Top 10 Most Captivating American Crime Movies You Must Watch

Once Upon a Time in America is a 1984 crime film co-written and directed by Italian filmmaker Sergio Leone, starring Robert De Niro and James Woods. It is the third film in Leone’s Once Upon series, following Once Upon a Time in the West (1968) and Duck, You Sucker! (1971). Told primarily through flashbacks, the film focuses on David 'Noodles' Aaronson and his long-time criminal associates Max, Cockeye, and Patsy, along with their childhood friends growing up in a rough Jewish neighborhood in New York.

The film explores themes of childhood friendship, love, desire, greed, betrayal, loss, broken relationships, and the rise of crime in American society. Sergio Leone’s grand crime epic is visually stunning, emotionally haunting, and filled with incredible performances from its cast. Once Upon a Time in America has been critically acclaimed and is often featured on lists of the greatest films of all time, particularly in the crime genre.

DETAILS:

Director: Sergio Leone

Screenplay: Leonardo Benvenuti, Piero De Bernardi, Enrico Medioli, Franco Arcalli, Franco Ferrini, Sergio Leone

Release Year: 1984

The Public Enemy is a 1931 American crime film produced and distributed by Warner Bros. It tells the story of a young man's rise through the criminal underworld during the Prohibition era. The script for The Public Enemy was based on an unpublished novel called Beer and Blood by former reporters John Bright and Kubec Glasmon, who witnessed several gang wars involving Al Capone in Chicago.

The Public Enemy is one of Warner Bros.' earliest and finest gangster films, known for its raw violence and realism, having been released before strict censorship rules were enforced. The film also portrays the criminal society that still exists in American life today, rather than glorifying the gangster or criminal. Its screenplay was nominated for an Academy Award. The film was selected by the United States Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry due to its cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance in American cinema.

DETAILS:

Director: William A. Wellman

Screenplay: Harvey F. Thew

Release Year: 1931

Eastern Promises is a 2007 crime film directed by David Cronenberg, written by Steven Knight. The story follows Anna (Naomi Watts), a Russian-British midwife who delivers the baby of a 14-year-old Russian drug addict who dies during childbirth. After discovering that the teenager was forced into prostitution by the Russian Mafia in London, Anna finds herself in danger as the crime boss threatens the baby’s life and sends his terrifying henchmen to warn her.

The film garnered attention for addressing themes of sex trafficking, violence, and providing a realistic portrayal of notorious criminals. Eastern Promises also explores the significance of tattoos, which indicate the crimes and the criminal journeys of the characters.

Eastern Promises received widespread critical acclaim, making it into several “Top 10 Films of 2007” lists, and has since become a notable crime film. It won several awards, including the Audience Prize for Best Film at the Toronto International Film Festival and Best Actor for Viggo Mortensen at the British Independent Film Awards. The film earned twelve Genie Award nominations and three Golden Globe nominations.

DETAILS:

Director: David Cronenberg

Screenplay: Steven Knight

Release Year: 2007

Touch of Evil is a 1958 American crime film written and directed by Orson Welles, who also stars in the film. The script is based on the contemporary novel Badge of Evil (1956) by Whit Masterson. The story unfolds in Los Robles, a Mexican border town known for its bars, strip clubs, and brothels, with music spilling out from every club. A Mexican-American detective investigates a bomb explosion, only to clash with the local corrupt police chief. Touch of Evil explores issues of racial tensions, youth corruption, and cold-blooded criminality.

Touch of Evil became beloved by European audiences and won top awards at the 1958 Brussels World Film Festival. It is regarded by many as one of Welles’ finest films and one of the greatest classic noir films. In 1993, the film was selected by the United States Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry for its cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance to American cinema.

DETAILS:

Director: Orson Welles

Screenplay: Orson Welles

Release Year: 1958

Miller's Crossing is a 1990 neo-noir crime film written, directed, and produced by the Coen brothers. The plot centers around a power struggle between two rival gangs, and the main character, Tom Reagan (Byrne), caught in a violent gang war. When the Italian Mafia threatens to kill a bookmaker, the Irish mob boss Leo O'Bannon refuses, as he's romantically involved with the bookmaker's sister. Leo's right-hand man, Tom, is forced to switch sides and work for the Italian mob as the gang war intensifies over control of bootlegging operations.

The Coen brothers deliver a classic noir film, filled with sharp dialogue, impressive cinematography, and iconic characters. Miller's Crossing blends the lively spirit of classic noir fiction with the Coens' trademark witty writing, vivid characters, and intricately crafted settings. Time magazine included the film in its list of the 100 greatest films made since its inception.

DETAILS:

Director: Joel Coen

Screenplay: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen

Release Year: 1990

Boyz n the Hood is a 1991 American coming-of-age crime drama written by John Singleton. The film follows the life of Tre Styles (Gooding Jr.), who is sent to live with his father, Furious Styles, in South Central Los Angeles, a neighborhood engulfed by gang violence. As Singleton's directorial debut, Boyz n the Hood marked a turning point in filmmaking, sparking an artistic movement that highlighted street life in Los Angeles during the time of riots.

Boyz n the Hood serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of gang culture. It achieved both commercial success, grossing $57.5 million in North America, and critical acclaim, receiving nominations for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay at the 64th Academy Awards. In 2002, the film was selected by the United States Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry due to its cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance.

DETAILS:

Director: John Singleton

Screenplay: John Singleton

Release Year: 1991

The French Connection is a 1971 American action thriller about NYPD detectives Jimmy 'Popeye' Doyle and Buddy 'Cloudy' Russo, as they hunt down the wealthy French drug lord Alain. This unique entry in the crime genre is told from the perspective of the police, as they investigate gang activity piece by piece through painstaking detective work.

At the 44th Academy Awards, The French Connection earned eight nominations and won five, including Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Director, Best Film Editing, and Best Adapted Screenplay. It was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor, Best Cinematography, and Best Sound. Frequently cited as one of the best films ever made, The French Connection appeared on the American Film Institute’s list of the top 100 American films in 1998 and again in 2007.

DETAILS:

Director: William Friedkin

Screenplay: Ernest Tidyman

Release Year: 1971

The Godfather Part II is a 1974 American crime film directed and produced by Francis Ford Coppola. The film is partly based on Mario Puzo’s 1969 novel, The Godfather, with Puzo co-writing the screenplay alongside Coppola. It serves as both a sequel and a prequel to the 1972 film The Godfather, weaving together parallel storylines.

The Godfather Part II follows Michael Corleone (Al Pacino), the new head of the Corleone crime family, as he struggles to protect the family's business empire in 1958. The prequel portion traces the early life of his father, Vito Corleone, from his childhood in Sicily to the rise of the family’s criminal enterprise in New York.

The Godfather Part II became a landmark film, particularly in the crime genre. It grossed $48 million in the U.S. and Canada and earned a total of $93 million worldwide against a budget of $13 million. The film was nominated for 11 Academy Awards, becoming the first sequel to win Best Picture. It is considered one of the greatest films of all time and a rare example of a sequel surpassing its predecessor.

DETAILS:

Director: Francis Ford Coppola

Screenplay: Francis Ford Coppola, Mario Puzo

Release Year: 1974

Goodfellas is a 1990 American crime film directed by Martin Scorsese. The film is based on the 1985 non-fiction book Wiseguy by crime reporter Nicholas Pileggi. It follows the rise and fall of mobster Henry Hill and his friends and family from 1955 to 1980. Widely regarded as one of the greatest films ever made, particularly in the crime genre, Goodfellas offers a detailed look into the Italian-American criminal underworld of Brooklyn.

Goodfellas received widespread acclaim upon its release, with critics on Rotten Tomatoes calling it “the pinnacle of Martin Scorsese’s career.” The film earned six Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director, with Joe Pesci winning Best Supporting Actor. It also won five British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards, including Best Film and Best Director.

DETAILS:

Director: Martin Scorsese

Screenplay: Nicholas Pileggi, Martin Scorsese

Release Year: 1990

The Godfather Part I is a 1972 American crime film directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The first installment in the Godfather trilogy, it chronicles the Corleone family under patriarch Don Vito Corleone from 1945 to 1955. The film focuses on the transformation of Michael Corleone, the youngest son of the mafia boss, as he reluctantly steps into his father’s shoes and brings prosperity to the family, only to wage a brutal war against those who threaten the Corleone legacy.

The Godfather Part I is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential films ever made, marking a turning point in the gangster genre. It was the highest-grossing film of 1972 and, for a time, the highest-grossing film ever produced. The film was selected for preservation by the United States National Film Registry in 1990 for its cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance, and is ranked as the second-best film in American cinema by the American Film Institute, just behind Citizen Kane.

DETAILS:

Director: Francis Ford Coppola

Screenplay: Francis Ford Coppola, Mario Puzo

Release Year: 1972