Neo-noir is a relatively recent wave of cinema that brought the success and popularity of the film noir genre back into the spotlight through great movies. The 1970s saw an uptick in neo-noir projects, and the decade has come to define the inception of neo-noir. However, these films couldn’t exist without the original works of the noir genre and the actors that helped to create the archetypes seen frequently onscreen. The best film noir movies of all time were primarily produced between the 1940s and 1960s, so many actors of the Hollywood Golden Age starred in these crime thrillers.
While there are still dark shadows, detectives, and horrible crimes, there’s much more to the neo-noir genre. There are many underrated neo-noir movies from the 1980s, as the 1970s and ’80s were the peak of the revival of film noir. It’s hard to know where to begin when unpacking the neo-noir genre, as it’s been going strong since its inception in the ’70s, but many of the classics are a good place to start (via BFI). Most of the films from this period have been highly influential in the trajectory of crime films and feature outstanding actors and filmmakers.
10 Dirty Harry (1971)
Directed by Don Siegel
Dirty Harry RActionCrimeThriller Where to Watch
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Clint Eastwood stars in the western Dirty Harry as a no-nonsense San Francisco cop who takes the law into his own hands in pursuit of a serial killer, Scorpio. Directed by Don Siegel and featuring a memorable score by Lalo Schifrin, the film is known for its iconic catchphrases and intense action scenes, and has influenced countless films and TV shows in the years since its release.
Director Don Siegel Release Date December 23, 1971 Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Writers Harry Julian Fink , Rita M. Fink , Dean Riesner , John Milius , Jo Heims Cast Clint Eastwood , Harry Guardino , Reni Santoni , John Vernon , Andrew Robinson , John Larch Runtime 102 minutes Expand
Dirty Harry features some of the best Clint Eastwood movie quotes, as Eastwood’s character, Dirty Harry Callahan, recites his famous “Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?” speech. Made at the beginning of the decade, Dirty Harry takes an interesting stance on the role of police work and the judicial system in the U.S., often interpreted as a film that glorifies working outside the law and without due process. However, it could also be viewed through the neo-noir lens that shows Harry as the last holdout of a failing and outdated ideology.
This character was instrumental in allowing Eastwood to transcend the Western genre.
Loosely based on the true events surrounding the real serial killer, the Zodiac Killer, Dirty Harry has plenty of action and chase scenes to make it as thrilling as the best films within the crime genre. A huge success at the box office, Dirty Harry has a complex legacy but has influenced many great thrillers like Zodiac, which references Dirty Harry within the script. This character was instrumental in allowing Eastwood to transcend the Western genre.
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Dirty Harry (1971) |
89% |
90% |
9 Get Carter (1971)
Directed by Mike Hodges
One of the best British neo-noir films, Get Carter stars Michael Caine as Jack Carter, a gangster who returns home after learning about the mysterious circumstances surrounding his brother’s death. Though no character in Get Carter can take the moral high ground, Jack Carter is the traditional overtly masculine and uncaring neo-noir protagonist who will do anything to exact his revenge. However, also along the lines of the neo-noir, he is destined for tragedy and struck with horrible events at every turn.
In 2000, Get Carter received a remake starring Sylvester Stallone, which paled in comparison to the original film. Other movies, like the gentlemen gangster films of Guy Ritchie, are more similar to Get Carter and could be described as spiritual successors to the British movie. Overall, Get Carter is a brutal and depressing addition to the neo-noir genre, and its overt violence and lack of thriller elements separate it from some of the more popular American movies.
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Get Carter (1971) |
87% |
84% |
8 The Long Goodbye (1973)
Directed by Robert Altman
The Long Goodbye RDramaComedyCrime Where to Watch
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The Long Goodbye, directed by Robert Altman, is a neo-noir film adaptation of Raymond Chandler’s novel. Starring Elliott Gould as private investigator Philip Marlowe, the story unfolds in 1970s Los Angeles where Marlowe becomes embroiled in a complex case involving murder, deception, and high society. With a relaxed and unconventional approach, Altman’s film provides a unique take on classic detective narratives.
Director Robert Altman Release Date March 8, 1973 Writers Leigh Brackett , Raymond Chandler Cast Elliott Gould , Nina van Pallandt , Sterling Hayden , Mark Rydell , Henry Gibson , David Arkin , Jim Bouton , Warren Berlinger Runtime 112 Minutes
Robert Altman’s The Long Goodbye is in direct conversation with the best noir films of the decades past, centering on the famous fictional detective Philip Marlowe but painting him in an entirely new light. Marlowe is best known for being portrayed by Humphrey Bogart in The Big Sleep, which depicts him as the suave, confident, and incredibly intelligent protagonist who’s always one step ahead of the bad guys. This couldn’t be further from the truth in Elliott Gould’s take on the detective.
There was strong opposition to this take on Marlowe when the film first premiered, but this has changed over the last several decades.
Set in the 1970s instead of the classic noir eras of the ’40s and ’50s, The Long Goodbye sees Marlowe as a bumbling fool who’s disconnected from the cultural and social developments around him. There was strong opposition to this take on Marlowe when the film first premiered, but this has changed over the last several decades. Today, The Long Goodbye is considered one of the films that embody the neo-noir genre perfectly and capture the changing viewpoints toward the leading man behind the noir.
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The Long Goodbye (1973) |
95% |
87% |
Related 10 Worthy Remakes Of Classic Noir Movies
The 1940s and 1950s featured countless incredible film noirs, so it’s no surprise that filmmakers have continued to remake them in the years since.
7 Serpico (1973)
Directed by Sidney Lumet
Serpico (1973) RBiographyCrimeDrama
An honest New York cop named Frank Serpico denounces corruption in the Force only to have his comrades turn against him.
Director Sidney Lumet Release Date December 5, 1973 Studio(s) Artists Entertainment Complex , Produzion De Laurentiis International Manufacturing Company S.P.A. Writers Waldo Salt , Norman Wexler Cast Al Pacino , John Randolph , Jack Kehoe , Biff McGuire , Barbara Eda-Young , Cornelia Sharpe , Tony Roberts , Allan Rich Runtime 130 minutes Expand
The biographical drama Serpico draws its story from a real case of corruption in the New York City Police Department and the real Frank Serpico’s whistleblowing. Al Pacino plays Serpico, an NYPD detective who’s continuously targeted and eventually injured because of his refusal to participate in the department’s corruption. Even when he tries to take his findings further up the ladder, even going to the press, the chain of people protecting the amoral officers goes higher than he realizes and puts him in danger.
Pacino gives a landmark performance as Serpico, and though it differed from some of his earlier work, it successfully demonstrated his range as an actor. Though Serpico doesn’t always go about his investigation in the right way, it’s not the man who’s at fault in the film but the failing systems of justice that are supposed to protect him. Though it makes strong points about the nature of police work in the U.S., Serpico belongs to the neo-noir genre because of its melancholic and cynical tones that prevail throughout the story.
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Serpico (1973) |
93% |
88% |
6 Klute (1971)
Directed by Alan J. Pakula
Klute 1
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Klute is a suspense thriller directed by Alan J. Pakula, released in 1971. The film stars Jane Fonda as Bree Daniels, a call girl who becomes embroiled in the investigation of a missing person case led by small-town detective John Klute, played by Donald Sutherland. Known for its atmospheric cinematography and gripping performances, Klute delves into themes of loneliness and paranoia within the urban landscape.
Director Alan J. Pakula Release Date June 23, 1971 Writers David E. Lewis , Andy Lewis Cast Jane Fonda , Donald Sutherland , Charles Cioffi , Roy Scheider , Dorothy Tristan , Rita Gam , Nathan George , Vivian Nathan
Klute is one of Donald Sutherland’s best movies and features an equally astounding performance from Jane Fonda in the neo-noir classic that has come to define both actors’ careers. Fonda went on to win Best Actress at the Academy Awards for her nuanced and compelling turn as Bree Daniels, the young woman who upends the life of the private detective, John Klute (Sutherland). As much about the crime at the heart of the story as it is the doomed relationship between Klute and Daniels, Klute is a dark and timely film.
Well ahead of its time,
Klute
explores themes of surveillance and paranoia, which have come to define modern crime thrillers thanks to the influx of recording and tracking technologies.
Well ahead of its time, Klute explores themes of surveillance and paranoia, which have come to define modern crime thrillers thanks to the influx of recording and tracking technologies. Though the film’s titular character is Klute, he is representative of a time gone by, whereas the film’s thesis is more in line with the philosophies of Daniels. She struggles with the dichotomy of her desires for both freedom and security, which was a major issue facing the U.S. during the period.
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Klute (1971) |
93% |
80% |
5 Night Moves (1975)
Directed by Arthur Penn
Night Moves (1975) RCrimeMysteryDrama
Night Moves is a 1975 neo-noir film directed by Arthur Penn, starring Gene Hackman as private investigator Harry Moseby. While dealing with personal troubles, Moseby is hired to find a runaway teenage girl, leading him into a complex web of deception and danger. The film explores themes of disillusionment and moral ambiguity, set against the backdrop of 1970s Los Angeles and the Florida Keys.
Director Arthur Penn Release Date February 27, 1975 Studio(s) Layton Productions , Hiller Productions , Warner Bros. Pictures Writers Alan Sharp Cast Gene Hackman , Jennifer Warren , Edward Binns , Susan Clark , Harris Yulin Runtime 100 Minutes Expand
Night Moves came out a few years after Gene Hackman established himself as a hallmark of the neo-noir genre in The French Connection. In Night Moves, Hackman’s character, Harry Moseby, lives in LA instead of New York and is a private investigator, which automatically frees him from the more obvious constraints of the law in terms of investigations. As time has progressed, Night Moves has grown in critical and audience acclaim, largely thanks to its open-ended conclusion and the intricate plot that the movie weaves.
Though Harry isn’t as violent and amoral as some of Hackman’s other characters, he takes on a more pathetic and depressing outlook as he fails to understand the crimes he sees at every turn. He’s easily outwitted by the people using him and is unable to stay true to the beliefs he so desperately wants to hold dear. It would be easy to feel sorry for Harry if not for the fact that he is the person who entangles himself further in the mess, and Hackman’s wonderful performance makes the man all the more deflated.
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Night Moves (1975) |
84% |
71% |
4 Wanda (1970)
Directed by Barbara Loden
Wanda PGDramaCrime
Wanda, directed by and starring Barbara Loden, is a drama that follows the life of a disaffected woman in Pennsylvania who drifts through a series of aimless and destructive relationships. Released in 1970, the film presents a stark exploration of alienation and survival, capturing the protagonist’s struggle against the socio-economic constraints of her environment.
Director Barbara Loden Release Date September 1, 1970 Writers Barbara Loden Cast Barbara Loden , Michael Higgins , Dorothy Shupenes , Peter Shupenes , Jerome Thier , Marian Thier , Valerie Mamches , Anthony Rotell Runtime 103 Minutes
Barbara Loden wrote, directed, and stars in Wanda. The film is an underrated cult classic that follows the story of Wanda Goronski, a young woman who leaves her husband and goes on a solo odyssey akin to Bonnie and Clyde. Set in rural Pennsylvania, Wanda focuses on an often untouched niche of U.S. life, as many traditional neo-noirs and crime thrillers take place in major cities like New York or Los Angeles. While Wanda is rarely mentioned in larger roundups of the neo-noir genre, it deserves a place in the conversation.
Well ahead of its time,
Wanda
unpacks the legacy of the Hollywood crime film and is drenched in realism in a more urgent way than other projects thanks to its limited budget.
Well ahead of its time, Wanda unpacks the legacy of the Hollywood crime film and is drenched in realism in a more urgent way than other projects thanks to its limited budget. Wanda’s involvement in a life of crime isn’t entirely of her own doing, but she also is more of an active protagonist than some critics gave her credit for. As most neo-noirs cast the female characters in the role of femme fatale, it’s refreshing to see a woman propelling the story forward.
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Wanda (1970) |
92% |
70% |
3 The French Connection (1971)
Directed by William Friedkin
The French Connection RThriller Where to Watch
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The French Connection is a 1971 crime thriller directed by William Friedkin. It stars Gene Hackman as Detective Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle and Roy Scheider as his partner Buddy Russo. The film follows their efforts to dismantle a major heroin smuggling operation. Known for its gritty realism and intense action sequences, The French Connection received critical acclaim and won several Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Hackman.
Director William Friedkin Release Date October 7, 1971 Cast Gene Hackman , Fernando Rey , Roy Scheider Runtime 104 Minutes
Gene Hackman’s character, Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle, is the next step in the evolution of the noir-era detective, as his moral ambiguity goes even further into the territory of a complete anti-hero. The director, William Friedkin, further explored the territory of corruption in the police force in his later project, To Live and Die in L.A. Both of these projects have influenced the neo-noir genre as a whole, and Doyle has become a beacon of the amoral police officer character type.
The French Connection features an iconic car chase that was shot on location in New York City, which was part of the appeal of the gritty style of the film. Winning Best Picture, Director, and Actor at the Oscars, the critical and audience acclaim that The French Connection received has kept it relevant in the cultural mindset. The immersive nature of the aesthetics and sound design of The French Connection is more fast-paced and intensive than a typical noir, which sets it apart.
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The French Connection (1971) |
96% |
87% |
Related Gene Hackman’s 10 Best Movies, Ranked
Despite his retirement in 2004, Gene Hackman remains relevant for his rich legacy, which includes some of the best movies in film history.
2 Taxi Driver (1976)
Directed by Martin Scorsese
Taxi Driver 1
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Martin Scorsese’s classic 1976 film stars Robert De Niro as Travis Bickle, a Vietnam veteran turned New York City cab driver whose increasingly disturbed mental state due to his PTSD begins to drive him to more and more violent actions as he attempts to rid the city of what he sees as the “scum” on the streets. Jodie Foster, Harvey Keitel, Cybill Shepherd, and Albert Brooks also star in the film.
Director Martin Scorsese Release Date February 9, 1976 Studio(s) Bill/Phillips Productions Writers Paul Schrader Cast Robert De Niro , Jodie Foster , Cybill Shepherd , Albert Brooks , Harvey Keitel , Victor Argo , Peter Boyle Runtime 114 Minutes Expand
After their first successful collaboration on Mean Streets in 1973, Martin Scorses and Robert De Niro came back together for Taxi Driver. It was the movie that would cement their partnership as one of the best in film history. Scorsese and De Niro’s movie collaborations are all notable. However, Taxi Driver stands out thanks to a flawless script from Paul Schrader, who manages to create equal disgust and empathy towards De Niro’s character throughout the film. While there is some debate over calling Taxi Driver a neo-noir film, it has many of these elements.
Recent works like
Joker
,
Fight Club
, and Scorsese’s
The King of Comedy
couldn’t exist without the groundwork laid by
Taxi Driver
.
De Niro’s character, Travis Bickle, differs from the classic noir protagonist. However, he embodies the anxieties of the neo-noir genre, as the cultural mindset was shifting towards a fear of those who lived outside the confines of society. Recent works like Joker, Fight Club, and Scorsese’s The King of Comedy couldn’t exist without the groundwork laid by Taxi Driver. The disillusionment, isolation, and cyclical nature of violence that are on display in Taxi Driver make it a classic work of neo-noir.
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Taxi Driver (1976) |
89% |
93% |
1 Chinatown (1974)
Directed by Roman Polanski
Chinatown RCrimeDocumentaryDramaMysteryThriller Where to Watch
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Originally released in 1974, Chinatown is an American neo-noir mystery movie starring Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway. Its story was inspired by the California water wars, a series of conflicts between the city of Los Angeles and the people of Owen’s Valley around the beginning of the twentieth century. The movie received 11 Academy Award nominations in total, with Robert Towne winning the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.
Director Roman Polanski Release Date June 20, 1974 Studio(s) Paramount Pictures Writers Robert Towne , Roman Polanski Cast Jack Nicholson , Faye Dunaway , John Huston , Perry Lopez , John Hillerman , Darrell Zwerling Runtime 130 minutes Expand
Jack Nicholson has played many roles that could be called his greatest, but Jake in Chinatown is very near the top of the list. Nicholson is joined by his costar Faye Dunaway as Evelyn Cross-Mulwray. She plays the femme fatale with a horrible secret that’s slowly uncovered throughout the plot of Chinatown. Like many neo-noirs of the ’70s, Chinatown is set in Los Angeles, and the central conspiracy of the film is in tune with the contemporary issues of the 1970s.
As corrupt politicians and businessmen vie for control of the water supply in LA, innocent bystanders are caught in the crossfire. Like the classic detective heroes of the noir genre, Jake is morally ambiguous but tries to do the right thing, even if he’s led in the wrong direction. Chinatown falls into the neo-noir genre because of its cynical and post-modern sensibilities, as well as the explicit discussions of violence and sex, which were frequently censored during the heyday of film noir. The performances, style, and urgent subject matter of Chinatown make it an enduring work of fiction.
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Chinatown (1974) |
98% |
93% |