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    Home/Browse/1950s Movies/1950s Crime Movies

    1950s Crime Movies

    The 40 most popular 1950s crime movies, ranked. Click any film for ratings, reviews, trailers, and where to watch.

    40films
    2rated by members
    Top ratedRashomon5.0
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    Some Like It Hot
    TMDB4.0

    Some Like It Hot

    1959 · 2h 3m

    country: United States

    In Prohibition-era Chicago, musicians Joe and Jerry witness a mob hit, and flee the state in an all-female band disguised as Josephine and Daphne, but further complications set in.

    Slightly Scarlet
    TMDB3.1

    Slightly Scarlet

    1956 · 1h 39m

    country: United States

    Kleptomaniac Dorothy Lyons is paroled from prison into the custody of her sister June, secretary to "reform" politician Frank Jansen. Ben Grace, associate of crime boss Sol "Solly" Caspar, sees this as a way to smear Jansen's campaign. Seductive Dorothy will do anything to get what she wants, which includes having a good time with Ben-- whom June is now in love with.

    Witness for the Prosecution
    TMDB4.1

    Witness for the Prosecution

    1957 · 1h 56m

    country: United States

    An ailing barrister is thrust back into the courtroom in what becomes one of the most unusual and eventful murder cases of the lawyer's career when he finds himself defending a man being tried for the murder of a socialite.

    Strangers on a Train
    TMDB3.8

    Strangers on a Train

    1951 · 1h 41m

    country: United States

    A charming psychopath tries to coerce a tennis star into his theory that two strangers can commit the perfect crime by exchanging murders—each killing the other’s most-hated person.

    The Night of the Hunter
    TMDB3.9

    The Night of the Hunter

    1955 · 1h 33m

    country: United States

    In Depression-era West Virginia, a serial-killing preacher hunts two young children who know the whereabouts of a stash of money.

    Dial M for Murder
    TMDB4.0

    Dial M for Murder

    1954 · 1h 45m

    country: United States

    When her American lover visits London, a wealthy woman’s jealous husband hatches a plan to murder her and inherit her fortune.

    Rashomon
    TMDB4.0
    FF5.0

    Rashomon

    1950 · 1h 28m

    country: Japan

    Four people recount different versions of the story of a man's murder and the rape of his wife.

    The Killing
    TMDB3.8

    The Killing

    1956 · 1h 25m

    country: United States

    Career criminal Johnny Clay recruits a sharpshooter, a crooked police officer, a bartender and a betting teller named George, among others, for one last job before he goes straight and gets married. But when George tells his restless wife about the scheme to steal millions from the racetrack where he works, she hatches a plot of her own.

    On the Waterfront
    TMDB3.9

    On the Waterfront

    1954 · 1h 48m

    country: United States

    A prizefighter-turned-longshoreman with a conscience goes up against labor leaders to expose corruption, extortion, and murder among the union ranks.

    Anatomy of a Murder
    TMDB3.9
    FF5.0

    Anatomy of a Murder

    1959 · 2h 41m

    country: United States

    Semi-retired Michigan lawyer Paul Biegler takes the case of Army Lt. Manion, who murdered a local innkeeper after his wife claimed that he raped her. Over the course of an extensive trial, Biegler parries with District Attorney Lodwick and out-of-town prosecutor Claude Dancer to set his client free, but his case rests on the victim's mysterious business partner, who's hiding a dark secret.

    Touch of Evil
    TMDB3.9

    Touch of Evil

    1958 · 1h 51m

    country: United States

    A border-town bombing draws Mexican investigator Miguel Vargas into a corruption-ridden police investigation led by crooked captain Hank Quinlan, setting off a deadly struggle over power, justice, and truth.

    The Man with the Golden Arm
    TMDB3.6

    The Man with the Golden Arm

    1955 · 1h 59m

    country: United States

    When illegal card dealer and recovering heroin addict Frankie Machine gets out of prison, he decides to straighten up. Armed with nothing but an old drum set, Frankie tries to get honest work as a drummer. But when his former employer and his old drug dealer re-enter his life, Frankie finds it hard to stay clean and eventually finds himself succumbing to his old habits.

    Pickpocket
    TMDB3.6

    Pickpocket

    1959 · 1h 15m

    country: France

    Michel takes up pickpocketing on a lark and is arrested soon after. His mother dies shortly after his release, and despite the objections of his only friend, Jacques, and his mother's neighbor Jeanne, Michel teams up with a couple of petty thieves in order to improve his craft. With a police inspector keeping an eye on him, Michel also tries to get a straight job, but the temptation to steal is hard to resist.

    A Place in the Sun
    TMDB3.6

    A Place in the Sun

    1951 · 2h 2m

    country: United States

    A young social climber wins the heart of a beautiful heiress but his former girlfriend's pregnancy stands in the way of his ambition.

    I Confess
    TMDB3.5

    I Confess

    1953 · 1h 35m

    country: United States

    When a priest hears a murderer’s confession, he becomes bound by his vow of silence—even as circumstantial evidence turns suspicion toward him. Torn between faith and self-preservation, he faces public scandal and trial for a crime he cannot reveal the truth about.

    Elevator to the Gallows
    TMDB3.8

    Elevator to the Gallows

    1958 · 1h 32m

    country: France

    A self-assured businessman murders his employer, husband of his mistress, which unintentionally provokes an ill-fated chain of events.

    The Young and the Damned
    TMDB4.0

    The Young and the Damned

    1950 · 1h 22m

    country: Mexico

    A group of juvenile delinquents live a violent life in the infamous slums of Mexico City; among them Pedro, whose morality is gradually corrupted and destroyed by the others.

    The Wrong Man
    TMDB3.6

    The Wrong Man

    1956 · 1h 45m

    country: United States

    In 1953, an innocent man named Christopher Emmanuel "Manny" Balestrero is arrested after being mistaken for an armed robber.

    Niagara
    TMDB3.4

    Niagara

    1953 · 1h 32m

    country: United States

    Rose Loomis and her older, gloomier husband, George, are vacationing at a cabin in Niagara Falls. The couple befriend Polly and Ray Cutler, who are honeymooning in the area. Polly begins to suspect that something is amiss between Rose and George, and her suspicions grow when she sees Rose in the arms of another man. While Ray initially thinks Polly is overreacting, things between George and Rose soon take a shockingly dark turn.

    House of Wax
    TMDB3.5

    House of Wax

    1953 · 1h 28m

    country: United States

    A sculptor opens a wax museum to showcase the likenesses of famous historical figures, but quickly runs into trouble when his business partner demands the exhibits become more extreme in order to increase profits.

    The Big Heat
    TMDB3.8

    The Big Heat

    1953 · 1h 29m

    country: United States

    After the suspicious suicide of a fellow cop, tough homicide detective Dave Bannion takes the law into his own hands when he sets out to smash a vicious crime syndicate.

    Night and the City
    TMDB3.7

    Night and the City

    1950 · 1h 35m

    country: United Kingdom

    Londoner Harry Fabian is a second-rate con man looking for an angle. After years of putting up with Harry's schemes, his girlfriend, Mary, becomes fed up when he taps her for yet another loan.

    Bad Day at Black Rock
    TMDB3.6

    Bad Day at Black Rock

    1955 · 1h 21m

    country: United States

    One-armed war veteran John J. Macreedy steps off a train at the sleepy little town of Black Rock. Once there, he begins to unravel a web of lies, secrecy, and murder.

    The Defiant Ones
    TMDB3.6

    The Defiant Ones

    1958 · 1h 36m

    country: United States

    Two convicts—one white, one black—escape while chained to each other.

    İntikam Alevi
    TMDB5.0

    İntikam Alevi

    1956 · 2h

    country: Turkey

    Seeking justice of a man who went to jail after his friends blamed him.

    Emergency Landing
    TMDB2.9

    Emergency Landing

    1952 · 1h 40m

    country: Norway

    An American bomber is shot down on the Norwegian coast during World War II. The airmen bail out and land at different locations. In spite of the German search for them, the Norwegian resistance picks them up and hides them in the attic of the local church, a center of operations. Things become tense, however, when the hideout is spotted by a notorious collaborator, and soon the protagonist, Hans, has to get the airmen to Sweden.

    The Wild One
    TMDB3.3

    The Wild One

    1953 · 1h 19m

    country: United States

    The Black Rebels Motorcycle Club ride into the small California town of Wrightsville, eager to raise hell. Brooding gang leader Johnny Strabler takes a liking to Kathie, the daughter of the local lawman, as another club rolls into town.

    His Kind of Woman
    TMDB3.4

    His Kind of Woman

    1951 · 2h

    country: United States

    Career gambler Dan Milner agrees to a $50,000 deal to leave the USA for Mexico, only to find himself entangled with fellow guests at a luxurious resort and suspecting that the man who hired him may be the deported crime boss Nick Ferraro aiming to re-enter to the USA.

    Kiss Me Deadly
    TMDB3.6

    Kiss Me Deadly

    1955 · 1h 46m

    country: United States

    One evening, Hammer gives a ride to Christina, an attractive hitchhiker on a lonely country road, who has escaped from the nearby lunatic asylum. Thugs waylay them and force his car to crash. When Hammer returns to semi-consciousness, he hears Christina being tortured until she dies. Hammer, both for vengeance and in hopes that "something big" is behind it all, decides to pursue the case.

    The Asphalt Jungle
    TMDB3.7

    The Asphalt Jungle

    1950 · 1h 53m

    country: United States

    Recently paroled from prison, legendary burglar "Doc" Riedenschneider, with funding from Alonzo Emmerich, a crooked lawyer, gathers a small group of veteran criminals together in the Midwest for a big jewel heist.

    Beyond a Reasonable Doubt
    TMDB3.4

    Beyond a Reasonable Doubt

    1956 · 1h 20m

    country: United States

    A newspaper publisher, wanting to prove a point about the insufficiency of circumstantial evidence, talks his possible son-in-law Tom into a hoax in an attempt to expose ineptitude of the city's hard-line district attorney. The plan is to have Tom plant clues leading to his arrest for killing a female nightclub dancer. Once Tom is found guilty, he is to reveal the setup and humiliate the DA.

    Compulsion
    TMDB3.5

    Compulsion

    1959 · 1h 43m

    country: United States

    Two close friends' plan to execute a flawless crime is crushed when one of them inadvertently leaves his glasses at the crime scene.

    Where the Sidewalk Ends
    TMDB3.6

    Where the Sidewalk Ends

    1950 · 1h 35m

    country: United States

    A police detective's violent nature keeps him from being a good cop.

    The Desperate Hours
    TMDB3.5

    The Desperate Hours

    1955 · 1h 52m

    country: United States

    Escaped convicts terrorize a suburban family they're holding hostage.

    We're No Angels
    TMDB3.6

    We're No Angels

    1955 · 1h 46m

    country: United States

    Three convicts escape from prison on Devil's Island just before Christmas and arrive at a nearby French colonial town. They go to the store of the Ducotels, the only store that gives supplies on credit. They initially intend to take advantage of them but have a change of heart after they find the family is in financial troubles.

    The Lavender Hill Mob
    TMDB3.6

    The Lavender Hill Mob

    1951 · 1h 18m

    country: United Kingdom

    A meek bank clerk who oversees the shipments of bullion joins with an eccentric neighbor to steal gold bars and smuggle them out of the country.

    Guys and Dolls
    TMDB3.3

    Guys and Dolls

    1955 · 2h 29m

    country: United States

    In New York, a gambler is challenged to take a Salvation Army missionary to Havana, and unexpectedly they fall for each other. And the bet has a hidden motive ... classic song and dance ensues!

    Blackboard Jungle
    TMDB3.5

    Blackboard Jungle

    1955 · 1h 41m

    country: United States

    Richard Dadier is a teacher at North Manual High School, an inner-city school where many of the pupils frequently engage in anti-social behavior. Dadier makes various attempts to engage the students' interest in education, challenging both the school staff and the pupils. He is subjected to violence as well as duplicitous schemes.

    Rififi
    TMDB3.9

    Rififi

    1955 · 1h 58m

    country: France

    Out of prison after a five-year stretch, jewel thief Tony turns down a quick job his friend Jo offers him, until he discovers that his old girlfriend Mado has become the lover of local gangster Pierre Grutter during Tony's absence. Expanding a minor smash-and-grab into a full-scale jewel heist, Tony and his crew appear to get away clean, but their actions after the job is completed threaten the lives of everyone involved.

    Big Deal on Madonna Street
    TMDB4.0

    Big Deal on Madonna Street

    1958 · 1h 46m

    country: Italy

    Best friends Peppe and Mario are thieves, but they're not very good at it. Still, Peppe thinks that he's finally devised a master heist that will make them rich. With the help of some fellow criminals, he plans to dig a tunnel from a rented apartment to the pawnshop next door, where they can rob the safe. But his plan is far from foolproof, and the fact that no one in the group has any experience digging tunnels proves to be the least of their problems.

    About 1950s Crime Movies

    The 1950s

    1950s cinema fought television with everything it had: widescreen formats, colour, and spectacle. Underneath the scale, it was also the decade of Japanese cinema's international breakthrough and the birth of the modern art film.

    Crime

    Crime films trace the machinery around lawbreaking — heists, syndicates, investigations, and the people worn down by all three. From film noir through the American gangster epic to modern procedurals, it's a genre that doubles as social commentary.

    In this list

    Best reviewed
    Witness for the Prosecution (8.2)
    Often also
    Drama, Thriller, Comedy

    Common questions

    What are the best 1950s crime movies?
    By popularity across Flickfolio and TMDB, the top picks right now are Some Like It Hot, Slightly Scarlet, and Witness for the Prosecution. The full ranked list of 40 sits above — open any movie for ratings, reviews, and streaming availability.
    How is this list ranked?
    1950s crime movies are ordered by overall popularity, which blends how often a title is viewed, searched, and logged. It updates as viewing habits shift, so the list reflects what people are actually watching rather than a fixed critical canon.
    Where can I watch these movies?
    Every movie page lists current streaming, rental, and purchase options for your region, alongside community ratings and reviews from Flickfolio members.

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