These crime novels combine brilliant investigators and breathtaking twists. Discover the absolute highlights here that perfectly combine excitement and captivating entertainment!
The best crime novels of all time: You can't miss these exciting film gems! (Source: TMDb.org / Collage: Netzwelt)
Are you a fan of exciting criminal cases and looking for films that will take your breath away until the last second? The crime film genre has had a firm place in cinema since the dark film noir classics of the 1940s – but not every film does justice to this legacy.
Everyday murder stories and cliched investigators? None! Only the best works that impress with sophisticated productions and unpredictable twists count here. If a crime thriller is able to captivate you from the first scene and has surprising revelations until the end credits, it is guaranteed to stay in your memory – and pondering over the final details will stay with you for a long time!
So that you don't lose track of our top Netflix films, the Amazon Prime highlights and the best Sky films, we have put together a selection of the most gripping crime films on the next few pages.
In our selection you will find both timeless classics and hidden gems that may not be so well known in this country. Check out our recommendations – it's worth diving into the world of gripping crime films!
The Killer (2023) The Killer (2023) (Quelle: Netflix)
“The Killer” (2023) is a gripping thriller by David Fincher based on the comic of the same name. The story revolves around a professional hitman, played by Michael Fassbender, who is faced with moral dilemmas and psychological conflicts in his job. After a failed mission, he falls into a dangerous spiral of persecution and paranoia.
The plot takes the killer through different countries, encountering old acquaintances and new enemies as he tries to reclaim his identity and his life. Themes of guilt, isolation and the search for one's own self run through the entire film, making it a gripping experience that goes beyond the usual crime thriller clichés.
With a haunting soundtrack and tension throughout, “The Killer” is a masterpiece that will delight both thriller and crime fans.
Knives Out (2019) “Knives Out – Murder is a family matter” (Source: © Lionsgate MRC / TMDb.org)
Director Rian Johnson (“Star Wars: The Last Jedi”) comes with “Knives Out – Murder is a Family Matter,” a successful homage to old-school crime thrillers such as “Columbo.” A star-studded mix of crime and mystery awaits you here, seasoned with a pinch of comedy.
Renowned crime writer and family patriarch Harlan Thrombey has been murdered! And that at the party for his 85th birthday. But Neither the household staff nor the extremely eccentric and inheritance-seeking relatives want to see or hear anything have. This is exactly the right case for the casual and elegant inspector Benoit Blanc.
For “Knives Out – Murder is a Family Matter,” “James Bond” star Daniel Craig swaps his tuxedo for investigator Benoit Blanc’s trench coat. You'll also see Chris Evans (“The Avengers”) as Hugh Ransom Drysdale, Jamie Lee Curtis (“New Girl”) as Linda Drysdale, Lakeith Stanfield (“Get Out”) as Detective Lieutenant Elliott and Christopher Plummer (“Departure”) Harlan Thrombey.
Lady King Ace Spy (2011) Dame King Ace Spy: Gary Oldman (right) delivers and gets an Oscar nomination! (Source: TMDb.org)
The spy crime film “Dame König As Spion” from 2011 has a star cast and was widely represented at the Oscars. Main actor Gary Oldman (“Harry Potter”) is particularly remembered as the anti-hero George Smiley. The film is based on the novel of the same name by crime legend John le Carré.
Down to the smallest supporting roles, “Dame König As Spy” by Swedish director Tomas Alfredson is cast with well-known actors who ensure that the story about a mole in the British secret service during the Cold War is always exciting.
In addition to Gary Oldman, you'll see Benedict Cumberbatch (Doctor Strange in the Marvel universe), Colin Firth (“1917”), Tom Hardy (“Venom”), Mark Strong (“Cruella”), John Hurt (“Doctor Who”), Toby Jones (“Sherlock”), David Dencik (“No Time to Die”), Stephen Graham (“The Irishman”) and Ciarán Hinds (“Zack Snyder's Justice League”).
Der Fall Collini (2019) The Collini case (2019) (Source: © 2019 Constantin Film Verleih GmbH / Edith Held)
The German film “The Collini Case” is based on the novel of the same name by Ferdinand von Schirach and deals with the murder of the respected entrepreneur Jean-Baptiste Meyer by Fabrizio Collini, a retired guest worker.
The main role is played by Elyas M'Barek (“Nightlife”), who proves with the crime thriller that he also cuts a good figure in serious dramas in addition to light comedies. Heiner Lauterbach and the internationally known cult actor Franco Nero (“Django”) are also convincing.
Joker (2019) Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck in the award-winning 2019 blockbuster “Joker.” (Source: © 2019 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved. TM & © DC Comics)
Joaquin Phoenix won his well-deserved Oscar for his performance as Batman villain Joker in the film “Joker.” The DC film was not only a huge success at the Oscars, the crime film also won big at the box office.
“Joker” was able to gross over a billion US dollars, even though the film is rated for ages 17 and up in the USA. No film that wasn't designed as a family film has ever achieved this.
Blackkklansman (2018) Adam Driver and John David Washington in “Blackkklansman” (Source: tmdb.org)
“Blackkklansman” is based on true events. The black police officer Ron Stallworth investigates the Ku Klux Klan undercover in the late 1970s. In doing so, he succeeds in uncovering the structures of the racist group.
The film stars John David Washington (“Tenet”) and Adam Driver (“Star Wars 9”). It was directed by Spike Lee, who also co-wrote the film's Oscar-winning screenplay.
Mord im Orient Express (2017) “Murder on the Orient Express” (Source: tmdb.org)
Of course, Agatha Christie and her exciting murder cases cannot be missing from the best crime films. The 2017 film adaptation of “Murder on the Orient Express” by director Kenneth Branagh, who also plays the lead role of detective Hercule Poirot, offers an exciting and visually impressive adaptation.
The film was so successful that Branagh also made a film of Christie's other Poirot novel, Death on the Nile. This is expected to start in February 2022 after several corona-related delays and the cannibalism scandal surrounding main actor Armie Hammer.
Psycho Raman (2016) Psycho Raman (Raman Raghav 2.0) with Nawazuddin Siddiqui from the Oscar film “Lion” (Source: TMDb.org)
“Pycho Raman” or “Raghav Raman 2.0” is an Indian crime film with “Photograph” star Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who is best known in the West for some Netflix films and series. The crime thriller is tough, brutal and cunning. You won't sleep peacefully afterwards!
The neo-noir psychological thriller revolves around a game of cat and mouse between a serial killer and a corrupt police officer. The serial killer takes a real murderer, Raman Raghav, who was up to mischief in Mumbai in the 1960s as his model.
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017) Frances McDormand shines in the Oscar film “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” (Source: TMDb.org)
“Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” is about a mother who, after her daughter's murder, puts writing on three billboards in front of the city that denounce the inactive police chief. Frances McDormand plays the main role and won her second of three Oscars with this film. The third Oscar followed in 2021 with “Nomadland”.
Her Oscar for “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” was supposedly stolen by one of the admissions officers during the evening dinner after the ceremony, but was immediately returned the next day.
Reservoir Dogs (1992) Reservoir Dogs (1992) (Quelle: tmdb.org)
Quentin Tarantino (“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”) is one of the most famous directors of all today. And he has had a rocky road. His first film, “Reservoir Dogs,” was produced on a very low budget and savings were made wherever possible.
Many actors used their own clothes, their own cars and the make-up was also done free of charge by artist Robert Kurtzman. In return, Tarantino was asked to write a short story by Kurtzman as a screenplay. This eventually became the cult film “From Dusk Till Dawn”.
The black suits in “Reservoir Dogs” were contributed by a designer as she is a big fan of the American crime film genre. This is how Tarantino was able to get his first film off the ground and became a rising directing star practically overnight.
Fargo (1996) Fargo (Quelle: tmdb.org)
The crime film “Fargo” by the Coen brothers (“The Big Lebowski”) is now considered a cult film and was even re-released as a series of the same name. In fact, “Fargo” is so good that Hollywood darling Tom Hanks called it the “perfect movie”:
Memories of Murder (2003) “Memories of Murder” from “Parasite” – Director Bong Joon Ho (Quelle: TMDb.org)
The South Korean film “Memories of Murder” is about the first serial killer in South Korean history. He murdered ten women within a two-kilometer radius within five years and never left any trace. The film was directed by Oscar winner Bong Joon Ho (“Parasite”).
If you want to delve deeper into the crime genre, then we recommend the best thriller films that our editorial team has put together. From highlights like “Parasite” to classics like “Sieben” you will find everything!
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