Dirty Harry Pentalogy (1971-1988)
The original and Magnum Force are essential. Foundational American police thriller cinema.
Genre: Crime (Page 10)
Action
ActionMarked for Death (1990)
Little's 1990 Steven Seagal thriller. Jamaican antagonist material reflects specific 1990 production conventions.
CrimeWhere the Sidewalk Ends (1950)
Otto Preminger's 1950 film noir with Dana Andrews. Detective accidentally kills suspect, then an innocent man is blamed.
CrimePayback (1999)
Brian Helgeland's 1999 Mel Gibson crime thriller. Maria Bello plays Rosie, a prostitute and former Porter associate.
CrimeLord of War (2005)
Andrew Niccol's 2005 Nicolas Cage international arms trade drama. Among the most accomplished commercial cinema examinations of the industry.
BiopicAmerican Gangster (2007)
Ridley Scott's 2007 Frank Lucas biopic. Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe in parallel protagonist tracks.
ActionBad Boys (1995, 2003, 2020, 2024)
Bad Boys is the buddy cop franchise that defined Miami action cinema for three decades. Michael Bay directed the first two films.
ComedyThe Naked Gun (1988, 1991, 1994, 2025)
The Naked Gun is the spoof comedy franchise that defined what the genre could be at its highest level. David Zucker directed the first two films and Peter Segal directed the third.
ComedyPolice Academy (1984-1994, all seven films)
Police Academy is the comedy franchise that defined the rapid-decline model of sequel filmmaking. Hugh Wilson directed the 1984 original, which made approximately one hundred and fifty million dollars worldwide on a four million dollar budget and is one of…
ComedyThe Mask (1994)
Carrey plays Stanley Ipkiss, a meek bank clerk in Edge City who finds an ancient Norse mask that, when worn, transforms him into a green-faced, zoot-suited cartoon character with reality-bending powers. The film is a Tex Avery cartoon translated into…
ActionRush Hour (1998, 2001, 2007)
Rush Hour is the buddy cop trilogy that made Jackie Chan a Hollywood leading man and Chris Tucker an A-list comedy actor for a brief window of his career. Brett Ratner directed all three films.