12 Movies Like The Rookie You Need to Watch
Discover 12 shows and films with the same action, crime, drama, and comedy blend as The Rookie, including Lethal Weapon, Southland, and more.
If you’re searching for movies like The Rookie, you probably want the same mix of heart, suspense, and easygoing humor that makes a good cop story work. This page brings together 12 picks that lean into that appeal from different angles, including The Rookie (2018), Lethal Weapon (2016), and The Good Cop (2018). You’ll also find sharper, more serious choices such as Southland (2009), Seven Seconds (2018), and On Call (2025), plus lighter or more adventure-driven options like The Glades (2010) and Street Dreams: Los Angeles (2018). Whether you’re in the mood for action, crime, drama, adventure, or comedy, these titles offer plenty of ways to keep the same energy going.
-
01
Lethal Weapon
action · adventure · comedy · crime · drama · mystery · thriller
A slightly unhinged former Navy SEAL lands a job as a police officer in Los Angeles where he's partnered with a veteran detective trying to keep maintain a low stress level in his life.
Directed by Steve Boyum, Nick Copus, Rob Bailey, Nathan Hope, Eric LaneuvilleCast Damon Wayans, Keesha Sharp, Kevin Rahm, Michelle Mitchenor, Johnathan FernandezAmazon Prime VideoFreevee -
02
The Good Cop
comedy · crime · drama
Honest cop Tony Jr. gets advice from his unscrupulous father, retired NYPD officer Tony Sr., about everything from his job to his love life.
Directed by Randy Zisk, Kevin Hooks, Rebecca Asher, Neema Barnette, Rodrigo GarcíaCast Tony Danza, Josh Groban, Monica Barbaro, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Bill KottkampNetflix -
03
On Call
action · crime · drama
Traci Harmon, a veteran female training officer, and her rookie male ride-along, Alex Diaz, navigate the loss of a fellow officer and politics of modern day policing — in the department and on the streets of Long Beach.
Directed by Eriq La Salle, Brenna MalloyCast Troian Bellisario, Brandon Larracuente, Eriq La Salle, Mac Brandt, Rich TingAmazon Prime VideoFreevee -
04
Seven Seconds
crime · drama
Tensions run high between African American citizens and Caucasian cops in Jersey City when a teenage African American boy is critically injured by a cop.
Directed by Ed Bianchi, Jon Amiel, Daniel Attias, Jonathan Demme, Ernest DickersonCast Clare-Hope Ashitey, Beau Knapp, Michael Mosley, David Lyons, Russell HornsbyNetflix -
05
The Glades
action · crime · drama · mystery
This crime series follows Jim, a Chicago cop who gets kicked off the force after being shot and wrongfully accused by his ex-captain of having an affair with his wife. After receiving his payout, Jim decides to moves to a small Florida town to join the state police.
Directed by Gary A. Randall, Eric Laneuville, Kelly Makin, Jonathan Frakes, Randy ZiskCast Matt Passmore, Kiele Sanchez, Carlos Gómez, Jordan Wall, Michelle HurdHulu -
06
Southland
crime · drama · thriller
A raw and authentic look into the Los Angeles crime scene, going far inside the lives of cops, criminals, victims and their families. The show centers on four main characters: Officer John Cooper, a seasoned cop who will have to prove himself again after recovering from surgery; Officer Ben Sherman, who still has much to learn after recently completing his training rotation; Detective Lydia Adams, whose unending caseload hits closer to home; and Sammy Bryant, a former detective who decided to go back to being a uniform cop after the traumatic death of his partner.
Directed by Christopher Chulack, Nelson McCormick, J. Michael Muro, Félix Enríquez Alcalá, Allison AndersCast Michael Cudlitz, Shawn Hatosy, Regina King, Ben McKenzie, C. Thomas HowellNetflix -
07
Street Dreams: Los Angeles
action · drama
An undercover cop from the streets of Los Angeles must overcome the opposition to land his dream of becoming a counterintelligence agent in the FBI.
Directed by Jordan Cann, Romane SimonCast Lester Speight, Kamy D. Bruder, Paulette Thompson, Vanessa Deleon, SiyaPeacock Premium -
08
Bosch: Legacy
crime · drama
Bosch is now making a living as a private investigator two years after he quit the LAPD and finds himself working with one time enemy and top-notch attorney Honey “Money” Chandler. Meanwhile, Bosch's daughter Maddie is venturing into the world of the LAPD.
Directed by Patrick Cady, Sharat Raju, Alex Zakrzewski, Adam Davidson, Ernest DickersonCast Titus Welliver, Mimi Rogers, Madison Lintz, Stephen A. Chang, Denise G. SanchezAmazon Prime VideoFreevee -
09
Destroyer
action · crime · drama · mystery · thriller
When Erin Bell was a young cop, she was given an undercover assignment that ended badly and destroyed her life. Years later, she must face her demons in order to make peace with her past.
Directed by Karyn KusamaCast Nicole Kidman, Toby Kebbell, Tatiana Maslany, Sebastian Stan, Scoot McNairyAmazon Prime VideoPeacock PremiumFreevee -
10
Dragged Across Concrete
action · crime · drama · thriller
Two policemen, one an old-timer, the other his volatile younger partner, find themselves suspended when a video of their strong-arm tactics becomes the media's cause du jour. Low on cash and with no other options, these two embittered soldiers descend into the criminal underworld to gain their just due, but instead find far more than they wanted awaiting them in the shadows.
Directed by S. Craig ZahlerCast Mel Gibson, Vince Vaughn, Tory Kittles, Michael Jai White, Thomas KretschmannAmazon Prime VideoFreevee -
11
Blue Lights
crime · drama · mystery & thriller
Follows rookie police officers working in Belfast, a city in which being a frontline response cop comes with unique pressures and dangers.
Directed by Gilles Bannier, Jack Casey, Angela Griffin, Declan Lawn, Adam PattersonCast Sian Brooke, Katherine Devlin, Nathan Braniff, Martin McCann, Andi OshoMax -
12
Let Us Prey
drama · horror · thriller
Rachel, a rookie cop, is about to begin her first night shift in a neglected police station in a Scottish, backwater town. The kind of place where the tide has gone out and stranded a motley bunch of the aimless, the forgotten, the bitter-and-twisted who all think that, really, they deserve to be somewhere else. They all think they're there by accident and that, with a little luck, life is going to get better. Wrong, on both counts. Six is about to arrive - and All Hell Will Break Loose!
Directed by Brian O'MalleyCast Liam Cunningham, Pollyanna McIntosh, Bryan Larkin, Hanna Stanbridge, Douglas RussellFreevee
Wrapping Up
These picks give you a wide range of what makes this kind of story work, from fast-moving cases and city grit to buddy-cop chemistry and warmer character moments. If you liked the mix of danger and charm in The Rookie, this list should make it easy to find your next watch among the 12 titles here. Bookmark this page and come back whenever you want more suggestions with the same balance of action, crime, drama, adventure, and comedy. It’s updated regularly, so there’s always a fresh option to explore.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes these movies similar to The Rookie?
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.