Can’t get enough of hitmen, mobsters, and a general sense of lawless mayhem? With HBO Max’s vast catalog of films, which includes a rich library in the crime genre, you’re sure to find something that quells your urge for sweet scores and getaway plans. Everything including murder mysteries, bank robberies, and “family business” can be found in the HBO Max film library, so here’s a selection available to find that ranges from underrated gems to all-time classics.

For more recommendations, check out our list of the best action movies, true crime series, cult action favorites on HBO Max, and movies on HBO.

Disclaimer: These titles are available on US Max.

Editor's note: This article was updated August 2023 to include A Most Violent Year.

A Most Violent Year (2014)

Run Time: 2 hrs 5 min | Director: J.C. Chandor

Cast: Oscar Isaac, Jessica Chastain, David Oyelowo

Writer-director J.C. Chandor captures award-worthy performances in A Most Violent Year, a terrific crime thriller starring Oscar Isaac (X-Men: Apocalypse) and Jessica Chastain (The Eyes of Tammy Faye). Grounded by Chandor’s gripping script, the film harnesses the realities of a tumultuous moment in New York City’s history surrounding organized criminal activities. Together, Isaac and Chastain play a loving and ambitious couple determined to protect their family and businesses, regardless of legal or moral expectations. A Most Violent Year presents the gray areas and ethical dilemmas through stellar drama and critically praised performances. – Yael Tygiel

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Law Abiding Citizen (2009)

Jamie Foxx and Gerard Butler in Law Abiding Citizen

Run Time: 1 hr 49 min | Director: F. Gary Gray

Cast: Gerard Butler, Jamie Foxx, Leslie Bibb, Regina Hall, Viola Davis

Gerard Butler (How to Train Your Dragon) and Jamie Foxx (Spider-Man: No Way Home) star in Law Abiding Citizen, a thrilling cat-and-mouse action drama from director F. Gary Gray (Men in Black: International). Law Abiding Citizen is a heart-pumping crime adventure that follows a man seeking revenge (Butler) from the people he deems responsible for his wife’s murder. Showcasing a beautiful tribute to the city of Philadelphia while also reflecting on corruption in the justice system, Law Abiding Citizen is a well-crafted cinematic feat, from the intense plot to the standout cast. – Yael Tygiel

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The Little Things (2021)

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Image via Warner Bros.

Run Time: 2 hrs 8 min | Director: John Lee Hancock

Cast: Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, Jared Leto, Natalie Morales, Michael Hyatt

Written and directed by John Lee Hancock, The Little Things is an intense crime thriller starring Denzel Washington as a Kern County Deputy Sheriff named Joe Deacon, who, on a routine evidence-gathering assignment, finds himself knee-deep in a murder investigation. Deacon joins forces with Sergeant Jim Baxter (Rami Malek), and The Little Things follows as they become embroiled in the hunt for a serial killer terrorizing Los Angeles. Coming from different backgrounds, experiences, and processes, the unlikely partners begin to uncover secrets linking the case to Sheriff Deacon’s past — with deadly results. The Little Things features a haunting performance from Jared Leto and co-stars Natalie Morales and Michael Hyatt. – Yael Tygiel

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Goodfellas (1990)

Image via Warner Bros.

Run Time: 2 hr 26 min | Director: Martin Scorsese

Cast: Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci, Lorraine Bracco

Martin Scorsese’s mob classic follows the rise and fall of gangster turned police informant, Henry Hill (Ray Liotta). Scorsese is no stranger to the world of crime in film, having made a variety of films in the genre such as Mean Streets and Casino, but it's near impossible to top Goodfellas, a film littered with memorable moments and iconic scenes within the crime genre. Stacked with great performances from Liotta to Robert De Niro at his most cool and menacing as Jimmy Conway, and Lorrain Bracco as Karen, Henry’s put upon wife. But it is Joe Pesci who won an Oscar for his portrayal of the maniacal Tommy DeVito, who’s both terrifying and kind of a funny guy. Whether it's for the first time or the 20th, there’s never a bad time to watch Goodfellas.

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The Player (1992)

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Image via New Line Cinema

Run Time: 2 hr 4 min | Director: Robert Altman

Cast: Tim Robbins, Greta Scacchi, Fred Ward, Whoopi Goldberg

Griffin Mill (Tim Robbins), a hotshot film producer who greenlights and rejects thousands of screenplay pitches, has been receiving anonymous death threats from who he assumes is a writer that had a pitch rejected. Mill meets with the writer who he believes is harassing him, but when their conversation escalates to a fight, Mill murders the writer and stages the scene as a robbery believing his strife is now over. But the next day, Mill receives another letter from his stalker. Robert Altman’s satire of the Hollywood machine is still relevant 30 years later, as it pokes fun at incompetant studio executives and mocks the egos of movie stars and producers alike. A beautifully shot film that features a bevy of cameos from A-listers of the time.

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Blood Simple (1984)

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Image via Criterion

Run Time: 1 hr 39 min | Director: Joel Coen

Cast: John Getz, Frances McDormand, Dan Hedaya, Samm-Art Williams

The Coen brothers announced themselves as cinematic wunderkinds to be reckoned with in their stylish neo noir debut. Set deep in the heart of Texas, a jealous bar owner (Dan Hedaya) hires a cheap hitman (M. Emmet Walsh) to murder his cheating wife (Frances McDormand) and her lover (John Getz). A taut thriller that will grip you to its closing moments.

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No Sudden Move (2021)

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Run Time: 1 hr 55 min | Director: Steven Soderbergh

Cast: Don Cheadle, Benicio del Toro, David Harbour, Jon Hamm

The latest film from Steven Soderbergh, director of films such as Ocean’s Eleven and Out of Sight, is set in 1954 Detroit and follows a group of small-time criminals tasked with stealing a valuable document. But when the heist goes sideways, they search for those who hired them and for what the purpose was. Featuring a stellar cast that includes Don Cheadle, Benicio Del Toro, Kieran Culkin, Brendan Fraser and Jon Hamm, Soderbergh’s newest heist film presents a fresh take on the genre and askews some of the trappings of those stories to create an unpredictable narrative.

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The Departed (2006)

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Image via Warner Bros.

Run Time: 2 hr 31 min | Director: Martin Scorsese

Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg

A tale of two rats. A police informant (Leonardo DiCaprio) goes deep undercover in the Irish mob that has taken over the streets of Boston in order to flush out a mobster (Matt Damon) who has infiltrated the police department. Martin Scorsese received his long overdue Oscar in this best Best Picture-winning crime epic. This endlessly entertaining thriller boasts brilliant performances from both DiCaprio and Damon, but it is the supporting cast that makes this film as good as it is, with Jack Nicholson giving what may be his final great performance as the crime lord Frank Costello, while Ray Winstone is suitably intimidating as his muscle. But it is a never-better Mark Wahlberg that steals the show as the guy who does his job, igniting all of his scenes with profanity filled, hilarious tyrades as the fiery police Sergeant Dignam.

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