For fans of heart-pounding suspense and jaw-dropping twists, crime thrillers are the perfect bite-sized adrenaline rush. As one of the best streaming services, Netflix offers a strong line-up of movies that'll keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat from start to finish.
That's why we’ve rounded up five of the best crime thrillers currently streaming on Netflix. From gripping long cons to sleek neo-Westerns, the picks below deliver intrigue, danger, and high-stakes drama in spades. So grab your popcorn, settle in, and get ready to watch stacked casts of Hollywood A-listers steal, rob, murder and otherwise wreak havoc for your entertainment.
'The Highwaymen' (2019)
![The Highwaymen | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix - YouTube](https://img.youtube.com/vi/aH6vC-BBKOc/maxresdefault.jpg)
"The Highwaymen" is an underrated modern classic on Netflix that follows two ageing Texas Rangers, Frank Hamer (Kevin Costner) and Maney Gault (Woody Harrelson), on the heels of notorious American criminals Bonnie and Clyde. While critics were lukewarm on it (it holds a 58% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes), I'd encourage you to give this riveting neo-Western a shot.
It functions less as a historical commentary and more as a solid showcase for the expertly matched lead performances of Costner and Harrelson. The duo's contrasting personalities make for a thoroughly entertaining tale of backcountry justice. These veteran rangers may be getting up there in years, but they’re far from past their prime and rise to the challenge when younger, cockier and better-equipped federal agents fail to catch the gun-happy lovers during their infamous 1930s crime spree.
Watch "The Highwaymen" now on Netflix
'The Departed' (2006)
"The Departed" is a rare gem in Hollywood: a remake that outshines the original. Casting Jack Nicholson as a crime lord and Alec Baldwin as a police chief may not break new ground, but this remake of 2002's "Infernal Affairs" is less about reinventing the wheel than it is about refining it.
Directed by the legendary Martin Scorsese, the film tracks both sides of the law as each plants moles in the other's ranks. Rookie officer Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) goes undercover to befriend mob boss Frank Costello (Nicholson), while the criminal Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon) secretly infiltrates the police force as Costello's informant. Both men race against time, each trying to uncover the other’s true identity before their own cover is blown, setting the stage for a tense, high-stakes game of deception.
Watch "The Departed" now on Netflix
'Rebel Ridge' (2024)
"Rebel Ridge" was easily one of the biggest surprises of 2024. With an impressive 95% score on Rotten Tomatoes, it strikes the perfect balance between high-octane action and intrigue. While its pacing may not be for everyone, it hooks you in with a steady trickle of tension and suspense as the story unfolds. Director Jeremy Saulnier, known for "Green Room" and "Hold the Dark," helms this pulse-pounding thriller starring Aaron Pierre as a retired Marine forced to unleash his inner Rambo.
His peaceful retirement is broken when he heads to the tiny town of Shelby Springs to post bail for his cousin. But things get hairy when two police officers drive him off the road and illegally seize his life savings. Determined to seek justice, Terry teams up with a particularly resourceful court clerk, Summer McBride (AnnaSophia Robb), to unravel a sprawling conspiracy led by Don Johnson’s corrupt police chief, Sandy Burnne.
Watch "Rebel Ridge" now on Netflix
'Emily the Criminal' (2022)
Another underrated Netflix gem, "Emily the Criminal" showcases one of Aubrey Plaza's most darkly humorous and complex roles to date. As you may have already guessed from the title, she plays a criminal named Emily, but she didn't always dream of a life of crime — at least not at first.
Struggling under a mountain of student debt and blocked from well-paying jobs by a prior criminal record, Emily finds herself with few options that Uncle Sam would approve of. To stay afloat, she joins a credit card scam led by the charming Youcef (Theo Rossi). But it's not long before her reluctant foray into crime spirals into something bigger as she's swept away by the allure of fast cash and the possibility of a life she never imagined.
"Emily the Criminal" is a taut, compelling thriller with a healthy dose of social critique anchored by Plaza's riveting performance that absolutely deserves a spot on your watchlist.
Watch "Emily the Criminal" now on Netflix
'The Harder They Fall' (2021)
It's a premise you've no doubt heard before: Against the backdrop of the Old West, outlaw Nat Love (Jonathan Majors) is on a mission for revenge. But "The Harder They Fall" uses these familiar tropes for a kinetic reimagining of Western crime thrillers that's brimming with powerhouse performances. Plus, it made waves as one of the few mainstream Westerns with an all-Black cast among its principal characters.
After witnessing his parents’ murder at the hands of the ruthless Rufus Buck (Idris Elba) as a kid, Love gathers his gang — sharpshooter Bill Pickett (Edi Gathegi), quick-draw Jim Beckwourth (RJ Cyler), and his former lover Stagecoach Mary (Zazie Beetz) — to track down the recently freed criminal and settle old scores. Rufus, however, has built a formidable crew of his own, including the deadly Trudy Smith (Regina King) and Cherokee Bill (LaKeith Stanfield), and the two gangs collide in a brutal showdown.
"The Harder They Fall" delivers style, action and star power in equal measure, and its dynamic soundtrack is worth shouting out as well.
Watch "The Harder They Fall" now on Netflix
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