12 Movies Like Lanterns You Need to Watch
Find 12 tense, stylish picks with crime, mystery, action, and sci-fi energy—perfect if you want a smart follow-up to Lanterns.
If you’re searching for movies like Lanterns, you probably want something that blends danger, intrigue, and a world that feels bigger than the people trying to survive it. This list brings together 12 picks that move from gritty crime drama to tense mystery, with a strong sci-fi edge in titles such as Lanterns (2026), Borderlands (2024), and Mercy (2026). You’ll also find harder-edged stories like Blood Sacrifice (2026) and My Name Is Gutierrez (2026), plus moodier choices including Normal (2026), Santo (2022), and GG Precinct (2024). Whether you’re after action, suspense, or a story with a strange, cinematic atmosphere, these recommendations are built to keep the momentum going.
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01
My Name Is Gutierrez
action & adventure · comedy · crime · drama
Deputy Commissioner Gutierrez competes with the CIA to solve the murder of the Russian Ambassador with his unique style.
Directed by Jesus BracerasCast Darío Barassi, Yayo Guridi, Juliana Savioli, Abián Vainstein, Lucas MolinaHuluDisney PlusMore details on IMDb → -
02
Blood Sacrifice
crime · drama · mystery & thriller
A Stockholm detective must team up with his estranged ex-cop father to catch a serial killer targeting police officers, forcing them to resolve their differences during the investigation.
Directed by Kristoffer NyholmCast Jakob Oftebro, Peter Andersson, Electra Hallman, Alexander Abdallah, Henrik NorlénNetflixMore details on IMDb → -
03
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.
Directed by Ben WheatleyCast Bob Odenkirk, Ryan Allen, Billy MacLellan, Lena Headey, Henry WinklerMaxMore details on IMDb → -
04
Santo
crime · drama · horror · mystery & thriller · action & adventure
Two cops must learn to work together to catch the world's most-wanted drug dealer, whose face has never been revealed.
Directed by Vicente AmorimCast Raúl Arévalo, Bruno Gagliasso, Victoria Guerra, Greta Fernández, Kyle ButenhoffNetflixMore details on IMDb → -
05
Neagley
action & adventure · crime · drama · mystery & thriller
Neagley, drawing from her experience with Jack Reacher and the 110 Special Investigators, embarks on a perilous mission to expose a sinister threat, risking her life to unravel the mystery.
Directed by Phil Abraham, MJ Bassett, Gary Fleder, Sam HillCast Maria Sten, Greyston Holt, Adeline Rudolph, Jasper Jones, Matthew Del NegroAmazon Prime VideoFreeveeMore details on IMDb → -
06
Borderlands
action & adventure · comedy · mystery & thriller · science-fiction
Returning to her home planet, an infamous bounty hunter forms an unexpected alliance with a team of unlikely heroes. Together, they battle monsters and dangerous bandits to protect a young girl who holds the key to unimaginable power.
Directed by Eli RothCast Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Edgar Ramírez, Jamie Lee Curtis, Ariana GreenblattPeacock PremiumMore details on IMDb → -
07
Supergirl
action & adventure · drama · fantasy · science-fiction
When an unexpected and ruthless adversary strikes too close to home, Kara Zor-El, aka Supergirl, reluctantly joins forces with an unlikely companion on an epic, interstellar journey of vengeance and justice.
Directed by Craig GillespieCast Milly Alcock, David Corenswet, Eve Ridley, Matthias Schoenaerts, Diarmaid MurtaghMaxMore details on IMDb → -
08
S.W.A.T. Exiles
action & adventure · crime · drama
After a high-profile mission goes sideways, Daniel 'Hondo' Harrelson is pulled out of forced retirement to lead a last-chance experimental SWAT unit made up of untested, unpredictable young recruits. Hondo must bridge a generational divide, navigate clashing personalities, and turn a squad of outsiders into a team capable of protecting the city and saving the program that made him who he is.
Directed by Lisa Demaine, Billy Gierhart, Oz Scott, Kevin Tancharoen, Tara Nicole WeyrCast Shemar Moore, Lucy Barrett, Adain Bradley, Zyra Gorecki, Ronen RubinsteinStarzMore details on IMDb → -
09
Red Queen
action & adventure · crime · drama · mystery & thriller
A gifted woman's intellect brings chance to lead covert European police force. But it backfires, costing her everything. Following murder at her home and kidnapped heiress, her ex-supervisor enlists a policeman's aid to reinstate her.
Directed by Koldo Serra, Julián de TaviraCast Victoria Luengo, Hovik Keuchkerian, Bruno Sevilla, Karmele Larrinaga, Alex BrendemühlAmazon Prime VideoMore details on IMDb → -
10
GG Precinct
comedy · mystery & thriller · crime · horror · action & adventure · drama · fantasy
Facing a trail of murders staged as chilling word games, a rookie police captain and a goofy detective race to solve a serial killer's deadly puzzles.
Directed by Wei-Hao Cheng, Chen-Hao YinCast Greg Han Hsu, Gingle Wang, Nien-Hsien Ma, Ki-pin Ng, Lulu Huang LuNetflixMore details on IMDb → -
11
Mercy
action · crime · drama · mystery · sci-fi · thriller
In the near future, a detective stands on trial accused of murdering his wife. He has ninety minutes to prove his innocence to the advanced AI Judge he once championed, before it determines his fate.
Directed by Timur BekmambetovCast Chris Pratt, Rebecca Ferguson, Kali Reis, Annabelle Wallis, Chris SullivanAmazon Prime VideoMore details on IMDb → -
12
Revival
action & adventure · crime · drama · horror · mystery & thriller · science-fiction
On one miraculous day in rural Wisconsin, the recently deceased suddenly rise from their graves. But this is no zombie story, as the 'revived' appear and act just like they once were. When local officer and single mother Dana Cypress is unexpectedly thrown into the center of a brutal murder mystery of her own, she's left to make sense of the chaos amidst a town gripped by fear and confusion where everyone, alive or undead, is a suspect.
Directed by Samir Rehem, Amanda RowCast Melanie Scrofano, Romy Weltman, David James Elliott, Andy McQueen, Katharine King SoNetflixMore details on IMDb →
Wrapping Up
From crime-driven tension to sci-fi worldbuilding, this roundup is meant to help you find the next watch that fits the same lane as Lanterns. Each pick offers its own mix of pace, stakes, and atmosphere, so you can choose based on whether you want mystery, action, or something more dramatic. Bookmark this page and come back whenever you need a fresh recommendation. It’s updated regularly, so the list will keep evolving as new releases arrive and the best matches change.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes these movies similar to Lanterns?
These picks were matched by tone, themes, and story style using a similarity model trained on plot synopses, genres, and cast — not just shared genre tags — so the connection runs deeper than a simple category match.