The Greatest Crime Movies From Every Decade Of The Last 100 Years

Crime films have been a favorite among moviegoers since the very beginning of cinema, quickly becoming popular alongside Westerns and horror. Early examples include the silent film Intolerance, and the 1930s saw the rise of iconic gangster characters portrayed by actors like Paul Muni in Scarface and James Cagney in The Roaring Twenties.

Crime films evolved significantly after the 1930s. The style known as film noir emerged, borrowing visually from German Expressionism and often set during or after Prohibition. Mafia movies became popular in the 1970s, and from the 1980s onward, crime films generally became more graphic and intense. Despite these changes, many truly exceptional films were created throughout this period.

1930s – The Public Enemy

James Cagney is the actor most associated with classic Hollywood gangster films. For the next fifty years, actors playing gangsters often imitated his distinctive speech and mannerisms, which he perfected in the 1930s.

James Cagney became a legend thanks to a series of iconic gangster roles. He starred in four classic films: The Public Enemy (1931), followed by Angels with Dirty Faces (1938), The Roaring Twenties (1939), and later White Heat (1949). Many consider The Public Enemy to be the standout film of his 1930s work.

As a huge movie fan, I always think of James Cagney in ‘The Public Enemy’ as a real landmark film. He plays Tom Powers, a young Irish-American guy who climbs his way up in the Chicago mob, and naturally makes a lot of enemies doing it. What I love about the film is that it doesn’t shy away from showing how exciting that rise to power can seem, but also how quickly everything can fall apart. And honestly, that final scene? It’s still one of the most powerful and heartbreaking endings I’ve ever seen in a crime movie.

1940s – Double Indemnity

Billy Wilder was a highly successful director, and he’s especially known for Double Indemnity, a film that really shaped the film noir genre. The movie stars Fred MacMurray as Walter Neff, an insurance salesman who gets caught up in a dangerous plan after explaining a specific insurance policy – double indemnity – to a wealthy man’s wife.

I’m completely captivated by Barbara Stanwyck’s performance as Phyllis Dietrichson. She plays this incredibly cunning woman who devises a scheme to have her husband killed – making it look like an accident, of course, so she can collect a hefty double life insurance payout. But things quickly spiral out of control, and I found myself on the edge of my seat wondering if Fred would become her next target when her plan went awry!

This movie is a standout achievement in Billy Wilder’s already impressive body of work. With its brilliant direction, sharp writing, and unusually dark subject matter for the 1940s, it’s a quintessential film noir of the period.

1950s – The Asphalt Jungle

I remember being a huge film noir fan back in the 50s, and even though things were starting to change with new styles coming out of France and elsewhere, The Asphalt Jungle really hit the spot. It gave us everything we loved about noir – a really twisted, dark story filled with characters who weren’t good or bad, just…complicated. It felt like a true noir experience.

This movie follows Erwin “Doc” Riedenschneider, recently out of prison, as he assembles a team to pull off one last, ambitious heist. However, despite careful planning, the robbery quickly falls apart.

The movie featured a fantastic cast, led by Sterling Hayden as Dix Handley, a late addition to the heist crew. It’s considered the best crime film of the 1950s and has significantly influenced all heist movies made since. In 2008, it was recognized for its cultural importance and added to the Library of Congress’s National Film Registry.

1960s – In The Heat Of The Night

The film In the Heat of the Night is considered a landmark achievement, paving the way for suspenseful crime movies that also tackled social issues, a trend that grew in the 1960s. It stars Sidney Poitier as Virgil Tibbs, a detective from Philadelphia who assists a local police chief in solving a murder.

The film hits a snag when the detective travels through small-town America, encountering widespread racism, including from the local police chief, Bill Gillespie (Rod Steiger). While the film highlights this racism, it truly shines when the detective’s brilliant skills begin to earn the respect of Gillespie and others, elevating it to a classic.

The film was a major hit, earning Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Actor (Steiger). It was so popular that it was also adapted into a successful television series in the 1980s.

1970s – The Godfather, Part II

I truly believe both Godfather films are among the greatest crime movies of the 70s, but if I had to pick just one, it would absolutely be The Godfather: Part II. The original was a stunning film – I remember how much attention it got at the Oscars! Seeing Marlon Brando as Don Corleone and the story of Michael, his son, unfold was incredible. But the sequel just takes everything to another level.

The second film, though similarly lengthy, was a significant improvement in terms of pacing and storytelling. It expertly weaves together two timelines: Michael’s ascent to power following his father’s death, and flashbacks detailing the Don’s own rise. Robert De Niro delivers an outstanding performance as a younger version of Marlon Brando’s iconic character.

The film also achieved significant success at the Academy Awards, receiving 11 nominations and winning six, including the coveted Best Picture – a first for any sequel. Francis Ford Coppola won Best Director, and De Niro took home the award for Best Supporting Actor. To this day, it’s considered one of the greatest gangster movies ever made.

1980s – Scarface

The original Scarface film from the 1930s was excellent, and Paul Muni established a powerful on-screen persona for gangsters. However, the 1983 remake has become arguably the most famous gangster movie of all time. While Muni gave a great performance in the classic, Al Pacino’s portrayal in the 1983 version is truly iconic.

Directed by Brian De Palma and written by Oliver Stone, the film features Al Pacino as Tony Montana, a Cuban immigrant who builds a drug empire in Miami. It’s a classic crime story, charting his ambitious climb to power and his violent, ultimate demise.

I’ve always been fascinated by Scarface. It’s amazing to me how a movie that got such a rough reception at first is now considered a classic. It really captures the dark side of the criminal world, and I think that’s why it’s resonated with so many people. Plus, it’s become such a huge part of hip-hop culture – you see its influence everywhere, and that’s pretty special.

1990s – Heat

Although Al Pacino and Robert De Niro both appeared in The Godfather Part II, they didn’t have any scenes together. De Niro played a young Vito Corleone in flashbacks, while Pacino played Michael Corleone in the present day. It wasn’t until twenty years later that these two acclaimed actors finally shared the screen.

Al Pacino played a detective pursuing a dangerous group of robbers, with Robert De Niro starring as their leader. The film showed the perspectives of both the police and the criminals, detailing their individual lives, which made the eventual showdown far more impactful than typical crime dramas.

The film featured a strong supporting cast, with Val Kilmer delivering a particularly memorable performance as Chris Shiherlis, often overshadowing other actors in his scenes. Directed by Michael Mann, it’s widely considered his best work and stands out as a true masterpiece of 1990s crime cinema.

2000s – No Country For Old Men

A recent film poll revealed that only two Westerns made the list of the best movies from the 21st century: There Will Be Blood and No Country for Old Men. Notably, No Country for Old Men was also ranked as the best crime film of the 2000s, significantly outranking all other contenders.

Josh Brolin plays a struggling man from a small town who stumbles upon the aftermath of a failed drug deal. He discovers the money left behind and, instead of calling the police, decides to keep it. This decision draws the attention of a powerful mafia boss, who sends his top enforcer, Javier Bardem, to retrieve the stolen funds and eliminate anyone connected to the incident.

This film presents a bleak and cynical view of a man who casually kills, regardless of who gets caught in the crossfire. It explores the consequences of defying a powerful criminal organization, even with a single act of rebellion. Notably, this movie by the Coen Brothers received the Academy Award for Best Picture.

2010s – Sicario

Taylor Sheridan is now known for creating the Yellowstone TV series, but he started his career writing movies. He considers the 2015 crime thriller Sicario to be the best film he’s worked on, and it was a standout project because it was directed by Denis Villeneuve, who also directed Dune.

The film Sicario centers around an FBI and CIA task force and follows Kate Macer, played by Emily Blunt, as she uncovers the shocking extent of corruption within her own agency. Initially tasked with capturing a drug cartel leader on the border, Kate soon realizes the task force is willing to do anything – regardless of who gets hurt – to accomplish its mission.

The film was a huge and unexpected hit, earning rave reviews and three Academy Award nominations for its cinematography, original score, and sound editing. It quickly became clear why director Denis Villeneuve was poised for major success and screenwriter Taylor Sheridan was about to become a prominent name in the industry.

2020s – Rebel Ridge

The standout crime film of the 2020s wasn’t shown in theaters; it premiered on Netflix. Called Rebel Ridge, it featured Aaron Paul as Terry Richmond, a former Marine. The story begins with Terry attempting to free his cousin from jail, but he’s quickly ambushed by corrupt police officers who steal the bail money.

After the police failed to recover his stolen money and his brother was killed while incarcerated, Terry decided to take matters into his own hands and seek revenge against the corrupt officers he held responsible. The corruption within the police force was so widespread that even honest cops were targeted when they tried to uphold the law.

I still think about Rebel Ridge all the time – it’s seriously amazing! It actually won an Emmy, which it totally deserved, and critics loved it too – it has a 96% score on Rotten Tomatoes! For me, it really cemented Aaron Paul as a huge star, and honestly, I think it’s the best crime movie we’ve seen so far this decade.

2026-03-15 06:22