The 10 Greatest Crime Movies of the Last 25 Years, Ranked
Crime movies are among the most compelling and interesting subgenres that film has to offer. Typically depicting investigatory elements, street-level corruption, and centering around the rise and fall of morally flawed yet engaging characters, crime movies allow law-abiding viewers a window into a dangerous world of conniving and murder.
Crime movies are an umbrella categorization that can cover an array of subgenres, such as gangster movies, true crime thrillers, or character studies covering a morally corrupted central personality. The 21st century has had its fair share of great crime movies, and this is a selection of some of the greatest.
10
‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’ (2011)
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Image via Sony Pictures Releasing</figure>
Investigative journalist Michael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) is hired by an elderly industrial tycoon to investigate the 20-year-old unsolved murder of his niece. Given a research assistant, Blomkvist is joined by Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara), a technically gifted and antisocial computer hacker. The deeper they dig, the more sinister the findings.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is as bleak and uninviting as crime thrillers come, a movie that’s as dreary and icy as its snow-capped Swedish setting. An aura of dread permeates The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo as a sadistic and cyclical history of savagery is unearthed in the narrative, making for a compelling but not particularly easy watch. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is chilling, unnerving, and unafraid to shock an audience into submission.
9
‘Uncut Gems’ (2019)
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Image via A24</figure>
Eccentric gemstone dealer Howard Ratner (Adam Sandler), operating out of the bustling chaos of New York City, secures what he believes to be his biggest sale yet: an incredibly rare uncut opal from Ethiopia. Looking to clear his gambling debts and make a deal with a high-profile buyer, Howard soon finds himself in over his head as he tries to juggle obligations with associates, family, and relentless mobsters.
Simply put, Uncut Gems is one of the most impressive feats of filmmaking and screenwriting of the 21st century. The Safdie brothers captured lightning in a bottle; no other movies have forward momentum and energy quite like Uncut Gems. It’s perhaps the fastest 135 minutes one could possibly experience, a cinematic, near-perfect adrenaline shot of a movie that’s sure to leave viewers breathless by the end and will make real life feel in slow motion. Uncut Gems is an absolute must-watch of the genre.
8
‘Emily the Criminal’ (2022)
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Image via Roadside Attraction/Vertical Entertainment</figure>
Emily (Aubrey Plaza), like many unfortunate souls her age, is battling student debt and unable to find a steady job. With nowhere else to turn, Emily accepts a position as a “dummy buyer,” purchasing goods with stolen credit cards provided by a shady criminal racket. Soon in over her head, Emily finds herself being pulled into the seedy underworld of Los Angeles where the consequences could prove deadly.
Plaza is a commanding force in this underappreciated, taut and energetic crime thriller. Emily the Criminal is as simple as the title is general, but that’s not to say the movie isn’t effective; some sequences in Emily the Criminal should only be described as nerve-racking. This is a crime movie that’s suitably grounded—many are likely to find themselves sympathizing with Emily’s plight. With no frills, bells, or whistles, Emily the Criminal is just a rock-solid, blue-collar crime movie.
7
‘American Gangster’ (2007)
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Image via Universal Pictures</figure>
Set in 1970s New York, Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington) establishes and manages one of the largest heroin rackets the city has ever seen. A former bouncer and collector for the New York mob, Lucas seizes a leadership position following the death of his mentor. As his empire expands, the honest and hard-headed detective Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe) leads a task force looking to take Lucas down.
One of legendary director Ridley Scott‘s more underappreciated efforts, American Gangster is a well-acted and utterly absorbing crime drama. As entertaining as it is to witness Lucas’ villainous rise to power, it’s Detective Roberts’ story that provides a strong emotional backbone to the sprawling narrative; he’s incorruptible, almost to a fault, but imperfect as a man. American Gangster is as sturdy an effort as the genre has to offer.
6
‘City of God’ (2002)
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Image via StudioCanal</figure>
Survival in the slums of Rio de Janeiro is anything but guaranteed. Spanning the 1960s to the 1980s, a young Brazilian boy named Rocket (Alexandre Rodrigues) isn’t tempted towards a life of crime that his friends and brother embrace. As his neighborhood gradually descends into violence and chaos, Rocket does what he can to keep his dream of becoming a photographer alive.
City of God is a fiery, disturbing, and gut-wrenching work of international cinema that proves itself to be essential viewing for those able to stomach the harshness. Its portrayal of violence influencing the youth and their culture is poignant and elegantly presented. City of God is unafraid to take viewers to some truly dark places. In a reality such as this, the comfort of hope is all too fleeting.
Four criminal masterminds. One of them was always going to be yours.
Here is who comes for you, why they picked you out of everyone available, and what they want from
the encounter.
Your nemesis does not want to beat you. He wants to know you
completely, and he is patient enough to wait for it. The frightening part is how good the
conversation is.
- Lecter is the most dangerous kind of opponent: the one who finds you interesting. He
never raises his voice, because he has never needed to. - You keep a great deal to yourself and you are careful about what you show. That reserve
is exactly the door he would knock on. - The films understood something other thrillers missed. The horror is not the violence.
It is being perfectly understood by the wrong person. - He would be unfailingly polite about all of it. That is the worst part.
Your nemesis is not after money, territory or revenge. He is
after a demonstration, and you are the person he has chosen to prove his point on.
- The Joker only picks opponents who believe in something. Your decency is not a defence
against him. It is the entire reason he showed up. - He has no plan you can predict and nothing you can take away, which removes every tool
you would normally reach for. - His whole argument is that you are one bad day away from being him, and you would spend
the rest of your life proving him wrong. - He would call it a magic trick. You would call it the worst night of your life.
Your nemesis respects you, which sounds flattering until you work
out what it means. He chose you because nobody else was worth his time.
- Moriarty is the original criminal mastermind, the template every later one borrows from:
a mind the equal of the hero’s, pointed the wrong way. - You enjoy being the cleverest person in the room. He is counting on exactly that, and he
has already built the room. - This is the rare nemesis who would be genuinely disappointed if you lost badly. He needs
the game to be worth playing. - It ends the way these things always end. Two people, one problem, and only one way down.
Your nemesis has no personal interest in you whatsoever, and that
is precisely what makes him unsurvivable. You are not a rival. You are a stop on the way.
- Chigurh does not negotiate, gloat or explain. He arrives, he asks one question, and the
answer was decided long before you opened your mouth. - You trust yourself to handle things. He is the one problem in the world that has no
interest in how capable you are. - No Country for Old Men rewrote the screen villain by removing the thing audiences
quietly rely on: the sense that talking might work. - Call it. He will wait.
5
‘Monster’ (2003)
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Image via Newmarket Films</figure>
Michigan native Aileen Wuornos (Charlize Theron) was the victim of an exceedingly harsh upbringing. Her move to Florida didn’t offer much in the way of refuge, as her lack of education and job experience forced her into sex work. After an exchange gone horribly wrong, Aileen finds herself on a path of self-destruction and violence that will eventually lead to her becoming one of history’s most prolific killers.
Based on the life of prostitute turned serial killer Aileen Wuornos, Monster is an unflinching biopic that presents an American crime saga with emotional complexity and authenticity. Theron’s physical transformation is shocking in what is a committed and meaty central performance, further exemplifying why she is one of Hollywood’s most adept talents. Monster is gritty and challenging, making it one of the finest true crime tragedies that modern cinema has to offer.
4
‘The Departed’ (2006)
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Image via Warner Bros.</figure>
The Boston police force is engaged in a war against Irish-American organized crime. Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a young undercover cop assigned to infiltrate the ranks of kingpin Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson). Police investigator Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon) opts to bat for the other team, acting as an informant for Costello, ensuring that the crime syndicate stays one step ahead of law enforcement at all times. As the war on crime escalates, both Costigan and Sullivan must maintain their false identities in their attempts to expose one another.
A bona fide gangster classic from the man who could be described as the genre’s pioneer, The Departed is gritty entertainment executed with a level of finesse that only a master filmmaker could muster. Director Martin Scorsese is no stranger to masterpieces, yet The Departed is a uniquely excellent effort; not only does it harken back to an era in which Scorsese reigned supreme, but it reinforces his status as the master of this style of movie. Fiery, pulse-pounding, and ferociously acted, The Departed is not only one of the best crime movies of the century but one of the greatest of all time.
3
‘Promising Young Woman’ (2020)
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Image via Focus Features</figure>
The life of 30-year-old Cassie Thomas (Carey Mulligan) is a complicated one. Wickedly smart yet equally prickly, Cassie finds trouble opening up to others emotionally—the result of a troubled past that continues to haunt her. Anger and regret can only be so pent-up for so long before they bubble to the surface. Unconcerned with the repercussions, Cassie embarks on a mission fueled by fury, targeting those who are most deserving.
Promising Young Woman is an audacious directorial debut that’s unafraid to tackle some difficult subject matter. This is a movie that’s especially timely and is guaranteed to leave a lasting impression. The narrative twists are plentiful and executed with supreme conviction, making Promising Young Woman a thoroughly engaging watch. Just don’t expect a fairytale ending; this is not one of those movies.
2
‘Training Day’ (2001)
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Image via Warner Bros. Pictures</figure>
Newly appointed Los Angeles narcotics officer Jake Hoyt (Ethan Hawke) is assigned his first day on the job, where he’ll be shadowing veteran L.A.P.D. detective Alonzo Harris (Denzel Washington). While undeniably experienced, Harris’ methods are unorthodox, and his practices often call his morals into question. This will become all too apparent to Hoyt after a shady deal goes horribly wrong.
A definitive cop drama and gangster movie classic, Training Day is a thrilling and engaging watch that finds two of the best actors of this generation pitted against each other in a smartly written war of ideology. Training Day is violent, exceedingly vulgar, and immensely entertaining. This is a gangster movie that is unafraid to portray the harsh truth of battling street-level crime; sometimes, there are no good guys.
1
‘No Country for Old Men’ (2007)
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Image via Miramax Films</figure>
After happening upon a drug exchange gone wrong, unassuming war veteran Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin) steals a satchel containing $2 million in cash. Hired to pursue Llewelyn and retrieve the money is Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem), a psychopathic and ruthlessly effective killer. As the distance between them closes, the body count rises.
No Country for Old Men is a subversive, contemplative, and quiet triumph that’s as close to perfection as any movie could strive to be. There isn’t a single wasted scene or dull moment to be found—the narrative barrels forward, rolling out iconic scenes one after the other (the chillingly effective coin-toss scene being just one). No Country for Old Men is a western/crime masterpiece, rich with elegantly woven metaphors and leaner than a prime cut of Texas steak.
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