The world of crime cinema pulls you in with its sharp narratives and often unsettling truths. These films thrive on suspense, laying out clear puzzles or dangerous scenarios that keep you guessing. From intricate plans executed with precision to the relentless pursuit of justice, crime movies consistently deliver high-stakes drama, exploring the darker corners of human ambition and morality.
To help you find your next stream, we’ve put together our expert list of the top 20 best crime movies to watch now. Our selection spans nail-biting heist films, gripping detective thrillers, and powerful true crime dramas. Prepare for a journey into the underbelly of society as you discover where you can start streaming the best crime movies available today.
What are the best Crime Movies to watch now?
Each of the 20 crime films featured here is ranked primarily by its IMDb rating, a well-recognised way to reflect how both audiences and critics responded. It’s a solid method to bring you only the best crime movies cinema can offer. You’ll get a range of intense heist films, gritty detective thrillers, and chilling true crime dramas.
For each film, we’ve included all the key details to help you choose what to watch next. That means the genre, cast, director, runtime, where to stream it, and a short plot summary. It’s a clear, reliable guide to finding your next edge-of-your-seat crime movie.
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!
Comedy •Crime
Overview
When the incompetent Lieutenant Frank Drebin seeks the ruthless killer of his partner, he stumbles upon an attempt to assassinate Queen Elizabeth II.
Director
David Zucker
Cast
Leslie Nielsen, Priscilla Presley, Ricardo Montalban, George Kennedy, O.J. Simpson
Duration
85 minutes
Nobody
Action •Thriller •Crime •Drama •Mystery •Adventure
Overview
Hutch Mansell, a suburban dad, overlooked husband, nothing neighbor — a “nobody.” When two thieves break into his home one night, Hutch’s unknown long-simmering rage is ignited and propels him on a brutal path that will uncover dark secrets he fought to leave behind.
Director
Ilya Naishuller
Cast
Bob Odenkirk, Connie Nielsen, Christopher Lloyd, Aleksey Serebryakov, RZA
Duration
93 minutes
The Other Guys
Comedy •Action •Crime •Adventure •Mystery •Thriller
Overview
Unlike their heroic counterparts on the force, desk-bound NYPD detectives Gamble and Hoitz garner no headlines as they work day to day. When a seemingly minor case turns out to be a big deal, the two cops get the opportunity to finally prove to their comrades that they have the right stuff.
Director
Adam McKay
Cast
Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Eva Mendes, Michael Keaton, Steve Coogan
Duration
108 minutes
The Bikeriders
Crime •Drama
Overview
After a chance encounter, headstrong Kathy is drawn to Benny, member of Midwestern motorcycle club the Vandals. As the club transforms into a dangerous underworld of violence, Benny must choose between Kathy and his loyalty to the club.
Director
Jeff Nichols
Cast
Jodie Comer, Austin Butler, Tom Hardy, Michael Shannon, Mike Faist
Duration
116 minutes
The Town
Crime •Thriller •Drama •Mystery
Overview
Doug MacRay is a longtime thief, who, smarter than the rest of his crew, is looking for his chance to exit the game. When a bank job leads to the group kidnapping an attractive branch manager, he takes on the role of monitoring her – but their burgeoning relationship threatens to unveil the identities of Doug and his crew to the FBI Agent who is on their case.
Director
Ben Affleck
Cast
Ben Affleck, Rebecca Hall, Jeremy Renner, Jon Hamm, Blake Lively
Duration
125 minutes
Bad Boys: Ride or Die
Crime •Action •Thriller •Mystery •Adventure •Comedy
Overview
After their late former Captain is framed, Lowrey and Burnett try to clear his name, only to end up on the run themselves.
Director
Adil El Arbi
Cast
Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, Paola Nuñez
Duration
115 minutes
Casino
Crime •Drama
Overview
In early-1970s Las Vegas, Sam “Ace” Rothstein gets tapped by his bosses to head the Tangiers Casino. At first, he’s a great success in the job, but over the years, problems with his loose-cannon enforcer Nicky Santoro, his ex-hustler wife Ginger, her con-artist ex Lester Diamond and a handful of corrupt politicians put Sam in ever-increasing danger.
Director
Martin Scorsese
Cast
Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, Joe Pesci, James Woods, Don Rickles
Duration
178 minutes
Zodiac
Crime •Thriller •Mystery •Drama
Overview
The Zodiac murders cause the lives of Paul Avery, David Toschi and Robert Graysmith to intersect.
Director
David Fincher
Cast
Mark Ruffalo, Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr., Anthony Edwards, Chloë Sevigny
Duration
158 minutes
Stand by Me
Comedy •Drama •Crime
Overview
After learning that a boy their age has been accidentally killed near their rural homes, four Oregon boys decide to go see the body. On the way, Gordie, Vern, Chris and Teddy encounter a mean junk man and a marsh full of leeches, as they also learn more about one another and their very different home lives. Just a lark at first, the boys’ adventure evolves into a defining event in their lives.
Director
Rob Reiner
Cast
Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O’Connell, Kiefer Sutherland
Duration
89 minutes
Megamind
Animation •Kids •Comedy •Adventure •Action •Family •Sci-fi •Crime •Fantasy
Overview
After Megamind, a highly intelligent alien supervillain, defeats his long-time nemesis Metro Man, Megamind creates a new hero to fight, but must act to save the city when his “creation” becomes an even worse villain than he was.
Director
Tom McGrath
Cast
Will Ferrell, Brad Pitt, Tina Fey, Jonah Hill, David Cross
Duration
92 minutes
Se7en
Crime •Mystery •Thriller •Drama
Overview
Two homicide detectives are on a desperate hunt for a serial killer whose crimes are based on the “seven deadly sins” in this dark and haunting film that takes viewers from the tortured remains of one victim to the next. The seasoned Det. Somerset researches each sin in an effort to get inside the killer’s mind, while his novice partner, Mills, scoffs at his efforts to unravel the case.
Director
David Fincher
Cast
Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kevin Spacey, R. Lee Ermey
Duration
127 minutes
The Accountant
Thriller •Action •Crime •Drama •Mystery •Adventure
Overview
As a math savant uncooks the books for a new client, the Treasury Department closes in on his activities and the body count starts to rise.
Director
Gavin O’Connor
Cast
Ben Affleck, Anna Kendrick, J.K. Simmons, Jon Bernthal, Jeffrey Tambor
Duration
123 minutes
The Green Mile
Drama •Fantasy •Crime
Overview
A supernatural tale set on death row in a Southern prison, where gentle giant John Coffey possesses the mysterious power to heal people’s ailments. When the cell block’s head guard, Paul Edgecomb, recognizes Coffey’s miraculous gift, he tries desperately to help stave off the condemned man’s execution.
Director
Frank Darabont
Cast
Tom Hanks, David Morse, Bonnie Hunt, Michael Clarke Duncan, James Cromwell
Duration
189 minutes
Snatch
Comedy •Crime
Overview
Unscrupulous boxing promoters, violent bookmakers, a Russian gangster, incompetent amateur robbers and supposedly Jewish jewelers fight to track down a priceless stolen diamond.
Director
Guy Ritchie
Cast
Benicio del Toro, Dennis Farina, Vinnie Jones, Brad Pitt, Rade Šerbedžija
Duration
103 minutes
Emilia Pérez
Drama •Thriller •Mystery •Crime
Overview
Rita, an underrated lawyer working for a large law firm more interested in getting criminals out of jail than bringing them to justice, is hired by the leader of a criminal organization.
Director
Jacques Audiard
Cast
Karla Sofía Gascón, Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez, Adriana Paz, Edgar Ramírez
Duration
132 minutes
The Dark Knight
Action •Adventure •Crime •Drama •Thriller •Mystery
Overview
Batman raises the stakes in his war on crime. With the help of Lt. Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman sets out to dismantle the remaining criminal organizations that plague the streets. The partnership proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to a reign of chaos unleashed by a rising criminal mastermind known to the terrified citizens of Gotham as the Joker.
Director
Christopher Nolan
Cast
Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Aaron Eckhart
Duration
152 minutes
Longlegs
Crime •Horror •Mystery •Thriller
Overview
FBI Agent Lee Harker is assigned to an unsolved serial killer case that takes an unexpected turn, revealing evidence of the occult. Harker discovers a personal connection to the killer and must stop him before he strikes again.
Director
Osgood Perkins
Cast
Maika Monroe, Nicolas Cage, Blair Underwood, Alicia Witt, Michelle Choi-Lee
Duration
101 minutes
Donnie Brasco
Crime •Drama
Overview
An FBI undercover agent infiltrates the mob and identifies more with the mafia life at the expense of his regular one.
Director
Mike Newell
Cast
Johnny Depp, Al Pacino, Michael Madsen, Bruno Kirby, James Russo
Duration
122 minutes
Abigail
Horror •Thriller •Mystery •Comedy •Crime •Action •Adventure
Overview
A group of criminals kidnaps a teenage ballet dancer, the daughter of a notorious gang leader, in order to obtain a ransom of $50 million, but over time, they discover that she is not just an ordinary girl. After the kidnappers begin to diminish, one by one, they discover, to their increasing horror, that they are locked inside with an unusual girl.
Director
Matt Bettinelli-Olpin
Cast
Alisha Weir, Melissa Barrera, Dan Stevens, Kathryn Newton, Angus Cloud
Duration
109 minutes
Wrath of Man
Action •Thriller •Crime •Mystery •Adventure •Drama
Overview
A cold and mysterious new security guard for a Los Angeles cash truck company surprises his co-workers when he unleashes precision skills during a heist. The crew is left wondering who he is and where he came from. Soon, the marksman’s ultimate motive becomes clear as he takes dramatic and irrevocable steps to settle a score.
Director
Guy Ritchie
Cast
Jason Statham, Holt McCallany, Scott Eastwood, Jeffrey Donovan, Josh Hartnett
Duration
114 minutes
Frequently asked questions
Heist films draw you in with their intricate planning, daring execution, and the thrilling race against time. You’ll often find yourself rooting for the criminals, drawn to their cleverness and the high stakes involved. The suspense builds as you watch a seemingly impossible plan unfold, often with unexpected twists. Guy Ritchie, for instance, is known for his heist films like Snatch and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. Steven Soderbergh’s Ocean’s Eleven is also a certified favourite.
Detective thrillers are masterclasses in suspense, presenting complex puzzles and compelling investigations that challenge you to solve the mystery alongside the protagonist. They feature clever clues, misdirection, and a relentless pursuit of truth, ensuring you’re always on the edge of your seat, piecing together the facts.
True crime dramas immerse you in real-life criminal events, offering a raw, unvarnished look at human behaviour and the justice system. They often explore the psychological aspects of crime and its profound impact, drawing you in with their factual basis and the chilling reality of the stories presented.
Yes, absolutely! The popularity of crime movies means many top titles are widely available across Australian streaming services. Platforms like Netflix, Stan, BINGE, and Prime Video frequently feature these thrilling films, ensuring you can easily access high-quality crime content for your next movie night.
An IMDb rating is a strong indicator of a crime movie’s overall quality and broad audience appreciation. While personal taste varies, a high score usually signals a film with exceptional storytelling, powerful performances, and enduring impact within the genre, guiding you to a credible watch.
You’ll frequently find themes of justice, vengeance, morality, loyalty, and betrayal. These films often explore the blurred lines between right and wrong, the consequences of ambition, and the corrupting influence of power, offering you deeply resonant and thought-provoking narratives.
Runtime can certainly affect your experience. Shorter crime films often deliver concise, intense thrills, ideal for a quick suspense fix. Longer movies, especially epics, allow for more complex plot developments, deeper character arcs, and a richer, more immersive exploration of the criminal underworld.
Yes, crime movies can shape perceptions of real-world crime and the justice system, sometimes by dramatising events or characterising law enforcement. While fictional, they can highlight societal issues or human flaws, prompting you to consider complex ethical dilemmas beyond the screen.
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