The crime movie genre is incredibly compelling, but often includes dark and gritty films that really leave an impression on any who watch them. This is particularly impressive because the crime genre is so broad, including everything from supernatural thrillers to incredible true-crime documentaries. There is a lot of ground to cover, and some of the darkest entries in the genre do it best.
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These movies do well for a variety of reasons, including the brutality of the story, the shock value, the uniqueness of the plot, and the quality of the writing. Sometimes, there are even compelling relationships between the characters, with some of the best detective duos making these stories even stronger. Even though films like Killer Joe and Longlegs can sometimes be difficult to watch, they leave the viewer with the impression that there is more lurking just beneath the surface.
You are watching: 10 Gritty, Dark Crime Movies That Have You Thinking Long After They’re Over
10
Killer Joe (2011)
Matthew McConaughey Stars In One Of His Strongest Roles
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Killer Joe
NC-17
Crime
Drama
Thriller
7/10
8.7/10
Release Date
September 10, 2011
Runtime
102 Minutes
Director
William Friedkin
Writers
Tracy Letts
Cast
See All
-
Matthew McConaughey
-
Emile Hirsch
Killer Joe is a dark comedy thriller directed by William Friedkin. The film stars Matthew McConaughey as a detective who is also a contract killer hired by a desperate young man, played by Emile Hirsch, to murder his mother for insurance money. As the plot unfolds, the characters are drawn into a violent and morally complex web of deception and betrayal.
Main Genre
Crime
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Starring the iconic Matthew McConaughey in what is an incredibly strong performance, Killer Joe revolves around an estranged family and an insurance scam. When the family of a woman named Adele decide to kill her and collect on her hefty life insurance policy, they contact titular detective and part-time contract killer “Killer Joe” Cooper to do the deed. However, the plan starts to go wrong when the family begins turning on one another.
Killer Joe is based on the 1993 play of the same name, which was written by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner Tracy Letts.
Though the film is dark and twisted, mostly in its depiction of familial violence and Joe’s character in general, there is more than a fair share of comedy sprinkled throughout the movie’s script. This, paired with the film’s brutality, offers a polarizing experience that goes from one extreme to the other. The complete disruption of this one family leaves the viewer wondering if this could happen to their own family, as Killer Joe shows that family conflict never really goes away.
9
Blue Ruin (2014)
This Crime Thriller Began As A Kickstarter Campaign
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Blue Ruin
9/10
Release Date
April 25, 2014
Runtime
90 Minutes
Director
Jeremy Saulnier
Writers
Jeremy Saulnier
Cast
See All
-
Macon Blair
-
Devin Ratray
A mysterious man’s quiet life is turned upside down when he returns to his hometown seeking revenge. Proving to be an amateur killer, he ends up in a brutal fight.
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Originally beginning as an early Kickstarter campaign, Blue Ruin is a movie with revenge baked into its core. The film follows the journey of a man named Dwight Evans, who has been living out of his car. When he discovers that the man who killed his parents has been released from prison, he goes on a mission to find him and finally return the favor, killing him for good.
Another movie that heavily features trauma within the family, Blue Ruin slowly uncovers its secrets over the course of the film. What starts as a seemingly simple plot takes a sharp turn once Dwight believes he has completed his quest, but that is only the beginning. The secrets revealed are massive and best experienced through watching the film itself, leaving viewers satisfied with what this amazing breakout film accomplished.
8
I Saw The Devil (2010)
A South Korean Action-Thriller Masterpiece
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I Saw the Devil
R
Thriller
Horror
6/10
9/10
Release Date
August 12, 2010
Runtime
144 Minutes
Director
Kim Jee-woon
Writers
Park Hoon-jung, Kim Jee-woon
Cast
See All
-
Lee Byung-hun
-
Choi Min-sik
I Saw The Devil is a South Korean thriller directed by Kim Jee-woon. The narrative follows a secret agent who embarks on a relentless and personal quest for vengeance after his fiancée is brutally murdered by a psychopathic serial killer. The film stars Lee Byung-hun and Choi Min-sik, and is renowned for its intense and gritty portrayal of the cat-and-mouse game between the two central characters.
Main Genre
Thriller
Studio(s)
Softbank Ventures, Peppermint&company, Siz Entertainment, Finecut, Michigan Venture Capital, CJ Entertainment, Showbox
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I Saw the Devil is another gritty entry into a long line of incredible South Korean crime films, centered around another desperate attempt at revenge. When an NIS agent’s fiancée is murdered by a notorious serial killer, he not only attempts to bring him to justice, but end his life in the process. Notably, the film stars Lee Byung-hun, who famously played the Front Man in the hit South Korean Netflix series, Squid Game.
An Indian and Hindi-language remake of the film titled Ek Villain was released in 2014.
While the serial killer’s different murders are shown in brutal fashion throughout the film, perhaps the most painful part of the film is its depiction of grief. The script does not hold back, and the actors’ performances throughout the film really hit on the true horror of losing a loved one. These performances stick with the viewer more than anything, reflecting the grief that is present in everyone.
7
Nightcrawler (2014)
Jake Gyllenhaal In His Most Unsettling Performance
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Nightcrawler
R
Crime
Drama
Thriller
9/10
9.5/10
Release Date
October 31, 2014
Runtime
117 Minutes
Director
Dan Gilroy
Writers
Dan Gilroy
Cast
See All
-
Riz Ahmed
-
Bill Paxton
Written and directed by Dan Gilroy, Nightcrawler follows petty thief Lou Bloom (Jake Gyllenhaal) after he learns of a potentially lucrative job opportunity selling footage of violent events to local media outlets. Lou becomes a “stringer” – a freelance journalist who captures and records footage for news stations – and finds that the profession sucks him into the most dangerous parts of Los Angeles. Drawn deeper into his dark obsession, Lou becomes increasingly fixated with violence and crime.
Studio(s)
Bold Films
Distributor(s)
Open Road Films
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Instead of following the traditional crime-thriller story of a detective or someone who has been personally wronged, Nightcrawler instead chooses to depict the life of a stringer, or rather a journalist who sells breaking news and crime footage to news stations. This man, a criminal named Lou, takes this job up when he cannot find a job anywhere else as a convicted criminal. As the film goes on, he takes bigger and more dangerous risks, breaking into crime scenes and capturing increasingly horrifying footage.
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The lengths that Lou goes to throughout Nightcrawler are what make the film worth watching, making it a tense watch that lingers after viewing. Perhaps even worse is the fact that it is incredibly believable, as it is easy to see someone following in Lou’s footsteps and doing something like this in real life. This, coupled with Jake Gyllenhaal’s unsettling performance, make Nightcrawler a perfect film for any viewer looking for something unique and oddly terrifying.
6
Taxi Driver (1976)
Martin Scorsese’s Thrilling Classic Continues To Excite Audiences
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Taxi Driver
R
Drama
Crime
10/10
8/10
Release Date
February 9, 1976
Runtime
114 Minutes
Director
Martin Scorsese
Writers
Paul Schrader
Cast
See All
-
Robert De Niro
-
Jodie Foster
Martin Scorsese’s classic 1976 film stars Robert De Niro as Travis Bickle, a Vietnam veteran turned New York City cab driver whose increasingly disturbed mental state due to his PTSD begins to drive him to more and more violent actions as he attempts to rid the city of what he sees as the “scum” on the streets. Jodie Foster, Harvey Keitel, Cybill Shepherd, and Albert Brooks also star in the film.
Main Genre
Drama
Studio(s)
Bill/Phillips Productions
Distributor(s)
Columbia Pictures
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Often considered among the best movies of all time, Taxi Driver is a thoughtful film about mental health and what it means to be a good person and a model citizen. Starring Robert De Niro as taxi driver and Vietnam War veteran Travis Bickle, the film begins and subsequently spirals as Travis’ disgust with the state of society grows out of control. He eventually decides to take the law into his own hands, acting as a vigilante and killing criminals in the streets.
The ending of Taxi Driver can be interpreted in several ways, leading the viewer to come to their own conclusions. Does Travis die by the end of the film, or is the entire thing just a delusion created in Travis’ mind? The ending gives the viewer much to think about, so much so that even decades later there is still debate on the subject.
5
Longlegs (2024)
Nic Cage’s Thriller Leans More Into Horror Than The Traditional Crime Drama
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Longlegs
R
Horror
Thriller
7/10
12
7.8/10
Release Date
July 12, 2024
Runtime
101 Minutes
Director
Oz Perkins
Writers
Oz Perkins
Cast
See All
-
Maika Monroe
-
Nicolas Cage
Longlegs is a horror thriller film by writer-director Osgood Perkins. When FBI agent Lee Harker is assigned to a serial killer cold case, their investigation leads them down a rabbit hole riddled with disturbing discoveries and the occult at the center of it all. When the trail of evidence reveals a personal connection, it becomes a race against time to prevent another murder.
Main Genre
Horror
Studio(s)
C2 Motion Picture Group, Saturn Films
Distributor(s)
Neon
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Terrifying from beginning to end, Longlegs shows FBI detective Lee Harker and her desperation in tracking down the serial killer that has been terrorizing the state of Oregon. However, what sets this film apart from the general serial killer stories that fill the crime thriller genre is the supernatural element of the story. Not only does Lee seem to have special powers, but the serial killer, Longlegs, also seems to be influenced by a sort of magic.
Longlegs was released to critical acclaim and currently holds a rating of 86% on Rotten Tomatoes.
The terrifying use of this magic throughout the film leaves the viewers with more questions than it answers. Because of this mysterious element, Longlegs gives viewers a lot to think about when it comes to how everything in its setting came to be. Because of its unanswered questions and mystical atmosphere, the film really winds its way into viewers’ minds, begging for these questions to be theorized about.
4
Prisoners (2013)
Another Incredible Jake Gyllenhaal Crime Thriller
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Prisoners
R
Drama
Mystery
Thriller
8/10
6.3/10
Release Date
September 20, 2013
Runtime
153 minutes
Director
Denis Villeneuve
Writers
Aaron Guzikowski
Cast
See All
-
Hugh Jackman
-
Jake Gyllenhaal
After getting tired of waiting for the police to find the person responsible for taking two young girls, Keller Rover takes the law into his own hands to get the answers he wants. This crime drama was directed by Denis Villeneuve and stars Hugh Jackman (Keller Rover), Jake Gyllenhaal (Detective Loki), and Terrence Howard (Franklin Birch).
Studio(s)
Warner Bros. Pictures
Distributor(s)
Warner Bros. Pictures, Summit Entertainment, Lionsgate
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Being what is perhaps Jake Gyllenhaal’s definitive crime thriller performance, Prisoners takes an agonizing look into the lives of two families when a pair of young girls go missing. Gyllenhaal’s character, Detective Loki, is tasked with bringing these girls home safely. However, as he investigates the girls’ disappearance, the fathers of the missing children decide to take matters into their own hands, for better or worse.
While Gyllenhaal’s performance as the movie’s main detective is as compelling as it is emotional, Hugh Jackman’s performance as a grieving father pushed to his limit is what makes the film so inherently painful. It is clear that he would do anything to save his daughter, even pushing the boundaries of the law to do so. His performance leaves many wondering what lengths they would go to in a similar situation, making plenty truly identify with his character.
3
Sicario (2015)
This Action Thriller Explores Morality & Drug Cartels
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Sicario
R
Action
Crime
Thriller
9/10
18
9.1/10
Release Date
September 17, 2015
Runtime
122 minutes
Director
Denis Villeneuve
Writers
Taylor Sheridan
Producers
Basil Iwanyk, Edward McDonnell, Ellen H. Schwartz, Molly Smith, Thad Luckinbill, Stacy Perskie
Cast
See All
-
Benicio Del Toro
Alejandro Gillick
-
Emily Blunt
Kate Macer
Sicario is a crime thriller directed by Denis Villeneuve, featuring Emily Blunt as an idealistic FBI agent. The film explores the intense and morally complex war on drugs at the U.S.-Mexico border, with key performances by Benicio del Toro and Josh Brolin.
Main Genre
Action
Studio(s)
Sony
Distributor(s)
Sony, Lionsgate
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Taking place in the midst of a drug cartel takedown, Sicario focuses on a joint task force between the United States CIA and a Sicario, or assassin, named Alejandro. The film goes over their entire operation, rampaging through Mexico in the hopes of taking down the notorious drug lord Fausto Alarcón. In the process, the task force commits acts of violence that they continuously justify, leaving the morality of the operation’s tactics in question.
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Sicario‘s gut punch of an ending is what really makes the film last so long in viewers’ minds, leaving them questioning the morality of the main character and of themselves. Once Alejandro locates Alarcón, he infiltrates his home and proceeds to kill his wife and children in front of him before executing the drug lord himself. It is horrible to watch and terrifying to think about, leaving an impression on anyone who watches the scene.
2
No Country For Old Men (2007)
This Film Is Based On A Cormac McCarthy Classic
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No Country for Old Men
R
Thriller
Drama
Crime
9/10
13
8.2/10
Release Date
November 21, 2007
Runtime
122 minutes
Director
Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Writers
Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Cast
See All
-
Kelly Macdonald
-
Woody Harrelson
No Country for Old Men is a western crime-thriller based on the novel by Cormac McCarthy and directed by the Cohen Brothers. Following three protagonists, the film centers around a large $2,000,000+ cache of dirty money lost near the Rio Grande. With a veteran who finds it, a hitman who will stop at nothing to get it, and a sheriff trying to investigate the crimes connected to it, all roads lead to death and mayhem as they find themselves in each other’s crosshairs.
Studio(s)
MiraMax
Distributor(s)
Universal Pictures, MiraMax
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Based on the novel by Cormac McCarthy, No Country for Old Men is an engaging movie about a hit man and his run-ins with the law. When assassin Anton Chigurh is tasked with grabbing a massive stash of money, he faces a variety of different obstacles, including his own selfishness. The film is both tense and exciting throughout its entirety, leaving many wondering what Anton could possibly do next.
The film is largely faithful to the novel, but instead of focusing on Sheriff Bell, the film instead focuses on Anton and the details of the story.
No Country for Old Men has a divisive ending, one that is mired in death and ambiguity. The final note of the film ends with the dreams of Sheriff Bell, explaining his own feelings of guilt. However, there is still hope amidst the tragedy and chaos, allowing the themes to resonate even stronger than they would if they were simply negative emotions.
1
Se7en (1995)
This Classic Is Emotional & Tragic In Equal Measure
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Se7en
R
Thriller
Drama
Crime
Mystery
8/10
23
8.6/10
Release Date
September 22, 1995
Runtime
127 minutes
Director
David Fincher
Writers
andrew kevin walker
Cast
See All
-
Brad Pitt
-
Gwyneth Paltrow
David Fincher’s crime thriller Se7en follows the seasoned Detective William Somerset after he is assigned a new partner, the young and idealistic David Mills (Brad Pitt). The two find themselves investigating a deranged killer staging murders inspired by each of the seven deadly sins. On the hunt for the twisted John Doe (Kevin Spacey) before he can kill again, the two detectives soon discover that they’re much deeper into the case than they realized.
Main Genre
Crime
Studio(s)
New Line Cinema
Distributor(s)
New Line Cinema
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Based on the writer’s experiences living in New York in the 1980s, Se7en follows a pair of detectives who are tasked with tracking down a terrifying serial killer. This killer uses the idea of the seven deadly sins to terrify the people living in the city, killing in theme with those sins. While it is one of many films focused on hunting serial killers, Se7en is perhaps the definitive film in the genre, setting the stage for many of the movies that would come later.
With an all-star cast that gives their all in their performances, Se7en has long been famous for its numerous incredible scenes. The well-known “What’s in the box?” scene has become synonymous with film culture as a whole, with many knowing this scene without even seeing the movie. Se7en is a great crime thriller and an incredible mystery, making it worth a watch to unravel the film’s secrets.
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Category: Entertainment