The crime genre is one of the most universal niches of cinema, as there’s nothing more simultaneously attractive and repulsive than the high drama of a crime movie. Though every decade offers a unique perspective on the way crime develops and how people respond to it, the early 2000s was a particularly interesting period. With the influx of emerging technologies and the changing landscape of what could be shown onscreen, new doors were opening for all of film, but particularly crime movies. Whether they lean into the comedic aspects or the violent brutality, all of these films are memorable.
Many of the must-see crime movies of the 1990s influenced the dramas of the early 2000s, with iconic directors like Martin Scorsese bringing complex stories to life. While the narratives are a large part of what makes these films connect with audiences, the actors’ performances bring these projects to the next level. Whether they’re embodying a crime lord, a corrupt police officer, or a bystander trying to survive in the evolving world, these characters are relatable and vivid. Most of these films have enjoyed critical acclaim and are well remembered to this day.
10
Sin City (2005)
Directed by Frank Miller & Robert Rodriguez
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6/10
Sin City
R
CrimeThriller
Based on the original graphic novel by Frank Miller, Sin City is a dark and gritty crime-noir action movie that tells several different stories, all set at the same time in the same city. The lines of good and evil are blurred, with vigilantism being the new norm, as a city rife with corruption slowly swallows its citizens whole. Each protagonist is loosely connected to one another’s stories as the movie paints a bigger picture through each new point of view.
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Release Date
April 1, 2005
Runtime
124 minutes
Cast
Rosario Dawson
, Bruce Willis
, Jessica Alba
, Elijah Wood
, Benicio Del Toro
, Clive Owen
Director
Robert Rodriguez
, Quentin Tarantino
, Frank Miller
Writers
Frank Miller
Studio(s)
MiraMax
Expand
The heavily stylized Sin City is based on the comic book series by Frank Miller, who co-directed the film with Robert Rodriguez. Though it isn’t the most critically acclaimed movie of the early 2000s, Sin City should be remembered for its innovative visual language and its boundary-breaking anthology format. Drawing inspiration from classic film noir movies and more pulpy and camp works, Sin City is polarizing, but for audiences who connect with it, there’s nothing better than the explosive work.
Even in its most grotesque and brutal moments, Sin City is undeniably gorgeous and technically impressive.
There’s no question that Sin City is one of the more violent additions to the crime genre, with explicit scenes and graphic moments putting off some critics and audiences. However, today, these aspects of the movie have aged decently well since violence on screen is becoming more common and widely accepted. Even in its most grotesque and brutal moments, Sin City is undeniably gorgeous and technically impressive. Sin City has acted as a benchmark for screen adaptations of comic books ever since its release.
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Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Sin City (2005) |
76% |
78% |
9
Training Day (2001)
Directed by Antoine Fuqua
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9.3/10
Training Day
R
CrimeThrillerDrama
Denzel Washington and Alonzo Harris star in Training Day, an action thriller that follows the two stars as Los Angeles narcotics officers. Jake Hoyt is prepping on his first major training day for a promotion as he spends spend a tense twenty-four hours across several L.A. crime-ridden neighborhoods as Jake sees the danger and horrors of the job.
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Release Date
October 5, 2001
Runtime
122 minutes
Cast
Eva Mendes
, Ethan Hawke
, Denzel Washington
, Scott Glenn
, Cliff Curtis
Director
Antoine Fuqua
Writers
David Ayer
Studio(s)
Warner Bros. Pictures
Expand
Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke make a formidable pair in Training Day, a harrowing 24-hour exploration of the tenuous relationship between the gangs and police in Los Angeles. Washington’s character, Alonzo, is a corrupt officer who takes the rookie Jake (Hawke) on a tour of the drug and gang territory in LA, subjecting him to increasingly pressure-filled situations. Though the content of Training Day sparked some controversy, there’s no question that Washington and Hawke are giving their all to their roles.
As one of Denzel Washington’s best crime movies, Washington won the Academy Award for Best Actor for Training Day. The pacing of Training Day keeps the characters and audience relentlessly moving forward without a chance to catch their breath. This increases the already high levels of tension inherently present in the story, allowing Washington and Hawke to push their characters to their extremes in every situation. Training Day takes viewers to a world outside their experience and incorporates both action and tragedy into its story.
|
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Training Day (2001) |
74% |
89% |
8
Catch Me If You Can (2002)
Directed by Steve Spielberg
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18
7.8/10
Catch Me If You Can
PG-13
CrimeDramaBiography
Catch Me If You Can is a 2002 biographical crime film directed by Steven Spielberg. It’s based on the true story of real-life con artist Frank Abagnale Jr., who successfully impersonated an airline pilot, doctor, and lawyer. Leonardo DiCaprio stars in the lead role and Tom Hanks co-stars as FBI Agent Carl Hanratty.
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Release Date
December 25, 2002
Runtime
141 Minutes
Cast
Leonardo DiCaprio
, Tom Hanks
, Christopher Walken
, Martin Sheen
, Nathalie Baye
, Amy Adams
, James Brolin
, Brian Howe
Director
Steven Spielberg
Writers
Frank Abagnale Jr.
, Stan Redding
, Jeff Nathanson
Studio(s)
DreamWorks Distribution
Expand
Though Catch Me If You Can is an inaccurate movie biopic, there are deeper emotional truths at play in the collaboration between Steven Spielberg and Leonardo DiCaprio. DiCaprio’s turn as the infamous Frank Abagnale Jr. is a standout role for the iconic actor, allowing him to explore the highs and lows of a life of crime and cons. Though Catch Me If You Can leans into the fun and glamorous moments of the supposed cons that Frank pulled, it simultaneously touches upon the loneliness and grief that Frank faced and pushes him into a life of crime.
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Catch Me If You Can introduced audiences to Frank Abagnale, but the movie changed some notable details of his story, and altering elements for drama.
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It ultimately doesn’t matter much if Frank’s stories about his misadventures are true, as they make for an entertaining movie and allow the audience to believe in a more exciting world for two and a half hours. DiCaprio is disarmingly charming as Frank and is part of the reason that Catch Me If You Can is so rewatchable today. Unafraid to be funny and accept itself as a blockbuster, Catch Me If You Can is the kind of crime film that doesn’t bring down its audience.
|
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Catch Me If You Can (2002) |
96% |
89% |
7
Gangs Of New York (2002)
Directed by Martin Scorsese
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9.7/10
Gangs of New York
R
CrimeDrama
Gangs of New York, directed by Martin Scorsese, is a historical drama that explores the violent rivalries between immigrant groups in 19th-century New York City. Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Amsterdam Vallon, who returns to the Five Points area seeking revenge against Bill the Butcher, played by Daniel Day-Lewis. The film dramatizes the socio-political unrest in America during that era, highlighting issues like gang warfare and ethnic tension.
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Release Date
December 20, 2002
Runtime
167 Minutes
Cast
Leonardo DiCaprio
, Cameron Diaz
, Daniel Day-Lewis
, Jim Broadbent
, John C. Reilly
, Henry Thomas
, Liam Neeson
, Brendan Gleeson
Director
Martin Scorsese
Writers
Jay Cocks
, Steven Zaillian
, Kenneth Lonergan
Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio have partnered on some of their best movies of the 21st century in the years since Gangs of New York. Though Gangs of New York isn’t a perfect film, it’s elevated by the stellar performances of DiCaprio and, most notably, Daniel Day-Lewis. Based on the 1927 book of the same name, Gangs of New York is a time capsule that transports the viewer to a time before one of the most iconic cities in the world became what it is today.
Day-Lewis’ performance was critically lauded, as his terrifying turn as the crime lord Bill the Butcher will stay with audiences long after the story has concluded. Though some audiences criticized some historical aspects of the film, as it’s set in the late 1800s, the visual choices have been overwhelmingly praised. While there are many crime movies that are period pieces, few go as far back as Gangs of New York with as much success.
|
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Gangs of New York (2002) |
72% |
81% |
6
Memento (2000)
Directed by Christopher Nolan
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9.6/10
Memento
R
MysteryThriller
Christopher Nolan’s Memento is a psychological thriller that tells the story of Leonard, a former insurance investigator who suffers from a disease that prevents his brain from storing short-term memories. The one thing he can remember is murder of his wife, for which he wishes to exact revenge. Starring Guy Pearce and Carrie-Anne Moss, the movie was released in 2000 to widespread acclaim, launching the director’s successful Hollywood career.
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Release Date
May 25, 2001
Runtime
113 minutes
Cast
Joe Pantoliano
, Guy Pearce
, Carrie-Anne Moss
, Stephen Tobolowsky
, Mark Boone Junior
Director
Christopher Nolan
Writers
Christopher Nolan
Studio(s)
Newmarket Films
Expand
Christopher Nolan’s mind-bending psychological thriller, Memento, gained critical and audience acclaim for its non-linear story structure and Guy Pearce’s incredible turn as the protagonist, Leonard. Shot in both color and black and white, Memento plays with the ephemeral nature of memory and the desire for revenge as Leonard attempts to track down his wife’s killer despite his inability to form new memories. The unusual structure of Memento is now considered characteristic of Christopher Nolan’s work.
Thanks to its complex structure and unusual format, Memento can be watched multiple times, with each viewing presenting a new facet of the story.
Due to Leonard’s condition, there are ample opportunities for him to find the wrong man and be manipulated by the people he encounters. It’s impossible for the viewer to understand the whole story until the film’s final moments when both timelines catch up to each other, and the truth behind Leonard’s wife’s death is revealed. Thanks to its complex structure and unusual format, Memento can be watched multiple times, with each viewing presenting a new facet of the story.
|
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Memento (2000) |
94% |
94% |
5
Ocean’s Eleven (2001)
Directed by Steven Soderbergh
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7.8/10
Ocean’s Eleven
PG-13
ThrillerCrime
A remake of the 1960 film and the first in a trilogy of movies by Steven Soderbergh, Ocean’s Eleven is an ensemble comedy-heist film that follows Danny Ocean and his friend Rusty Ryan who enlist the help of several specialized con men, safe-crackers, and experts to pull off a colossal heist of three casinos. Seeking revenge against the new husband of ex-wife Tess, Danny begins to tip-toe dangerously between the line of the job and revenge.
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Release Date
December 7, 2001
Runtime
116 minutes
Cast
Brad Pitt
, Don Cheadle
, Julia Roberts
, George Clooney
, Matt Damon
, Andy Garcia
Director
Steven Soderbergh
Writers
Ted Griffin
Studio(s)
Warner Bros. Pictures
Expand
There are few things as fun as a heist movie, and the 2001 remake of Ocean’s Eleven doesn’t shy away from leaning into the most enjoyable tropes of the genre. The ensemble cast is a large part of why Ocean’s Eleven is so well remembered. George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Matt Damon play off each other brilliantly. Though Don Cheadle’s faux-British accent is poked fun at by critics, and there are moments when the script can be predictable, this doesn’t diminish the fact that Ocean’s Eleven is a classic.
Successfully enough to warrant the production of the sequels Ocean’s Twelve and Ocean’s Thirteen, Ocean’s Eleven has everything audiences could want. Danny Ocean must plan an impossible heist full of action and trickery, and he must do so to win back the love of his life, Tess (Julia Roberts). While not every crime movie asks the audience to root for the criminal, it’s easy to want Danny to win in Ocean’s Eleven.
|
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Ocean’s Eleven (2001) |
83% |
80% |
4
Collateral (2004)
Directed by Michael Mann
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9/10
Collateral
R
CrimeDocumentaryDramaThriller
Directed by Michael Mann, the crime thriller Collateral features Tom Cruise as a hitman hired to take out witnesses before a big trial and Jamie Foxx as the cab driver who unwittingly becomes his accomplice. With Jada Pinkett Smith, Mark Ruffalo, and Javier Bardem in its cast, the 2004 film received critical acclaim for its direction, performances, and suspenseful plot.
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Release Date
August 6, 2004
Runtime
120 minutes
Cast
Tom Cruise
, Jamie Foxx
, Jada Pinkett Smith
, Mark Ruffalo
, Peter Berg
, Bruce McGill
Director
Michael Mann
Writers
Stuart Beattie
Studio(s)
DreamWorks Distribution
Expand
Jamie Foxx and Tom Cruise are unforgettable in Collateral, the heart-pounding crime thriller that showed audiences a new side of both actors. One of the most explosive movies of 2004, Collateral takes both its characters and the audience on an anxiety-inducing thrill ride. Though Cruise is best known for his work as an action-hero heartthrob, his character Vincent is almost unrecognizable, as a hitman who takes Foxx’s Max hostage on an all-night tear across Los Angeles.
Witnessing the two actors at the height of their powers makes Collateral the kind of movie that’s impossible to look away from.
Collateral‘s Vincent is Tom Cruise’s best movie villain role, allowing him to present a cold and calculating side of himself that sparks terror in the viewer and Max. However, it’s the chemistry between Cruise and Foxx that takes Collateral to a whole new level, as Max slowly gains confidence and throws caution to the wind when he realizes it’s up to him to stop Vincent. Witnessing the two actors at the height of their powers makes Collateral the kind of movie that’s impossible to look away from.
|
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Collateral (2004) |
86% |
84% |
3
The Departed (2006)
Directed by Martin Scorsese
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9.8/10
The Departed
R
ThrillerDramaCrime
A remake of the 2002 film Infernal Affairs, Martin Scorcese’s The Departed is one of the definitive crime epics. It follows Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon), a Massachusetts State Police officer who serves as an informant for mob boss Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson), and Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio), an undercover cop placed within Costello’s organization. Both Sullivan and Costigan scramble to uncover the other’s identity in order to save their own lives from the wrath of Costello and his gang.
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Release Date
October 6, 2006
Runtime
151 minutes
Cast
Martin Sheen
, Matt Damon
, Jack Nicholson
, Mark Wahlberg
, Leonardo DiCaprio
Director
Martin Scorsese
Writers
William Monahan
, Alan Mak
, Felix Chong
Studio(s)
Warner Bros. Pictures
Expand
Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon are at their best as a corrupt police officer and an undercover agent in a race to discover the other’s identity before it costs them their lives. Martin Scorsese is in his element as the mind behind The Departed, though the film is loosely based on a real story of corruption in Boston and the 2002 movie Infernal Affairs. Scorsese is well known for his contributions to crime and gangster cinema, and The Departed successfully carved out a place among the best movies of his career.
Related
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Since the 1970s, “the Boston movie” has become its own cultural institution. by the end of the 2000s, it became associated with a particular style.
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1
Identity is a key theme in The Departed, as each of the characters has their internal perception of themselves and their loyalties and must balance this with the different faces they present to those around them. It’s a nihilistic and, at times, depressing movie, as Scorsese isn’t afraid to expose the harsh realities of undercover work. As time has progressed, The Departed has become no less timely or relevant and will likely continue to stand the test of time.
|
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
The Departed (2006) |
91% |
94% |
2
City Of God (2002)
Directed by Fernando Meirelles & Kátia Lund
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8.7/10
City of God
R
CrimeDrama
City of God is a Brazilian crime drama directed by Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund. Set in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro, the film chronicles the rise of organized crime through the eyes of a young boy named Rocket. As Rocket grapples with the harsh realities of his surroundings, the film explores themes of poverty, violence, and survival, offering a poignant and unflinching look at the impact of crime on a community.
Release Date
February 13, 2004
Runtime
130 Minutes
Cast
Alexandre Rodrigues
, Leandro Firmino
, Matheus Nachtergaele
, Phellipe Haagensen
, Douglas Silva
, Jonathan Haagensen
, Seu Jorge
, Jefechander Suplino
Director
Fernando Meirelles
, Kátia Lund
Writers
Paulo Lins
, Bráulio Mantovani
City of God is one of the most gorgeous and arresting explorations of gang warfare and life in a favela in Rio de Janeiro from the 1960s through the 1980s. From the moment City of God premiered, it received widespread critical acclaim, and it’s easy to see why. Each character and corner of the neighborhood is vividly realized, led by Alexandre Rodrigues as Rocket, the young man experiencing his coming-of-age alongside the rapid changes to his city.
Simultaneously intimate and expansive, City of God made a permanent mark on cinema.
While many crime dramas focus on sensationalizing true stories or elevating the roles of detectives and investigators in either unearthing or participating in corruption, City of God is different. The film takes a far-reaching look at how crime lords rise and the impact the actions of gangs and law enforcement have on people’s everyday lives. Simultaneously intimate and expansive, City of God made a permanent mark on cinema, inspiring countless additions to the crime genre and paving the way for a new era of coming-of-age works.
|
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
City of God (2002) |
91% |
97% |
1
No Country For Old Men (2007)
Directed by Ethan Coen & Joel Coen
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7.9/10
No Country for Old Men
R
ThrillerDramaCrime
No Country for Old Men is a western crime-thriller based on the novel by Cormac McCarthy and directed by the Cohen Brothers. Following three protagonists, the film centers around a large $2,000,000+ cache of dirty money lost near the Rio Grande. With a veteran who finds it, a hitman who will stop at nothing to get it, and a sheriff trying to investigate the crimes connected to it, all roads lead to death and mayhem as they find themselves in each other’s crosshairs.
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Release Date
November 21, 2007
Runtime
122 minutes
Cast
Kelly Macdonald
, Woody Harrelson
, Josh Brolin
, Javier Bardem
, Tommy Lee Jones
Director
Joel Coen
, Ethan Coen
Writers
Ethan Coen
, Joel Coen
Studio(s)
MiraMax
Expand
Largely considered the Coen Brothers’ magnum opus, No Country For Old Men is not just a crime movie but an epic tribute to the neo-Western genre with neo-Noir elements woven throughout the script. While the story of No Country For Old Men is perfectly crafted, the expert performances are what get the most attention. The work of Javier Bardem as Anton Chigurh is particularly chilling, and there’s no question that No Country For Old Men wouldn’t work without him.
However, the ensemble cast of No Country For Old Men has no weak spots, with Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, and Woody Harrelson lending their talents to the project. Though 2007 was a fantastic year for film and No Country For Old Men had tough competition, the film swept during awards season, winning the Oscar for Best Picture, among others. Few films are as indicative of the style and tone of early 2000s dramas as No Country For Old Men.
|
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
No Country For Old Men (2007) |
93% |
86% |