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 Plus -
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 NorlénNetflix -
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 WinklerMax -
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 ButenhoffNetflix -
05
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 Premium -
06
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 LuNetflix -
07
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 Video -
08
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 SoNetflix -
09
Damaged
action & adventure · crime · drama · mystery & thriller
A Chicago detective travels to Scotland after an emerging serial killer’s crimes match those that he investigated five years earlier, one of which was the crime scene of his murdered girlfriend.
Directed by Terry McDonoughCast Samuel L. Jackson, Vincent Cassel, Gianni Capaldi, Kate Dickie, John HannahFreevee -
10
Wrath
crime · drama · mystery & thriller · sport
Wrath tells the story of a young man rescued from the brink of death by an MMA coach. With no memory of his own identity, he is given the name Marcelo and finds a new purpose in the world of MMA. But as he is drawn deeper into this universe, he begins to uncover clues to his past and becomes entangled in a web of crime, secrets and rivalries that reaches far beyond the cage.
Directed by José Henrique Fonseca, Igor VerdeCast Vinicius Neri, Fábio Lago, Alice Carvalho, MC Cabelinho, Bianca ComparatoNetflix -
11
The Rip
action · crime · drama · mystery · thriller
After a team of Miami cops discovers millions in cash inside a derelict stash house, trust frays as everything — and everyone — is called into question.
Directed by Joe CarnahanCast Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Steven Yeun, Teyana Taylor, Catalina Sandino MorenoNetflix -
12
Mousetrap
crime · drama · mystery & thriller
A reclusive writer wakes to find his identity stolen — and must ally with a ruthless loan shark to reclaim his life from a man known as "The Rat."
Directed by Kim Hong-sunCast Ryu Jun-yeol, Sul Kyung-gu, Lee Kyoo-hyung, Hyun Bong-sik, Mu Jin-sungNetflix
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.
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Last updated: September 9, 2026