With adult themes such as violence, drugs, cursing, and nudity, it is no surprise there are some films out there that have an R rating. While the rating spans a wide range of genres, crime movies are in a league all their own. With action-packed fights, gore, and realistic depictions of crimes committed in the real world, these films are not for the faint of heart. That being said, they also tend to be the films where viewers see standout performances by some of the greats, such as Jack Nicholson, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci, names that are pretty synonymous with some of the best R-rated crime films out there.
From The Departed and Pulp Fiction to The Godfather and Scarface, these R-rated crime films not only have exceptional performances but also scripts that are complex and multi-faceted, shootouts that make the Wild West look like Disneyland, and narratives that push audiences past their comfort zones. With explicit content mixed with beautiful cinematography and writing, these are some of the best R-rated movies around.
10 'Zodiac' (2007) Directed by David Fincher
Based on the real case and investigation surrounding the Zodiac Killer, Zodiac takes place in San Fransisco, California, between the 1960s and 1970s as investigators and reporters try their hardest to uncover the identity of the elusive killer. While investigators Dave Toschi (Mark Ruffalo) and Bill Armstrong (Anthony Edwards) look at the case and taunting letters from the Zodiac with a policeman's eye, reporter Paul Avery (Robert Downey Jr.) looks at everything from a reporter lens, finding patterns and hoping to connect the dots. Then there is Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal), a political cartoonist who isn't taken seriously but who becomes obsessed with the killer, diving into his own investigation.
The film is very dialogue-oriented, bringing viewers into the investigation with the characters as they scramble to find the Zodiac before another killing occurs. Unlike a lot of R-rated crime films, Zodiac focuses more on an anxiety-driven dark tone that leaves the audience in suspense rather than blood, gore, and violence, a remarkable feat considering the film is about a serial killer. It is an intense character study of how people get obsessive, directing their lives to a singular focus until they figure out the answers to their questions. Unfortunately, the answers in the film are never confirmed.
Zodiac R
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*Availability in US Release Date March 2, 2007 Cast Robert Downey Jr. , Jake Gyllenhaal , Anthony Edwards , Mark Ruffalo , Brian Cox Runtime 157 minutes Main Genre Crime 9 'The Silence Of The Lambs' (1991) Directed by Jonathan Demme
Adapted from Thomas Harris's 1988 novel, The Silence of the Lambs follows the story of FBI trainee Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) as she interviews Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins). Assigned the task by her boss, Jack Crawford (Scott Glenn), Clarice goes into the interview hoping to get an inside look into the mind of the cannibalistic serial killer and, therefore, gain insider knowledge into how a new serial killer, Buffalo Bill (Ted Lavines) thinks. It dives into the psychology of serial killers and what makes their brains tick, understanding why they do what they do. Clarice believes that by understanding the information presented to her by Lecter, she'll be able to figure out where Buffalo Bill is going next and who his target is.
With stellar performances that are perfectly acted all the way through, Hopkins and Foster both won an Academy Award for Best Actor and Actress, respectively; Silence of the Lambs is a crime movie worth watching. It holds a dark tone that only increases when Hopkins's Lecter speaks, leaving viewers feeling uneasy and skeptical if he is telling the truth. It is a horror movie derived from the thrilling writing and narrative presented throughout the movie, as the FBI conducts a manhunt for a serial killer while diving into the mind of another in hopes of getting answers.
The Silence of the Lambs R CrimeDramaThriller
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*Availability in US Release Date February 14, 1991 Director Jonathan Demme Cast Jodie Foster , Anthony Hopkins , Scott Glenn , Ted Levine , Anthony Heald , Brooke Smith , Diane Baker , Kasi Lemmons Runtime 118 Minutes 8 'Chinatown' (1974) Directed by Roman Polanski
In a town where mystery and corruption run rampant, private eye J.J. Jake Gittes (Nicholson) has no idea what he's in for when he agrees to take on a case for Evelyn Mulwray in Chinatown. Hired to look into her husband's life, Gittes thinks it is nothing more than infidelity until he meets the real Mrs. Mulwray (Faye Dunaway), and her husband winds up dead. Realizing he was hired by an imposter, Gittes is taken down a winding road of mystery, corruption, conspiracy, and family secrets as Hollis I. Mulwray (Darrell Zwerling), Evelyn's father, becomes a suspect in the murder.
A film inspired by the California water wars, Chinatown is heartbreaking, taking a nihilistic approach as innocent people are caught in the crosshairs of greedy humans. While the film does take on some of the typical qualities of the crime genre, such as shootouts and car chases, the mystery and suspense it carries throughout the narrative make it one of the best in its class. Tack on the stellar performances of Nicholson and Dunaway as two people caught in the middle of something that is way over their heads, and the film is worth watching.
Chinatown R CrimeDocumentaryDramaMysteryThriller
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*Availability in US Release Date June 20, 1974 Director Roman Polanski Cast Jack Nicholson , Faye Dunaway , John Huston , Perry Lopez , John Hillerman , Darrell Zwerling Runtime 130 minutes 7 'The Untouchables' (1987) Directed by Brian De Palma
Set in Chicago during prohibition, The Untouchables tackles the investigation of Al Capone (Robert De Niro), the legendary crime boss of the Windy City. Investigating Capone is Eliot Ness (Kevin Costner), a prohibition agent who doesn't know who to trust as the police force is just as corrupt as the criminals he's trying to take down. So, he creates his own team, one comprised of men who won't be swayed by money or other bribes, to take down Capone, including the courageous Jimmy Malone (Sean Connery). Between investigations, shootouts, and illegal booze, the task force eventually brings Capone to justice on account of tax evasion.
The Untouchables is an interesting period piece focusing on crime in 1930s Chicago, a time when Capone ran the city with an iron fist, and people were both amazed by how untouchable he was and scared of what he could do. One of those movies with an all-star cast, the performances of De Niro, Costner, and Connery throughout the film were top-notch, each actor encompassing their real-life characters to deliver a vulgar, comedic, and wildly violent portrayal of what it took to finally take down Al Capone.
The Untouchables R CrimeHistoryThriller
Where to Watch stream rent buy *Availability in US Release Date June 3, 1987 Director Brian De Palma Cast Kevin Costner , Sean Connery , Charles Martin Smith , Andy Garcia , Robert De Niro , Richard Bradford , Jack Kehoe , Brad Sullivan Runtime 1h 59m 6 'Pulp Fiction' (1994) Directed by Quentin Tarantino
Pulp Fiction is an interesting type of crime movie, as it follows a few different characters that seemingly have nothing to do with one another but are eventually intertwined. Viewers watch the philosophical hitman Vincent Vega (John Travolta) and Jules (Samuel L. Jackson) and their cleaner Winston Wolf (Harvey Keitel), the two burglars Pumpkin (Tim Roth) and honey Bunny (Amanda Plummer), the crime boss Marsellus Wallace (Ving Rhames) and his wife Mia (Uma Thurman), and the struggling box Butch Coolidge (Bruce Willis), all live out their vastly different lives before all coming together at the end of the film.
What is largely considered director Quentin Tarantino's magnum opus, Pulp Fiction, brilliantly spins together four tales to create an entertaining narrative with well-crafted performances. While it is a crime film, Pulp Fiction is a comedic portrayal of hitmen, drugs, violence, illegally fixed fights, body disposal, and pushing limits until the audience has no choice but to continue watching the wild ride presented on the screen. Tarantino and Roger Avery jointly won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
Pulp Fiction R
Where to Watch stream rent buy *Availability in US Release Date October 14, 1994 Director Quentin Tarantino Cast John Travolta , Bruce Willis , Ving Rhames , Samuel L. Jackson , Uma Thurman , Christopher Walken , Tim Roth , Harvey Keitel , Eric Stoltz , Rosanna Arquette Runtime 154 minutes Main Genre Crime 5 'The Departed' (2006) Directed by Martin Scorsese
The Boston accents run deep in The Departed, almost as deep as the corruption portrayed in the film. Going deep undercover in one of Boston's notorious criminal organizations run by Irish mob boss Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson), cop Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) has no idea what he is actually getting himself into because gaining the trust of a kingpin and his gang isn't exactly an easy feat. Then there is career criminal Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon), who infiltrates the Massachusetts State Police as a spy for the mob and reports back all of their dealings to Frank. It doesn't take long for both organizations to figure out that there is a mole in their midst, a rat that needs to be found and dealt with. For Billy and Collin, that means figuring out each other's identities before the other in the hopes they'll be able to stay alive.
An engrossing crime epic that depicts American mob life and corruption, The Departed is an intense movie full of agendas, rats, and violence viewers won't see coming. Filled to the brim with outstanding performances, including that of Mark Wahlberg's Staff Sergeant Sean Dignam, who gives Billy the undercover assignment, and an entertaining narrative of two worlds colliding in a way neither expected, The Departed is a wild drama that deserved winning Best Picture at the 79th Academy Awards.
The Departed R
Where to Watch stream rent buy *Availability in US Release Date October 6, 2006 Director Martin Scorsese Cast Martin Sheen , Matt Damon , Jack Nicholson , Mark Wahlberg , Leonardo DiCaprio Runtime 151 minutes Main Genre Crime 4 'The French Connection' (1971) Directed by William Friedkin
A neo-noir crime thriller based on Robin Moore's 1969 nonfiction book, The French Connection is one of the best in the genre. Viewers watch as New York City police detectives Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle (Gene Hackman) and Buddy "Cloudy" Russo (Roy Scheider) do their best to track down a wealthy French heroin smuggler, Alain "Frog One" Charnier (Fernando Rey). Full of epic car chases, shootouts, and a drug kingpin who won't go down without a fight, The French Connection is a blueprint for all other crime movies that came after it.
Earning five awards at the 44th Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Hackman, The French Connection takes the true story of one of New York's biggest drug busts and brings viewers into an intense narrative that is both gripping and thrilling. Between the obsessive nature of Hackman's Popeye and the "I'll go down trying" personality of Cloudy, the film takes the concept of a cat and mouse chase and takes it up a level, showcasing incredible action sequences, melodrama and comedy, and suspense that fills up the screen until the final shootout on Ward's Island.
The French Connection R Thriller
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*Availability in US Release Date October 7, 1971 Director William Friedkin Cast Gene Hackman , Fernando Rey , Roy Scheider Runtime 104 Minutes 3 'Goodfellas' (1990) Directed by Martin Scorsese
A crime biopic loosely based on the era of the Gotti mafia family (mixed with fictional characters, of course), Goodfellas tells the story of the rise and fall of Henry Hill (Ray Liotta), a mob associate. As a young boy, Henry becomes enamored with the mob activity going on in his Italian-American neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York. He gets his "in" working for capo (captain) Paulie Cicero (Paul Sorvino) and his two associates, Jimmy Conway (De Niro), and Tommy DeVito (Pesci), hijacking cars and, eventually, robbing airlines. After living the high life, Henry learns the hardships of being associated with the mob, being incarcerated a few times, slinging cocaine, hiding bodies, and watching friends get killed.
Eventually, he turns informant and goes into witness protection, hating how boring his life has become after leaving the mob. One of the best films made about organized crime, Goodfellas is arguably the high point of director Martin Scorsese's career. Full of quick wit, violent scenes, and grade-A performances given by the leading actors who take intense characters and showcase them in an oddly flippant and breezy manner while still being respectful to the culture they find themselves in, Goodfellas is one of the best crime films out there.
Goodfellas R
Where to Watch stream rent buy *Availability in US Release Date September 21, 1990 Director Martin Scorsese Cast Robert De Niro , Ray Liotta , Joe Pesci , Lorraine Bracco , Paul Sorvino , Frank Sivero Runtime 145 Minutes Main Genre Crime 2 'Scarface' (1983) Directed by Brian De Palma
Telling the story of the rise and fall of drug kingpin Tony Montana (Pacino), Scarface showcases the cocaine king as he takes over the drug trade in Miami, Florida, only to get taken out by the Bolivian drug lord Alejandro Sosa (Paul Shenar) and his men. Traveling to Florida after assassinating a Cuan government official to get his Greed Card, Montana takes over the drug trade in Miami and, eventually, becomes the biggest distributor in the state. Killing anyone in his way and using more and more of his own supply, Montana slowly spirals as the cartel gets closer, law enforcement is on his tail, and his own paranoia.
The film is ultra-violent, taking the stereotypical "shot-em-up" approach often seen in action thriller movies. As a crime film, it works, showcasing the bleak and horrifying nature of what Montana did to his own life. Pacino is eccentric as the main character, bringing the drug lord to life with quotable lines, immense firepower, and a heavy presence every time he is on the screen.
Scarface R
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*Availability in US Release Date December 9, 1983 Director Brian De Palma Cast Al Pacino , Michelle Pfeiffer , Robert Loggia , Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio , Miriam Colon , F. Murray Abraham Runtime 170 minutes Main Genre Crime 1 'The Godfather' (1972) Directed by Francis Ford Coppola
Based on Mario Puzo's novel of the same name, The Godfather takes viewers into the Italian-American crime family of Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando). Starting off at his daughter's wedding, Vito's son Michael (Pacino) returns home from World War II as a decorated marine and wants nothing to do with the family business. However, as Vito's old ways clash with what is happening with an up-and-coming rival who wants to sell drugs in New York, a war between the Five Families becomes inevitable, and Michael does what he promised never to do. He joins the family business.
Often considered one of the best films ever made, The Godfather takes an organized crime dynasty and moves it in a new way, giving it over to a reluctant son who really wants nothing to do with it. Between the period decor, visuals, and landmark performances, The Godfather showcased the brutal side of American life and living "The American Dream," chronicling the hardships of family and how choices really define a person. According to Roger Ebert, when it comes to the greatest movie of all time, The Godfather is the closest film everyone can agree on.
The Godfather R DramaCrime
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*Availability in US Release Date March 24, 1972 Director Francis Ford Coppola Cast Marlon Brando , Al Pacino , James Caan , Robert Duvall , Richard S. Castellano , Diane Keaton , Talia Shire , Gianni Russo , Sterling Hayden , John Marley , Richard Conte , Al Lettieri , Abe Vigoda , Rudy Bond , Al Martino , Morgana King , Lenny Montana , John Martino , Salvatore Corsitto , Richard Bright , Alex Rocco , Tony Giorgio , Vito Scotti , Tere Livrano Runtime 175 minutes Expand
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