I came across the “true crime” genre after watching the Hulu series Only Murders in the Building (Selena Gomez, Steve Martin, Martin Short), only to find out that it’s a whole thing people are obsessed with nowadays. So, I had no choice but to join the obsession as well! True crime refers to those action crime movies, podcasts, and documentaries based on actual events. It sometimes also involves people who were a part of the actual story.
However, today we will not restrict ourselves religiously to the true crime genre. Instead, our list will include any and all of the best action crime films that set our hearts racing. There will be raucous mafia biographies, the portrayal of real-life serial killers, deadly assassins, tragic massacres, and a lot of drugs! You name it, and we have it.
The biggest catch? They are all based on actual events that happened in real life once!
31 Action Crime Movies Based on True Events:
1. Pulp Fiction
- Director: Quentin Tarantino
- Cast: John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman
- IMDb: 8.9/10
- Streaming on: Hulu
About Pulp Fiction:
This is one of those Tarantino action crime films with dark comedy sprayed across it. The story is about two hitmen, their gangster boss, and his beautiful mistress.
This groundbreaking masterpiece is not directly taken from any one actual incident but is inspired by many pulp crime novels based on actual events. Unfortunately, the film stands out due to Tarantino’s out-of-chronology narration.
2. The Wolf of Wall Street
- Director: Martin Scorsese
- Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Margot Robbie, Jonah Hill, Kyle Chandler
- IMDb: 8.2/10
- Streaming on: Netflix
About The Wolf of Wall Street:
This wall street scam by protagonist Jordan Belfort shown in the movie did happen in the USA. However, in real life, he went to jail for securities fraud, among others, for some time. This biographical action crime film is adapted directly from Belfort’s memoir.
The best part? The real Jordan Belfort appears in the end scene of the movie, where he introduces DiCaprio as a motivational speaker after coming out of jail.
3. Kill Bill
- Director: Quentin Tarantino
- Cast: Uma Thurman, Lucy Liu, David Carradine
- IMDb: 8.2/10
- Streaming on: Netflix
About Kill Bill:
Tarantino and Thurman got together in another of his action crime films. The events in this film are fictional, but the story of Hattori Hanzo in the film is based on a real samurai of Japan.
Fun fact: Many don’t know that this film pays homage to martial art films, samurai cinema, grindhouse theatre and Westerns. Unfortunately, the film’s run time was so long that it had to be broken down into two volumes and released with a six-month gap.
4. Reservoir Dogs
- Director: Quentin Tarantino
- Cast: Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Michael Madson
- IMDb: 8.3/10
- Streaming on: Hulu, Disney Plus
About Reservoir Dogs:
Yes, till now, three of Tarantino’s action crime films have made it to the list, and it is no surprise! Quentin Tarantino’s debut film got its name when he visited a production company and found several scripts lying. To him, it was like dogs in a reservoir fighting each other for attention.
The mind-blowing fact about Reservoir dog is this crime drama consists of an actual criminal in its cast – Edward Bunker, who had come out of jail only in 1975.
5. Zodiac
- Director: David Fincher
- Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr., Anthony Edwards
- IMDb: 7.7/10
- Streaming on: Netflix, Vudu
About Zodiac:
This crime movie boasted of an all-star cast and was voted the 12th Greatest film of the 21st Century. It is set in Northern California and is one of the most accurate crime movies. It depicts the way the zodiac killer terrorized the people of that place from 1960 to 1970. Unfortunately, there has not been any concrete proof that the serial killer has been caught.
6. Texas Chain Saw Massacre
- Director: Tobe Hooper
- Cast: Marilyn Burns, Allen Danziger
- IMDb: 7.4/10
- Streaming on: Hulu
About Texas Chain Saw Massacre:
This action crime film is a homage to film noir that depicts the situation of the criminal and political climate of that era. It is the culmination of several actual crime incidents in post-war America. The character of Leatherface is based on the real-life murderer Ed Gein.
Few people know that Gein did not use any chainsaw in the actual incident. He butchered people in Wisconsin and all the people around called him the Butcher of Plainfield.
7. The Godfather
- Director: Francis Ford Coppola
- Cast: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino
- IMDb: 9.2/10
- Streaming on: Amazon Prime Video, Netflix
About The Godfather:
Mario Puzo, the author of the book from which this mafia film is adapted, also helped write the screenplay. It is regarded as one of the best crime movies, showing the Italian gangster Corleone family. Real-life mob boss Frank Costello is the inspiration for the character of Vito Corleone, the patriarch of the Corleone family.
A lesser-known intriguing fact is that the character of Johnny Fontane, a famous singer in the movie, is adapted from the life of Frank Sinatra! Sinatra had been linked to organized crime for a long time.
8. Scream
- Director: Wes Craven
- Cast: Neve Campbell, David Arquette, Courtney Cox
- IMDb: 7.4/10
- Streaming on: Netflix
About Scream:
It is hard to believe that a gory slasher film like this is based on actual events. The Florida serial killer Danny Rolling was popularly known as the Gainesville Ripper. He killed several students in his murder spree. And the killings were so brutal that this slasher movie is also one of the categories in the horror genre sometimes!
9. Henry: Portrait of a serial killer
- Director: John McNaughton
- Cast: Michael Rooker, Tom Towles, Tracy Arnold
- IMDb: 7/10
- Streaming on: Peacock
About Henry: Portrait of a serial killer
Two convicted serial killers in the USA, Henry Lee Lucas and Ottis Toole confessed to hundreds of murders which later turned out to be false. But they were prosecuted for the actual murders they committed.
This behavior is widespread among murderers as they know that as it is, they will be convicted for murder charges, so they up the ante for bragging purposes. This psychological crime film is based on these actual events.
10. Foxcatcher
- Director: Bennett Miller
- Cast: Steve Carrell, Channing Tatum, Mark Ruffalo, Sienna Miller
- IMDb: 7/10
- Streaming on: Hulu
About Foxcatcher:
Another all-star cast, this one is a sports-related psychological action crime thriller. It got three golden globe awards and five Academy Awards nominations, not for nothing. Carrell gets out of his comfort zone to get into the shoes of an eerie multimillionaire philanthropist John Du Pont.
It shows the real-life story of wrestler brothers Mark and Dave Schultz. In preparation for a scene where Schultz keeps hitting himself after a loss, Tatum puts his head through an actual mirror to get into the character. The blood one sees in this scene is Channing Tatum’s actual blood!
11. The Stanford Prison Experiment
- Director: Kyle Patrick Alvarez
- Cast: Billy Crudup, Michael Angarano, Ezra Miller
- IMDb: 6.8/10
- Streaming on: Netflix
About The Stanford Prison Experiment:
This is one of those action crime films which is more of a docudrama thriller. The film is about a psychological experiment by Professor Zimbardo, who creates a prison simulation with eighteen students- half playing the role of guards and the other half as prisoners. If the premise sounds psychotic, imagine how it felt for the people who underwent it!
The behavior and psyche of the students involved underwent drastic changes. The situation got so out of hand that the experiment ended just in six days, whereas it was initially supposed to go on for two weeks!
12. The Informer
- Director: Andrea Di Stefano
- Cast: Joel Kinnaman, Rosamund Pike, Clive Owen
- IMDb: 6.6/10
- Streaming on: Netflix
About The Informer:
This British crime drama, adapted from the book Three Seconds, is about the people in secret government services who are roped into it without being given in choice. The FBI manipulates an ex-conman to enter a Polish drug ring undercover.
The characters are, of course, fictional, but the book is based on actual incidents where convicts are used in an expendable manner by those in power to get what they need. It is a social commentary on the country’s justice system as well.
13. Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile
- Director: Joe Berlinger
- Cast: Zac Effron, Lily Collins
- IMDb: 6.7/10
- Streaming on: Amazon Prime Video
About Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile:
The media has shown the infamous story of Ted Bundy several times in movies, web series, etc. But this film is different as it shows the incident from the point of view of a woman who had dated the notorious man in the late 1960s and 1970s.
When someone commits a crime, the spotlight falls on the accused and their reasons, motives, etc. But attention seldom goes to the perpetrator’s loved ones, who are left in denial, shock, and heartbreak. The ex-gf Elizabeth wrote a book on her life with him on which this film is based.
14. At the End of the Tunnel
- Director: Rodrigo Grande
- Cast: Leonardo Sbaraglia, Pablo Echarri, Clara Lago
- IMDb: 7/10
- Streaming on: Apple TV
About At the End of the Tunnel:
You probably haven’t heard of this Argentine film with a differentially abled protagonist, Joaquin. This crime thriller was a hit in South America. The film has a claustrophobic feel intentionally and is a good pick for an audience who wants an easy adrenaline rush.
Even though not explicitly taken from one particular incident, it is based on events worldwide. For example, there was news of robbers digging a 125 feet tunnel and cleaning out 77 bank lockers. So, this movie’s plot is very much plausible!
15. Changeling
- Director: Clint Eastwood
- Cast: Angelina Jolie, John Malkovich
- IMDb: 7.8/10
- Streaming on: Amazon Prime Video
About Changeling:
This story is a crime drama, all right, but it is also a heartbreaking story of a mother’s loss. If you are looking for a satisfying ending and loose ends tied movie, this one is not.
In 1928 California, a nine-year-old boy Walter gets kidnapped, and after five months, the boy is returned to his mother. But the mother claims that the boy is an imposter. The woman is publicly vilified until the truth comes out about a serial killing conspiracy.
But to this day, the remains of Walter have not been found. Like the actual events, the movie ends on a hopeful note that the mother still hopes his son is alive somewhere.
16. Monster
- Director: Patty Jenkins
- Cast: Charlize Theron, Christina Ricci
- IMDb: 7.3/10
- Streaming on: Netflix
About Monster:
This biographical crime drama is about the life of the first official woman serial killer who killed with a gun – Aileen Wuornos. Charlize Theron shined in her role as the titular character. Real-life Wuornos killed seven men. Although there is no defense against serial killing, few people know about the childhood of Aileen Wuornos.
Her teenage mother abandoned her, and his father committed suicide in jail. Left in the care of her grandparents, she was raped by her grandfather at just 13 years old and gave birth at 14. Her grandmother died soon after that, and her brother passed away because of cancer. Watch this film if you have the stomach for gritty stuff!
17. Goodfellas
- Director: Martin Scorsese
- Cast: Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci
- IMDb: 8.7/10
- Streaming on: Apple TV, Netflix
About Goodfellas:
The story of the genuine Lucchese crime family takes place in the second Scorsese film on our list of best action crime movies. It was adapted from the book Wiseguy, a biography of Henry Hill. Henry Hill was an associate of the family before becoming an FBI informant in his later years.
18. The Iceman
- Director: Ariel Ironmen
- Cast: Michael Shannon, Winona Ryder, Chris Evans
- IMDb: 6.8/10
- Streaming on: Amazon Prime Video
About The Iceman:
This period crime film is set in the backdrop of 1970s New York. Another mafia film on this list, this one is about the Polish mafia hitman Richard Kulinski. The film is about the different ways he kills people and how he precariously manages his work and family. The name Iceman came from the cold-blooded nature of his murders.
19. The Irishman
- Director: Martin Scorsese
- Cast: Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci
- IMDb: 7.8/10
- Streaming on: Netflix
About The Irishman:
After Goodfellas, Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro reunited for this Netflix feature film. The kings of mafia films, Robert de Niro and Al Pacino, grace our screen together after the Godfather movies, Righteous Kill and Heat. A truck driver delivers hits for mob boss Bufalino.
It is called ‘painting houses’ to reference the rooms sprayed with blood after the murders! It is a fictional account of Jimmy Hoffa and his disappearance.
20. My Friend Dahmer
- Director: Marc Meyers
- Cast: Ross Lynch, Alex Wolff
- IMDb: 6.2/10
- Streaming on: Amazon Prime Video
About My Friend Dahmer:
Imagine you went to school and were friends with this guy, had recess, hung out in the same groups etc. Cut to 20 years later, and you open the newspaper to find out that guy became an infamous serial killer!
This autobiographical film is based on a novel by John Backderf, who went to school with a teenage Jeffrey Dahmer, a notorious serial killer in the USA. The book throws light on the dark side of geekdom, where nerdy kids having a hard time adjusting to schools react in volatile ways in their adulthood.
21. Cocaine Cowboys
- Director: Billy Corben
- Cast: Jon Roberts, Mickey Munday
- IMDb: 7.8/10
- Streaming on: Hulu, Netflix
About Cocaine Cowboys:
This has four movies in its franchise. First, it tells the real-life story of two notorious drug dealers in the USA – Willy and Sal. They became famous because they lasted for 20 years in a country where people involved in drug trafficking lasted for about five years due to a law enforcement crackdown.
22. All the money in the World
- Director: Ridley Scott
- Cast: Michelle Williams, Christopher Plummer
- IMDb: 6.8
- Streaming on: Hulu
Imagine one of the wealthiest men in America being so frugal that he installs a pay phone in his house for guests. Then, imagine his grandson getting kidnapped. But he has 14 others! Yup, you guessed it right.
All the money in the World Plot:
This movie tells the story of the kidnapping of John Paul Getty III and how his grandfather refused to pay the ransom. Allegedly, the boy had faked the kidnapping to get money to pay his debts, but the events took a darker turn when he fell into the hands of the actual mafia. They cut and sent his ear to his family!
23. Casino
- Director: Martin Scorsese
- Cast: Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, Joe Pesci
- IMDb: 8.2/10
- Streaming on: Netflix
About Casino:
The trio of Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci means you have an enjoyable mobster or mafia film in hand! The crime drama is inspired by the mob boss Frank Rosenthal who, in reality, did not own a gaming license. This movie has the most iconic gangster death, where the gangster brothers were buried alive in retaliation. And that did happen in real life too!
24. The Untouchables
- Director: Brian De Palma
- Cast: Kevin Costner, Sean Connery, Robert De Niro
- IMDb: 7.9/10
- Streaming on: Netflix
About The Untouchables:
This 1987 classic is about a group of special agents sent by the US Bureau of Prohibition to counter the famous gangster Al Capone’s illegal activities in the 1930s. They were legendary in history for their fearless attitude and disdain for bribes.
25. The French Connection
- Director: William Friedkin
- Cast: Gene Hackman, Fernando Rey, Roy Scheider
- IMDb: 7.7/10
- Streaming on: Hulu, Netflix
About The French Connection:
This is the story of two real-life NYPD detectives going behind the heroin smuggler, a French man named Alain Charnier. This one is an adaptation of Robin Moore’s actual crime book of the same name. It changed the perception of police in Hollywood. This classic crime drama of 1971 won five Academy Awards and is even preserved in the US National Films Registry.
26. The Big Short
- Director: Adam McKay
- Cast: Christian Bale, Steve Carrell, Ryan Gosling, Brad Pitt
- IMDb: 7.8/10
- Streaming on: Amazon Prime Video
About The Big Short:
The greatest Action crime movie, The Big Short, against the backdrop of the ups and downs of the real estate market in the 2000s, this film revolves around finance industry professionals. It shows the four investors doing their research and analysis independently away from all the hype. Did you know in the film, they changed the names of all the main characters except Christian Bale’s character?
27. American Hustle
York Times
- Director: David O. Russel
- Cast: Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence
- IMDb: 7.2/10
- Streaming on: Amazon Prime Video
About American Hustle:
American Hustle is one of the greatest action crime films. It followed the very much real story of an FBI sting operation on a big scale. Not word by word, true, but some of the events in this movie actually happened.
The media showed the Abdul scam in 1980 with a lot of enthusiasm. It led to the conviction of 19 people, including some prominent politicians of that time, a US Senator, Mayor of Camden, etc.
28. Catch Me If You Can
- Director: Steven Spielberg
- Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks
- IMDb: 8.1/10
- Streaming on: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV
About Catch Me If You Can:
This Spielberg crime comedy is an absolute delight to watch. It followed the life of Frank Abagnale, who was one of the best con men of all time. The film is a recreation of a book of the same name.
Fun Fact: But the best part is in an interview about the book, Abagnale himself accepted that the account given in the book is about 80-90 % true!
29. Donnie Brasco
- Director: Mike Newell
- Cast: Al Pacino, Johnny Depp, Michael Madsen
- IMDb: 7.7/10
- Streaming on: Apple TV, Netflix
About Donnie Brasco:
The film is about an FBI undercover agent who enters the Bonanno family as Donnie Brasco, a jewel thief. As time progresses, he feels the line between criminal and FBI agents blurs in his life. He wrote an autobiographical book in 1988 about his life in a mobster family for years. In his later life, he worked as a writer and consultant for law enforcement.
30. Dog Day Afternoon
- Director: Sidney Lumet
- Cast: Al Pacino, John Cazale, Charles Durning
- IMDb: 8.0/10
- Streaming on: Prime Video
About Dog Day Afternoon:
Sonny Wortzic, an American bank robber, inspired this action crime film. Al Pacino is mind-blowing in his portrayal as a bumbling homosexual criminal who flailed around trying to control the situation after he tried to rob a bank. A standoff ensued, and even the FBI got involved. But sad for Sonny, in spite of so many events transpiring, he couldn’t take a lot of money due to bad timing.
31. House of Gucci
- Director: Ridley Scott
- Cast: Lady Gaga, Al Pacino, Jared Leto, Adam Driver
- IMDb: 6.6/10
- Streaming on: Prime Video
About House of Gucci:
The movie is based on Sara Gay Forden’s book, The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed. The plot revolves around a lady named Patrizia Reggiani getting married into the Gucci family. The movie received mixed or average reviews. But the fans loved the cast’s performances.
Phew! That extensive list is bound to satisfy your regular fix for action crime movies and true crime content. We generally expect films to be fictional but watching a film that follows actual events raises the stakes. It makes us feel much more for the characters and is bound to attract the audience more.
Happy watching!
