Top 20 Crime Movies of the Century So Far

When you think of who’d you cast in a buddy comedy, you probably don’t think of Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe. However, the actors, better known for dramas like “Gladiator” and “The Notebook,” proved they had comedic chops as well. Set in Los Angeles in the 70s, the plot revolves around Gosling's hapless private eye and Russell Crowe's overly-macho enforcer. As they investigate a woman’s disappearance, they realize the case is a lot bigger than they might’ve realized. In the spirit of writer-director Shane Black’s “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang,”the film effortlessly mixes thrilling action with hilarious banter. Some say “nice guys finish last,” but that isn’t the case here!

No marriage is perfect, but the one between Nick and Amy Dunne is a special case. “Gone Girl” is a mystery, a thriller, a romantic drama, and a total emotional roller coaster. Directed by David Fincher and written by Gillian Flynn, adapting her own novel, it’s hard to discuss without giving too much away. What we can say is that it boasts great performances from its stars Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike as well as strong dramatic turns from Tyler Perry and Neil Patrick Harris. As Nick fights against criminal accusations following the disappearance of his wife, the only thing that’s clear is that … well, nothing is clear. “Gone Girl” is a twisted tale that will stick with you for a long time.

One of the most powerful criminals in American history is also the subject of one of the most compelling biopics in recent memory. In Ridley Scott’s epic saga, Denzel Washington plays Frank Lucas, who made millions in the 60s and 70s by trafficking drugs in Harlem. Russell Crowe shares top billing as the detective going after Lucas, and Ruby Dee earned an Oscar nomination for her work as Lucas’ mother. Scott’s attention to detail and Steven Zaillian’s intelligent screenplay show how Lucas built his empire and the forces that brought it down.

Tom Cruise usually plays heroic or morally righteous characters. So, his role as Vincent, in Michael Mann’s “Collateral,” was particularly revelatory. After receiving a hefty financial incentive, cab driver Max, played by Jamie Foxx in an Oscar nominated performance, agrees to chauffeur Vincent to multiple stops. The problem? Vincent is a hitman, and he’s made Max an unwilling accomplice. Taking place over one night in Los Angeles, "Collateral" benefits from the talent behind and in front of the camera. Mann deftly handles the action, whether in a nightclub or on a train. Cruise and Foxx, play off of each other for the maximum amount of tension. Talk about a ride to remember.

What is it about big city types in small towns that’s so fun to watch? In one of his most hilarious and touching performances, Colin Farrell plays Ray, a hitman whose mouth gets him in just as much trouble as his gun. After a hit goes awry, Ray hides out in the titular Belgium town with fellow hitman Ken, played by Brendan Gleeson. It doesn’t take long for things to go even further south. Director and screenwriter Martin McDonagh, who later made “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” shows a real knack for balancing comedy and drama. Filmed on location in the Bruges, it’s also a wonderful cinematic showcase for this beautiful and historic community.

Director Park Chan-wook knows that revenge is a dish best served not just cold, but absolutely frigid. The best film in his trio known as the “Vengeance Trilogy,” is an adaptation of a manga. “Oldboy” is kinetic and invigorating in ways that many Hollywood action films can only dream of. Choi Min-sik plays Oh Dae-su, who’s released after 15 years of captivity in a hotel room. With no idea who held him hostage or why, he goes to every length he can for retribution. Full of unbelievable action, including a standout single-take fight scene, “Oldboy,” dares you to not be impressed.

On a basic level, “Traffic” is about how illegal drugs affect people and communities. But Steven Soderbergh, who won a Best Director Oscar for it, knows it’s not so simple. Examining distributors, law enforcement, politicians, and users, Soderbergh shows how much havoc drugs - and drug policy - can wreak. With an all-star cast, including Michael Douglas, Don Cheadle, Dennis Quaid, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and an Oscar-winning Benicio Del Toro, “Traffic” handles the gravity of this difficult subject with total grace. Through multiple storylines covering different aspects of the drug trade, watching "Traffic" feels like reading a great novel. Sadly, it's one that's entirely too real.

Although its title might sound like a supernatural horror film, “Nightcrawler” is about something much scarier: a person who’ll stop at nothing to get what he wants, even at the expense of others. Jake Gyllenhaal lost 30 pounds to play Lou Bloom, an eccentric crook turned videographer. Going out after dark to capture footage of gruesome accidents and crime scenes to sell to a local news station, Lou sinks further and further into moral depravity. Director Dan Gilroy’s Oscar-nominated screenplay combines social commentary with a fascinating character study. Meanwhile, Gyllenhaal delivers a performance so creepy yet so strangely engrossing, you’ll have to see it to believe it.

Your past might not define you, but it can be difficult to escape. In David Cronenberg’s graphic novel adaptation, Viggo Mortensen plays Tom Stall, a small town diner owner. After protecting his restaurant from robbery, it becomes evident that Tom isn’t who his neighbors - or family - think he is. Mortensen shows how skilled he is at portraying multiple sides of one man. His co-stars, including Maria Bello, Ed Harris, and an Oscar-nominated William Hurt, turn in phenomenal work as well. Although it might not be as disturbing as his horror hits "Videodrome" or "The Fly," "A History of Violence" shows that Cronenberg is a master at making viewers uncomfortable.

Directors and brothers Josh and Benny Safdie know how to stress an audience out, as shown in 2017’s “Good Time”, as well as their follow-up “Uncut Gems.” Starring Adam Sandler in a rare dramatic performance, “Gems” follows Howard Ratner, a jeweler in New York’s Diamond District and a compulsive gambler. Addicted to the rush of betting, Howard puts himself in the crosshairs of some very unfriendly people. Sandler channels his comedic energy into something far more complex, and many believe he was an egregious Oscar snub. You might be aghast about Howard’s decisions, but Sandler’s brilliant performance helps you understand them.

From its opening seconds to the credits, “Sicario” is the definition of tense. This action thriller from acclaimed “Blade Runner 2049” director Denis Villeneuve stars Emily Blunt as Kate Macer, an idealistic FBI agent going up against a powerful Mexican drug cartel. Her morals are tested when she joins a task force alongside Josh Brolin’s Matt Graver and Benicio del Toro’s Alejandro Gillick. Blunt and del Toro deliver phenomenal performances, and Roger Deakins’ breathtaking cinematography is as beautiful as it is unsettling. “Sicario” doesn’t provide any easy answers about the War on Drugs or ethics in general - and it’s a great film because of it.

It’s a little surprising that Leonardo DiCaprio and Steven Spielberg have done one film together. especially because their first collaboration was such a delight. DiCaprio is so charismatic as real-life con artist Frank Abagnale Jr., you kind of want him to get away with his schemes, from check-forging to impersonating doctors, pilots, and lawyers. Tom Hanks also turns in great work as the FBI agent hot on Abagnale’s trail. But the heart of the film belongs to Christopher Walken, in an Oscar-nominated performance as Abagnale’s father. Boosted further by Spielberg’s brisk direction and John Williams’ wonderfully jazzy score, “Catch Me If You Can” is a movie you’ll want to catch again and again

Director Nicolas Winding Refn’s thriller about a man caught up in a web of crime and betrayal might have perplexed viewers looking for something more like “The Fast and the Furious”. But “Drive” is a one-of-a-kind film. Ryan Gosling shines as the nameless driver, excelling both in scenes that require sensitivity and ones that require ferocity. Also terrific are Carey Mulligan as his love interest, Albert Brooks in a rare non-comedic role as a vicious gangster, and a pre-stardom Oscar Isaac. With its gorgeous visuals and music, courtesy of Cliff Martinez, watching "Drive" is like being in a dream, one that's frequently heart-pounding.

Bong Joon-Ho received international attention and several Oscars with the dark comedy thriller “Parasite” in 2019, but the auteur has been making great films for years. One of his finest achievements is “Memories of Murder,” about detectives trying to solve the case of a Zodiac-like killer who’s targetting women in a small Korean community. "Parasite" star Song Kang-ho delivers a stunning performance as the less-experienced investigator, coming to terms with the violence and cruelty of the world around him. Bong handles this grim subject matter with sensitivity and impeccable visual language, making “Memories of Murder” a crime movie you’ll never forget.

Martin Scorsese knows organized crime isn’t just about gangsters. In his adaptation of notorious Wall Street fraudster Jordan Belfort’s memoir, Scorsese creates a three-hour epic that’s as enraging as it is uproarious. As Belfort, frequent Scorsese collaborator Leonardo DiCaprio perfectly portrays the delusions of grandeur created in the pursuit of wealth. Although it runs three hours long, “The Wolf of Wall Street” never drags. In addition to DiCaprio, there are also incredible performances from Jonah Hill as his business partner, Margot Robbie in her breakout performance as his wife, and Matthew McConaughey, in a small but pivotal role as his mentor. With 569 F-bombs and plenty of other inappropriate behavior, “The Wolf of Wall Street'' might not be “good” and “clean,” but it’s definitely fun.

No Best Director Oscar has felt more overdue than when Martin Scorsese finally won for “The Departed.” A remake of Hong Kong thriller “Infernal Affairs,” “The Departed,” which also won Best Picture, brings the action to Boston, and the tension never lets up. Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon are both excellent as men trying their best to catch each other without being caught themselves. As Mafia boss Frank Costello, Jack Nicholson has arguably never been scarier, and Mark Wahlberg turns in career-best work in an Oscar-nominated performance as a prickly police officer. Even after multiple viewings, “The Departed” is just as thrilling as the first time you saw it.

Many filmmakers would have turned the story about the hunt for one of the most infamous serial killers of all time into a schlocky horror film. But David Fincher is a lot smarter than that. “Zodiac,” isn’t so much about the elusive Zodiac Killer, who terrorized Northern California in the 1960s and 70s, as much as it’s about the dangers of obsession. As political cartoonist Robert Graysmith, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, grows more obsessed with finding this killer, his personal and professional lives crumble further and further. Also caught up in the fruitless hunt are future Avengers Robert Downey Jr. and Mark Ruffalo. “Zodiac” is an immensely satisfying movie for viewers who are okay with not getting all the answers.

One of the most riveting and brutal dramas of the 2000s, “City of God’s” portrayal of gang violence in a Rio de Janeiro slum will shake you to your core. While directors Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund don’t shy away from gruesome moments, they also find humanity amidst all the chaos. "City of God' is also a coming-of-age story, about a young boy nicknamed Buscapé, trying to survive in an environment plagued by fear and bloodshed. Set between the 60s and 80s, the film shows how communities become trapped in cycles of poverty and violence. Frantic editing and gritty cinematography make it all the more immersive. If you can handle the intensity, “City of God” will leave you spellbound.

Martin Scorsese has made all kinds of movies, from biopics to religious dramas, to historical romances, to family films. However, there’s no question that he’s most associated with gangster movies. “The Irishman” feels like the gangster film to end all gangster films. Running for three-and-a-half hours and spanning five decades, Scorsese’s epic expertly chronicles the story of truck driver-turned hitman Frank Sheeran, played by Robert De Niro, and his involvement with notorious Teamster boss Jimmy Hoffa, played by Al Pacino. The marvelous cast, including Joe Pesci, in a rare modern film role as De Niro’s boss, Russell Bufalino, lends gravitas to every moment. And Scorsese proves just as sharp behind the camera as ever, thoughtfully examining what a life of crime amounts to.


Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“Ocean’s Eleven” (2001)
This All-Star Caper Is Sexy, Hilarious & All-Around Thrilling

“Gangs of New York” (2002)
Scorsese & DiCaprio Began Their Fruitful Collaboration with This Epic Period Film

“Spotlight” (2015)
This Best Picture Winner Sensitively Examines a Scandal That Rocked the World

“Baby Driver” (2017)
Edgar Wright Excels Just as Much at Directing Action Movies as Comedies

“The Town” (2010)
A Gritty Heist Thriller Confirming Ben Affleck's Directing Talent

For what Joel and Ethan Coen’s adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s novel lacks in their signature humor, it makes up for in thrills. Set in Texas in 1980, “No Country” tells the story of a hunter, played by Josh Brolin, who stumbles across millions of dollars from a botched drug deal and is subsequently pursued by a relentless coin-flipping killer named Anton Chigurh. Javier Bardem turned Chigurh into one of the most iconic screen villains of all time and received a well-deserved Oscar. The Coens themselves won Oscars for Best Director, Adapted Screenplay, and Picture. For its unrelenting tension, even in its quieter moments, and superb directing and acting, “No Country” is an absolute triumph for the crime movie genre.