Top 15 Greatest Crime and Mystery Movies of All Time

Leading the Top 10 Greatest Crime and Mystery Movies of All Time is undoubtedly none other than The Godfather - an icon of world cinema. The Godfather is a Hollywood film adapted from the bestselling novel of the same name by author Mario Puzo. The film depicts the battle between mafia gangs in America with the Corleone family at its center.

At the head of the Corleone family is Don Vito Corleone, a renowned mafia boss known as 'The Godfather,' who is targeted in an assassination attempt due to business conflicts. Although the Godfather survives, his ordeal sparks a war between the Corleone and Tattaglia families, shaking the underworld. The Godfather won 3 Oscars in 1972, including the prestigious Best Picture award.

Information about the film:

• Release Year: 1972
• Director: Francis Ford Coppola
• Stars: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Diane Keaton
• IMDb Rating: 9.2

12 Angry Men is a film adaptation of the play of the same name, belonging to the courtroom drama genre, depicting 12 members of a jury deliberating a case. The defendant is an 18-year-old youth from a slum, accused of murdering his father. During the jury's deliberation, initially they engage in casual conversation, but their biases become evident, leading to a guilty verdict without thorough discussion. Only one member, #8, presents a dissenting opinion.

A verdict can only be reached when all members agree. After deliberation, they decide to vote in secret, and eventually another 'not guilty' vote is cast. In subsequent votes, more 'not guilty' votes emerge, indicating that only true justice can overcome prejudice.

Information about the film:

• Release Year: 1957
• Director: Sidney Lumet
• Stars: Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, Martin Balsam
• IMDb Rating: 8.9

Continuing the success of The Godfather, the second installment titled The Godfathers: Part II delves deeper into the Corleone saga. In this sequel, two parallel storylines unfold. One portrays Michael, Don Vito Corleone's son, taking over as the new Don, dealing with conflicts among rival gangs and the authorities.

The other recounts Don Vito Corleone's past, from being an orphaned nine-year-old whose parents were murdered by the local mafia leader in Sicily, Italy, to his journey to America, where he avenges his family's death by killing the local mafia boss at the market, rising to become the notorious mafia Don, and eventually returning to his homeland for vengeance. The Godfather: Part II surpassed the success of its predecessor in many aspects. The film won 6 Oscars, including Best Picture.

Information about the film:

• Release Year: 1974
• Director: Francis Ford Coppola
• Stars: Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Diane Keaton, Robert Duvall
• IMDb Rating: 9.0

Exploring the American mafia theme, Goodfellas narrates the story of a young boy drawn to the charm and authority of the mafia members, willing to do anything to become one of them. However, once he joins the mafia, he finds himself involved in increasingly dangerous activities, eventually getting arrested by the police.

At this point, abandoned by the mafia gang who might silence him, he decides to cooperate with the police, providing information about the gang in exchange for security for his family. Thus begins the official battle among former comrades.

Information about the film:

• Release Year: 1990
• Director: Martin Scorsese
• Stars: Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci, Paul Sorvino
• IMDb Rating: 8.7

As the most famous film by the brilliant director Quentin Tarantino, Pulp Fiction also sits within the Top 10 of the best detective and crime films of all time. Pulp Fiction doesn't follow the conventional movie structure, instead dividing into several chapters, each presenting seemingly absurd, chaotic, and hilarious stories about violent gangsters with profound connections.

Initially condemned for its violence, profanity, and portrayal of free-roaming criminals without significant police or governmental intervention, Pulp Fiction later became iconic for its realism and symbolism. It can be said that Pulp Fiction reached the pinnacle of storytelling and scriptwriting, earning it the 7th position among the greatest films of all time on IMDb.

Information about the film:

• Release Year: 1994
• Director: Quentin Tarantino
• Stars: Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Willis, Amanda Plummer, John Travolta
• IMDb Rating: 8.9

Unlike films with central characters as criminals, Se7en (translated as Seven Deadly Sins) is a deeply atmospheric thriller. The main characters of Se7en are two detectives, one old and one young, one on the verge of retirement and one newly promoted, both inexperienced and seasoned. They become entangled in a serial murder case committed by an incredibly intelligent criminal following the seven deadly sins from the Bible.

During the investigation, the two detectives inadvertently fall into the sights of the criminal and are drawn into his insane, terrifying plan. Se7en is one of the best detective films, directed by the renowned thriller director David Fincher. The film features the participation of famous, talented actors such as Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt, Kevin Spacey.

Information about the film:

• Release Year: 1995
• Director: David Fincher
• Stars: Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt, Kevin Spacey, Gwyneth Paltrow
• IMDb Rating: 8.6

Also revolving around the theme of crime, however, City of God tells the story of street criminals in the slums of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Most street criminals come from extremely poor families, forced to steal, rob, and kill to survive. The main characters are two boys, each following a different path.

One tries to find a place in the underworld, while the other is determined to become a photographer to bring the truth to the public. City of God is a realistic film, depicting a life outside the law, extremely dangerous for the poor in Brazil.

Information about the film:

• Release Year: 2002
• Directors: Fernando Meirelles, Katia Lund
• Stars: Alexandre Rodrigues, Douglas Silva, Leandro Firmino
• IMDb Rating: 8.7

Another famous thriller featuring Kevin Spacey is The Usual Suspects directed by Bryan Singer. After a horrifying shootout at the docks, Verbal is one of two surviving witnesses. Now, Verbal has become a disabled man in a wheelchair and is called in for questioning by the police. Verbal recounts a highly complex story about 5 criminals manipulated by a mysterious mastermind.

After the story concludes, the police let Verbal go, but little do they know that the entire story was fabricated, and the true mastermind has completely vanished. The Usual Suspects is highly praised for its plot twists and won 2 Oscars, including Best Original Screenplay.

Information about the film:

• Release Year: 1996
• Director: Bryan Singer
• Stars: Kevin Spacey, Stephen Baldwin, Gabriel Byrne, Benicio Del Toro
• IMDb Rating: 8.6

Similar to Se7en, The Silence of the Lambs is a renowned thriller, depicting the investigation of a serial murder case. It's a film adaptation of the novel of the same name by Thomas Harris, part of the famous series about the serial killer Hannibal Lecter.

In The Silence of the Lambs, Clarice is a young, talented FBI agent who seeks the help of a psychiatrist, the notorious serial killer Hannibal, in pursuing the serial murder case. Hannibal is an incredibly intelligent and cunning criminal who, of course, never helps Clarice without benefiting himself. He assists while also seeking advantageous deals for himself, so that by the time the FBI solves the case and captures the serial killer, Hannibal has already executed his escape plan. The film won 5 Oscars, including Best Picture.

Information about the film:

• Release Year: 1991
• Director: Jonathan Demme
• Stars: Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Scott Glenn
• IMDb Rating: 8.6

Orange Is The New Black is a highly acclaimed Netflix series. It tells the story of a privileged woman who ultimately ends up in prison for crimes from her past. She is sentenced to a year and a half behind bars, where she reunites with an old friend.

Orange Is The New Black is a comedy-drama series from the creator of the popular TV show Weed. The series has received numerous awards and is one of Netflix's most-watched original series.

Information about the series:

• Release Years : 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
  
• Director: Jenji Kohan
  
• Stars: Taylor Schilling, Laura Prepon, Michael Harney
  
• IMDb Rating: 8.1
  

The Professional (translated as: The Professional Assassin), is a French crime thriller film originally titled Léon. The film follows Léon, a professional assassin who is illiterate, nicknamed 'the cleaner'. One day, Léon encounters Mathilda, a 12-year-old girl whose entire family has been killed by a drug lord.

Léon and Mathilda form a pact: Léon teaches Mathilda assassination skills while Mathilda teaches Léon to read and write. Mathilda's quest for revenge proves dangerous for Léon, and in the end, the professional assassin saves her, taking down the drug lord.

Information about the film:

• Release Year: 1994
• Director: Luc Besson
• Stars: Jean Reno, Natalie Portman, Gary Oldman, Danny Aiello
• IMDb Rating: 8.6

Criminal Minds has taken a step further by not only solving crimes but also deciphering criminals to anticipate their next moves and conduct behavioral analysis on similar past crimes of other criminals.

In the series, this is carried out by the Behavioral Analysis Unit, a division of the FBI, with a team of profilers helping law enforcement and other local government agencies decipher some of the most heinous crimes in American history.

Information about the series:

• Release Years: 2005-2017
• Director: Jeff Davis
  
• Stars: Mandy Patinkin, Thomas Gibson, Lola Glaudini, Shemar Moore, Matthew Gray Gubler
  
• IMDb Rating: 8.1
  

13 Reasons Why tells the story of a high school student and Clay Jensen's friend, Hannah Baker, who committed suicide by drowning in a bathtub and slitting her wrists. Clay Jensen then receives a box with a set of audio cassette tapes left on his doorstep.

These tapes were recorded by Hannah Baker before she committed suicide, and each tape covers a specific theme - including one about her friends or acquaintances - who directly or indirectly contributed to the events leading to her suicide. As the tapes unravel, Clay learns about a heinous crime that led to her friend's suicide.

Information about the series:

• Release Years: 2017-2019
• Director: Brian Yorkey
  
• Stars: Katherine Langford, Christian Navarro, Justin Prentice
  
• IMDb Rating: 7.8
  

Bodyguard revolves around the character of Police Sergeant David Budd - a former military veteran, now working at the Metropolitan Police Service in London. One day, David is tasked with protecting someone he deeply despises: Home Secretary Julia Montague.

With thrilling action sequences, intense mind games, Bodyguard quickly became a sensation in the UK. The series even achieved a record-breaking 6.9 million viewership - a dream figure for any TV series.

Information about the series:

• Release Year: 2018
  
• Director: Jed Mercurio
  
• Stars: Richard Madden, Matt Stokoe, Stephanie Hyam
  
• IMDb Rating: 8.2
  

The series Lucifer follows the character of Lucifer Morningstar, who is essentially the Devil, having abandoned Hell and ultimately running his own nightclub called Lux on Earth. Detective Chloe is investigating a murder case and is inadvertently drawn to Lucifer's ability to make people reveal their darkest secrets.

Attracted by Chloe's goodness, Lucifer's heart, he decides to assist her by punishing criminals through law and justice. As God's emissary attempts to persuade Lucifer to return to Hell, Lucifer must decide whether he still wants to be the lord of darkness he once was.

Information about the series:

• Release Years: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019
  
• Director: Tom Kapinos
  
• Stars: Kevin Alejandro, D.B.Woodside, Kristen Bitting
  
• IMDb Rating: 8.2