Best Crime Movies From compelling dramas to thrilling thrillers, 2023 delivered something for everyone in the crime film genre. Ranging from high-octane heist flicks to Agatha Christie classics, these movies explore themes like revenge, justice, and human fragility – something everyone can find interesting from 2023!
Here are best 11 crime movies released in 2023.
Sympathy for the Devil
Stream Now at Prime Video
Run Time: 1h 30m
Sympathy for the Devil is a dark and violent B-movie thriller in which an unnamed Las Vegas resident gets abducted by the devil himself. That’s pretty much it in terms of plot development, but directors Yuval Adler and Luke Paradise recognize their grim noir needs something extra to hook viewers, so they add Nicolas Cage as an actor as a distraction tactic.
Cage’s mysterious character and gunplay provide plenty of thrills. At the same time, director Paul Schrader uses flashbacks judiciously to expand The Passenger’s past. However, many of its many clues and hints never add up into a cohesive whole, leaving many late revelations feeling more like recycled pulp-fiction contrivances than fresh insights – making Sympathy for the Devil more of an exercise in tension-laden action than an organic crime drama.
Luther: The Fallen Sun
Stream Now at Netflix
Run Time: 2h 9m
Playing DCI John Luther’s shadowy side, Idris Elba brilliantly captures the character’s enigmatic nature, psychological sensitivity, and witty one-liners. Dermot Crowley plays DSU Martin Schenk, while Cynthia Erivo plays the part of Detective Chief Inspector Odette Raine, who is tough and unyielding, backing Elba.
Action and crime fans will delight in this thrilling car chase through some of London’s toughest neighborhoods. At the same time, Elba and Cynthia Erivo deliver top-notch acting. While some scenes veer toward grotesque or outlandish, it remains entertaining in much the same way a Big Mac can be. Though not perfect, if you love this character and his world, then this movie is definitely worth your while.
The Bikeriders
Stream Now at Not Available Yet
Run Time: 1h 56m
The Bikeriders, based on Danny Lyon’s book of photographs, is this fly-on-the-wall style film that follows a fictional 1960s Midwestern biker club in its heart and soul, from brute stupidity and code-of-honor brotherhood to testosterone-fuelled counterculture and its attendant brotherhood code of honor; its testosterone-fuelled counterculture may appear harsh at first but thanks to this dynamic cast The Bikeriders is more than brawls and bloodshed alone – it also creates something deeply moving about these times of turmoil!
The Bikeriders excels with its talented cast and realistic storytelling reminiscent of 1970s biker movies. Jodie Comer is outstanding as Kathy; Michael Shannon and Toby Wallace bring added authenticity as bikers; Norman Reedus and Happy Anderson complete an impressive supporting cast.
The Killer
Stream Now at Netflix
Run Time: 1h 58m
The Killer movie, released in 2023, is an exhilarating revenge flick anchored by Michael Fassbender’s electrifying performance and showcases David Fincher’s directorial skills in seamlessly merging action with philosophical introspection. The movie follows an anonymous hitman as they embark on a cross-continent manhunt after an assignment goes terribly awry. He masterfully navigates between danger and deceit while engaging in an engaging dance of violence and self-reflection that keeps audiences gripped to their seats.
The Killer marries staggering levels of film craft with an engaging plot to deliver one of this year’s stand-out thrillers. Additionally, its success challenges the notion that streaming services don’t produce true “films,” while proving exceptional storytelling doesn’t stop at streaming services alone. A must-see film that will stay with audiences long after its credits have rolled.
Sharper
Stream Now at AppleTv
Run Time: 1h 56m
The sharper movie was released in 2023. Packed full of plot twists and featuring peerless performances from Julianne Moore, Sebastian Stan, and Briana Middleton, Sharper is a stylish and exciting thriller that strives to amaze. Unfortunately, its double and triple crossings reach ridiculous proportions, leaving characters embroiled in lies far too often than not – all of which become tiresome to watch unfold before our very eyes.
Its many plot twists, betrayals, and inconsistencies may keep audiences guessing right up to its conclusion. Yet, its story is so tenuously written that we easily lose interest by the time we figure out who’s playing who. Overall, too much emphasis was placed on plot vs character relationships in this film – as such revelations lacked impact when they finally arrived.
Infinity Pool
Stream Now at Prime Video, Hulu
Run Time: 1h 57m
Brandon Cronenberg’s third and best film to date, Infinity Pool, offers a cynical yet darkly comic commentary on nihilistic excess through both narrative and visuals. While not quite on par with his 2020 body-swapping assassin thriller Possessor, young Cronenberg stands out as an artist capable of taking unconventional ideas and turning them into visceral cinema.
Infinity Pool is an alluringly dark and hallucinogenic horror flick featuring breathtaking visuals and nerve-scrambling sensationalism. Yet, it also explores themes of decadence, opulence, moral corruption, and moral decay in an insane world of fetishes, dominance, carnage, sexual encounters, and mutilations.
The Settlers
Stream Now at Not Available Yet
Run Time: 1h 37m
“The Settlers” serves as a poignant reminder of the inherent worth and beauty in every human being. Chilean filmmaker Felipe Galvez’s debut feature film has visually stunning and sonically arresting moments of cruelty and beauty. However, the story can drag at times due to the dialogue’s inadequacy.
The Settlers is a bloody, brutal, and haunting examination of colonization’s legacy. Without ever falling into Tarantino-esque genre pastiche or art-film seriousness, The Settlers instead presents a raw, unflinching view into history’s brutalities – making for an impressive debut from a director who shows great promise yet dares to explore places other films fear treading.
Boston Strangler
Run Time: 1h 52m
The popularity of true crime dramas is on the rise, and many of these shows adopt a detective noir style as their protagonists try to bring the perpetrators to justice or provide closure to victims’ families. Few films manage to portray journalists covering an investigation as captivatingly as this Hulu original does Boston Strangler. Keira Knightley steals the show as the protagonist. At the same time, Carrie Coon brings her A-game as a supporting character in this drama based on true events.
With his background directing thrillers, Matt Ruskin successfully immerses audiences in the foreboding atmosphere of this picture. The desaturated color scheme and eerie soundtrack evoke a sense of dread that permeates the city in the aftermath of the killings. Focusing on the women’s effort to report the tale is where this film truly shines. They remain resolute in the face of sexism, which they encounter from both their bosses and colleagues.
Anatomy of a Fall
Stream Now at AppleTV, Prime Video
Run Time: 2h 31m
One of the best films of the year, Anatomy of a Fall, stands out because of its measured pace and gradual buildup. The film is a refreshing change from the sensationalism and oversaturation that plague most crime-related media nowadays.
A smart thriller that doesn’t shy away from darker themes such as depression, jealousy, and guilt while remaining a masterful character study thanks to Huller’s superb performance – her intelligence comes through clearly, but it’s her subtle variations in tone and expression that truly sells her as she maneuvers the twisting turns of this legal battle with Samuel in their living room duet – accusations, deflections and projections colliding into one captivating and unnerving scenes ever seen before in 2023!
John Wick: Chapter 4
Stream Now at AppleTV
Run Time: 2h 49m
John Wick: Chapter 4 sets ambitious standards yet meets them convincingly. A thrilling homage to stunt work with an engaging script tailored specifically for diehard fans, its extended fight sequences, such as an amazing sword festival at a Japanese hotel, a waterfall-laden fight in a German club, and one with a floorplan view showing Wick’s bullets, are as epic as they come.
Reeves shines in his portrayal of Wick, who exhibits both weariness and exasperation that perfectly capture his current state of mind – someone who’s grown tired of life’s harsh realities and wants out. Reeves’ performance cemented him as one of modern cinema’s greatest action stars.
Killers of the Flower Moon
Stream Now at AppleTV
Run Time: 3h 26m
This movie depicts an intriguing true tale about the Osage people of Oklahoma during the 1920s, who were murdered for their oil wealth by henchmen and government agents led by white supremacy agent George Atwater. A powerful tale of greed and corruption featuring unforgettable performances by Leonardo DiCaprio, Lily Gladstone, and Robert De Niro, among others.
Scorsese may appear to be treading carefully with this period piece. Yet, Killers of the Flower Moon stands out as something different than his other classic American crime tales like Goodfellas, Gangs of New York, and The Irishman. Here, Scorsese uses tracking shots more frequently, which gives an immersive sense of being present during an ongoing murder investigation as we experience it first-hand.
