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Home » 49 Greatest True Crime Films of All Time

49 Greatest True Crime Films of All Time

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best true crime movies

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“True Crime” covers plenty of floor. You may, at first, consider podcasts like Serial or My Favourite Homicide that dive into super-specific circumstances. Or possibly I am going to Be Gone In The Darkishthe bestselling book-turned-HBO docuseries—which seems on the chilly case hunt for the assassin referred to as The Golden State Killer. However “True Crime” will be far more than that. It could actually get darkish and even sinister when cash’s on the road, in circumstances of white collar crimes, monetary crimes, organized crimes, and extra. Thankfully, there are many motion pictures that shine a highlight on simply that.

The flicks right here vary extensive. From serial killer hunts like David Fincher’s Zodiac, to racially-motivated tragedies like Fruitvale Station and When They See Us, to white collar Robin Hood schemes like The Bling Ring, there’s plenty of alternative ways for motion pictures on this checklist to go. However all of them share one factor in frequent: they’re primarily based on actual occasions. Stuff that actually occurred. Certain, some are a bit extra fictionalized than others, however at their core, these tales all come from tales primarily based in our world.

So, given all that, we have pulled the best true crime motion pictures of all time collectively for you. Whether or not these are tales about homicide, blue collar crime, white collar crime, harebrained schemes, or wherever in between, they’re all right here to your leisure, and out there to stream to your coronary heart’s content material. Have a look beneath.

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David Fincher’s masterpiece in regards to the hunt for the notorious San Francisco serial killer who despatched coded letters to newspapers is kind of merely among the best true crime motion pictures of all time.

Based mostly on the guide by Robert Graysmith (himself performed by Jake Gyllenhaal within the film) the film fairly merely has every thing you are in search of on this style: an edge-of-your-seat story, gorgeous consideration to element from a superb filmmaker, and a improbable solid that features Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr. and Succession‘s Brian Cox along with Gyllenhaal.

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Foxcatcher might be greatest referred to as the film that noticed Steve Carell go as far-off from his comedy roots as he is ever gone, incomes an Oscar nomination within the course of. Carell performs John Du Pont, an abusive, manipulative, and wildly rich wrestling coach who is available in contact with brothers Dave (Mark Ruffalo) and Mark Schultz (Channing Tatum). The story is gorgeous, tragic, and can have you captivated from begin to end.

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You could not have anticipated it however Scream—maybe probably the most iconic horror movie of the previous 30 years?—is predicated on an precise collection of murders in 1990 from a killer referred to as the Gainesville Ripper. Makes this horror traditional all that a lot scarier.

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Judas and the Black Messiah (2021)

Judas and the Black Messiah tells the true story of Black Panther chief Fred Hampton (an Academy Award-winning function for Get Out star Daniel Kaluuya) as his inside circle was infiltrated by an FBI informant (LaKeith Stanfield). It is a heartbreaking true story that comes with a little bit of every thing: motion, drama, romance, and suspense.

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The Texas Chain Noticed Bloodbath (1974)

One other horror film chances are you’ll not have realized is predicated on a real story. The Texas Chain Noticed Bloodbath is, in some ways, one of many authentic slasher movies. And whereas it is very free, it’s primarily based on the story of a killer named Ed Gein, who wore human pores and skin on his face and killed many individuals in a home just like the one within the movie.

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You in all probability know Jonah Hill and James Franco greatest for his or her work in comedy, however these two Academy Award nominees starred within the very severe True Story (which, sure, is a real story) again in 2015. Hill performed a disgraced NYT Journal journalist named Michael Finkel, who’s off the grid a bit making an attempt to clear his identify till a killer (Franco) turns himself in, claiming his identify is Michael Finkel. Based mostly on the actual Finkel’s guide of the identical identify.

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The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020)

Aaron Sorkin’s movie The Trial of the Chicago 7 has a stacked solid and tells the true story of the 8 males (it turns into 7 in the course of the course of the movie) who have been charged with inciting a riot on the 1968 Democratic Nationwide Conference in Chicago. The solid is stacked and the film is typical Sorkin, should you have a tendency to love his work.

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Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)

The harrowing Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer is a darkish, darkish film, primarily based on the real-life confessions of Henry Lee Lucas, a person who confessed to greater than 600 murders. We do not know if all of these have been the reality, nevertheless it’s actually sufficient to make this movie additional creepy. Michael Rooker is improbable within the titular function.

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The Black Dahlia tells a (fictionalized) model of one of many precise most grisly unsolved murders in American historical past, when a 22-year-old named Elizabeth Brief was dismembered in Los Angeles again in 1947. The film is predicated on crime fiction grasp James Ellroy’s model of occasions, and stars Josh Hartnett, Scarlett Johansson, and Aaron Eckhart in a Brian De Palma neo-noir tackle issues.

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The Stanford Jail Experiment (2015)

This dramatization of the notorious Stanford Jail Experiment is a movie telling a narrative of the social experiment that examined simply how into roles a gaggle of scholar volunteers would get; half assigned to be guards, and half assigned to be prisoners. Billy Crudup and Ezra Miller lead the proficient solid.

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Ache and Acquire is a Michael Bay film, however on this explicit case, that does not imply what you assume. No, this is not a large motion blockbuster stuffed with explosions each 5 minutes. Ache and Acquire is, nonetheless, a narrative of a real crime scheme, and one that can probably shock you each 5 minutes or so. Based mostly on a Miami New Instances article from 1999, the film stars Mark Wahlberg, The Rock, Anthony Mackie, and Tony Shalhoub as its prime schemers.

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Charlize Theron received her Oscar for taking part in the real-life prostitute turned serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Monster, directed by Patty Jenkins.

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Groundbreaking filmmaker Terrence Malick’s first movie, a couple of runaway couple with an age disparity (Martin Sheen’s character is 25, whereas Sissy Spacek’s is 15) stays gorgeous. Based mostly on the precise, real-life 1958 killing spree of Charles Starkweather and Carli Ann Fugate, this movie options the entire director’s signature visible aptitude, and is compelling from begin to end.

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This uber-entertaining movie starring Emma Watson is predicated on a collection of robberies that really focused Hollywood celebrities equivalent to Paris Hilton (who, sure, did seem as herself in The Bling Ring) by teenagers seeking to money in, however moreso in search of fame (a la previous west outlaws). Director Sofia Coppola is the right individual to take this story on.

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Martin Scorsese’s newest is one more in his long-running canon of mafia/crime movies, nevertheless it’s additionally his most tender film but; it is about an previous man coming to phrases along with his many regrets by way of life. Based mostly on the true story of the person who claims to have killed Jimmy Hoffa, The Irishman packs a punch. Sure, it is a 3-and-a-half-hour lengthy punch, however with Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, and so many others taking you on that experience, it is nicely well worth the time.

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One other movie a couple of infamous real-life hitman, The Iceman boasts an incredible solid (Michael Shannon within the titular lead function alongside Chris Evans, Winona Ryder, James Franco, and Ray Liotta) and a compelling story. Shannon performs a household man who goes to work each day, and comes house to a loving household. Besides, because it seems, that work is homicide—the actual Richard Kuklinski killed greater than 100 individuals. The film emphasizes how he managed to reside a real double life.

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Based mostly on Nicholas Pileggi’s nonfiction guide Wiseguy, in regards to the lifetime of mobster Henry Hill, Goodfellas is perhaps Martin Scorsese’s greatest movie general (although, given his general catalogue, together with a number of others on this checklist alone, that is fairly the excellence). This epic story is completely paced, with drama solely actually matched by the likes of The Godfather and The Sopranos. Come for Robert De Niro and Ray Liotta, depart in awe of Joe Pesci’s career-defining efficiency as Tommy DeVito.

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Recollections of Homicide (2003)

It was a giant yr for Bong Joon Ho, who earlier this yr received a variety of Oscars for his unimaginable movie Parasite, together with Greatest Image, Greatest Director, and Greatest Unique Screenplay (and sure, that was really this yr! We do not consider it both.)

It may proceed to be a giant yr, as a result of his 2003 true-crime serial killer movie Recollections of Homicide will likely be re-released this fall, and still have a launch as a part of the Criterion Assortment.

Ridley Scott is greatest identified for his sci-fi work in motion pictures like Alien, Blade Runner, and The Martian, however he is a uncommon legendary director who’s legendary in nearly each style, and he gave the true crime epic a whirl with American Gangster. Denzel Washington offers his all as Frank Lucas, the notorious Harlem drug kingpin of the ’70s, and Scott’s steadily collaborator Russell Crowe performs Richie Roberts, the detective decided to take him down. The movie is predicated on “The Return of Superfly,” a 2000 New York journal article all about Lucas.

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Spike Lee’s Summer time of Sam is without doubt one of the most original motion pictures on this checklist in that it is a couple of true killer—David Berkowitz, aka the Son of Sam—however not a story about him. As a substitute, Summer time of Sam focuses on the lives of an Italian neighborhood within the Bronx (led by John Leguizamo) and the way they handled a whole summer season when it felt like a serial killer could possibly be lurking round each nook.

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All The President’s Males (1976)

You recognize the story on this one. Bob Woodward (Robert Redford) and Carl Bernstein (Dustin Hoffman) are a pair of investigative reporters for the Washington Submit who “comply with the cash” and finally uncover the secrets and techniques of the notorious Watergate scandal. This can be a piece of movie historical past, and for good cause.

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Here is a enjoyable one. This Richard Linklater darkish comedy finds Jack Black because the titular Bernie (primarily based on Bernie Tiede, an actual topic of the Texas Month-to-month article upon which the movie is predicated). Bernie is a loyal support to an heiress performed by Shirley Maclaine, and he endures her abuse for some time….till he does one thing unhealthy. The film performs round with the concept of small city notion and attending to the underside of felony circumstances. Matthew McConaughey reveals up in what was a improbable early-era McConaissance function.

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Earlier than Michael B. Jordan and director Ryan Coogler teamed up for Black Panther and Creed, they made a small indie primarily based on a real Bay Space story referred to as Fruitvale Station. Jordan performs Oscar Grant, a younger father who was unjustly killed within the early morning of New Yr’s Day 2009 by a BART police officer. This film particularly follows the ultimate day of Grant’s life. Jordan is good—this film was thought-about one in all his function breakthroughs (after The Wire and Friday Night time Lights introduced him consideration on the small display screen).

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Capturing The Friedmans (2003)

This one is darkish. Do not go into this documentary function movie from director Andrew Jarecki (HBO’s The Jinx) if in case you have a weak abdomen, nevertheless it’s additionally greatest to know as little as doable about this as doable, simply to look at the way in which the completely darkish, riveting story performs out all through the course of this 100% true story. What do you consider?

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Should you’re a fan of Rounders or The Social Community, that is the film for you. Aaron Sorkin’s directorial debut stars Jessica Chastain because the titular Molly, who was each a former Olympian, and ran a high-stakes poker recreation for the wealthy, well-known, and highly effective for years.

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Can You Ever Forgive Me? (2018)

Can You Ever Forgive Me? is Melissa McCarthy such as you’ve by no means seen her earlier than. Right here she performs Lee Israel, a author who’s biographers of not-quite-exciting topics, like Estee Lauder, aren’t fairly doing the trick financially, so she begins forging literary letters and promoting them for full, full value. Based mostly on Israel’s guide of the identical identify, the film earned Oscar nominations for each McCarthy and an extremely charismatic Richard E. Grant.

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The director of Capturing The Friedmans, Andrew Jarecki, turned to function filmmaking when he made All Good Issues, the story of Robert Durst (names modified right here). The solid options Ryan Gosling, Kirsten Dunst, and Frank Langella, amongst others, so it is greater than value your time. Maybe extra attention-grabbing, although, is that Durst himself was a fan of the movie, for some cause, and contacted Jarecki to make a documentary that finally turned The Jinx.

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OK, so technically The Vow is not a film, however slightly an HBO restricted documentary collection. And it is also not even executed airing but. But it surely does not matter, as a result of this is without doubt one of the most compelling, stylized, and distinctive seems inside a cult you may ever see. With footage from filmmaker Mark Vicente—who was himself a member of the NXIVM cult—The Vow gives a chilling view inside one other world that appears far-off, however in actuality is ever-so-close.

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The Inventor is without doubt one of the most compelling documentaries you may see, as a result of it tells a narrative that feels so close-to-home. Elizabeth Holmes appeared like a self-made genius, a supernova within the tech world who knew no failing—however her firm, Theranos, was by no means what she claimed it was—and now not exists as we speak. Discover out her entire story on this flick.

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Holding with the fraud theme, let’s discuss FYRE. This documentary—together with the equally-good Hulu doc Fyre Fraud—made for a real popular culture second when each have been launched inside every week in early 2019. Each take a look at the disastrously deliberate and executed Fyre Competition, a music competition that was deliberate to draw huge acts, wealthy friends, and be the top of luxurious—however wound up stranding its influencer friends on a stranded island. Should you in some way missed both doc, hop on it pronto.

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The Wolf of Wall Avenue (2013)

The Wolf of Wall Avenue deserved higher. Leonardo DiCaprio was snubbed for an Oscar numerous instances, and we need not get into all of these right here. However he deserved that win for The Wolf of Wall Avenue, the place he legitimately gave one in all his most watchable, pleasing, love-to-hate-him performances ever because the real-life monetary felony Jordan Belfort. This can be a film individuals continuously nonetheless reference, watch, and get a kick out of as we speak, the place the film he did win for, The Revenant…nicely, I’ve by no means heard of anybody saying they wished to rewatch it. However I digress. This film guidelines. You’ve got heard of it. Watch it once more.

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Escape At Dannemora (2018)

You recognize Ben Stiller for comedy, clearly—Zoolander, Meet the Mother and father, Dodgeball, Tropic Thunder, the checklist goes on—however you by no means would anticipate Escape At Dannemora to return from him. Stiller directed this award-winning 7-part collection in regards to the real-life 2015 upstate New York jail escape. With a narrative that can shock you at each flip and nice performances from Patricia Arquette, Paul Dano, and Benicio Del Toro, it is a story that can grip you from begin to end.

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All The Cash In The World (2017)

You in all probability bear in mind the information round Ridley Scott’s All The Cash In The World—the truth that he recast Kevin Spacey, changing him with Christopher Plummer in solely a matter of weeks earlier than the film’s launch—greater than the film itself. However the film itself is a gripping story of a real-life kidnapping, and every thing that got here earlier than and after it. Plummer is joined by Mark Wahlberg and Michelle Williams within the solid. Should you just like the film, you can additionally take a look at Belief, the FX collection that took a stab at the exact same story (and starred Hilary Swank and Brendan Fraser).

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This tragic documentary tells the story of the aftermath of what occurs when sexual assaults of two teenage ladies are caught on digicam, and their friends get ahold of it. The film is a brutal watch—particularly contemplating latest information of one in all its topics—however is a vital watch nonetheless to study simply what occurs in conditions when the ethical factor is solely not what wins out.

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Cocaine Cowboys is without doubt one of the most attention-grabbing documentaries you may ever see, as a result of every thing that occurs in it feels like fiction. However each little bit of this story of how Eighties Miami turned the cocaine smuggling, homicide, and cash capital of america is actual. Director Billy Corben has been behind plenty of nice documentaries (ESPN’s 30 for 30s Broke and The U), however Cocaine Cowboys is in a category of its personal.

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If you wish to get actually offended, watch Inside Job. This Academy Award winner for Greatest Documentary Characteristic from director Charles Ferguson takes a detailed take a look at every thing that brought on the 2008 monetary meltdown, however makes it tremendous straightforward to digest and perceive. Bonus factors for Matt Damon as narrator.

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O.J.: Made In America (2016)

Arguments will be revamped whether or not Ezra Edelman’s O.J.: Made In America is a TV collection or a film; it aired on ESPN, it is 6 hours lengthy, blah blah. But it surely additionally received the Academy Award for Greatest Documentary Characteristic. No argument will be made in opposition to its brilliance, although, as this documentary dives into O.J. Simpson, and what makes him tick, like nothing ever did earlier than, and nothing has since. Really a one in all a form piece of filmmaking.

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On line casino is principally a redux of Goodfellas; it is also telling a narrative of organized crime, stars Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci and is predicated on a nonfiction crime story by Nicholas Pileggi. This one’s acquired a number of bonuses, although: Sharon Stone, for one, is superb, and freaking Don Rickles is in it. It is a Scorsese epic in nearly each method you’d think about, and it is one hell of a enjoyable watch.

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Technically a four-part restricted collection, Ava Duvernay’s When They See Us is good from high to backside. The story of the falsely-accused Central Park 5 is unfortunately without end well timed, and this collection brings the story to life in a method that anybody can see, perceive, and empathize with. It received 2 Primetime Emmys, and for rattling good cause.

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Canine Day Afternoon is not solely one of many best true crime tales ever put to movie, however one of many best heist motion pictures and love tales too, for that matter. Younger Al Pacino and the late John Cazale are so rattling good on this totally compelling story of a easy financial institution theft gone fallacious on one of many hottest days of the summer season. Based mostly on an precise 1972 tried financial institution theft in Brooklyn.

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The French Connection (1971)

Should you’re fascinated with watching a legend (Gene Hackman) do a few of his greatest work (he received the Greatest Actor Oscar) in a legendary film (it received Greatest Image), take the 104 minutes to look at a chunk of traditional American cinema in The French Connection. The film is most well-known for its unimaginable chase scene, and it tells a mostly-true story a couple of heroin smuggling ring that will get busted up by Hackman’s plays-by-his-own-rules cop.

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One other film, one other nice Robert De Niro efficiency, this time taking part in the notorious Chicago gangster Al Capone. The Untouchables is from director Brian De Palma, and is perhaps his greatest film ever; it facilities totally on Elliott Ness (Kevin Costner) pulling a staff collectively to take Capone down.

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I, Tonya is without doubt one of the most original movies on this checklist; that includes Margot Robbie in a career-best function because the titular Tanya Harding, this film is sort of Coen Brothers-esque in how off-the-rails it appears, however as soon as you recognize somewhat bit extra about Harding herself—and its value trying out this wonderful New York Instances profile on her—it is clear that this was the solely method the film would have labored. Additionally that includes nice turns from Sebastian Stan, Paul Walter Hauser, and an Academy Award-winning flip from Allison Janney.

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Adam McKay made some actually good comedies when he directed Anchorman, Talladega Nights, Step Brothers, and The Different Guys, so naturally he determined to take his abilities a step additional with The Large Brief, which tells an entirely-true story in regards to the 2008 housing disaster.

Informed by mixing humor and enjoyable stylization into its info-heavy premise, The Large Brief works in addition to educates; it does not damage that the film has among the best casts in years with Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, and Brad Pitt main the way in which. Take into consideration this one as a companion piece with Inside Job.

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Catch Me If You Can (2002)

Steven Spielberg has entered the chat! The legendary director’s true story of Frank Abignale Jr. (performed to perfection by Leonardo DiCaprio) is perhaps…one of the best con man film ever made? Christopher Walken is at all times superb, so you recognize he is nice as Frank Sr., and Tom Hanks joins the occasion because the FBI agent monitoring Frank down.

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American Hustle sort of performs like Scorsese (On line casino, Goodfellas) cosplay juuust somewhat bit, however this film from David O. Russell (Silver Linings Playbook, The Fighter) is basically good in its personal proper. Following a scheming couple (Christian Bale and Amy Adams) and the free cannon FBI agent (Bradley Cooper) utilizing them as his sting operation chess items, the story has twists and turns round each nook. Based mostly on an actual operation from the Seventies, and in addition that includes Jennifer Lawrence and Jeremy Renner.

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