The Best Crime Romance Movies

Over 300 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best Crime Romance Movies
Voting Rules
Vote up your favorite crime movies that feature a love (or steamy) story.

The best crime romance movies split their focus between hair-raising crimes and a love story. The best crime romance films come in many forms. Some crime romance movies involve life and death situations while other good crime romance films are about robbing banks. There are also detective romance movies where the investigator can't help but falling in love. A few of the best crime romance films even took home Academy Awards.

 

What films will you find on this top crime romance movies list? Natural Born Killers has to be at the top. This 1994 movie – written by Quentin Tarantino and directed by Oliver Stone – follows the criminal couple Mickey and Mallory Knox as they wreak havoc on everyone they come in contact with. True Romance – which is another Tarantino-penned screenplay – is also a romantic tale full of felonies and misdemeanors.

Perhaps the film adaptation Bonnie and Clyde is the most iconic portrayal of a criminal couple to ever hit the silver screen. Other good romantic crime movies include Rear Window, Basic Instinct, and Out of Sight.

How will we ever determine which crime romance film is the best? Take a look at this list and vote up your favorites to make sure they end up in the No. 1 spot.

Most divisive: Natural Born Killers
Ranked by
  • Bonnie and Clyde
    1
    Warren Beatty, Faye Dunaway, Michael J. Pollard
    76 votes
    • Released: 1967
    • Directed by: Arthur Penn

    It's hard not to fall in love with the thrilling tale of two lovers who become infamous outlaws during the Great Depression. Their daring bank heists and cross-country crime spree capture the imagination, while their deep adoration for one another is at once touching and tragic. As the law closes in on them, it becomes clear there's no turning back, and the audience can't help but root for this ill-fated romance. A timeless classic that's bound to steal your heart!

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  • Mr. & Mrs. Smith
    2
    Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Vince Vaughn
    44 votes
    • Released: 2005
    • Directed by: Doug Liman

    A seemingly ordinary married couple discovers they're both secretly working as assassins for rival agencies - talk about a recipe for marital strife! The sparks fly as they try to keep up appearances while plotting against each other, only to eventually come together in an explosive partnership. There's plenty of action-packed fun and witty banter throughout, making it a wildly entertaining ride from start to finish.

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  • North by Northwest
    3
    Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, James Mason
    43 votes
    • Released: 1959
    • Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock

    This Hitchcock masterpiece follows an unsuspecting man drawn into a web of espionage and danger after being mistaken for a secret agent. Along the way, he crosses paths with a captivating femme fatale, and their steamy chemistry adds a layer of sensuality to the high-stakes intrigue unfolding around them. With its breathtaking cinematography and jaw-dropping suspense, it's no wonder this influential film has stood the test of time.

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  • Vertigo
    4
    James Stewart, Kim Novak, Barbara Bel Geddes
    47 votes
    • Released: 1958
    • Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock

    Another Hitchcock classic, this psychological thriller delves deep into obsession, deception, and identity. A retired detective suffering from debilitating acrophobia finds himself drawn into the twisted life of a woman he's been hired to follow. As their connection intensifies, so does the uneasy sense that things aren't what they seem - culminating in a mind-bending twist that'll leave you reeling. A haunting exploration of love in all its complexity.

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  • Rear Window
    5
    James Stewart, Grace Kelly, Wendell Corey
    41 votes
    • Released: 1954
    • Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock

    In this suspenseful Hitchcock thriller, a wheelchair-bound photographer with nothing better to do starts snooping on his neighbors from the confines of his apartment. Soon enough, he becomes convinced that one neighbor has committed a sinister crime - and enlists his girlfriend's help to investigate further. With its gripping plot and undeniable chemistry between the two leads, it's easy to see why this classic continues to captivate audiences today.

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  • Focus
    6

    Focus

    Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Adrian Martinez
    92 votes
    • Released: 2015
    • Directed by: Glenn Ficarra, John Requa

    When a seasoned conman takes a talented protégée under his wing, the lines between business and pleasure start to blur. Their relationship heats up as they become involved in risky schemes requiring ultimate trust and coordination, which ultimately tests their loyalty to one another. With its slick style and electrifying chemistry, this film proves that crime, passion, and deception make one heck of a combination.

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