The Best Drama Movies Set in Boston

Updated March 18, 2020 193 votes 18 voters22 items

List RulesThe drama movie must be primarily set in Boston.

The best drama movies set in Boston feature several A-list stars who come from the city. Mark Wahlberg, Matt Damon, and Ben Affleck are all Boston natives, and all have made dramas showing their city's unique qualities. Other beloved actors and filmmakers have similarly given us drama movies based in Boston. It is a very atmospheric city, with wealthy sections and working class areas that give it real diversity onscreen. Hollywood and indie productions alike have taken advantage of that.

Vote up the best drama films based in Boston below. Don't see your favorite? Add it to the list and let others weigh in with their votes.

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Gone Baby Gone
Casey Affleck, Michelle Monaghan
Released: 2007
Directed by: Ben Affleck
Gone Baby Gone is a 2007 American neo-noir mystery thriller film directed by Ben Affleck,... more
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13
4
Mystic River
Emmy Rossum, Sean Penn
Released: 2003
Directed by: Clint Eastwood
Mystic River is a 2003 American mystery drama film directed and scored by Clint Eastwood. It... more
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11
2
The Fighter
Amy Adams, Christian Bale
Released: 2010
Directed by: David O. Russell
The Fighter is a 2010 American biographical sports drama film directed by David O. Russell.... more
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13
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Good Will Hunting
Ben Affleck, Robin Williams
Released: 1997
Directed by: Gus Van Sant
Good Will Hunting is a 1997 American drama film directed by Gus Van Sant, and starring Matt... more
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13
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The Departed
Leonardo DiCaprio, Jack Nicholson
Released: 2006
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
The Departed is a 2006 American crime drama film directed by Martin Scorsese, and a remake of... more
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8
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Edge of Darkness
Mel Gibson, Ray Winstone
Released: 2010
Directed by: Martin Campbell
Edge of Darkness is a 2010 crime thriller film directed by Martin Campbell and also produced... more
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6
2
Spotlight
Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton
Released: 2015
Directed by: Tom McCarthy
Spotlight is a 2015 American biographical drama film directed by Tom McCarthy. The true story... more
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Manchester by the Sea
Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams
Released: 2016
Directed by: Kenneth Lonergan
Manchester by the Sea is a 2016 American drama film directed and written by Kenneth Lonergan.... more
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6
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Black Mass
Kevin Bacon, Joel Edgerton
Released: 2015
Directed by: Scott Cooper
Black Mass is a 2015 American biographical crime drama film directed by Scott Cooper, based on... more
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5
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The Cardinal
Burgess Meredith, John Huston
Released: 1963
Directed by: Otto Preminger
The Cardinal is a 1963 American drama film which was produced independently and directed by... more
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4
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The Boston Strangler
Henry Fonda, Tony Curtis
Released: 1968
Directed by: Richard Fleischer
The Boston Strangler is a 1968 American film based on the true story of the Boston Strangler... more
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5
2
Patriots Day
Mark Wahlberg, J. K. Simmons
Released: 2016
Directed by: Peter Berg
Patriots Day is a 2016 American biopic drama film directed by Peter Berg, based on the book... more
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1
0
The Brink's Job
Peter Falk, Gena Rowlands
Released: 1978
Directed by: William Friedkin
The Brink's Job is a 1978 film directed by William Friedkin and starring Peter Falk, Peter... more

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Brinks: The Great Robbery
Leslie Nielsen
Released: 1976
Directed by: Marvin J. Chomsky
Brinks: The Great Robbery is a 1976 American crime drama television film. It stars Leslie... more
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2
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The Friends of Eddie Coyle
Robert Mitchum, Peter Boyle
Released: 1973
Directed by: Peter Yates
The Friends of Eddie Coyle is a 1973 film directed by Peter Yates and starring Robert Mitchum... more
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2
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Stronger
Jake Gyllenhaal, Tatiana Maslany
Released: 2017
Directed by: David Gordon Green
Stronger is a 2017 American biographical drama film directed by David Gordon Green, based on... more
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2
5
Southie
Rose McGowan, Amanda Peet
Released: 1999
Directed by: John Shea
Southie is a 1999 American film directed by John Shea and starring Donnie Wahlberg. The film... more
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0
1
Monument Ave.
Famke Janssen, Martin Sheen
Released: 1998
Directed by: Ted Demme
Monument Ave., originally titled Snitch in the USA and titled Noose in Australia, is a 1998... more
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0
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What Doesn't Kill You
Amanda Peet, Mark Ruffalo
Released: 2008
Directed by: Brian Goodman
What Doesn't Kill You is a 2008 film directed by Brian Goodman.... more
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0
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Harvard Man
Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ray Allen
Released: 2002
Directed by: James Toback
Harvard Man is a 2001 crime comedy-drama thriller film written and directed by James Toback,... more
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0
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A Civil Action
John Travolta, Robert Duvall
Released: 1998
Directed by: Steven Zaillian
A Civil Action is a 1998 American drama film that was directed by Steven Zaillian, that stars... more
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The Verdict
Bruce Willis, Paul Newman
Released: 1982
Directed by: Sidney Lumet
The Verdict is a 1982 courtroom drama film that tells the story of a down-on-his-luck... more

Brinks: The Great Robbery