20 Best Crime Movies on Max 2026
Explore crime thrillers, heists, and true-story dramas on Max, from The Dark Knight and The Departed to Sicario, Ocean's Eleven, and more.
If you’re hunting for the best crime movies on Max, this lineup gives you a mix of heists, investigations, mob stories, and tense character-driven dramas. Start with heavy hitters like The Dark Knight, The Departed, The Usual Suspects, and The Town, then branch into borderland tension with Sicario or the corporate true-crime edge of The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley. There’s also room for slyer, lighter picks such as Ocean's Eleven and Game Night, plus darker genre blends like The Batman, MaXXXine, and Trap. With 20 titles spanning crime, drama, thriller, comedy, and documentary, it’s an easy list to browse when you want something sharp, suspenseful, or just plain twisty.
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01
The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley
1 Emmy nomination
documentary · crime
With a magical new invention that promised to revolutionize blood testing, Elizabeth Holmes became the world’s youngest self-made billionaire, heralded as the next Steve Jobs. Then, overnight, her 10-billion-dollar company dissolved. The rise and fall of Theranos is a window into the psychology of fraud.
Why watch: If you like true-story crime documentaries, this one is a strong fit. Its focus on fraud and a dramatic rise-and-fall story makes it a good pick for viewers who want real-world stakes.
Directed by Alex GibneyCast Elizabeth Holmes, Alex Gibney, Dan Ariely, Roger Parloff, Ken AulettaMaxMore details on IMDb → -
02
The Drama
comedy · crime · drama · romance
A happily engaged couple is put to the test when an unexpected turn sends their wedding week off the rails.
Why watch: If you enjoy crime stories mixed with comedy, drama, and romance, this could be a good match. The wedding-week setup suggests a lighter crime-drama angle than a straight thriller.
Directed by Kristoffer BorgliCast Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Alana Haim, Mamoudou Athie, Hailey GatesMaxMore details on IMDb → -
03
The Departed
Won 4 Oscars Best Picture (2007) · 5 nominations
crime · drama · thriller
To take down South Boston's Irish Mafia, the police send in one of their own to infiltrate the underworld, not realizing the syndicate has done likewise. While an undercover cop curries favor with the mob kingpin, a career criminal rises through the police ranks. But both sides soon discover there's a mole among them.
Why watch: If you like undercover-mole stories with crime, drama, and thriller elements, this is an easy choice. It suits viewers who want a tense cat-and-mouse setup with overlapping loyalties.
Directed by Martin ScorseseCast Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, Martin SheenMaxMore details on IMDb → -
04
Sicario
3 Oscar nominations Best Cinematography (2016)
action · crime · drama · mystery · thriller
An idealistic FBI agent is enlisted by a government task force to aid in the escalating war against drugs at the border area between the U.S. and Mexico.
Why watch: If you enjoy crime thrillers with action, mystery, and a serious tone, this one should appeal. Its border-area drug war premise points to a tense, high-stakes watch.
Directed by Denis VilleneuveCast Emily Blunt, Benicio Del Toro, Josh Brolin, Victor Garber, Jon BernthalMaxMore details on IMDb → -
05
One Battle After Another
Won 6 Oscars 13 nominations
action · crime · drama · thriller
Washed-up revolutionary Bob exists in a state of stoned paranoia, surviving off-grid with his spirited, self-reliant daughter, Willa. When his evil nemesis resurfaces after 16 years and she goes missing, the former radical scrambles to find her, father and daughter both battling the consequences of his past.
Why watch: If you like action-driven crime dramas with a thriller edge, this looks like a strong option. The father-and-daughter search story suggests personal stakes layered onto the crime plot.
Directed by Paul Thomas AndersonCast Teyana Taylor, Leonardo DiCaprio, Regina Hall, Wood Harris, Alana HaimAmazon Prime VideoMaxMore details on IMDb →
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06
Normal
action & adventure · crime · mystery & thriller
An unassuming substitute sheriff with a troubled past responds to a bank robbery in a small, sleepy town and unknowingly uncovers something far more explosive.
Why watch: If you enjoy small-town mystery thrillers with action and crime elements, this may be worth a look. The bank robbery setup hints at a story that moves from ordinary to dangerous fast.
Directed by Ben WheatleyCast Bob Odenkirk, Ryan Allen, Billy MacLellan, Lena Headey, Henry WinklerMaxMore details on IMDb → -
07
The Usual Suspects
Won 2 Oscars Best Supporting Actor (1996)
crime · drama · mystery · thriller
Held in an L.A. interrogation room, Verbal Kint attempts to convince the feds that a mythic crime lord, Keyser Soze, not only exists, but was also responsible for drawing him and his four partners into a multi-million dollar heist that ended with an explosion in San Pedro harbor – leaving few survivors. Verbal lures his interrogators with an incredible story of the crime lord's almost supernatural prowess.
Why watch: If you like crime mysteries with unreliable storytelling and a strong thriller angle, this is a classic fit. It’s especially appealing for viewers who enjoy a story built around a legendary criminal figure.
Directed by Bryan SingerCast Stephen Baldwin, Gabriel Byrne, Benicio Del Toro, Kevin Pollak, Kevin SpaceyMaxMore details on IMDb → -
08
Ocean's Eleven
crime · thriller
Less than 24 hours into his parole, charismatic thief Danny Ocean is already rolling out his next plan: In one night, Danny's hand-picked crew of specialists will attempt to steal more than $150 million from three Las Vegas casinos. But to score the cash, Danny risks his chances of reconciling with ex-wife, Tess.
Why watch: If you want a crime film with a playful, slick heist vibe, this is a natural pick. Its casino robbery premise makes it a good choice for fans of ensemble capers.
Directed by Steven SoderberghCast George Clooney, Cecelia Ann Birt, Paul L. Nolan, Carol Florence, Lori GalinskiMaxMore details on IMDb → -
09
The Batman
3 Oscar nominations
action · crime · drama · mystery · thriller
In his second year of fighting crime, Batman uncovers corruption in Gotham City that connects to his own family while facing a serial killer known as the Riddler.
Why watch: If you enjoy crime stories with mystery, thriller, and superhero elements, this one stands out. It’s a solid pick for viewers who want Gotham corruption and a serial-killer case in the same package.
Directed by Matt ReevesCast Robert Pattinson, Zoë Kravitz, Jeffrey Wright, Colin Farrell, Paul DanoMaxMore details on IMDb → -
10
Game Night
action · adventure · comedy · crime · thriller
Max and Annie's weekly game night gets kicked up a notch when Max's brother Brooks arranges a murder mystery party -- complete with fake thugs and federal agents. So when Brooks gets kidnapped, it's all supposed to be part of the game. As the competitors set out to solve the case, they start to learn that neither the game nor Brooks are what they seem to be. The friends soon find themselves in over their heads as each twist leads to another unexpected turn over the course of one chaotic night.
Why watch: If you like comedy with crime and thriller twists, this is a good fit. The mistaken-identity style chaos and kidnapping premise make it ideal for viewers who want something fast and funny.
Directed by John Francis Daley, Jonathan GoldsteinCast Jason Bateman, Rachel McAdams, Kyle Chandler, Sharon Horgan, Billy MagnussenMaxMore details on IMDb → -
11
Fuze
action & adventure · crime · mystery & thriller · war & military
An unexploded WWII bomb is discovered on a busy construction site in the centre of London. Chaos ensues as the military and police begin a mass evacuation against a ticking clock.
Why watch: If you enjoy crime stories with a ticking-clock setup and military tension, this looks like a strong match. The evacuation premise suggests a pressure-filled mystery rather than a conventional heist or detective story.
Directed by David MackenzieCast Syiah George, Matthew Earley, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Honor Swinton Byrne, Saffron HockingMaxMore details on IMDb → -
12
Despicable Me
1 BAFTA Film Award nomination
animation · adventure · comedy · crime · family · sci-fi
Villainous Gru lives up to his reputation as a despicable, deplorable and downright unlikable guy when he hatches a plan to steal the moon from the sky. But he has a tough time staying on task after three orphans land in his care.
Why watch: If you want crime comedy with family-friendly animation, this is an easy pick. Its villain-in-the-middle-of-a-heist setup gives it a playful crime angle.
Directed by Pierre Coffin, Chris RenaudCast Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Julie Andrews, Will ArnettMaxMore details on IMDb → -
13
A History of Violence
2 Oscar nominations Best Supporting Actor (2006)
action · crime · drama · thriller
An average family is thrust into the spotlight after the father commits a seemingly self-defense murder at his diner.
Why watch: If you like crime dramas that start from an ordinary family situation and turn uneasy, this should suit you. It leans toward thriller territory, so it works well for viewers who prefer grounded tension.
Directed by David CronenbergCast Viggo Mortensen, Maria Bello, Ed Harris, William Hurt, Ashton HolmesMaxMore details on IMDb → -
14
The Town
1 Oscar nomination Best Supporting Actor (2011)
crime · drama · thriller
Doug MacRay is a longtime thief, who, smarter than the rest of his crew, is looking for his chance to exit the game. When a bank job leads to the group kidnapping an attractive branch manager, he takes on the role of monitoring her – but their burgeoning relationship threatens to unveil the identities of Doug and his crew to the FBI Agent who is on their case.
Why watch: If you enjoy gritty crime dramas with a romance thread and FBI pressure, this is a strong choice. It should appeal to viewers who like thieves, surveillance, and consequences.
Directed by Ben AffleckCast Ben Affleck, Rebecca Hall, Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner, Blake LivelyMaxMore details on IMDb → -
15
The Dark Knight
Won 2 Oscars Best Supporting Actor (2009) · 8 nominations
action · crime · drama · thriller
Batman raises the stakes in his war on crime. With the help of Lt. Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman sets out to dismantle the remaining criminal organizations that plague the streets. The partnership proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to a reign of chaos unleashed by a rising criminal mastermind known to the terrified citizens of Gotham as the Joker.
Why watch: If you want one of the biggest crime-action thrillers on the list, this is a must-see. Its clash between Batman, law enforcement, and the Joker makes it ideal for fans of escalating chaos.
Directed by Christopher NolanCast Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Caine, Maggie GyllenhaalMaxMore details on IMDb → -
16
Trap
crime · horror · mystery · thriller
A father and teen daughter attend a pop concert, where they realize they're at the center of a dark and sinister event.
Why watch: If you like crime movies with horror and mystery mixed in, this may be your pick. The concert setting and sinister-event premise point to a tense, unusual thriller experience.
Directed by M. Night ShyamalanCast Josh Hartnett, Ariel Donoghue, Saleka Shyamalan, Alison Pill, Hayley MillsAmazon Prime VideoMaxMore details on IMDb → -
17
House on Haunted Hill
crime · horror · mystery
Frederick Loren invites five strangers to the party of a lifetime and offers each of them $10,000 if they can stay the night in the reportedly haunted house. Armed with a gun for protection, each guest arrives in a hearse and will either leave in it much richer…Or dead.
Why watch: If you enjoy older mystery-horror stories with a crime edge, this one offers a classic setup. Its haunted-house challenge premise is a good fit for viewers who like suspense with a twisty enclosed setting.
Directed by William CastleCast Vincent Price, Carol Ohmart, Richard Long, Alan Marshal, Carolyn CraigAmazon Prime VideoTubiAMC+FreeveeMaxMore details on IMDb → -
18
American Made
action & adventure · comedy · crime · drama · mystery & thriller
The true story of pilot Barry Seal, who transported contraband for the CIA and the Medellin cartel in the 1980s.
Why watch: If you like crime stories based on real events with action, comedy, and thriller elements, this is worth considering. The 1980s contraband-running premise gives it a sharp, offbeat appeal.
Directed by Doug LimanCast Tom Cruise, Domhnall Gleeson, Sarah Wright, Jesse Plemons, Caleb Landry JonesMaxMore details on IMDb → -
19
MaXXXine
crime · horror
In 1980s Hollywood, adult film star and aspiring actress Maxine Minx finally gets her big break. But as a mysterious killer stalks the starlets of Hollywood, a trail of blood threatens to reveal her sinister past.
Why watch: If you enjoy crime and horror together, especially with a Hollywood setting, this is a good match. Its mystery-killer premise suggests a darker, stylized watch.
Directed by Ti WestCast Charley Rowan McCain, Simon Prast, Mia Goth, Deborah Geffner, Daniel LenchAmazon Prime VideoHuluTubiMaxMore details on IMDb → -
20
Hell or High Water
4 Oscar nominations
crime · drama · thriller · western
A divorced dad and his ex-con brother resort to a desperate scheme in order to save their family's farm in West Texas.
Why watch: If you want a crime drama with western flavor, this is a strong choice. Its desperate family-money premise makes it a good fit for viewers who like grounded, high-pressure stories.
Directed by David MackenzieCast Dale Dickey, Ben Foster, Chris Pine, William Sterchi, Buck TaylorMaxMore details on IMDb →
Wrapping Up
This list brings together crime stories in a few different styles, from elaborate cons and undercover operations to true-story fallout and small-town pressure cookers. Whether you want a smart thriller, a big blockbuster, or a stranger mix of genres, there’s enough variety here to match the mood. Bookmark this page and come back when you need a fresh pick, because it’s updated regularly as the catalog changes. If you’re deciding what to start first, the titles with the strongest ratings and most recognizable crime setups are a reliable place to begin.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often is this list updated?
We refresh this list regularly as titles are added or removed from streaming catalogs, so rankings and availability stay current.
Do I need a Max subscription to watch these?
Yes. Every title on this list is currently available on Max. Availability can change, so we recommend checking the streaming link on each title before you start watching.
How are these crime movies ranked?
We rank by a combination of audience rating and current popularity, so you're seeing the crime titles people are actually watching right now, not just an old fixed list.