We asked our readers to tell us which true stories are portrayed in the scariest movies. Among the best crime movies, here are the results that will take your breath away:
Warning: This post mentions adult-supervised topics, including murder, kidnapping, domestic violence, torture, and sexual assault. Read with caution.
Best Crime Movies Based on True Stories
My Friend Dahmer (2017)
IMDB – 6.2/10, Reviews
‘My Friend Dahmer’ follows the life of Jeffery Dahmer from an intriguing angle. The audience gets to witness the upbringing of Jeffery from the age of 17, when he was still in school, right up to when he commits his first murder.
Jeffery was a lonely boy in school who was asexual and often faked his seizures to get attention. His friends tried their best to be friendly and invite him over to their parties. But nothing seemed to help the young man out.
Back home, his parents constantly fought amongst each other, with his mother coming home from a mental institution and wanting to go back to work. However, his father rejects the thought claiming she is not stable enough.
All this slowly leads to Jeffery’s mental state deteriorating day-by-day when he eventually catches Steven Hicks, his first victim. Jeffery was finally caught in 1991 after committing 17 murders. One of the best crime movies, ‘My Friend Dahmer’ offers a deep insight into the life of Jeffrey.
Molly’s Game (2017)
IMDB – 7.4/10, Reviews
Molly Bloom is a beautiful young girl who dreams of competing in the Olympics. However, a terrible accident robs her of a chance of winning a medal. Devastated by this news, Molly moves to Los Angeles to start a new life despite having a spot in a law school.
Over there, Molly soon learns a great way of making money and climbing the social ladder to success. She began her business by running a high-stakes poker game for celebrities, athletes, business people, and, unexpectedly, the Russian mob.
Soon a massive poker empire with its hostess is born. Molly now treads a fine line between success and defeat as she becomes a prime target for the F.B.I. Now she can rely only on Charlie Jaffey, a wary lawyer in New York who comes to rescue her.
It is considered one of the best crime movies because it is based on a real story.
The Irishman (2019)
IMDB – 7.8/10, Reviews
‘The Irishman’ stars Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci and is based on a true story. The plot revolves around Frank Sheeran, also known as “The Irishman,” played by Robert De Niro. Frank is a man who has a lot going on in his life.
During the Second World War, Frank was sent to Italy, where he learned to kill. Later on, he became a high official in the labor union. He now glosses over the past where his hits defined his career in the mafia and how he still maintains a healthy connection with the Bufalino crime family.
In particular, he thinks about his role in the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa, his long-time friend. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters elected Jimmy to be their president. Still, he was like a thorn in a bush for some, and because of that, his whereabouts became mysteriously unknown in 1975.
All Good Things (2010)
IMDB – 6.3/10, Reviews
Based on a murder mystery that took place in New York City and to this date remains unsolved. The film follows David Marks, the eldest son of a real estate mogul in New York. His family was primarily in the business of renting properties to seedy shops and tenants.
It was never David’s interest or relationship with his father, Sanford Marks, to work in the family business. But, in the end, he fell in love with the shopkeeper and married her. Together, they moved to Vermont and ran a health food store together.
After a time, David enjoyed life until Sanford persuaded him to return to New York to work in the family business. A position that his wife Katie would never agree to if she knew the true nature of it. Soon after, David becomes engrossed with his job and changes as a person so much that Katie could no longer realize the man she married.
The differences between the couple kept growing until 1982 when Katie disappeared. One of the best crime movies about a murder mystery that shook the whole world.
Can You Ever Forgive Me (2018)
IMDB – 7.1/10, Reviews
Set in the 90s, Lee Israel is a biographer with a certain level of success but is currently enduring hard times. She has fallen from the grace of celebrities because of her complex personality. Her only two friends being her aged cat and a bottle of scotch.
This does not bode well for her because she has burned down all bridges Marjorie, her manager, built for her. She is falling behind on rent payments and having no advance payment for the book she is writing; Lee sells a meaningful memento she got from a famous writer.
Soon she realizes that there is a big market for such artifacts. So she begins forging letters and autographs along with her friend Jack Hock. Together they overcome their financial difficulties and begin to enjoy the creative process. The adrenaline makes it impossible for her to stop even after she knew she would get caught.
Foxcatcher (2014)
IMDB – 7.0/10, Reviews
‘Foxcatcher’ is a film centered on events during the Olympics in Seoul starring Steve Carell, Mark Ruffalo, and Channing Tatum. The movie tells the story of an eccentric millionaire and two wrestling brothers who were champions.
Mark Schultz won a gold medal for wrestling in the Olympics and was invited by John Du Pont to move to his house and form a team for the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Schultz thinks it’s a golden opportunity to focus on his practice and escape from the poverty-stricken situation athletes like him live in.
For Du Pont, this is an excellent chance to coach an Olympic-winning team and finally, have his mother’s approval. But, with no chance of escaping the suffocating world Du Pont lives in, Mark increasingly starts to get angry at him as he sees Du Pont as an arrogant prick.
The tension keeps on rising as Mark, Dave, and Du Pont battle amongst each other, frequently threatening to destroy everything they have built.
American Hustle (2014)
IMDB – 7.2/10, Reviews
Starring Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Renner, and Jeniffer Lawrence, ‘American Hustle’ tells Irving Rosenfeld and his seductive partner Sydney Prosser. Together they make up a brilliant con team, and their skill sets are handy, especially to the F.B.I.
They have no choice but to work for the law agency under the leadership of a crazy agent, Richie DiMaso. He plans to put them to good use and collect information about the powerbrokers in the city and the mafia.
The work is as dangerous as it’s enchanting, and hence they get down to business. Their first target is Carmine Polito, an innocent political operator in New York. The only cog in the plan is Irving’s wife, a highly unpredictable woman who could bring the whole world crashing down.
One of the best crime movies ever that manage to keep the audience engrossed throughout the film.
Catch Me If You Can (2002)
IMDB – 8.1/10, Reviews
Tom Hanks and Leonardo DiCaprio star in the Steven Spielberg film, which has an excellent story. The plot begins with Frank Abagnale Jr., a high schooler who wants to be like his father after growing up, though he is in big trouble with the IRS.
The marriage of his parents suffers because of this, which leads to their separation. Frank, not handling all this, runs away to Manhattan with only $25 in his account. He vows to bring back his parents together and take back everything his father lost.
Barely 21, Frank swindles millions of dollars through fake cheques while posing as a pilot for Pan Am, a lawyer, and a doctor. All along the way, Carl Hanratty, an F.B.I agent, is on the pursuit to catch him, but Frank revels in the chase.
Eventually, he is caught and sent back to the United States, setting to spend 12 years in prison. However, Carl puts Frank’s skills to use and is released to work for the cheque forgery department.
One of the best crime movies of all time, ‘Catch Me If You Can’ is a must-watch for all cinephiles who are thrilled by a good crime film.
Zodiac (2007)
IMDB – 7.7/10, Reviews
A murder mystery in the heart of San Fransico Bay Area, ‘Zodiac’ is one of the best crime movies of all time. The plot follows a serial killer on the loose who makes fun of the police by sending them cryptic letters. It has a fantastic cast of Robert Downey Jr, Mark Ruffalo, and Jake Gyllenhaal.
Robert Graysmith works as a cartoonist for the San Francisco Chronicle, and his ways never fail to irritate Paul Avery, a reporter working for the same newspaper. Paul has a bad habit of drinking, which often disrupts his work.
Robert becomes incredibly obsessed with the Zodiac killer as Paul’s life starts vanishing down the bottle. He stumbles upon the detective who hasn’t yet caught the man responsible, a handwriting expert, and people from other backgrounds.
His obsession with the case means neither his wife nor his job is as important as catching the killer.
Casino (1995)
IMDB – 8.2/10, Reviews
Directed by Martin Scorsese, ‘Casino’ is set in the glittery world of Las Vegas, where dark secrets hide behind a smile. The plot follows two mobsters Ace Rothstein and Nicky Santoro, who move over to Vegas to try their luck and leave a mark.
The story is told through the cast’s eyes as the audience witnesses the mafia’s involvement in the casino business. Nicky, the childhood friend, who’s always been challenging, deals with the locals and shakes down other competitions. Together they open up Tangiers Casino, where Ace is the cool-headed guy who runs the operation.
However, their lives at the top are soon to come crashing down as Ace falls in love with Ginger, a hustler, and Nicky drops down lower in the world of violence and drugs.
One of the best crime movies of all time makes the correct use of a good plot, a great cast, and fantastic direction.
Summer of Sam (1999)
IMDB – 6.7/10, Reviews
The movie follows the serial killings taking place in New York involving the residents of an Italian-American neighborhood. The killings were termed “Son of Sam” murders, and the unknown killer was nicknamed the “.44 Caliber Killer”.
The story begins with Vinny and Dionna, a married couple visiting a nightclub, and Dionna’s cousin. Later on, Dionna’s cousin asks for a ride home, to which Vinny offers his help only to fool around in the back of the car.
They stop at a spot to make out but get scared instead because of another couple. So they take off only to find that the site is now a crime scene where the killer has struck again, killing the couple behind Vinny.
His friend jokes that the killer must have seen his face and will come after him next. What happens next puts a mental toll on Vinny’s head that he could no longer remain sane.
One of the best crime movies, ‘Summer of Sam’, is based on a true story where the killer was eventually caught.
Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
IMDB – 8.0/10, Reviews
The plot follows the events, which took place in the early seventies when a bank robber took over the Chase Manhattan Bank to steal enough money for his wife’s surgery. Starring Al Pacino and John Cazale, ‘Dog Day Afternoon’ follows two washed-out characters Sonny and Sal, who held the first savings bank of Brooklyn on a sunny afternoon.
Although the employees and the manager agree to sit quietly and not interfere with the robbery, Sonny finds nothing much to steal as the money was sent to another location in the morning. While the theft is in motion, the police surround the whole building, and Captain Moretti calls Sony surrender.
With not many chips to bargain with, Sonny demands a car and a plane out of the country in exchange for the safety of the hostages.
The French Connection (1971)
IMDB – 7.7/10, Reviews
An American crime drama, ‘The French Connection,’ is based on a true story during the 1970s. The plot follows Jimmy Doyle and Buddy Russo, two tough cops in New York City, working vigorously to catch a big shipment of heroin coming from France.
They often work undercover to bust criminals selling drugs, but their work hasn’t put a dent in the war against drugs. One night, the two are drinking when they notice a couple of unfamiliar people acting strange with known drug criminals.
So they decide to follow two of them just for fun which leads them to find out that they are small-time crooks who operate a newsstand. Soon rumors begin floating about a significant drug shipment entering New York.
They get the okay to surveil the two suspects with wiretaps, revealing that the two indeed have connections with a few French criminals who are making the deal happen. What follows is a game of cat and mouse as Jimmy and Buddy chase them through the streets of New York.
One of the best crime movies, ‘The French Connection’ is a must-watch gritty and fast-paced film.
All The President’s Men (1976)
IMDB – 8.0/10, Reviews
1972 is the year of the presidential election in the movie. In this story, Bob Woodward, a reporter for the Washington Post, plays a central role. Bob covers a little story regarding the break-in that took place at the Democratic Party National headquarter.
The story seems inconsequential, but Bob is surprised to find that the top lawyers in the city are already working to suppress this undercover. In addition, names and addresses of Republican fundraisers were found on the man accused of the break-in.
One of the best crime movies ever, ‘All The President’s Men’ tells a riveting story during the 1972 elections. The Washington Post editor is interested in the case and assigns Bob and Carl to run the report. Their further investigations lead to uncovering a ring of corruption all to the White House.
Spotlight (2015)
IMDB – 8.1/10, Reviews
The plot follows Marty Baron, a Jewish editor to whom The Boston Globe gave a task, and he asks the spotlight team to shed light. Their job is to investigate Priest John Geoghan and the accusations against him involving sexually abusing a kid.
The spotlight team gets to work along with Baron and the full support of their boss Ben Bradlee. He asks them not to leave a stone unturned while covering this story. They begin by contacting the reluctant lawyer who stood up for the victims, the leader of the victim rights organization, and the victims who agreed to meet.
After one year of investigation, they uncover one of the biggest scandals in the history of Christianity, one whose roots reach the Vatican.
One of the best crime movies ever based on actual events the spotlight went through to uncover the story.
The Untouchables (1987)
IMDB – 7.9/10, Reviews
Starring Sean Connery and Robert De Niro, ‘The Untouchables’ is one of the best crime movies of all time that follows actual events. The plot follows Al Capone, one of the biggest criminals ever. He built his empire with bootleg alcohol and now rules Chicago as he pleases.
Eliot Ness, an agent in the prohibition department, wants to bring Capone down but cannot do so because of the widespread corruption in the police force. So he gathers an elite group of policemen who won’t accept bribes to let criminals go.
Ness, with a renewed sense of justice and determination, vows to bring Capone to justice.
Badlands (1973)
IMDB – 7.8/10, Reviews
Set in the late 1950s, the movie follows Kit, a guy in his twenties, and Holly, a 15-year-old girl. Holly’s father is a sign painter and has a cold relationship with his daughter as she reminds him of his dead wife. Kit is often distracted and restless and gives off a vibe similar to James Dean.
Kit and Holly cross each other’s paths when Holl and her father move to a small town in South Dakota. They slowly fall in love, but Holly has to hide her relationship because of the age difference and that Kit comes from a troubled past.
What follows is a killing spree that Kit is responsible for, as he tries his best to carve out a life for him and Holly. When Holly’s father finds out and tries to take her away, Kit shoots him dead. Holly calms herself down with no idea about what to do next and agrees to accompany Kit as they run away together. All while she supports him even though it’s a battle they cannot win.
One of the best crime movies, ‘Badlands’ is a slow burn but a rewarding film.
Munich (2005)
IMDB – 7.5/10, Reviews
It is based on the tragedy of the 1972 Olympics in Munich, in which 11 Israeli athletes were murdered. The plot depicts what happened next as the whole world watched on. After the Black September’s assassination, Golda Meir, the Prime Minister, approves a covert operation.
Avner, a low-level employee in the Mossad whose father was a war hero, is tasked with leading and gathering a team of five members. They all gather in Switzerland and work, relying on information collected through informants and giving out money.
The operation was successful in Europe and Lebanon as they killed several culprits. However, as the body count keeps increasing, so do their questions on morality and the fear of getting caught by the KGB, CIA, or PLO.
Directed by Steven Spielberg, ‘Munich’ is one of the best crime movies of all time that delivers sweet retribution in the end.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
IMDB – 7.5/10, Reviews
The two siblings are on their way to visit their grandfather’s grave, which was desecrated by unknowns. They are accompanied by three of their friends. The five teenagers drive across a slaughterhouse on their way when they stumble upon a sinister-looking hitchhiker who asks for their help.
Hoping to spend a peaceful time, though fate has other plans for them. After dropping the hitchhiker off, they stop by a gas station to eat delicious homemade meals and head up to their old family home. Over there, they are terrorized by a group of cannibals with massive power tools.
The movie is so intense that some might start feeling scared for their safety. However, the attention to detail and the characters make this one of the best crime movies ever, ‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ is a must-watch.
Goodfellas (1990)
IMDB – 8.7/10, Reviews
The plot portrays the lives of three key figures of the mob in New York during the ’60s and ’70s. Henry Hill always wanted to be a gangster, and the fact that he grew up in a neighborhood full of the toughest ones did help him a lot.
Tommy DeVito was born in this environment and has always been a gangster for as long as he can remember. He’s also Henry’s best friend. Jimmy Conway notices their sharpness and gets them to work for him; together, they run some of the biggest heists ever.
Henry gets caught for a crime and spends an extended jail sentence. Once he gets out, Paulie Cicero, the local mob boss, is on the lookout for him; hence Henry must sneak around to live a life of luxury he dreamt of. In the end, the situation becomes so dire that the trio must do everything and anything to save each other’s life.
Zero Dark Thirty (2012)
IMDB – 7.4/10, Reviews
Osama Bin Laden was among the most wanted criminals globally after the most brutal terrorist attacks on U.S. soil. In a bid to find out the hideout of Bin Laden, the CIA interviews people with links to Al Qaeda.
CIA operative Maya assists Dan, her colleague in collecting intelligence, who often uses brutal interrogation techniques. For the next decade, the search goes on, and fake leads and dead ends make it even tougher to bring Osama to justice.
Strings of suicide bombings are rising in the Middle East as Al-Qaeda plans to stand its ground. The longer the search continues, the more futile it seems to be, until an old lead guides Maya to the man responsible for one of the most gruesome terrorist attacks ever.
So this was our list of best crime movies so far. Which one of these made your spine shiver? Let us know in the comments below. If your favorite crime movie wasn’t mentioned here, we have other lists you might want to check out: