Crime is one of those genres that can be more than just heists, mob activity, or procedural investigations. While other streaming platforms might offer more overall, Prime Video can still hold its own thanks to the sheer variety within the genre. Here are some of the best crime movies currently streaming on Prime Video.
What are the best crime movies on Prime Video?
If you’re looking for a streaming platform with all of Scorsese or Cronenberg, Prime Video unfortunately isn’t it. Prime does, however, offer a solid selection of crime films if you’re willing to expand your understanding of what the genre can be. Here are some of the best, chosen for both personal taste and critical acclaim.
Memento (2000)
Christopher Nolan’s Memento (from a script by Jonathan Nolan) was one of those movies that genuinely broke our brains back in the day, well before Nolan would go on to make Inception. The film centers on Leonard (Guy Pearce), who is tracking down his wife’s killer. That quest is complicated by the fact that Leonard suffers from anterograde amnesia. He can’t remember details of his life before the accident, nor can he form new memories.
As you might expect from Nolan, this is a twisty maze of plot and structure. Aside from Harold Pinter’s 1983 film Betrayal — adapted from his play of the same name — telling a story backwards wasn’t a structure commonly seen in film. Hand that idea to the Nolan brothers and make it even more convoluted, and where you end up by the end of the movie is never where you expect to be. Memento is fantastic, and well worth a watch or a rewatch if it’s been a minute.
12 Angry Men (1957)
For a dose of procedural drama, 12 Angry Men isn’t really about the crime itself so much as it is about doubt, deliberation, and the possibility of vindication for the accused. Directed by Sidney Lumet, the film takes place almost entirely inside a jury room during the closing arguments of a murder trial where a teenager stands accused of killing his father. The twelve men are tasked with deciding the fate of the inner-city teen, whose life hangs in the balance of the verdict. What initially appears to be an open-and-shut case unravels as one juror (Henry Fonda) insists on taking the time to talk things through, even against the pressure of the other jurors.
The Handmaiden (2016)
Park Chan-wook’s The Handmaiden is the intersection of probably four genres. It’s a revenge thriller, a love story, and a twisty crime thriller. It’s also violent, erotic, perverse, and beautiful. You’ll want to remember Chan-wook’s other films, particularly the Vengeance Trilogy, to know what you’re getting into. You’ll also know this film is in the hands of an artist at the peak of his career. This film is sometimes cited as his best, but we’ll let you be the judge. You can add his latest film, No Other Choice, to the list of contenders for that nomination.
The Handmaiden is set in the 1930s in Japanese-occupied Korea. A Korean con-man (Ha Jung-woo) takes on the identity of a wealthy count and plans to marry a Japanese heiress (Kim Min-hee) to a vast inheritance. Upon marriage, he plans to have her committed to an asylum so he can make off with the money. The conman enlists the help of an orphaned pickpocket (Kim Tae-ri) to play the part of a maid in his elaborate scheme.
Die Hard (1988)
While it’s technically categorized as an action thriller, we’re more than happy to include Die Hard on a best-of crime list. Terrorism is, after all, a crime any time of year — and especially at Christmas. Bruce Willis stars as John McClane, a New York City police officer visiting Los Angeles to reconnect with his estranged wife and daughters during the holidays. He meets his wife at her office Christmas party, held at the super cool headquarters of the company she works for.
The festive evening is abruptly derailed when a group of terrorists under the orders of Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) takes over the building and holds everyone inside hostage. What they don’t realize is that one of the partygoers is an off-duty cop who knows the building better than they do. Yippie-ki-yay.
Le Samouraï (1967)
To offset the explosive action of the pick above, our next entry is in every way the epitome of the crime genre. This neo-noir crime thriller belongs on every classic cinema watchlist. If you haven’t seen it yet, we’d recommend bumping it straight to the top. It’s a monumental achievement in filmmaking, and a pristine showcase of director Jean-Pierre Melville’s strengths before a single word is spoken. Often cited as the most important French crime film ever made, Le Samouraï is essential viewing. If you consider yourself a cinephile and haven’t seen it, it’s time to fix that.
Alain Delon stars as Jeff Costello, the perfect hitman. He’s cool, meticulous, and composed. He’s got a trenchcoat, he’s got his tipped hat. His routines are precise, and he doesn’t make mistakes. That is, until a job goes wrong when a female piano player (Cathy Rosier) witnesses him commit a murder at a nightclub. Before he can tie up that loose end, Costello is arrested. Although he’s released when Cathy refuses to identify him, the damage is done. Now watched by the police and targeted by those who hired him, Costello finds himself hunted from all sides.
How we picked the best crime movies on Prime Video
We narrowed down our choices based on personal taste and critical accolades. The films we chose also showcase the variety of the crime movie genre.
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