For many decades, the police procedural has been one of the most flexible and prolific movie genres. They can be exhilarating action films with explosive chases and adrenaline-fueled combat, nail-biting thrillers of detectives hunting mysterious killers, or even spoofs that simultaneously pay homage to and make fun of the genre’s main tropes. What they never fail to be is an awful lot of fun.
From terrifying true-crime tales like the South Korean masterpieceMemories of Murderto timeless Hollywood classics likeFargo, cinematic police procedurals explore the day-to-day activities of cops, detectives, and agents of the law. They have stories that are both easy and exciting to follow, often surrounded by auras of mystery and adventure that keep audiences' eyes glued to the screen.These are the best police procedurals to hit the big screen, proving the genre works wonders when adapted to any medium.
10’Hot Fuzz' (2007)
Directed by Edgar Wright
Known for his high-energy style and subversive sense of humor,Edgar Wrightis a director who’s always guaranteed to deliver something fresh and exciting. His acclaimed Cornetto trilogy,one of the best of all time, put him under the international spotlight, and the second installment,Hot Fuzz, is a delightful, action-packed spoof of the police procedural genre. It tells the story of an overachieving London police sergeant who’s transferred to a mysterious village where a chain of gruesome murders puts his skills to the test.
Hot Fuzzis one of the funniest films of Wright’s career, with a bunch of brilliant gags that add up to a hilarious whole.It’s also full of gripping mystery and rousing action anchored by Wright’s unique eye for editing and cinematography, as well as an outstanding pair of amusing lead performances bySimon PeggandNick Frost. It’s not often that a genre parody also works perfectly as an exceptional example of the same genre it’s making fun of.
9’L.A. Confidential' (1997)
Directed by Curtis Hanson
Based on the novel byJames Ellroy,L.A. Confidentialis set in 1950s Los Angeles, where corruption is rampant and ever-growing. In it, three policemen investigate a series of murders employing a unique brand of justice. Though definitely enrapturing for general audiences,L.A. Confidentialis also a surprisingly layered and complex detective tale for fans of the genre.
The screenplay is one of the best of the ’90s, with an airtight structure and pacing accompanied by a tense story.L.A. Confidentialflawlessly captures the tone and feel of crime thrillers of the ‘50swhile adding a healthy dose of modern spice. Thanks to a phenomenal cast and underrated direction by the lateCurtis Hanson, it’s a hard-boiled police procedural that proves why the genre is so beloved, making it one ofthe best mystery movies of all time.
L.A. Confidential
8’Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion’ (1970)
Directed by Elio Petri
The incredible yet criminally underrated Italian masterpieceInvestigation of a Citizen Above Suspicionis a crime drama the way they don’t make them anymore. It’s about a chief of detectives in the homicide section who kills his mistress and leaves behind clues to prove his guilt. It’s one ofLetterboxd users' favorite movies, and it isn’t hard to see why.
Delightfully Kafkaesque and psychologically nuanced, the movie sports one ofEnnio Morricone’s best scores and a groundbreaking performance byGian Maria Volontéthat must be seen to be believed.Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicionis fully aware of the futility of its attempts to thematically reconcile the fallibility of human nature with the supposed fairness of the Law, striking a great balance between absurdity and seriousness.It’s not just philosophical fluff, though.Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicionis an enthralling thrillerand a fantastic introduction to how Italy does the genre.
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7’Memories of Murder' (2003)
Directed by Bong Joon-ho
One ofthe best cat-and-mouse thrillers of all time,Bong Joon-ho’sMemories of Murderis among the best Korean movies of the 21st century. Based on a terrifying real case, it’s about two detectives in a small Korean province in the ’80s, struggling to discover who has been abusing and killing women all over the province.
By the time the movie was made and released, the killer hadn’t been identified yet. As such,Memories of Murderis full of nihilism, counterbalancing its clever usage of dark humor. While most police procedurals place its cop protagonists as superhuman entities capable of solving mysteries that no one else would dare to take on, Bong took a different approach here. The main characters inMemories of Murderare all-too-human,allowing the story to explore the darkness of human nature and offer intelligent social critiques.
Memories of Murder
6’Serpico' (1973)
Directed by Sidney Lumet
Sidney Lumetwas one of the most iconic andimportant filmmakers of Hollywood’s Golden Age; even after the era was over, he kept making some incredible movies. One of his best works isSerpico, a unique biopic starringAl Pacinoin a career-defining performance asFrank Serpico. Frank is an honest NYC cop whose blowing of the whistle on the city’s poisonous corruption cause his peers to turn against him.
As well as offering one of Pacino’s best performances and some of the strongest work of Lumet’s career,Serpicois bolstered by an enthralling story that’s unafraid to explore the imperfections of law enforcement. It’s a film that doesn’t give its protagonist a break.Serpicoconstantly challenges Frank’s idealism and sense of integrity in ways that inevitably keep audiences entertained throughout the runtime.
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5’Fargo' (1996)
Directed by Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
With a distinct blend of dark humor and complex themes, the brothersJoel CoenandEthan Coenhave made some of the best comedies of all time.Their best is probablyFargo, about an inept Minnesota car salesman whose criminal plans fall apart due to the idiocy of his henchmen and the persistent police work of the relentless, spunky, and very pregnant Marge Gunderson.
Fargosees the police procedural genre as its wackiest, funniest, grimmest, and most entertaining. Thanks to a star-studded cast and a brilliant script by the Coens, the film’s commentary on the unpredictability of life and human behavior works like a charm.Fargo’s story may seem simple on the surface, but it hides some of the most complex thematic and character work of both directors' filmography.
4’The French Connection' (1971)
Directed by William Friedkin
Winner of five Oscars, including Best Picture,The French Connectionis a masterful action crime drama by the lateWilliam Friedkin. It’s about a pair of NYPD Narcotics Bureau detectives who stumble onto a heroin smuggling network in France. From there, they take on the complicated task of bringing its leaders down.
One ofGene Hackman’s best movies, it’s a film as entertaining as it is brilliantly crafted. Fast-paced and boldly produced (includinga law-breaking car chase scenethat turned out great),The French Connectionmade an impact on the police procedural movie genre that’s hard to overstate. Its gritty tone and fascinating hero, played by Gene Hackmanin what might be his best performance, make the film a celebration of everything that makes the genre electrifying.
The French Connection
3’Heat' (1995)
Directed by Michael Mann
Who says that action thrillers can’t be epic slow-burners?Michael Mannproved that they certainly could be when his 1995 magnum opus,Heat, cemented itself as one ofthe best action movies ever made. It’s about a workaholic NYPD cop hunting a gang of high-end professional thieves who accidentally left a verbal clue at their latest heist.
Al Pacinois engrossing as the flawed, angry Vincent Hanna, a policeman who will stop at nothing to catch his enemy.Robert De Nirois equally fascinating as the slick Neil McCauley, whose work ethic makes him empathize with Hanna. The dynamic shared by these two is the beating heart ofHeat,a film that constantly blurs the line between those on the side of the Law and those on the other. Exciting suspense, masterfully filmed action, and memorable character moments fill this tremendous procedural.
2’M' (1931)
Directed by Fritz Lang
Plenty of outstanding, groundbreakingcinematic gems were made during the 1930s. One of the best ones isM, which set the foundations for what the noir, crime thriller, and police procedural movie genres would become in the future. It’s about criminals joining the manhunt for a child murderer in Germany after the police are unable to catch him.
The movie is surprisingly dark for a product of its era, boosted by the incredibly powerful and stylish direction ofFritz Lang, one of Germany’s best-ever filmmakers.Psychological thrillers have rarely been this good, all thanks to some really impressive visuals,Peter Lorre’s best performance, and a script that was far ahead of its time. For those interested in the history of the genre,Mis a must-see.
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1’Se7en' (1995)
Directed by David Fincher
Since the start of his illustrious career,David Fincherhas made some of the best and most memorable thrillers of modern times. Many would argue that his best is stillSe7en. It follows two detectives, a rookie (Brad Pitt) and a veteran (Morgan Freeman), on the hunt for a serial killer who’s using the seven deadly sins as hismodus operandi. It’s an incredibly dark film, but its tone works terrifically well.
Those with a strong enough stomach forSe7en, its grisly crime scenes and gut-wrenching twist-filled third act, will be treated to what’s easily one ofthe best films of the ’90s. It tells a story that’s not afraid to get mean-spirited, diving uncomfortably deep into the psyche of flawed characters of differing levels of morality. Likewise,Se7entells a story that questions the very foundations of police work and the procedural movie, making it the definitive entry into the genre.
