Ever since the dawn of cinema, movies have experimented with portraying the darkest shades of the soul by exposing characters capable of indulging in vile acts of evil.Crimethrillersare their perfect genre, and as expected, the different variations within this genre require a balance between deeply disturbing stories and lighter crime tales that offer comfort to some viewers.
Given their very large library, we took a trip down Netflix’s genre collections and picked the best crime thrillers available to stream with a subscription to their service.
11’Oldboy' (2003)
InOldboy, Oh Dae-su gets arrested on the day of his daughter’s birthday. The next day, he wakes up in a hotel room with a sealed door. He only has a TV, and he gets fed every day. Fifteen years later, he gets released, and it’s up to him to find out why anyone could have done this to him.
A Timeless Classic of the Genre
A perfect example of a film that’s better if you go blind into it,Oldboyis atwisted nightmarethat shows the very dark limits of the human soul when it’s subjected to something horrific. It’s not the senseless imprisonment for fifteen years, but what actually happens once Oh Dae-su gets out. Its 82% score on Rotten Tomatoes is simply not enough.
10’The Pale Blue Eye' (2022)
The Pale Blue Eye
InThe Pale Blue Eye, a retired detective gets a strange request. Augustus Landor is asked by the leaders of a military academy to investigate the hanging of a cadet whose body has been found in mysterious conditions. Landor accepts, and very quickly, he starts seeing the signs that someone inside the academy may be hiding a secret.
A Very Underrated Film By a Very Underrated Director
The Pale Blue Eyewas a potential winner in the crime thriller territory, but a distracting presence made it a divisive film. Landor is joined by a fictitious version of horror author Edgar Allan Poe, whose skills and secondary plot line become a distraction. Nevertheless, Scott Cooper’s work as a director is always a pleasure, andThe Pale Blue Eyeis no exception.Christian Bale as Landor is exceptional.
10 Best Gritty American Crime Thrillers from the 1980s
The 1980s were mostly known for horror and sci-fi. But the following gritty American crime thrillers will make you change your mind.
9’The Stranger' (2022)
The Stranger
The Strangeris the story of Paul Emery, an undercover police officer who decides to go deep into a mission that requires him to become friends with the prime suspect, Henry Teague. At first, Emery seems in control of the situation, but when he’s unable to draw up a full confession, he starts believing there may be more to the crime than just a couple of clues.
A Jarring Descent Down the Dark Side of the Human Soul
Based on the true story of Daniel Morcombe, a boy whose remains were found in the Queensland wilderness in 2011,The Strangeris a bleak portrayal of a man’s resilience put to the test.Joel Edgerton is greatas the undercover cop, but it’s Sean Harris who, once again, shows his range and why he’s an extremely underappreciated actor who, unfortunately, has been typecast as the bad guy.
8’Blackhat' (2015)
InBlackhat, Nicholas Hathaway is spending time in prison after participating in cybersecurity crimes. However, a large-scale cyber attack from an unknown source makes the FBI seek Hathaway who could help with finding the culprit. Hathaway has some conditions at first, and eventually, he goes on the run to find who could be powerful enough to launch an attack of that magnitude.
Not Many Took the Time To See ‘Blackhat’
Michael Mann’sBlackhatis a misunderstood film and definitely one of his best genre-bending features. The performance by MCU star Chris Hemsworth is only one of several noteworthy aspects of the film, which was anotorious box office bombthat didn’t even make $20 million from a $70 million production budget. If you haven’t seen this cybersecurity thriller, you don’t know what you’re missing.
7’The Wonder' (2022)
The Wonder
The Wondertells the story of Lib Wright, an English nurse who gets assigned an extraordinary case during the mid-1800s. Lib is told to go to a remote village in Ireland and assess the case of a small girl who, strangely, has survived after fasting for months. Lib dives into the case, develops a bond with the girl, and ultimately finds out the truth about the girl’s ability to survive the impossible.
A Compelling Genre Mashup
Florence Pugh stars in thismind-bending crime thrillerdirected by Sebastián Lelio and based on the novel of the same name by Emma Donoghue.The Wonderwas very well-received by critics, and it sits at 85% on Rotten Tomatoes. When it comes to religious thrillers, it really doesn’t get better than Lelio’s deeply existential film with the always reliable Pugh as the lead.
6’The Boss: Anatomy of a Crime' (2014)
InThe Boss: Anatomy of a Crime, Hermógenes is a humble man who arrives in the big city seeking better opportunities for himself and his wife. He starts working at a butcher shop, but the owner, Latuada, treats him like trash and considers him a slave. When Hermógenes decides to act, things get really messy.
A Gritty Argentinian Crime Thriller
Based on the book of the same name by Elías Neuman,The Boss: Anatomy of a Crimeis a gritty Argentinian import starring Joaquin Furriel in an extraordinary performance as Hermógenes. The actor embodies a trauma-ridden poor man who’s inevitably driven to a primal reaction. Not many people have seen this, but it’s one of the bestimported crime thrillersyou can see today.
5’Unhinged' (2020)
Unhingedis the story of Rachel Flynn, a single mother who’s not having a good day. Having to take care of her son Kyle by herself means that she’s always on edge. After a horrible phone call, Rachel honks at a truck that’s blocking the road at a green light. The man eventually catches up to her and asks her to apologize for her behavior. When she doesn’t, he shows her that her day is about to get much, much worse.
Unhinged Russell Crowe Is the Best Russell Crowe
Starring Russell Crowein one of his strangest but best performances,Unhingedis a wild ride of a crime thriller. It’s a film that’ll make you think twice before indulging in road rage and even honking your horn.
4’I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore' (2017)
I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore
I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymorefollows Ruth Kimke, a lonely nurse who’s trying to solve the mystery of who broke into her home and took her laptop. Along with her neighbor Tony, they find some clues and ultimately discover there’s a crime ring operating in their town.
A Fine Piece of Screenwriting
Written and directed by Macon Blair,Jeremy Saulnier’s frequent collaborator, the film is a comedy noir with indisputable spirit and a unique tone. Melanie Lynskey and Elijah Wood are perfect as Ruth and Tony, respectively, and even though the film appears to be a bit silly at first, it flows into a dark setting that will make you very tense.
3’Emily the Criminal' (2022)
Emily the Criminal
Emily the Criminaltells the story of Emily Benetto, a young woman struggling to pay her student loans. She’s got a record, so finding a job that pays better is not an option. However, an opportunity comes knocking at her door, but it isn’t entirely legal. Regardless, Emily sees that it’s an easy way to make money, and she also falls for the leader of the operation, Youcef.
One of the Most Underrated Thrillers of 2022
Few modern crime thrillers feel as clever asEmily the Criminal. It isn’t only that the film makes sense with its logical character arc, but it never tries to be something other than just an honest reflection of a flawed but deeply human central character. Starring Aubrey Plaza in her best role yet, it’s definitelyone of those movies that feels criminally underseen.
The Scariest Scenes From Non-Horror Movies
You don’t usually expect jump scares and disturbing imagery when you go to see a film that isn’t a horror movie.
2’The Killer' (2023)
The Killer
The Killerfollows a professional assassin whose skill is unparalleled. There’s simply no one better than him for the missions that require patience like no other and carefully preparing a setting to avoid suspicion. The killer always hits his targets until he doesn’t. When he goes on the run, he realizes he may have become a target himself.
Fincher’s Return to the Genre Is One of His Best Movies
David Fincher’s reunionwithSe7en’s screenwriter Andrew Kevin Walker is a terribly underrated crime thriller executed under the director’s storytelling style. Michael Fassbender plays the cold-blooded killer who we find out has a heart, and will do anything to protect those he cares about. No, it isn’tSe7en, but it’s still worth a watch.
