10 Best Movies About Cops That You Should Watching Update 04/2024

Movies About Cops

A decent cop movie is a classic. The good news is that Hollywood seems to like making them just as much as we do. Popular cop movies for decades have given us a Hollywood perspective on law enforcement, and they’re still going strong today. While most involve the standard gunfights, arrests, car chases, and terrible baddies, they also look at the more human aspect of police officers and the challenges they face in their life.

Another fantastic thing about cop movies is that they may be used for a variety of different purposes. Some cop movies are serious and dramatic, while others take a lighthearted look at the men and women of the law enforcement community. In this post, we’ll take a look at 10 of the greatest cop movies of all time!

10. The French Connection

The French Connection

In the 1970s, Hollywood began to produce pictures with a greater degree of’realism.’ A good illustration of this is the film The French Connection. After a hesitant start, this picture quickly became packed with the kind of action-packed and suspenseful scenes that fans of cop movies crave. For a film that was released in 1971, the film’s set design and subject captured New York City in an impressive manner.

It won numerous Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor (for star Gene Hackman), and Best Director (the first R-rated film to win) (William Friedkin). Still, one of the best films ever made is considered by many to be among the best ever made. Even if it hasn’t aged well, it’s a classic and deserves a place on this list. In spite of the picture costing less than $2 million to produce, it made millions at the box office.

9. Serpico

The portrayal of police officers and other members of the law enforcement in this film had a major impact on the evolution of cop movies. Film depicts the story of a good cop (Frank Serpico) working in a corrupt atmosphere who eventually decides to go undercover to expose his corrupt coworkers.

An excellent performance by Al Pacino, and a compelling story of a man’s effort to do what is right in the face of a world of wrongdoing, make this picture a must-see. There were two Oscar nominations for Best Actor and Best Adapted Screenplay for the picture, but it didn’t win either category. After taking in just $30 million, the film nonetheless made money. In addition, it has been hailed as one of the greatest cop films ever filmed.

8. Fargo

Fargo (1996)

Fargo is one of the few great cop movies to provide the best of both worlds.

Comedy, suspense, and violence are all there in the Coen Brothers’ black comedy classic. As evidenced by its Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, it features a brilliant script and has remained relevant for nearly two decades.

Even if you’re not a fan of the genre, Fargo is likely to be a hit with you. With multiple Oscar nominations (Best Picture and Best Actress among them), the film is one of the Coen Brothers’ most critically acclaimed and commercially successful works. Check it out if you haven’t seen it yet; you won’t be disappointed. There is an FX television series spin-off that premiered in 2014 that you can follow.

7. Se7en

Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman star in Se7en, a film about two detectives who work together to catch a serial killer. The killer’s motif is the Seven Deadly Sins, and the film dives far deeper into his head than most do. A closer look at humanity’s frailties and habits—specifically whether humans are fundamentally good or evil—is examined in this film before the bad guy is caught.

In a way that few thrillers, let alone cop pictures, do, it examines society as a whole. The closing sequence in this picture, “What’s in the box?” is one of the most unforgettable in cinematic history and features Kevin Spacey as a soulless killer. When you’re in the mood for a gritty, hard-nosed cop drama, you want dark and violent.

6. Training Day

Training Day

One of the most popular cop movies of all time, Training Day focuses on corruption and justice. In this Antoine Fuqua film, we get to know each character on a deeper level, allowing us to empathize with them throughout their journey. It’s a shame that so few cop movies go into this much character detail.

In spite of the film’s final third being a touch too convenient, it is undeniably some of the best work Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke have ever produced. As a result of the film’s success, both Washington and Hawke were nominated for an Oscar (Washington won, Hawke did not).

5. Beverly Hills Cop

Beverly Hills Cop was the picture that catapulted Eddie Murphy into superstardom. A tough-talking cop from Detroit, Murphy played a detective tasked with solving the death of his closest buddy in Los Angeles. Throughout the film, Murphy and his supporting cast are undoubtedly excellent, and Murphy as Axel Foley is one of the best characters in a cop movie.

In contrast to other cop movies, this one relied solely on Eddie. Even though this is a comedy at heart, it nevertheless includes a bit of action and can be considered as the inspiration for subsequent films such as Rush Hour. ” It wouldn’t be considered “gritty,” but not every cop movie has to take itself so seriously all the time.. The film grossed over $300 million worldwide, garnered numerous accolades (including an Oscar nomination for Best Writing), and is widely regarded as one of the greatest comedies of all time. Also, three sequels were spawned, all of which got worse and worse and (obviously) didn’t make the cut.

4. End of Watch

End of Watch

As far as cop movies go, this is one of the best recently. One of the best cop dramas ever made, starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Pena, as well as some of the best acting. The film follows two LAPD officers as they go about their daily routines, and it’s tense from beginning to end.

There is a fair deal of attention paid to subjects such as drug violence and gang participation in this film. In addition to receiving high marks from reviewers for its realism and commitment to history, the film grossed over $55 million at the box office. While most policeman movies center on the corruption of the profession, director David Ayer intended to make a film about the brotherhood between partners and honest police work. He did a fantastic job of it.

3. Heat

You knew it was going to be a classic when you saw the cast of Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, and Val Kilmer. As far as cop movies go, Heat had everything you could ask for. Overall, the cast and director were excellent, and the film had multiple high-quality fight scenes that are a mainstay in cop movies.

It’s also a lengthy film, clocking in at nearly three hours. Unlike some other crime dramas, this one had a satisfying conclusion and never dragged on, which is a common complaint. It was a big hit at the box office, grossing about $200 million, and received overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics and audiences alike.

2. Hot Fuzz

Hot Fuzz

An English community has been plagued by bizarre and unusual killings, which two British police officers must investigate. As a result, one is a long-time resident of the little town while the other is a transplant who has grown up in larger cities. Every scene in the movie is a hoot and the characters are a joy to watch interact (Simon Pegg and Nick Frost star).

With some action, suspense and even a little gore, the picture is just almost funny enough to be considered a real comedy. It’s one of my all-time favorite movies, and that’s saying a lot. The film’s director, Edgar Wright (Ant-Man, Baby Driver), does an excellent job behind the camera in combining action, comedy, and mystery. It also raked in more than $80 million at the box office and was hailed as a critical hit.

1. The Departed

The Departed, a Martin Scorsese masterpiece and my personal favorite cop movie, has finally arrived. Undercover cops are compelled to go undercover in Boston in this film. Meanwhile, the mob sends one of their own to the police school to become an insider. Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Wahlberg and Martin Sheen join forces with Alec Baldwin and Jack Nicholson to produce a very remarkable film.

Despite the film’s flaws, such as clumsy dialogue and uneven images, the many positive aspects of this picture, such as the fantastic cast, outstanding acting, and brilliant soundtrack, outweigh the negative aspects. At the box office, it raked in more than $300 million, and it won four Academy Awards (including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Film Editing). After losing six prior Best Director nominations, this was the film that finally gave Scorsese the recognition he deserved.