In search of a challenging puzzle? Want to take a stroll through the seedy underbelly? Well, if you’d rather do it in the privacy (and security) of your own house, watching a movie is definitely your best bet.
Filmmakers have been inspired by the suspense of crime pretty much ever since people started capturing moving pictures on film, which is wonderful news for fans of the genre because it means there are a ton of fantastic movies to choose from when you’re in the mood.
There are several excellent crime films available right now on Netflix if you’re in the mood for some suspenseful viewing. Check out the greatest options we’ve compiled below.
Want something easy on the eyes and ears? Browse our suggestions for the finest movies on Netflix, or check out our lists of the best Netflix comedies, romances, or family films.
The Guilty (2021)
Duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Cast: Peter Sarsgaard and Riley Keough (played by Jake Gyllenhaal)
The Guilty is a situational thriller that takes place at a 911 call center and is based on Den Skyldige, a Danish film written by Gustav Möller and Emil Nygaard Albertsen. Police officer Joe Baylor (Jake Gyllenhaal) has been relegated to the position of operator. In the midst of some sort of probe, Baylor regards his current temporary duty as more of a punishment than a job.
But when Baylor answers an apparently harmless call, the course of the evening and the rest of his life are altered in ways he could never have predicted. Despite Baylor’s previous skepticism, he may now need to trust his gut in order to save his family from imminent death.
Gyllenhaal’s acting prowess is on full display in The Guilty, which was shot in just 11 days with director Antoine Fuqua directing from a van and features a stellar voice cast that also includes Riley Keough, Peter Sarsgaard, and Ethan Hawke.
Luther: The Fallen Sun (2023)
Duration: 2 hours and 9 minutes
Cast: Andy Serkis, Cynthia Erivo, and Idris Elba
Luther: The Fallen Sun is an exciting film continuation of the critically acclaimed television series Luther, starring Idris Elba as the lovable detective John Luther, complete with his trademark overcoat. In Luther: The Fallen Sun, directed by Jamie Payne, the discredited London detective escapes from prison to track down a psychotic criminal.
Luther: The Fallen Sun is a full-length installment of Luther, costarring Cynthia Erivo and Andy Serkis, despite its predictable mystery and straightforward plot. But in a natural and exciting way, it breathes new life into the beloved series.
Enola Holmes (2020)
Duration: 2 hours and 3 minutes
Cast: Starring Henry Cavill, Sam Claflin, and Millie Bobby Brown
Enola Holmes, starring Stranger Things’ Millie Bobby Brown as Sherlock’s younger sister, is a charmingly adorable film about the mysterious Holmes family. Enola’s mother (Helena Bonham Carter) goes missing, so she sets out on a perilous quest to find her, during which she makes friends and uncovers a terrible conspiracy.
With a dash of romance and a lot of heart, Enola Holmes skillfully blends mystery and adventure. In Enola Holmes, the youngest Holmes detective gets her chance to shine alongside her more famous brothers, played by Henry Cavill (Man of Steel) and Sam Claflin (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire).
Lost Girls (2020)
Duration: 1 hour 35 minutes
Cast: Oona Laurence, Miriam Shor, Amy Ryan, Gabriel Byrne, Thomasin McKenzie, and Gabriel Byrne
Amy Ryan (Only Murders in the Building) stars as a mother who is determined to find out what happened to her missing teen daughter in the dramatic mystery Lost Girls, directed by Liz Garbus and inspired by awful true occurrences.
A missing girl in a gated community sets in motion the discovery of over a dozen unsolved homicides and draws attention to understaffed law enforcement agencies that fail to investigate the mysterious deaths of teenage sex workers. Ryan is the center of attention for a cast of talented supporting actors including Gabriel Byrne (Younger), Miriam Shor (Younger), Oona Laurence (Bad Moms), and Dean Winters (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit).
The Gray Man (2022)
Duration: 2 hours and 2 minutes
Cast: Ryan Gosling, Chris Evans, and Ana de Armas
The Gray Man is a high-budget action movie starring Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans as opposing CIA operatives. This complex game of cat and mouse features a ridiculously handsome all-star cast and huge set pieces that allow for colossal stunts, making it an explosive visual feast. Both Gosling and Evans shine in their parts, which need speed and precision.
The cast and crew’s obvious familiarity with the subject matter and the visionaries in the camera room shine through. The success of The Gray Man serves as a testament to the skill of directors Anthony Russo and Joe Russo (Avengers: Endgame).
Sweet Girl (2021)
Duration: 1 hour and 50 Minutes
Cast: Starring Jason Momoa, Isabela Merced, and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo
Jason Momoa (Aquaman) and Isabela Merced (Dora and the Lost City of Gold) feature in Sweet Girl, an action film about a father and daughter. Sweet Girl is a fairytale where the fight for family and justice is literal, but it has its roots in our numbing reality, where pharmaceutical companies profit from the deaths of sick patients.
The car chases, gunfights and hand-to-hand combat make for an exciting two hours, while the underlying themes of social inequality and political corruption provide interesting food for thought.
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