Need a good mystery to solve? Want to take a walk through the criminal underworld? Well, if you wanna do it from the comfort (and safety) of your own home, you're probably gonna want to watch a movie. Fortunately for fans of the genre, filmmakers have been turning to the thrills of crime for inspiration pretty much since folks started capturing moving pictures on film, so there are a whole lot of great options to watch when you're in that mood. And if you're looking for the best crime movies on Netflix, there are plenty of titles currently streaming to scratch that itch. Browse our list of the best picks below.

In the mood for something a little lighter? Check out our lists for the best comedies, romances, or family movies on the platform, or browse our recommendations of the best movies on Netflix across all genres.

The Guilty

Rotten Tomatoes: 74% | IMDb: 6.3/10

the guilty poster
The Guilty (2021)
Crime
Thriller
Release Date
September 24, 2021
Director
Antoine Fuqua
Cast
Jake Gyllenhaal , Riley Keough , Ethan Hawke
Runtime
1 hr 30 min

Based on Den Skyldige, the Danish film written by Gustav Möller and Emil Nygaard Albertsen, The Guilty is a situational thriller set in a 911 dispatch center. Joe Baylor (Jake Gyllenhaal) is a police officer, demoted to an operator role. Baylor is in the midst of some type of investigation, and he views this temporary assignment as more a punishment than a job. But when Baylor takes a seemingly innocuous call, his night, and the direction of his entire life, changes in ways he never could imagine. Where once Baylor doubted his instincts, those very same instincts could be all that stands between a family and certain death. Shot in just 11 days with director Antoine Fuqua directing from a van, The Guilty is a stunning showcase of Gyllenhaal’s acting prowess, alongside an excellent voice cast including Riley Keough, Peter Sarsgaard, and Ethan Hawke. – Monita Mohan

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Reptile

Rotten Tomatoes: 45% | IMDb: 6.8/10

Reptile Film Poster
Reptile
Crime
Thriller
Drama

Release Date
September 29, 2023
Director
Grant Singer
Cast
Benicio Del Toro , justin timberlake , Thad Luckinbill , Alicia Silverstone , Michael Pitt , Owen Teague
Runtime
134 minutes

Grant Singer’s directorial debut Reptile is a whodunnit following veteran detective Tom Nichols (Benicio Del Toro), whose long-standing career faces its toughest test. Justin Timberlake, Eric Bogosian, and more make up an ensemble cast that thrives with Singer and Benjamin Brewer’s unpredictable story. One of many successes at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival, Reptile’s twisting narrative lures viewers in, with its mystery holding a vice-like grip around the audience. Never far from desperate tension, Reptile is a crime thriller with enough suspense to keep viewers hooked long after the credits roll. - Jake Hodges

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The Mule

Rotten Tomatoes: 70% | IMDb: 7.0/10

the mule poster
The Mule
Drama
Release Date
2019-00-00
Director
Clint Eastwood

Clint Eastwood (Gran Torino) directs and stars in this crime thriller about an ailing 90-year-old man who unwittingly signs up to be a drug mule for the Mexican drug cartel, getting him on the radar of the DEA. The Mule is a story of regret and taking responsibility for one’s failings, and although it leans a bit heavy on stereotypes to get its point across, it is a well-shot and introspective piece that is based on a true story. The cat-and-mouse game between Eastwood’s Earl Stone and the tenacious DEA Agent Colin Bates, played by Bradley Cooper (American Sniper), is a tense affair that drives this drama, giving the film equal levels of heart and stakes. – Tauri Miller

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Luther: The Fallen Sun

Rotten Tomatoes: 68% | IMDb: 6.4/10

Luther The Fallen Sun Netflix Poster
Luther: The Fallen Sun
Drama
Crime
Mystery
Release Date
March 10, 2023
Director
Jamie Payne
Cast
Idris Elba , Cynthia Erivo , Andy Serkis , Dermot Crowley
Runtime
129 minutes

Idris Elba throws on his signature overcoat and revisits his beloved character, brilliant detective John Luther, in Luther: The Fallen Sun — an exciting film continuation of the award-winning series Luther. Directed by ​​Jamie Payne, Luther: The Fallen Sun watches the disgraced London detective break out of prison in order to finally hunt down a villainous psychopath. Co-starring Cynthia Erivo and Andy Serkis, Luther: The Fallen Sun is a feature-length chapter of Luther, albeit one with a simple plot and expectant mystery. However, it effortlessly and energetically revitalizes the franchise that audiences know and love. – Yael Tygiel

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Enola Holmes

Rotten Tomatoes: 91% | IMDb: 6.6/10

enola-holmes-netflix-millie-bobby-brown-poster
Enola Holmes
Mystery

Release Date
September 23, 2020
Director
Harry Bradbeer
Runtime
123

Enola Holmes is an adorably sweet movie about the secretive Holmes family that focuses on Sherlock’s baby sister Enola, played delightfully by Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown. When her mother (Helena Bonham Carter) disappears, Enola sets off on a journey to find her, forging allies and uncovering a dangerous conspiracy along the way. Enola Holmes cleverly fuses mystery and adventure with a hint of romance and a whole lot of heart. Co-starring Henry Cavill (Man of Steel) and Sam Claflin (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire) as the more famous Holmes detectives, Enola Holmes allows the youngest of the family to blossom and shine with her own endearing charm. – Yael Tygiel

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Lost Girls

Rotten Tomatoes: 73% | IMDb: 6.2/10

lost girls poster
Lost Girls
Mystery
Drama
Release Date
March 13, 2020
Director
Liz Garbus
Runtime
1 hr 35 min

Inspired by horrific true events, Lost Girls is a suspenseful mystery directed by Liz Garbus and starring Amy Ryan (Only Murders in the Building) as a determined mother investigating the disappearance of her teenage daughter. Lost Girls begins with a single missing girl in a gated community, venturing into the discovery of over a dozen unsolved murders and shining a light on ill-equipped police departments that overlook cases involving the unsolved deaths of young sex workers. Talented supporting actors Gabriel Byrne, Miriam Shor (Younger), Oona Laurence (Bad Moms), and Dean Winters (Law and Order: Special Victims Unit) revolve around Ryan as she drives Lost Girls. – Yael Tygiel

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The Gray Man

Rotten Tomatoes: 44% | IMDb: 6.5/10

The Gray Man Film Poster
The Gray Man
Thriller
Action
Release Date
July 22, 2022
Runtime
122 minutes

An action-packed spy thriller, The Gray Man stars Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans as highly skilled CIA operative rivals in a big-budget caper. This intricate game of cat and mouse is an explosive feast for the eyes with a ridiculously attractive all-star cast and massive set pieces that allow for colossal stunts. Gosling and Evans are truly exceptional in these fast-paced and meticulous roles. Their comfort with the material, as well as the creative team behind the camera, comes through. Anthony Russo and Joe Russo (Avengers: Endgame) excel in directing large-scale operations, as highlighted in The Gray Man. – Yael Tygiel

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Sweet Girl

Rotten Tomatoes: 24% | IMDb: 5.5/10

sweet girl poster
Sweet Girl
Action
Thriller
Release Date
August 20, 2021
Director
Brian Andrew Mendoza
Cast
Jason Momoa , Isabela Merced , Manuel Garcia-Rulfo
Runtime
1 hr 50 min

Sweet Girl is a father-daughter action flick starring Jason Momoa (Aquaman) and Isabela Merced (Dora and the Lost City of Gold). Set in our glib reality where pharmaceutical companies profit off the deaths of sick patients, Sweet Girl stems from that anger and devastation, transforming into a fantasy where the fight for family and justice is literal. Juxtaposed with the car chases, gunfire, and hand-to-hand combat is a conversation starter about societal inequalities and the corruption of politics, leading to a compelling couple of hours. – Yael Tygiel

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Windfall

Rotten Tomatoes: 58% | IMDb: 5.7/10

windfall poster
Windfall
Crime
Thriller

Release Date
March 18, 2022
Director
Charlie McDowell
Runtime
1 hr 32 min

If you don’t immediately recognize the name Charlie McDowell, you should. McDowell is making a name for himself as a creative independent filmmaker who is able to make the most out of isolated environments. McDowell’s latest film, Windfall, is one of the best thrillers of the year so far. The 92-minute feature follows a nameless robber (Jason Segel) who breaks into the home of a wealthy CEO (a scenery-chewing Jesse Plemons) and his illustrious girlfriend (Lily Collins). Segal turns in another stellar dramatic performance following McDowell’s previous film, The Discovery. Raw, violent, and darkly amusing, Windfall is another winner for McDowell. -Liam Gaughan

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The Unforgivable

Rotten Tomatoes: 39% | IMDb: 7.1/10

The Unforgivable Film Poster
The Unforgivable
Drama
Crime
Release Date
December 10, 2021
Director
Nora Fingscheidt
Cast
Sandra Bullock , Jon Bernthal , Vincent D'Onofrio , Viola Davis , Richard Thomas , Aisling Franciosi
Runtime
112 minutes

If you’re used to seeing Sandra Bullock in projects like The Proposal, Miss Congeniality, and The Lost City, then buckle up. Based on the British miniseries Unforgiven written by Sally Wainwright, the intense crime drama The Unforgivable follows the life of Ruth Slater (Bullock), a woman newly released from prison after serving several years for a deadly crime. As she tries to piece together a normal life, she quickly finds that reintegrating into society is far harder than she expected. Haunted by her past and worried for her future, Ruth connects with new owners of the home (Viola Davis and Vincent D’Onofrio) where the horrific crime took place. Will she ever find closure? -Emily Bernard

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The Devil All the Time

Rotten Tomatoes: 65% | IMDb: 7.1/10

The Devil All the Time
The Devil All The Time
Thriller
Documentary
Horror

Release Date
September 11, 2020
Director
Antonio Campos
Cast
Donald Ray Pollock , Bill Skarsgard , Tom Holland , Michael Banks Repeta , Emilio Subercaseaux Campos , Emilio Subercaseaux Campos
Runtime
666

Who isn’t in The Devil All the Time? This star-studded adaptation of the Donald Ray Pollock novel is unexpected and unpredictable in so many ways. This is an immersive story set deep in the heart of the American backwaters and littered with a combination of morally ambiguous and vile characters. Though Tom Holland is the film’s lead, he doesn’t enter the picture till partway through. This is more of an ensemble cast and each character is fully realized in their own way. There’s a corrupt deputy played by Sebastian Stan, a dodgy couple played by Riley Keough and Jason Clarke, and the mysterious new priest, brought to life by Robert Pattinson. Be prepared for a dark and intense crime thriller that will leave you hyperventilating! – Monita Mohan

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21 Bridges

Rotten Tomatoes: 54% | IMDb: 6.6/10

21-bridges-poster
21 Bridges
Crime
Action
Thriller
Release Date
October 24, 2019
Director
Brian Kirk
Runtime
103

In 21 Bridges, the late Chadwick Boseman plays an embattled NYPD detective, Andre Davis, who finds himself embroiled in a conspiracy. While the plot of this action-thriller may sound familiar, 21 Bridges elevates the story with a gripping tale and unpredictable twists. The story, much of which is told through the eyes of the central character played by Boseman, hints at the underlying politics that plague law enforcement in America. The ensemble cast is littered with recognizable faces who all give great performances. But Boseman is the star of the show. While the role of a morally grounded detective whose belief system is shaken is hardly a novelty, Boseman adds depth and nuance to his character which makes every scene he’s in compelling to watch. – Monita Mohan

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Red Notice

Rotten Tomatoes: 37% | IMDb: 6.3/10

Red Notice Movie Poster
Red Notice
Action
Comedy
Thriller
Release Date
November 12, 2021
Director
Rawson Marshall Thurber
Cast
Dwayne Johnson , Ryan Reynolds , Gal Gadot , Ritu Arya , Chris Diamantopoulos , Ivan Mbakop
Runtime
118 minutes

It may not inspire a lot of critical thought, but Rawson Marshall Thunder’s modern take on the caper movie is a good way to kill two hours if all you’re looking for is good-looking movie stars, lots of action, and some of the most ridiculous one-liners you could imagine. Dwayne Johnson and Ryan Reynolds are hardly cast against type, but their engaging chemistry keeps this international heist thriller moving at a pleasant pace. There’s a hint of self-awareness to the whole thing; when he’s delivering a tragic monologue about his relationship with his father, Reynolds looks like he’s barely keeping a straight face. — Liam Gaughan

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El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie

Rotten Tomatoes: 92% | IMDb: 7.3/10

El Camino Netflix Poster
El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie
Drama
Crime
Action
Thriller
Release Date
October 11, 2019
Director
Vince Gilligan
Cast
Aaron Paul , Jonathan Banks , Matt Jones , Charles Baker
Runtime
122 Minutes

Breaking Bad already had a pretty excellent ending with the season five finale “Felina,” so the prospect of a continuation was a risky one. Thankfully, series creator Vince Gilligan delivered a satisfying follow up that continued the tragic story of Jesse (Aaron Paul) without giving him a definitive conclusion. Although El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie features just as much creative problem solving as the series, it was a more intimate story. Paul gives one of his best performances as the character, and shows Jesse’s complex healing process. El Camino is also notably the final screen performance of the late great Robert Forster. — Liam Gaughan

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Extremely Wicked Shockingly Evil and Vile

Rotten Tomatoes: 55% | IMDb: 6.7/10

Extremely Wicked Shockingly Evil and Vile
Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile
Biography
Drama
Thriller

Release Date
May 3, 2019
Director
Joe Berlinger
Runtime
110 minutes

With Extremely Wicked Shockingly Evil and Vile, Zac Efron perfectly captures what made real-life serial killer Ted Bundy become a celebrity in the U.S., gathering a legion of female fans while being on trial for murdering dozens of women. Efron’s Ted Bundy is charming, funny, and confident, and during the entire duration of Extremely Wicked Shockingly Evil and Vile, we can even start to cheer for him if we are not cautious. There’s a wolf wearing Efron’s handsome sheep skin, but it’s not until the final moments of the film that we can see a glimpse of the monster hiding behind Bundy’s eyes. While many films explored the life and trial of Ted Bundy, only Extremely Wicked Shockingly Evil and Vile was capable of explaining how such a hideous figure could be cherished while on trial for brutal murders. — Marco Vito Oddo

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1922

Rotten Tomatoes: 92% | IMDb: 6.2/10

1922 Film Poster
1922
Crime
Horror
Drama
Release Date
October 20, 2017
Director
Zak Hilditch
Cast
Thomas Jane , Molly Parker , Brian D'Arcy James , Neal McDonough , Dylan Schmid , Roan Curtis
Runtime
102 minutes

1922 is one of the many original movies that Netflix just quietly releases on its streaming service without much fanfare. I had no idea this movie was even in production until the day it suddenly appeared in my “Movies You May Like” category, an area of Netflix that is generally about as hit-or-miss as blindfolded brain surgery. But the presence of a significantly overalls-clad Thomas Jane and the fact that it was based on a story by Stephen King made me check it out, and I was rewarded with a delightfully creepy supernatural murder story. It’s sort of like A Simple Plan, only it takes place in the pre-Depression American heartlands and features actual ghosts.

Jane plays a farmer at the end of his life writing a full confession of a truly unforgivable crime, with the movie told primarily in flashback. Within the opening 60 seconds, you will be slapped in the face with the realization that Thomas Jane is Doing A Thing. His performance is absolutely batshit in the best possible way, and, if I’m being totally honest, he’s really quite good. It’s a tense slow-burn thriller, with a central character so despicable that you almost don’t mind seeing the taint of what he’s done corrupt everything around him. Almost. — Tom Reimann

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The Night Comes for Us

Rotten Tomatoes: 91% | IMDb: 6.9/10

night comes for us poster
The Night Comes for Us
Action
Crime
Thriller
Release Date
October 5, 2018
Director
Timo Tjahjanto
Cast
Iko Uwais , Joe Taslim , Julie Estelle , Sunny Pang , Zack Lee , Shareefa Daanish
Runtime
121

If you’re a fan of The Raid films - or action films period, for that matter - and haven’t seen The Night Comes for Us yet, what are you waiting for? Stop everything and watch this mesmerizing display of fight choreography brilliance! Joe Taslim leads the ensemble as Ito, an agent for the South East Asian Triad, also known as the Six Seas, who betrays the crime syndicate in order to protect a young girl. Ito opts to head back to his hometown of Jakarta where a group of old associates help him protect the girl from a slew of invading Triad enforcers including Iko Uwais as Arian. Are the set-up and plot points anything unique? Nope, but the movie is better off because the more screen time devoted to the insanely creative and ultra-violent set pieces, the better. The Night Comes For Us is basically two hours of masterful martial arts and visionary bloodshed. Just when you think you’ve seen it all, Tjahjanto unveils yet another shockingly violent use for an everyday object or knocks the wind out of you with even more super stylish combat. - Perri Nemiroff

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The Irishman

Rotten Tomatoes: 95% | IMDb: 7.8/10

The Irishman Netflix Poster
The Irishman
Crime
Documentary
Drama
Release Date
November 27, 2019
Director
Martin Scorsese
Runtime
209 minutes

Don’t be daunted by the 3.5-hour runtime on The Irishman. Martin Scorsese’s epic about the life of Teamster and hitman Frank Sheeran flies by as it morphs from entertaining mob story to a powerful mediation on life, age, and regret. Sheeran (Robert De Niro) tells us his life story of being friends with mobster Russell Bufalino (Joe Pesci) and Teamster leader Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino) and how these friendships converged into deadly consequences with Frank stuck in the middle. The movie discards the glamour of films like Goodfellas and Casino and instead focuses on the slow decay of a man who has always seen himself as a good soldier when really all he has to offer is violence and selfishness. Far from “just another mob movie” from Scorsese, The Irishman is a powerful look at your twilight years and reflecting on the choices you’ve made in life. It’s among Scorsese’s best. – Matt Goldberg

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Triple Frontier

Rotten Tomatoes: 70% | IMDb: 6.5/10

triple-frontier-poster
Triple Frontier
Action
Adventure
Crime
Drama
Thriller
Release Date
March 6, 2019
Director
J.C. Chandor
Runtime
125

If Triple Frontier isn't your dad's favorite movie, that just means your dad hasn't seen Triple Frontier yet. Directed by J.C. Chandor (A Most Violent Year) from a script he co-wrote with Mark Boal (Zero Dark Thirty), Triple Frontier is basically the man-cave of movies; part military drama, part action-packed heist, and all the story of men who have mad bro-love for each other. Oscar Isaac stars as Santiago "Pope" Garcia, a DEA agent who gets the old Special Forces band back together to rob a drug lord's jungle hideaway. Joining Isaac is the similarly strong-jawed crew of Ben Affleck, Charlie Hunnam, Pedro Pascal, and Garrett Hedlund. The kicker of Triple Frontier is that there's actually a good amount of brains under all that brawn; it's an explosions-and-helicopters flick first, yeah, but it also has a lot to say about what happens to professionally violent men once the gunfire stops. — Haleigh Foutch

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The Lovebirds

Rotten Tomatoes: 66% | IMDb: 6.1/10

The Lovebirds Netflix Poster
The Lovebirds
Comedy
Action
Crime
Release Date
May 22, 2020
Cast
Kyle Bornheimer , Kumail Nanjiani , Anna Camp , Issa Rae , Paul Sparks , Joe Chrest
Runtime
86 minutes

You'll feel the color return to your cheeks as you watch 2020's The Lovebirds — it is that good. The Lovebirds was originally set for theatrical release by Paramount Pictures, eventually getting scooped up by Netflix for a May release. This delightful 2020 movie arrived just in time to reaffirm there is still some life left in big studio comedies and romantic comedies — especially when there is a healthy dose of action mixed in.

Directed by Michael Showalter (Wet Hot American Summer), The Lovebirds stars Issa Rae (Insecure) and Kumail Nanjiani (The Big Sick) as our titular romantic duo, Leilani and Jibran. When the movie opens, Leilani and Jibran have hit an uncomfortably comfortable point in their long-term relationship. They know each other well enough to keep a debate on whether they'd want to do The Amazing Race together spicy, but it's clear there is something amiss. Things take a wild turn out of romantic drama and into romantic comedy-meets-action-movie when, as Leilani and Jibran debate breaking up on their way to a friend's house for dinner, an injured man (Paul Sparks) hijacks their car and chases down a bike messenger as the couple getting a front-row view of this carjacker killing the biker in an alleyway. From here, Leilani and Jibran find themselves propelled headlong into an action-packed mystery that will take them all over their hometown of New Orleans and force them to re-examine their relationship. If you’re in need of a strong comedy pairing making a case for why they need to star in every rom-com from here on out or you’re in need of an action movie with plenty of delightful twists, The Lovebirds is absolutely the movie for you. — Allie Gemmill

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