12 Movies Like The Curse You Need to Watch
Explore 12 sharp, stylish picks with crime, comedy, and suspense if you enjoyed The Curse, including Vanda, Big Bet, and The Helicopter Heist.
If you liked the sharp, uneasy energy of movies like The Curse, this list points you toward 12 titles that mix dark humor, crime, and slow-burn tension. You’ll find the social sting of The Curse (2022) alongside the offbeat scams of Vanda (2022), the polished hustle of Confidence Queen (2025), and the high-pressure suspense of The Helicopter Heist (2024). There’s also the slick ambition of Big Bet (2022), the oddball edge of Irreverent (2022), the shadowy crime play of Ludik (2022), and the caper spirit of The Green Glove Gang (2022). Whether you want comedy, drama, mystery, or action-heavy thrills, these picks keep the mood tense without losing their sense of style.
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01
Vanda
crime · drama
In the middle of the 2008 global financial crisis, Vanda finds herself alone and broke, with two children to raise. She embarks on a string of bank heists using a blonde wig and a toy gun and, in the process, becomes a folk hero.
Directed by Simão Cayatte, Elia UrquizaCast Gabriela Barros, Joana de Verona, João Baptista, Raúl Prieto, Mariana CardosoHulu -
02
Confidence Queen
drama · comedy · crime
Three con artists with different backgrounds, team up for a daring and adventurous scheme of revenge against the villains of this era.
Directed by Nam Gi-hoonCast Park Min-young, Joo Jong-hyuk, Park Hee-soon, Woo Kang-min, Kim Han-JongAmazon Prime Video -
03
The Helicopter Heist
crime · action & adventure · drama · mystery & thriller
Two childhood friends decide to try one last heist — to rob millions from Sweden's safest cash depot. But the police are already on their heels.
Directed by Daniel Espinosa, Jonas Alexander Abramowitz Arnby, Anna ZackrissonCast Vic Carmen Sonne, Ardalan Esmaili, Mahmut Suvakci, Dejan Milacic, Johanna HedbergNetflix -
04
Big Bet
crime · drama · action & adventure
Cha Moosik runs a casino bar, only to flee to the Philippines due to a crackdown by the National Tax Service. He launches a full-fledged casino business, and strategizes winning over the political and business circles in the Philippines. However, he is suddenly framed as a suspect in Min Seokjun's death, and is tracked by Oh Seunghoon of the Korean Desk. Betrayal is rampant in the presence of money.
Directed by Yunsung KangCast Choi Min-sik, Kim Joon-bae, Lee Hye-yeong, Jin Su-hyeon, Lee Dong-hwiHuluDisney Plus -
05
Irreverent
comedy · crime · drama
A criminal from Chicago is forced to hide in a small Australian reef town posing as the new church Reverend.
Directed by Lucy Gaffy, Jonathan Teplitzky, Rick LeFevourCast Colin Donnell, P.J. Byrne, Kylie Bracknell, Wayne Blair, Tegan StimsonPeacock Premium -
06
Ludik
crime · drama
To save a kidnapped family member, an enterprising furniture tycoon must use his secret diamond smuggling operation to transport guns across the border.
Directed by Ian Gabriel, Harold HolscherCast Pieter Vorster, Vikash Mathura, Arnold Vosloo, Sean C. Michael, Inge BeckmannNetflix -
07
The Green Glove Gang
comedy · crime
After a failed robbery, a gang of 3 noble thieves: Zuza, Kinga and Alicja hides in a quiet nursing home. While the police are on their heels, the gang continues their activities at the center, giving its elderly residents a second youth.
Directed by Tadeusz Sliwa, Bartosz Kruhlik, Antonio GaldamezCast Magdalena Kuta, Malgorzata Potocka, Anna Romantowska, Miroslaw Zbrojewicz, Beata BandurskaNetflix -
08
American Murderer
biography · crime · drama · thriller
The True story of how charismatic con man Jason Derek Brown bankrolls his extravagant lifestyle through a series of scams. On Brown’s trail: Lance Leising, a dogged FBI special agent determined to put Brown behind bars. When Brown’s funds run low and his past catches up with him, he plots his most elaborate scheme yet, pitting himself against Leising in a deadly game of cat and mouse — and becoming the most unlikely and elusive fugitive on the FBI’s most-wanted list.
Directed by Matthew GentileCast Tom Pelphrey, Ryan Phillippe, Idina Menzel, Paul Schneider, Shantel VanSantenHulu -
09
Ambulance
action · crime · drama · thriller
Decorated veteran Will Sharp, desperate for money to cover his wife's medical bills, asks for help from his adoptive brother Danny. A charismatic career criminal, Danny instead offers him a score: the biggest bank heist in Los Angeles history: $32 million.
Directed by Michael BayCast Jake Gyllenhaal, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Eiza González, Garret Dillahunt, Keir O'DonnellNetflix -
10
Shantaram
action · adventure · crime · drama · thriller
Escaped convict Lin Ford flees to the teeming streets of 1980s Bombay, looking to disappear. Working as a medic for the city's poor and neglected, Lin finds unexpected love, connection, and courage on the long road to redemption.
Directed by Iain B. MacDonald, Bronwen Hughes, Bharat NalluriCast Charlie Hunnam, Fayssal Bazzi, Sujaya Dasgupta, Antonia Desplat, Elham EhsasApple TV Plus -
11
The Bad Guys: Breaking In
animation · adventure · comedy · crime · family
Breaking into the bad guy business, Wolf leads his crew on daring heists seeking notoriety, but being truly bad isn't their strong suit.
Directed by Christo Stamboliev, Pete Jacobs, Kevin Peaty, Emmanuel Deligiannis, Bret HaalandCast Michael Godere, Ezekiel Ajeigbe, Raul Ceballos, Chris Diamantopoulos, Mallory LowNetflix -
12
American Animals
biography · crime · drama · history · thriller
Lexington, Kentucky, 2004. Four young men attempt to execute one of the most audacious art heists in the history of the United States.
Directed by Bart LaytonCast Spencer Reinhard, Warren Lipka, Eric Borsuk, Chas Allen, Betty Jean GoochAmazon Prime Video
Wrapping Up
This page brings together a strong mix of crime stories, uneasy comedies, and character-driven dramas for viewers who want something with bite. From scam artists and heists to morally messy antiheroes, each title offers a different angle on the same sharp, restless energy. If you’re building a watchlist, bookmark this page and come back when you want another option that fits the same tone. It’s updated regularly, so the recommendations stay fresh as new releases arrive and older picks keep finding new fans.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes these movies similar to The Curse?
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 4, 2026