual Untouchables, Albert H. Wolff, was an advisor for this film and supported Kevin Costner through his depiction of Eliot Ness.
38. Public Enemies (2009)
Michael Mann creates some of the best crime movies out there, and in their early days, this adventure crime film portrays plenty of classic criminals.A child, around eleven, tells Johnny Depp he appreciated his Fedora hat when shooting on location in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and wants to have one just like it.
Depp told the child that he’d see what he can do about it. Depp gave the boy the hat in the post after the recording had ended.
39. Road To Perdition (2002)
It’s one of those crime thriller movies that demonstrate the link between family and a lifestyle of crime, as far as crime thriller films go. Director Scott Mendes seems to be most popular for operating on films such as American Beauty, Skyfall, and 1917, but he undoubtedly has some of his finest work in Road to Perdition.
The movie is addressed to the filmmaker Conrad L. Hall, who, like Paul Newman, died soon afterward.
40. Bonnie And Clyde(1967)
It’s one of those American crime films that has transformed the filmmaking environment and how films have been viewed.One of the purposes of Director Arthur Penn was to create Blanche’s character as hysterical as feasible, so this would render Bonnie look even better.
41. The Sting (1973)
This crime comedy film won the Prestigious Picture Oscar and is one of the most adored movies ever made. For this film, Edith Head earned her 8th and last Best Costume Design Award.
42. Menace II Society (1993)
This movie is one of the most credible, partially due to the lack of traditional star power, as far as American crime films go. The original cast for playing Sharif, Tupac Shakur was later fired, which proceeded to a battle with the co-director.
They convicted Shakur of physical attack and battery.
43. RocknRolla (2008)
Some of the greatest film films out there are made by Guy Ritchie, and this is his film on our reviews of the top crime films. Christopher Nolan said that he was persuaded to cast Tom Hardy in Inception (2010) and The Dark Knight Rises(2012) by his success in this film.
44. True Romance (1993)
Written by Quentin Tarantino and directed by the iconic Tony Scott, this is one of those fantastic crime films. It required 5 days to capture the hotel room battle scene featuring Alabama (Patricia Arquette) and Virgil (James Gandolfini).
45. Catch Me If You Can (2002)
It’s one of those crime comedy films that is just pure interesting to play and it’s one of the greatest and, actually, very underrated Spielberg’s films. The movie features Frank Abagnale, Jr. on one of the most wanted lists of the FBI.
Interestingly, he never got a mention in actual situations – it’s only for serious felons.
46. Jackie Brown (1997)
It is indeed correct that most of the best crime thriller movies made by Quentin Tarantino, and this crime film is one of them. When Pam Grier stepped in for Quentin Tarantino’s audition, she remembered “there were all my posters from 20 years ago, when I was only a piss and vinegar child”.
47. Blow (2001)
It is a crime film that brings you through the finer details of trafficking and the existence of a person that lives a criminal life. The recording that George Jung left for his father near the end of the film is a verbatim transcription of a recording that the real George Jung made in identical conditions, as per the director’s narration.
48. Eastern Promises (2007)
This is probably one of the greatest movies of all time for crime drama and is one of the strongest indicators of how to take a thrilling film battle. The shot was choreographed for the characters rather than stuntmen for the bathhouse battle scene.
Specific combat styles chosen for their roles had to be learned by the actors and it required two days to film on-site in London.
49. Matchstick Men (2003)
It’s one of those crime films with no weapons and heists, and it’s still one of the greatest crime films of all time and one of Ridley Scott’s only comedy crime films. The airport shots, centered at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), were shot at the Anaheim Convention Center’s main entrance.
50. Donnie Brasco (1997)
This is one of the most realistic films you’ll ever witness, as far as crime thriller movies go. To Goodfellas, but without the stylized strategy, it has a similar tone and elegance.
In an interview in the unique editions on the DVD, Joseph D. Pistone said he was expected to be undercover for a couple of months. Six years wind up being there. After 9 months, his parents moved across the nation. He met them occasionally.
51. Traffic (2000)
Traffic is a really interesting crime film because, over the same period, it takes a look at crime in three separate narratives. Since it is painfully true, this is one of the best crime films of all time.
In several of his films, director Steven Soderbergh is recognized as the first camera, so he handled the camera throughout most of the filming.
52. The Thomas Crown Affair (1999)
How stylish and sexy and entertaining this is above being one of the greatest crime films ever made. It also acts as an effective thriller about crime, and the film’s tonal changes are smooth and easy.
The notion of abnormal heat making thermal cameras ineffective in the museum is derived through Director John McTiernan’s Predator (1987). When the jungle temperature reached ninety degrees Fahrenheit in that film, McTiernan’s thermal cameras started to fail.
53. Sin City (2005)
It’s a very special crime movie, it acts as a crime action movie, a crime comedy, and a crime thriller. Using the panels from the original novel as a script, directors Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller designed every scene in the film.
54. A Scanner Darkly (2006)
It is one of the greatest movies ever made as it requires not just filmmaking as well as the story to take a specific vision. Filming was accomplished in twenty-three days, according to Richard Linklater, the writer, and director. Eighteen months were needed for the animation.
55. New Jack City (1991)
It is one of the greatest crime thriller movies of all time, and as it seems like a criminal version of Icarus, it is very comparable to Scarface. It indicates the growth of a man who, just does not stop growing until his wings melt. There was an improvisation in the chase between Scotty and Pookie.
The initial concept was to be a chase scene for the car chase, but the film had gone over expenditure and was at risk of being closed down. Instead, Chris Rock jumped on a bicycle, and he was pursued on foot by Ice-T.
56. Easy Rider (1969)
This movie has some of the most fitting titles ever created since this crime film does not follow the rules of quick filmmaking, and the way we approach filmmaking, in general, has been modified. Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda didn’t even write a complete version for the film and, as they moved along, made up much of it.
They did not employ a crew, but rather managed to pick up hippies in municipalities around the country, and used buddies and passers-by to carry the cameras, and that most of the moment they were drunk and high.
57. In Bruges (2008)
It is more of a crime thriller film, but it’s also a very powerful crime comedy film. Undoubtedly a watch worth it. Hieronymus Bosch’s “The Last Judgment” is the artwork that sometimes also comments from Ray.
Throughout most of the film, Bosch-like symbolism reappears, implying that Ray and Ken might well experience their Last Verdict – or that the Bruges time limit is similar to purgatory.
58. Mean Streets (1973)
You had this movie before you had any other terrific Scorsese crime film. Several contemporary crime thriller movies have this film to credit for. In this film, Brian De Palma assisted Martin Scorsese to edit few shots.
59. Point Break (1991)
As you’ve assumed, The Fast and the Furious is guided by this crime movie, and it’s one of the best films about action crime. This was the top scorer for Kathryn Bigelow before Zero Dark Thirty (2012).
60. The Fast And The Furious (2001)
Although this is now one of the largest blockbuster franchises in history, it started with a fantastic action crime movie. In the First Street Race, there have been over 15,000 individual sound effects.
61. Killing Them Softly (2012)
It is one of the best crime movies since, like so many other movies by Andrew Dominik, it is a sound poem that seeks to speak with a classic story about the concepts of crime and criminals. The first movie to make use of the Kodak 500T 5230 movie stock.
62. American Hustle (2013)
Although it’s one of the greatest crime films out there, on this ranking it is somewhat unique from the many other crime movies. No major shootings or modern organized crime, but there is still much to watch for better crime. Most of the film was invented, as per Christian Bale. So he started to write and director David O.
Russell during the filming of the movie, “You understand that it’s beginning to alter the story significantly down the track” With which Russell answered, “Christian, I dislike plots. I am all for characters, that’s about it”
63. Layer Cake (2004)
It is one of the greatest crime films that several lovers of the crime category have not yet seen. It’s also the movie that introduced the careers of both Daniel Craig and Tom Hardy, as well as Matthew Vaughn’s directing path.
In this movie, it was the role of Daniel Craig that prompted Barbara Broccoli to take note and believe he could be a good match for James Bond.
64. Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels (1998)
In comparison to anything else, it is far more of a great crime comedy movie, but it certainly leads to several good action crime films. The movie had difficulty locating an American distributor When TrudieStyler asked a friend of hers (Tom Cruise).
He witnessed a screening and was in love with the movie.
65. The Score (2001)
This is indeed a fantastic crime movie and a nice crime thriller that you don’t know who’s likely to come out ahead. If you’ve not seen this crime movie before, you must view this as fast as you can.
It’s the only film starring Marlon Brando and Robert De Niro, the first ones who had won Academy Awards for performing the same character in the GodFather (1972) and also The Godfather: Part II (1974) as Vito Corleone.
66. The Town (2010)
This crime drama, like Heat and The Departed, draws some good hints from the good crime dramas. With a very good American crime film, Ben Affleck displays off his directorial abilities.
The Departed (2006), Heat (1995), Mystic River (2003), and The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973) were mentioned by Ben Affleck as influences on this movie.
67. Drive (2011)
It is a very powerful crime thriller film, one of the very few crime romantic subplots that are well created. There are a few fantastic color applications and undoubtedly one of the best soundtracks in the category of crime, but it is also a fantastic date night crime film.
Bryan Cranston thought that his role, Shannon, should compensate for the lack of dialogue in the movie after Ryan Gosling and Nicolas Winding Ref n cut most of the Driver’s dialogue, and thus created Shannon a motormouth. A substantial part of his dialogue is invented.
68. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)
It is one of the greatest films for dark comedy and is one of the greatest movies for crime in general. In the future, Shane Black went on to make more, but there’s something that would be the best about this movie. Shane Black was struggling from the blocking of the writer.
Inevitably, it took him about a year and a half to compose this film’s story. So he had great difficulties hoping to peddle it.
69. Last Man Standing (1996)
It is one of the finest crime thriller movies, including haunting and iconic. It’s a perfect crime movie that blends two different worlds of crime that in a single story are not widely discussed.
Instead of a sequel, Walter Hill called this one a “free adaptation” of Yojimbo (1961), considering the concept of reinventing the movie by Akira Kurosawa as “a foolish endeavor.”
70. Lawless (2012)
Brilliant crime thriller movies also use credible storylines that assist you to get into a particular crime world, and that’s what this film is doing quite well. This movie’s Russian title describes as “The Drunkest County in the World”.
71. The Place Beyond The Pines (2012)
The film is one of the greatest crime thriller movies as it introduces several new concepts to the category of crime. At different points, it functions well with a crime thriller, crime drama, and crime action flick.
The system used by Luke and Robin (Ben Mendelsohn) to aim the banks was the actual “Friday Night Robber” strategy adopted effectively by Carl Gugasian for over 30 years.
72. Good Time (2017)
The Safdie Brothers created this “jewel.” until they placed Adam Sandler through the wringer. A white-knuckle drive from beginning to end and any questions about the acting skills of Robert Pattinson were noticeably defeated. It is one of the best crime drama movies, and although it is very dramatic, this is also one of the greatest thrillers for a crime that is out.
During peak traffic, the scene was filmed in the subway with actual travelers on the 7 train. They guided Pattinson via texts to shoot silently, whilst the camera and team were shooting on the same train.
73. Animal Kingdom (2012)
This Australian crime film, for its credibility as well as the cast, is one of the popular crime thriller movies. It’s so successful that they have made a TV series based on the film since before.
The movie is based mostly on the scene of the crime in Melbourne in the 1980s and the criminal family in Pettingills. The horrific revenge killing of two patrolmen also captures the shootings of the cops on Walsh Street in 1988.
Conclusion
These are the top 73 crime thriller movies of all time. All these movies are worth a watch. On the weekend or any special occasion, you can see these movies without giving any second thought. These all are the top movies, which have a thriller, suspense, and entertainment in their storyline.
So what are you waiting for, pick a movie, grab popcorn and watch any movie from this list with your partner, family, or with anyone who will enjoy every moment of every scene of crime thriller movies? When you are bored at your home, and you want to do something interesting, then you can switch on your television, pick up any movie from the list and enjoy.
Now that you don’t have to move around and waste your precious time looking for movies, we’ve made this list for you, so that you can save time and then see the best films of all time.
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