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The Greatest Crime Movies Ever Made 

Ranker Film
Updated August 4, 2020 64.8k votes 4.4k voters 277.2k views 530 items

The best crime movies are listed below. These movies are similar to cop films but concentrate on the criminal's storyline rather than the cop's. All crime movies can be rated and imported into your own list of crime films. The greatest crime films list can be sorted by title, director, year, or actor. Some of the movies on this crime films list are old classics, some are TV movies, and some of the crime films deal with new themes and technology. Each entry in the list of crime movies can be voted on, so chose which is the best crime movie out there or add a new crime film to the list.

If you're looking for the top crime thrillers or crime dramas, you have to start with popular mafia classics, like The Godfather and Goodfellas. Featuring some of the best films of all time, other good crime movies include The Departed, The Usual Suspects, Reservoir Dogs, and Scarface. Looking for action movies about crime? Check out Heat and Léon: The Professional, both contenders for top ten crime films.

What are some other best movies featuring criminals? This list of crime movies will answer that question.

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1
The Godfather is listed (or ranked) 1 on the list The Greatest Crime Movies Ever Made
Al Pacino, Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall

Released: 1972

Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola

The Godfather is a 1972 American crime film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, based on the novel by Mario Puzo. The aging patriarch (Marlon Brando) of an organized crime dynasty transfers ...more

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2
Goodfellas is listed (or ranked) 2 on the list The Greatest Crime Movies Ever Made
Robert De Niro, Samuel L. Jackson, Joe Pesci

Released: 1990

Directed by: Martin Scorsese

Goodfellas is a 1990 American crime film directed by Martin Scorsese. It is a film adaptation of the 1986 non-fiction book Wiseguy by Nicholas Pileggi, who co-wrote the screenplay with Scorsese. ...more

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3
The Godfather Part II is listed (or ranked) 3 on the list The Greatest Crime Movies Ever Made
Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Robert Duvall

Released: 1974

Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola

The Godfather Part II is a 1974 American epic crime film produced and directed by Francis Ford Coppola from a screenplay co-written with Mario Puzo, starring Al Pacino and Robert De Niro. ...more

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4
The Shawshank Redemption... is listed (or ranked) 4 on the list The Greatest Crime Movies Ever Made
Morgan Freeman, Rita Hayworth, Tim Robbins

Released: 1994

Directed by: Frank Darabont

The Shawshank Redemption is a 1994 American drama film written and directed by Frank Darabont and starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman. Adapted from the Stephen King novella Rita Hayworth and ...more

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5
Pulp Fiction is listed (or ranked) 5 on the list The Greatest Crime Movies Ever Made
John Travolta, Bruce Willis, Uma Thurman

Released: 1994

Directed by: Quentin Tarantino

Pulp Fiction is a 1994 American crime film directed by Quentin Tarantino. The lives of two mob hitmen (Samuel L. Jackson and John Travolta), a boxer (Bruce Willis), a gangster's wife (Uma ...more

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6
The Departed is listed (or ranked) 6 on the list The Greatest Crime Movies Ever Made
Leonardo DiCaprio, Jack Nicholson, Alec Baldwin

Released: 2006

Directed by: Martin Scorsese

The Departed is a 2006 American crime drama film directed by Martin Scorsese, and a remake of the 2002 Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs. Irish Mob boss Francis "Frank" Costello (Jack ...more

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7
The Silence of the Lambs... is listed (or ranked) 7 on the list The Greatest Crime Movies Ever Made
but chickens double d added Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Chris Isaak

Released: 1991

Directed by: Jonathan Demme

The Silence of the Lambs is a 1991 American thriller film that blends elements of the crime and horror genres. Directed by Jonathan Demme and starring Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, and Scott ...more

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8
Casino is listed (or ranked) 8 on the list The Greatest Crime Movies Ever Made
Sharon Stone, Robert De Niro, James Woods

Released: 1995

Directed by: Martin Scorsese

Casino is a 1995 American drama film directed by Martin Scorsese. It is based on the non-fiction book of the same name by Nicholas Pileggi, who also co-wrote the screenplay for the film with ...more

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9
The Usual Suspects is listed (or ranked) 9 on the list The Greatest Crime Movies Ever Made
Kevin Spacey, Benicio del Toro, Gabriel Byrne

Released: 1994

Directed by: Bryan Singer

The Usual Suspects is a 1995 German-American neo-noir crime thriller film directed by Bryan Singer and written by Christopher McQuarrie. It stars Stephen Baldwin, Gabriel Byrne, Benicio del ...more

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10
Seven is listed (or ranked) 10 on the list The Greatest Crime Movies Ever Made
but chickens double d added Brad Pitt, Gwyneth Paltrow, Morgan Freeman

Released: 1995

Directed by: David Fincher

Seven is a 1995 American psychological thriller film directed by David Fincher. The film stars Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman, with Gwyneth Paltrow, R. Lee Ermey, John C. McGinley, and Kevin ...more

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11
Scarface is listed (or ranked) 11 on the list The Greatest Crime Movies Ever Made
Jean Harlow, Boris Karloff, Paul Muni

Released: 1932

Directed by: Howard Hawks, Richard Rosson

Scarface is a 1932 American film starring Paul Muni, produced by Howard Hughes and Howard Hawks, directed by Hawks and Richard Rosson, and based on Armitage Trail's 1929 novel of the same name, ...more

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12
Heat is listed (or ranked) 12 on the list The Greatest Crime Movies Ever Made
Natalie Portman, Al Pacino, Robert De Niro

Released: 1995

Directed by: Michael Mann

Heat is a 1995 American crime thriller film written, produced and directed by Michael Mann, and starring Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Val Kilmer. The film was released in the United States on ...more

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13
Reservoir Dogs is listed (or ranked) 13 on the list The Greatest Crime Movies Ever Made
Quentin Tarantino, Steve Buscemi, Tim Roth

Released: 1992

Directed by: Quentin Tarantino

Reservoir Dogs is a 1992 American ensemble crime film that depicts the events before and after a botched diamond heist. The film was the debut of director and writer Quentin Tarantino, and stars ...more

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14
No Country for Old Men ... is listed (or ranked) 14 on the list The Greatest Crime Movies Ever Made
Javier Bardem, Tommy Lee Jones, Woody Harrelson

Released: 2007

Directed by: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen

No Country for Old Men is a 2007 American neo-western neo-noir thriller film directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, based on the novel by Cormac McCarthy. Mayhem ensue after a hunter (Josh Brolin) ...more

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15
American History X is listed (or ranked) 15 on the list The Greatest Crime Movies Ever Made
Edward Norton, Edward Furlong, Beverly DAngelo

Released: 1998

Directed by: Tony Kaye

American History X is a 1998 American drama film directed by Tony Kaye and written by David McKenna. It stars Edward Norton and Edward Furlong, and co-stars Fairuza Balk, Stacy Keach, Elliott ...more

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16
The Untouchables is listed (or ranked) 16 on the list The Greatest Crime Movies Ever Made
Robert De Niro, Sean Connery, Kevin Costner

Released: 1987

Directed by: Brian De Palma

The Untouchables is a 1987 American drama film directed by Brian De Palma and written by David Mamet. Based on the book The Untouchables, the film stars Kevin Costner as government agent Eliot ...more

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17
L.A. Confidential is listed (or ranked) 17 on the list The Greatest Crime Movies Ever Made
Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe, Kim Basinger

Released: 1997

Directed by: Curtis Hanson

L.A. Confidential is a 1997 neo-noir film based on James Ellroy's 1990 novel of the same title, the third book in his L.A. Quartet series. Like the book, the film tells the story of a group of ...more

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18
Taxi Driver is listed (or ranked) 18 on the list The Greatest Crime Movies Ever Made
Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster, Martin Scorsese

Released: 1976

Directed by: Martin Scorsese

Taxi Driver is a 1976 American neo-noir psychological thriller film directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Paul Schrader. Set in New York City soon after the end of the Vietnam War, the film ...more

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19
Fargo is listed (or ranked) 19 on the list The Greatest Crime Movies Ever Made
srjthnk added Steve Buscemi, William H. Macy, Frances McDormand

Released: 1996

Directed by: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen

Fargo is a 1996 American neo-noir dark comedy crime film written, produced, edited, and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. It stars Frances McDormand as a pregnant Minnesota police chief who ...more

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20
Léon: The Profess... is listed (or ranked) 20 on the list The Greatest Crime Movies Ever Made
wiabux added Natalie Portman, Gary Oldman, Jean Reno

Released: 1994

Directed by: Luc Besson

Léon: The Professional is a 1994 English-language French action thriller film written and directed by Luc Besson. The film stars Jean Reno and Gary Oldman, and features the film debut of ...more

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21
Die Hard is listed (or ranked) 21 on the list The Greatest Crime Movies Ever Made
Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Bonnie Bedelia

Released: 1988

Directed by: John McTiernan

Die Hard is a 1988 American action film directed by John McTiernan and written by Steven E. de Souza and Jeb Stuart. It is based on the 1979 novel Nothing Lasts Forever, by Roderick Thorp. Die ...more

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22
Training Day is listed (or ranked) 22 on the list The Greatest Crime Movies Ever Made
Eva Mendes, Snoop Dogg, Denzel Washington

Released: 2001

Directed by: Antoine Fuqua

Training Day is a 2001 American thriller film directed by Antoine Fuqua, written by David Ayer, and starring Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke. The story follows two LAPD narcotics officers over ...more

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23
The Dark Knight is listed (or ranked) 23 on the list The Greatest Crime Movies Ever Made
but chickens double d added Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Heath Ledger

Released: 2008

Directed by: Christopher Nolan

The Dark Knight is a 2008 superhero film directed by Christopher Nolan, based on the DC Comics character, Batman. Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale), Police Lieutenant James Gordon (Gary Oldman) and ...more

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24
Ocean's Eleven is listed (or ranked) 24 on the list The Greatest Crime Movies Ever Made
Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, George Clooney

Released: 2001

Directed by: Steven Soderbergh

Ocean's Eleven is a 2001 American comedy heist film and the remake of the 1960 Rat Pack film of the same name. The 2001 film was directed by Steven Soderbergh and features an ensemble cast ...more

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25
Gangs of New York is listed (or ranked) 25 on the list The Greatest Crime Movies Ever Made
Cameron Diaz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Liam Neeson

Released: 2002

Directed by: Martin Scorsese

Gangs of New York is a 2002 American fictionalized historical drama film set in the mid-19th century in the Five Points district of Lower Manhattan in 1863. The film was directed by Martin ...more

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