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    Home/Browse/1980s Movies/1980s Crime Movies

    1980s Crime Movies

    The 40 most popular 1980s crime movies, ranked. Click any film for ratings, reviews, trailers, and where to watch.

    40films
    11rated by members
    Top ratedBeverly Hills Cop5.0
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    Scarface
    TMDB4.1

    Scarface

    1983 · 2h 50m

    country: United States

    After getting a green card in exchange for assassinating a Cuban government official, Tony Montana stakes a claim on the drug trade in Miami. Viciously murdering anyone who stands in his way, Tony eventually becomes the biggest drug lord in the state, controlling nearly all the cocaine that comes through Miami. But increased pressure from the police, wars with Colombian drug cartels and his own drug-fueled paranoia serve to fuel the flames of his eventual downfall.

    Once Upon a Time in America
    TMDB4.2

    Once Upon a Time in America

    1984 · 2h 19m

    country: United States

    A former Prohibition-era Jewish gangster returns to the Lower East Side of Manhattan over thirty years later, where he once again must confront the ghosts and regrets of his old life.

    Batman
    TMDB3.6

    Batman

    1989 · 2h 6m

    country: United States

    Having witnessed his parents' brutal murder as a child, millionaire philanthropist Bruce Wayne fights crime in Gotham City disguised as Batman, a costumed hero who strikes fear into the hearts of villains. But when a deformed madman known as 'The Joker' seizes control of Gotham's criminal underworld, Batman must face his most ruthless nemesis ever while protecting both his identity and his love interest, reporter Vicki Vale.

    The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!
    TMDB3.6

    The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!

    1988 · 1h 26m

    country: United States

    When the bumbling Lieutenant Frank Drebin investigates events following the shooting of his partner, he stumbles upon an attempt to assassinate Queen Elizabeth II.

    Lethal Weapon
    TMDB3.7
    FF4.5

    Lethal Weapon

    1987 · 1h 50m

    country: United States

    A veteran cop and an unstable detective become partners who must put their differences aside in order to bring down a heroin-smuggling ring run by ex-Special Forces.

    Prison on Fire
    TMDB3.5

    Prison on Fire

    1987 · 1h 38m

    country: Hong Kong

    A veteran inmate takes a newcomer under his wing as the pair confront both other violent inmates and the prison's corrupt wardens.

    The Untouchables
    TMDB3.9

    The Untouchables

    1987 · 1h 59m

    country: United States

    Elliot Ness, an ambitious prohibition agent, is determined to take down Al Capone. In order to achieve this goal, he forms a group given the nickname “The Untouchables”.

    Beverly Hills Cop
    TMDB3.6
    FF5.0

    Beverly Hills Cop

    1984 · 1h 45m

    country: United States

    Fast-talking, quick-thinking Detroit street cop Axel Foley has bent more than a few rules and regs in his time, but when his best friend is murdered, he heads to sunny Beverly Hills to work the case like only he can.

    Who Framed Roger Rabbit
    TMDB3.8

    Who Framed Roger Rabbit

    1988 · 1h 44m

    country: United States

    Toon star Roger is worried that his wife Jessica is playing pattycake with someone else, so the studio hires detective Eddie Valiant to snoop on her. But the stakes are quickly raised when Marvin Acme is found dead and Roger is the prime suspect.

    Lethal Weapon 2
    TMDB3.5
    FF4.0

    Lethal Weapon 2

    1989 · 1h 54m

    country: United States

    Riggs and Murtaugh are on the trail of South African diplomats using their immunity to engage in criminal activities.

    Police Academy
    TMDB3.4

    Police Academy

    1984 · 1h 37m

    country: United States

    New rules enforced by the Lady Mayoress mean that sex, weight, height and intelligence need no longer be a factor for joining the Police Force. This opens the floodgates for all and sundry to enter the Police Academy, much to the chagrin of the instructors. Not everyone is there through choice, though. Social misfit Mahoney has been forced to sign up as the only alternative to a jail sentence and it doesn't take long before he falls foul of the boorish Lieutenant Harris. But before long, Mahoney realises that he is enjoying being a police cadet and decides he wants to stay... while Harris decides he wants Mahoney out!

    Beverly Hills Cop II
    TMDB3.3
    FF4.0

    Beverly Hills Cop II

    1987 · 1h 43m

    country: United States

    Axel Foley returns to the land of sunshine and palm trees to investigate the near-fatal shooting of police Captain Andrew Bogomil. With the help of Sgt. Taggart and Det. Rosewood, they soon uncover that the shooting is associated with a series of "alphabet" robberies masterminded by a heartless weapons kingpin—and the chase is on.

    The Outsiders
    TMDB3.6

    The Outsiders

    1983 · 1h 31m

    country: United States

    In 1960s Tulsa, class divisions ignite a violent rivalry between the working-class Greasers and the privileged Socs. When a deadly encounter forces two Greasers, Ponyboy and Johnny, to flee, their struggle for survival and redemption exposes the fragile innocence and enduring bonds of youth on the wrong side of town.

    Blue Velvet
    TMDB3.8

    Blue Velvet

    1986 · 2h

    country: United States

    The discovery of a severed human ear found in a field leads a young man on an investigation related to a beautiful, mysterious nightclub singer and a group of psychopathic criminals who have kidnapped her child.

    The Great Mouse Detective
    TMDB3.5

    The Great Mouse Detective

    1986 · 1h 14m

    country: United States

    When the diabolical Professor Ratigan kidnaps London's master toymaker, the brilliant master of disguise Basil of Baker Street and his trusted sidekick Dawson try to elude the ultimate trap and foil the perfect crime.

    The Blues Brothers
    TMDB3.9

    The Blues Brothers

    1980 · 2h 13m

    country: United States

    Jake Blues, just released from prison, puts his old band back together to save the Catholic home where he and his brother Elwood were raised.

    Clue
    TMDB3.6

    Clue

    1985 · 1h 34m

    country: United States

    Clue finds six colorful dinner guests gathered at the mansion of their host, Mr. Boddy -- who turns up dead after his secret is exposed: He was blackmailing all of them. With the killer among them, the guests and Boddy's chatty butler must suss out the culprit before the body count rises.

    A Fish Called Wanda
    TMDB3.6

    A Fish Called Wanda

    1988 · 1h 49m

    country: United Kingdom

    While a diamond advocate attempts to steal a collection of diamonds, troubles arise when he realises he’s not the only one after the collection.

    Mississippi Burning
    TMDB3.8

    Mississippi Burning

    1988 · 2h 8m

    country: United States

    Two FBI agents investigating the murder of civil rights workers during the 60s seek to breach the conspiracy of silence in a small Southern town where segregation divides black and white. The younger agent trained in FBI school runs up against the small town ways of his partner, a former sheriff.

    48 Hrs.
    TMDB3.3

    48 Hrs.

    1982 · 1h 36m

    country: United States

    A hard-nosed cop reluctantly teams up with a wise-cracking criminal temporarily paroled to him, in order to track down a killer.

    Cobra
    TMDB3.1

    Cobra

    1986 · 1h 27m

    country: United States

    A tough-on-crime street cop must protect the only surviving witness to a strange murderous cult with far reaching plans.

    Madness
    TMDB2.6

    Madness

    1980 · 1h 29m

    country: Italy

    An escaped convicted murderer invades the cottage of a man, his wife and the wife's sister, whereupon he proceeds to torment this already dysfunctional trio with rape and violence.

    Tango & Cash
    TMDB3.3
    FF3.5

    Tango & Cash

    1989 · 1h 44m

    country: United States

    Ray Tango and Gabriel Cash are two successful narcotics detectives who can't stand each other. Crime lord Yves Perret, furious at the loss of income they have caused him, plots an elaborate revenge against them.

    Raising Arizona
    TMDB3.5

    Raising Arizona

    1987 · 1h 34m

    country: United States

    When a childless couple—an ex-con and an ex-cop—take one of a wealthy family’s quintuplets to raise as their own, their lives grow more complicated than anticipated.

    Red Heat
    TMDB3.1

    Red Heat

    1988 · 1h 44m

    country: United States

    A tough Russian policeman is forced to partner up with a cocky Chicago police detective when he is sent to Chicago to apprehend a Georgian drug lord who killed his partner and fled the country.

    Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol
    TMDB2.8

    Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol

    1987 · 1h 28m

    country: United States

    A new batch of recruits arrives at Police Academy, this time a group of civilian volunteers who have joined Commandant Lassard's new Citizens on Patrol program. Although the community relations project has strong governmental support, a disgusted Captain Harris is determined to see it fail.

    Above the Law
    TMDB3.1
    FF2.5

    Above the Law

    1988 · 1h 39m

    country: United States

    Nico Toscani is an Italian immigrant, American patriot, ex-CIA agent, aikido specialist and unorthodox Chicago policeman. He is as committed to his job as he is to his personalized brand of justice—expert and thorough bone-crushing.

    Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment
    TMDB3.0

    Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment

    1985 · 1h 27m

    country: United States

    Officer Carey Mahoney and his cohorts have finally graduated from the Police Academy and are about to hit the streets on their first assignment. Question is, are they ready to do battle with a band of graffiti-tagging terrorists? Time will tell, but don't sell short this cheerful band of doltish boys in blue.

    Sudden Impact
    TMDB3.3
    FF3.5

    Sudden Impact

    1983 · 1h 57m

    country: United States

    When a young rape victim takes justice into her own hands and becomes a serial killer, it's up to Dirty Harry Callahan, on suspension from the SFPD, to bring her to justice.

    Blow Out
    TMDB3.7
    FF4.0

    Blow Out

    1981 · 1h 48m

    country: United States

    While recording sound effects for a slasher flick, Jack Terry stumbles upon a real-life horror: a car careening off a bridge and into a river. Jack jumps into the water and fishes out Sally from the car, but the other passenger is already dead — a governor intending to run for president. As Jack does some investigating of his tapes, and starts a perilous romance with Sally, he enters a tangled web of conspiracy that might leave him dead.

    Weekend at Bernie's
    TMDB3.2

    Weekend at Bernie's

    1989 · 1h 38m

    country: United States

    Two young insurance corporation employees try to pretend that their murdered employer is alive by puppeteering his dead body, leading a hitman to attempt to track him down to finish him off.

    Body Double
    TMDB3.4

    Body Double

    1984 · 1h 54m

    country: United States

    After losing an acting role and his girlfriend, Jake Scully finally catches a break: he gets offered a gig house-sitting in the Hollywood Hills. While peering through the beautiful home's telescope one night, he spies a gorgeous woman dancing in her window. But when he witnesses the girl's murder, it leads Scully through the netherworld of the adult entertainment industry on a search for answers—with porn actress Holly Body as his guide.

    Blood Simple
    TMDB3.6

    Blood Simple

    1985 · 1h 37m

    country: United States

    The owner of a seedy small-town Texas bar discovers that one of his employees is having an affair with his wife. A chaotic chain of misunderstandings, lies and mischief ensues after he devises a plot to have them murdered.

    See No Evil, Hear No Evil
    TMDB3.4

    See No Evil, Hear No Evil

    1989 · 1h 42m

    country: United States

    A murder takes place in the shop of David Lyons, a deaf man who fails to hear the gunshot being fired. Outside, blind man Wally Karue hears the shot, but cannot see the perpetrator. Both are arrested, but escape to form an unlikely partnership. Being chased by both the law AND the original killers, can the pair work together to outwit them all?

    Police Academy 3: Back in Training
    TMDB2.9

    Police Academy 3: Back in Training

    1986 · 1h 24m

    country: United States

    When police funding is cut, the Governor announces he must close one of the academies. To make it fair, the two police academies must compete against each other to stay in operation. Mauser persuades two officers in Lassard's academy to better his odds, but things don't quite turn out as expected...

    The Protector
    TMDB3.0

    The Protector

    1985 · 1h 34m

    country: Hong Kong

    Billy Wong is a New York City cop whose partner is gunned down during a robbery. Billy and his new partner, Danny Garoni, are working security at a fashion show when a wealthy man's daughter, Laura Shapiro, is kidnapped. The Federal authorities suspect that Laura's father is involved with Mr. Ko, a Hong Kong drug kingpin, so the NYC police commissioner sends the two cops to Hong Kong to investigate.

    The Punisher
    TMDB2.9
    FF2.0

    The Punisher

    1989 · 1h 29m

    country: Australia

    The avenging angel of Marvel Comics fame comes brilliantly to life in this searing action-adventure thriller! Dolph Lundgren stars as Frank Castle, a veteran cop who loses his entire family to a mafia car bomb. His ex-partner believes Castle survived the blast and became the Punisher, living in the sewers and exacting vigilante violence against mob bosses throughout the city. When the populace is caught in the midst of a gang war that he caused, Castle must again emerge from the shadows and save the innocent.

    Police Story
    TMDB3.8
    FF5.0

    Police Story

    1985 · 1h 39m

    country: Hong Kong

    Officer Chan Ka Kui manages to put a major Hong Kong drug dealer behind the bars practically alone, after a shooting and an impressive chase inside a slum. Now, he must protect the boss' secretary, Selina, who will testify against the gangster in court.

    The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover
    TMDB3.6

    The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover

    1989 · 2h 4m

    country: France

    When churlish mobster Albert Spica acquires an upscale French restaurant in London, he dines there nightly, effectively scaring off the clientele with his bad manners. His wife, Georgina, is especially disgusted by him, and soon begins an affair with regular guest Michael. Despite their best efforts to keep it secret, Spica learns about their trysts, and he plots a terrible revenge.

    Heathers
    TMDB3.6
    FF4.0

    Heathers

    1989 · 1h 43m

    country: United States

    A girl who halfheartedly tries to be part of the "in crowd" of her school meets a rebel who teaches her a more devious way to play social politics: by killing the popular kids.

    About 1980s Crime Movies

    The 1980s

    The 1980s codified the blockbuster — high concept, wide release, heavy merchandising — while home video quietly built a second life for films that flopped in theaters. Practical effects hit their peak just before CGI arrived.

    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
    Once Upon a Time in America (8.4)
    Often also
    Comedy, Action, Thriller

    Common questions

    What are the best 1980s crime movies?
    By popularity across Flickfolio and TMDB, the top picks right now are Scarface, Once Upon a Time in America, and Batman. The full ranked list of 40 sits above — open any movie for ratings, reviews, and streaming availability.
    How is this list ranked?
    1980s 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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