Shubhabrata Dutta
The police and detective genre in movies is one of the most popular, and thanks to the emergence of OTT platforms, it has reached new heights of fame. Movies like ‘Laura’ (1944), ‘Vertigo’ (1958), ‘Serpico,’ ‘Die Hard’ (1988), ‘Fargo’ (1996), ‘The Departed’ (2006), ‘Se7en’ (1995) have proved just how enthralling and diverse one single genre can be in its treatment. Keeping this in mind, we bring you the best police and detective movies on Netflix.
25. Justice (2024)
Michal Gazda’s ‘Justice,’ AKA ‘Napad,’ follows disgraced former police Tadeusz Gadacz (Olaf Lubaszenko) on a complex path to redemption. How? By helping a prosecutor find the culprits behind a bank heist. In the race-against-time endeavor, he is joined by young police inspector Aleksandra Janicka (Wiktoria Gorodecka). Navigating through a labyrinth of political pressure, media scrutiny, and a troubled past isn’t easy, but it is the only way for Gadacz to reclaim his old way of life. Layered and gripping, ‘Justice’ is a true-to-form gritty crime drama apt for the fanatics of police and detective movies. If you are of the type, you can watch it here.
24. 21 Bridges (2019)
Directed by Brian Kirk and starring the late Chadwick Boseman, ‘21 Bridges’ follows NYPD Detective Andre Davis, who is given a homicide case wherein two war veterans have gunned down some police officers while fleeing a liquor store after stealing cocaine in Brooklyn. Finding out that the two criminals have made it to Manhattan, Davis manages to get approval to shut down the 21 bridges of Manhattan to prevent the criminals from leaving the city. He soon realizes that some of his colleagues are involved in drug trafficking. Will Davis be able to find out who they are? Only if he finds evidence to prove the same. ‘21 Bridges’ co-stars Sienna Miller, J. K. Simmons, Stephan James, Taylor Kitsch, Keith David, and Louis Cancelmi. You can watch the film here.
23. Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2024)
A sequel to the Eddie Murphy-starrer cult classic action comedy Beverly Hills Cop III (1994) and the fourth installment of the ‘Beverly Hills Cop’ franchise, ‘Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F’ is directed by Mark Molloy. The film brings Detective Axel Foley (Murphy) back to Beverly Hills to reconcile with his estranged daughter, Jane, who has become a defense attorney. However, things go astray after the murder of a cop points toward a conspiracy that connects the Beverley Hills Police Department and a cartel. In Foley’s endeavor to bring the corrupt to justice, he is joined by his old friends John Taggart (John Ashton) and Billy Rosewood (Judge Reinhold), along with new partner Detective Bobby Abbott (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), who is also Jane’s ex-boyfriend. Action-packed and garnished with Murphy’s signature comic timing, ‘Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F’ is a worthy successor in the long-dormant franchise. You can watch it here.
22. In the Shadow of the Moon (2019)
A sci-fi crime thriller that takes place across different timelines, ‘In the Shadow of the Moon’ follows Officer Thomas Lockhart (Boyd Holbrook), who finds himself caught in a mind-bending case of killings wherein the serial killer, who apparently died in front of him, returns every nine years to claim victims. His search for the killer, one that poses a threat to his sanity, is underscored by a secret with which he is linked by blood, but he doesn’t know it yet. To discover that secret, you can watch this exciting Jim Mickle directorial right here.
21. Murder Mystery (2019)
Starring Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler, ‘Murder Mystery’ is a murder comedy flick directed by Kyle Newacheck. Sandler plays the role of NYPD officer Nick Spitz, and Aniston plays his wife, Audrey. While onboard their flight to a much-awaited trip to Europe to rekindle their love life, they are invited to a party by a billionaire Charles Cavendish (Luke Evans), who is also onboard that flight, to his family yacht. While on the boat, Nick and Audrey get themselves acquainted with everyone present. Things soon take a wrong turn when one of the family members, Cavendish’s uncle/party host Malcolm Quince (Terence Stamp), ends up dead. Now, it is up to Nick to look into the matter, which requires his wife’s assistance. Propelled to hilarity by the comic timing of Sandler and Aniston, ‘Murder Mystery’ is a binge-watch-worthy movie. You can watch it right here.
20. Spenser Confidential (2020)
Dirty cops. Big cartels. Powerful politicians. Bringing down a vicious circle that connects these three is no easy feat. This is what Boston police Officer Spenser was trying to do when he was framed and sent to prison. But now that he is out, he plans to do the same again, not by going undercover or having a silent approach but by going big and blowing it all up. In the endeavor, he is joined by his new roommate, Hawk. But first, they will have to learn to work together. How tough can that be? This is what we find out in this buddy-cop action comedy directed by Peter Berg. It stars Mark Wahlberg as Spenser and Winston Duke as Hawk. You can watch ‘Spenser Confidential’ right here.
19. The Little Things (2021)
From director John Lee Hancock comes this gripping star-studded detective thriller. Featuring Jared Leto, Denzel Washington, and Rami Malek, ‘The Little Things’ brings together Kern County Deputy Sheriff Joe Deacon (Washington) and L.A. Sheriff Department Detective Jim Baxter (Malek) on a serial killer case with a repair store worker named Albert Sparma (Leto) as their suspect. As the dead victims pile up, Deacon finds similarities between the present case and one from his past that he wasn’t able to solve. Baxter has reason to believe that Sparma can be the killer and thus continues the investigation, although there seems to be no strong evidence to prove Sparma guilty. Is Deacon’s last case truly connected to the present one? Is Sparma really the killer? Baxter’s inability to find the culprit is more deeply connected to Deacon than one can tell. To find out how, you can watch ‘The Little Things’ here.
18. God’s Crooked Lines (2022)
Is insanity really the fastest way to find what we are looking for? This is the question that Oriol Paulo’s ‘God’s Crooked Lines’ poses. The psychological drama, based on Torcuato Luca de Tena’s 1979 novel of the same name, follows private investigator Alice Gould de Almenara (Bárbara Lennie), who consciously admits herself into a psychiatric ward to look into a murder that occurred under mysterious circumstances. But getting in is not as easy as getting out. As she tries to search for clues, her sanity is tested in ways she never expected. Sedated, electro-shocked, and worn out, Alice finds herself on the verge of insanity. Will she become someone like the person she is looking for? The answer lies within ‘God’s Crooked Lines.’ You can watch it here.
17. Infiesto (2023)
A dog killer, a demon, and a prophet. These are what detectives Samuel Garcia (Isak Ferriz) and Marta Castro (Iria del Rio) have to deal with while looking into the abduction of a female teenager who has just been found after three months and sent to the hospital. Saioa is in shock and unable to speak. Thus, with zero clues at their disposal, Garcia and Castro are on their own as they try to find who’s behind the kidnapping of not just this girl but many more. Soon, it is revealed that the abductions are a part of a ritual. What makes their investigation even more challenging is the COVID-19 lockdown. Will the duo find a connection between Saio and the sinister trio we mentioned in the beginning? To find out, you can watch ‘Infiesto,’ directed by Patxi Amezcua, right here.
16. A Walk Among the Tombstones (2014)
Starring Liam Neeson in yet another cop role, ‘A Walk Among the Tombstones’ is based on American crime writer Lawrence Block’s 1992 novel. Unlicensed private detective Matt Scudder (Neeson) is brought back into the game he once was a part of by Kenny Kristo (Dan Stevens), a drug trafficker. His wife was kidnapped and murdered despite his paying the ransom. While appearing like any other case of kidnapping for ransom, Scudder’s research reveals that the guys who did it have been doing it for a long time and follow the same pattern, i.e., targeting drug dealers and their loved ones. And when these guys, who live in the shadows, kidnap another girl, Scudder makes up his mind to rescue her before it’s too late. To give yourself another dose of Neeson-filled drama, you can watch the film here.
15. Twin Murders: The Silence of the White City (2019)
What can Detective Unai Lopez de Ayala (Javier Rey) do when he comes across a series of murders that are entirely like the ones committed by a killer who has been in prison for 20 years and is about to be released? As Unai and his partner Estibaliz (Aura Garrido) look for clues in a race against time, we come across a most curious case wherein the victims (discovered in pairs) are stripped nude, properly arranged side-by-side in a sleeping position with their genital regions covered in florals cut in the shape of suns. Will Unai be able to track down the killer who mimics another? To find out, you can watch ‘Twin Murders: The Silence of the White City,’ directed by Daniel Calparsoro, right here.
14. Raat Akeli Hai (2020)
Directed by Honey Trehan, this Hindi crime thriller delves into an intriguing investigation by Inspector Jatil Yadav (Nawazuddin Siddiqui) into the murder of wealthy aristocrat Raghuveer Singh (Khalid Tyabji), who was killed on his wedding night. Within the circle of doubt, there is Singh’s much younger bride, Radha (Radhika Apte), along with Singh’s son, daughter, daughter’s husband, and Singh’s sister-in-law and two children. After realizing that Radha is under suspicion by the rest of the family and the only one who seems to cooperate, Inspector Yadav tries to extract intel from her to figure out who the potential murderer can be. Amidst dark secrets and hidden truths underscored by a thrilling investigation, ‘Raat Akeli Hai’ offers a perfect binge-watch experience. You can stream the film here.
13. Shimmer Lake (2017)
Directed by Oren Uziel, this is an exciting neo-noir black comedy drama that is told backward day by day. Set in a small American town, ‘Shimmer Lake’ follows a bank heist planned by ex-convict Ed Burton (Wyatt Russell) and carried out by Andy Sikes (Rainn Wilson), a lawyer, and Chris (Mark Rendall), who is an imbecile. As humorous as the whole endeavor goes, a person dies, establishing the film’s dark nature. Policemen Zeke (Benjamin Walker), who is Andy’s brother, and Reed Ethington (Adam Pally) are looking into the case along with FBI agents Kyle Walker (Ron Livingston) and Kurt Biltmore (Rob Corddry). ‘Shimmer Lake’ certainly makes for a great watch, mainly due to its backward nature and the quality of the dark humor. You can check it out here.
12. The Stranger (2022)
Starring Joel Edgerton and Sean Harris in the leads, ‘The Stranger’ is a psychological cop drama that follows police officer Mark Frame (Edgerton), who goes undercover as a member of a criminal organization to interact with murder suspect Henry Teague (Harris) and get him to reveal information about the crime. As the plot progresses, we see just how complex things can get while extracting information and the elaborate plans set up to support all the lies that Frame tells Teague. Moreover, the extent to which Frame goes to earn Teague’s trust takes a toll on him. What makes the film interesting is that Joel Edgerton and Sean Harris look somewhat similar from particular angles. This point is what the makers use to their advantage and adds to the story’s effectiveness. You can watch the film here.
11. HIT: The First Case (2022)
‘HIT: The First Case’ is an Indian Hindi-language flick directed by Sailesh Kolanu. Starring Rajkummar Rao, Ruhani Sharma, Vishwak Sen, Shilpa Shukla, and Sanya Malhotra, the film follows sharp-witted cop Vikram Jaisingh of the Homicide Intervention Team (HIT) who is a classic case of post-traumatic stress as a result of a shadowy past and is thus sent on a 6-months break. But then a confusing case of the kidnapping of an 18-year-old girl, followed by that of his girlfriend Neha, forces him to return to his department, lock his trauma away, put his skills to use, and find the two girls as soon as possible. Gripping, thrilling, and unnerving, ‘HIT: The First Case’ can be experienced right here.
10. Reptile (2023)
It is tough to ignore a film that has Benicio Del Toro in it. So we bring you ‘Reptile,’ a crime thriller directed by Grant Singer. It follows police detective Tom Nichols (Del Toro), who is looking into the murder of Summer Elswick (Matilda Lultz), wife of Will Grady (Justin Timberlake), whose family owns a real estate company. While at first, it seems that Summer’s ex-husband is the one who killed her, Nichols soon realizes that there is a deeper conspiracy at play, one that connects Summer with the Gradys and their shell company, White Fish, and last but not least, drugs. A complicated story that some might find too much, ‘Reptile’ is yet a captivating watch. You can check it out right here.
9. Luther: The Fallen Sun (2023)
Starring Idris Elba and Andy Serkis, ‘Luther: The Fallen Sun’ follows the popular series ‘Luther’ and shows Detective Chief Inspector John Luther (Elba) pinned against David Robey (Serkis), a millionaire psychopathic serial killer. After using information against Luther and sending him to prison, Robey taunts him by wreaking more havoc and even sending him a recording of a murder. What follows is how Luther plans his break out and tries to bring down Robey by overcoming the odds that dealing with a psychopath brings. You can watch ‘Luther: The Fallen Sun’ here.
8. The Highwaymen (2019)
Directed by John Lee Hancock, ‘The Highwaymen’ tells the true story of the manhunt of real-life criminals/outlaws Bonnie Elizabeth Parker and Clyde Chestnut Barrow, notoriously known as Bonnie and Clyde. With robberies in banks, funeral homes, and stores as well as multiple homicides to their name, the duo was shot to death by lawmen, led by former Texas Rangers Frank Hamer and Maney Gault, in Bienville Parish, Louisiana, in 1934. Starring Kevin Costner as Hamer and Woody Harrelson as Maney, ‘The Highwaymen’ can be watched right here.
7. The Guilty (2021)
Jake Gyllenhaal masterfully showcases his skills as an actor in this gripping crime thriller directed by Antoine Fuqua. A remake of a Danish film of the same name, the film follows LAPD officer Joe Baylor, who works the night shift at a 911 call center. The film’s events occur over a single day and show Baylor in a race against time to send help to a distressed female caller who seems to have been kidnapped. Overwhelmed with conflicted emotions due to his past actions, Baylor desperately looks for a way to trace her position by piecing together information given by her and his skills. Will he be able to save her? To find out, you can watch the film here.
6. Enola Holmes (2020)
Directed by Harry Bradbeer, ‘Enola Holmes’ is one of the best detective movies on Netflix. Based on Nancy Springer’s ‘The Enola Holmes Mysteries’ novel series, the film is set in the Victorian era and has Enola Holmes, played brilliantly by Millie Bobby Brown, as the protagonist. She is the youngest of the Holmes siblings, the others being Sherlock Holmes (Henry Cavill) and Mycroft Holmes (Sam Claflin). The film follows Enola as she searches for her mother, Eudora (Helena Bonham Carter), who has disappeared but has left her clues. In her search, she encounters the young Viscount Tewkesbury (Louis Partridge), who is running from people trying to kill him. As she tries to solve these two contrasting cases, we get a visually stunning 4th-wall-breaking experience unlike any other film. You can watch ‘Enola Holmes’ here.
5. A Wednesday (2008)
Directed by Neeraj Pandey, this powerful Bollywood thriller shows what happens after the Mumbai police receive a call from an anonymous “stupid, common man” who claims to have planted five bombs across the city of Mumbai. He names four terrorists whom he wants to be released within four hours. If this isn’t carried out, he will detonate the bombs. The police team looking into the matter is led by Commissioner Prakash Rathod (Anupam Kher), and the “common man,” whose name isn’t once revealed in the film, is played by Naseeruddin Shah. The rest of the cast includes Jimmy Sheirgill, Aamir Bashir, Rohitash Gaud, Kali Prasad Mukherjee, Mukesh S Bhatt, and Vije Bhatia. You can stream the film here.
4. The Pale Blue Eye (2022)
Directed by Scott Cooper, ‘The Pale Blue Eye’ follows detective Augustus Landor (Christian Bale), who is brought in by the United States Military Academy in 1830s West Point, New York, to look into a couple of murders where the victims have their hearts taken out of their bodies. Landor hires cadet Edgar Allan Poe (Harry Melling) to help solve the case by reaching out to places and people where/whom Landor can’t. Based on Louis Bayard’s 2006 novel of the same name, ‘The Pale Blue Eye’ is a thriller whose eerie elements up the ante of the titular genre. Pulled off authentically in terms of direction, production, or acting, ‘The Pale Blue Eye’ can be seen right here.
3. Patriots Day (2016)
Directed by Peter Berg, ‘Patriots Day’ is based on the non-fiction book ‘Boston Strong’ by Casey Sherman and Dave Wedge. The book deals with the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings and the subsequent manhunt for the terrorists. The film gets its title from the eponymous Massachusetts state holiday on which the marathon takes place. It follows police Sgt. Tommy Saunders (Mark Wahlberg) and FBI Special Agent Richard DesLauriers (Kevin Bacon) as they work together in the aftermath of the double blasts on April 15, 2013, to track down the culprits, the Tsarnaev brothers (Dzhokhar (Alex Wolff) and Tamerlan Tsarnaev (Themo Melikidze)) before they can cause wreak more havoc. Chosen by the National Board of Review as one of the top ten films of 2016, ‘Patriots Day’ is a fast-paced, high-stakes action thriller co-starring John Goodman, J. K. Simmons, and Michelle Monaghan. You can watch it here.
2. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)
‘Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery’ is the standalone sequel to ‘Knives Out’ (2019) and is directed by Rian Johnson. It shows the return of famous detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig), who arrives at tech billionaire Miles Bron’s (Edward Norton) private island in Greece along with Miles’ closest friends. They are politician Claire Debella (Kathryn Hahn), Lionel Toussaint (Leslie Odom Jr.) who is the head scientist of Miles tech company Alpha, supermodel Birdie Jay (Kate Hudson), Birdie’s assistant Peg (Jessica Henwick), gamer/men’s rights activist Duke Cody (Dave Bautista), Duke’s girlfriend Whiskey (Madelyn Cline), and Miles’ ex-business partner Andi Brand (Janelle Monáe).
The catch is that Miles didn’t invite Blanc, and no one seems to know who did. However, his arrival turns fruitful after Duke dies from what appears to be poisoning, as only Benoit can find the killer, who is one among the handful present. Gripping, intriguing, and visually appealing, you can watch ‘Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery’ here.
1. Black Mass (2015)
Starring Johnny Depp, Joel Edgerton, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Dakota Johnson, ‘Black Mass’ is a biographical crime drama directed by Scott Cooper. The film is set in 1970s Boston and revolves around crime boss James “Whitey” Bulger (Depp). He becomes an informant for FBI agent John Connolly (Edgerton), who he grew up with, offering him information about the Italian gang. While the FBI surrounds the gang slowly and steadily, Bulger uses his affiliation to rise in power and cover his crimes, becoming one of the most feared gangsters in American history.
The film’s gripping depiction of a fact-based story fueled by brilliant performances makes it one of the best police/crime dramas out there. It is based on Dick Lehr and Gerard O’Neill’s book ‘Black Mass: The True Story of an Unholy Alliance Between the FBI and the Irish Mob’ and can be watched right here.
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