The greatest crime movies of all-time have a sense of style that is incomparable to other genres of film. Crime thrillers have an illustrious list of celebrities taking the lead in movies to put the audience on the edge of their seats. You can count on crime movies to remind people that the world is a maze filled with twists and turns.
Actors have taken on the role of a criminal to convince watchers that mobs exist to terrorize people. Criminal masterminds involved in heists, cartels, and the underworld can persuade the most reliable men to turn their back on the world. Classic crime movies are centered around stories that highlight the struggles of real people as they challenge the odds in epic encounters against authoritative figures.
Here are 5 of the greatest crime movies of all-time to keep you entertained in 2024.
Pulp Fiction
Pulp Fiction is a fantastic film about criminals. It was released in 1994 and grossed $213 million at the box office. Characters in Pulp Fiction reveal their story in non-linear order, providing various clues to the audience over the course of the film. The interesting narrative of the crime movie gives people a chance to figure out the sequence of the story for themselves.
Written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, Pulp Fiction is considered his magnum opus by cinema critics. John Travolta, Uma Thurman, and Samuel L. Jackson are among the main protagonists of the crime movie.
Iconic scenes of Pulp Fiction include a dance competition won by Vincent Vega and Mia Wallace, a boxing match where Butch delivers a killing blow to his opponent, and a robbery at a diner. Pulp Fiction soon became one of the most influential crime movies to be made, creating several pop culture references after its release.
Nominated for 7 categories at the 67th Academy Awards, Pulp Fiction won the Best Screenplay – Written and Directed for the Screen. It also won the Palme d’Or award at the 47th Cannes Film Festival.
L.A. Confidential
L.A. Confidential is an American crime story about a series of murders that take place in Los Angeles. Officers working for the LAPD must uncover the truth behind multiple murders and the disappearance of 25 lb of heroin. The film explores the diverse facets of the police force in Los Angeles and their involvement with criminals.
Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, James Cromwell and Kim Basinger are the lead actors of L.A. Confidential. Most of the crime film was shot in Linda Vista Community Hospital in Los Angeles and near West Hollywood.
Film critics praised L.A. Confidential for its seductive lens. L.A. Confidential depicted the inner workings of the LAPD and its attempt to display the bureaucracy involved in dealing with criminals. Directed by Curtis Hanson, L.A. Confidential grossed $126 million worldwide with a budget of $35 million. It was voted as the best film of the year in 1997 by Time magazine.
21
21 is a heist film based on the best-selling book, Bringing Down the House. It captures the story of 6 MIT students who win millions from Blackjack games in Las Vegas. The mathematician, Ben Campbell, is invited to join the MIT Blackjack team by Professor Micky Rosa.
Card counting is a major aspect of 21. Ben Campbell excels at card counting and becomes a high roller who frequently plays Blackjack at Las Vegas casinos. After a string of victories in Las Vegas, Ben is challenged by Micky, leading the young mathematician to quit the MIT Blackjack team. The decision to leave the MIT Blackjack team pushes Ben to form a team of his own.
Ben ends up framing Micky before his Professor can escape with a bag of casino chips. 21 was a box office hit with an opening weekend of $24 million. Jim Sturgess played the lead role in 21 and maintained a high approval rating among crime film fans.
The Godfather Part II
The Godfather Part II is one of the greatest crime movies of all-time. Based on the 1969 Novel by Mario Puzo, The Godfather Part II focuses on the story of Michael Corleone as he takes up the mantle of being the head of his family.
Played by Al Pacino, Michael Corleone delivers an unforgettable performance in Godfather Part II. From assassination attempts to negotiations, Michael Corleone is pressed to do what it takes to control underground activities.
It was the first sequel to win the Best Picture at the Academy Awards. Francis Ford Coppola won the Best Director for The Godfather Part II at the 47th Academy Awards and Robert De Niro won the Best Supporting Actor award for his portrayal of Vito Corleone.
The Departed
The Departed is a crime thriller starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Mob boss Frank Costello hires Colin Sullivan as a spy to disrupt the Massachusetts State Police. The police department recruits Billy Costigan Jr., played by Leonardo DiCaprio, to penetrate Costello’s operations and make the mob boss surrender.
Martin Scorsese directed the film, making The Departed a massive success in 2006 across worldwide theatres. The tensions between street gangs in Boston and explosive gun fights were responsible for The Departed to be considered as a top crime movie. It earned a total of $291 million at the box office. The Departed won 4 Academy Awards and a Golden Globe Award in 2007.
