Best Crime Movies on Paramount Plus (February 2026)

Paramount+ is one of the best streaming services for crime movies, thanks to its deep library of classics, cult favorites, and modern hits. Whether you’re in the mood for a gritty gangster epic, a psychological thriller, dark comedy, or even a redemption-focused drama that still revolves around violence and its consequences, there’s no shortage of options here. Crime is one of the platform’s strongest genres, and we narrowed it down to a shortlist of the best crime movies on Paramount Plus.

What are the best crime movies on Paramount Plus?

Paramount+ has everything from essential crime classics to offbeat cult picks and even comedic takes on some of history’s most outrageous criminals. While we kept our main list to a simple top five (okay, technically six), there are plenty of other worthy contenders.

The Godfather I and II (1972 / 1974)

This is a two-for-one deal, because if The Godfather and The Godfather Part II are available to stream, they belong at the very top of any crime movie list. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, these films are not only towering achievements of the genre, but they’re widely considered among the greatest movies ever made.

The first film centers on the Corleones, a powerful Italian-American crime family led by Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando), a respected but feared patriarch who maintains control through a delicate balance of loyalty and violence. When an attempt is made on Don Vito’s life, his youngest son Michael (Al Pacino) — who was initially determined to stay out of the criminal world — finds himself pulled into the conflict, a decision that changes everything.

The Godfather Part II expands the saga in one of the rare sequels that rivals (and arguably surpasses) the original. The film moves between two timelines: one follows Michael as he consolidates his power and fights to protect it, while the other depicts the rise of a young Vito Corleone (Robert De Niro) as he lays the foundations of the criminal dynasty.

Serpico (1973)

Adding to Al Pacino‘s crime-film streak, Sperico puts the actor in the shoes of a lawman. Directed by Sidney Lumet, the film stars Al Pacino as Frank Serpico, a real-life NYPD officer who exposed widespread corruption in the department during the late 1960s and early 1970s. The screenplay, written by Waldo Salt and Norman Wexler, is based on Peter Maas’ nonfiction book, with Serpico himself contributing to the film’s depiction of events.

The film opens with Serpico being rushed to the hospital after being shot during a police operation, then flashes back to trace his career leading up to that moment. As Serpico moves through different precincts, he repeatedly encounters bribery and organized payoffs among officers, and his refusal to participate isolates him within the force. When he attempts to report the corruption through official channels, he faces resistance from superiors and growing danger on the job. By choosing to take things public, he places a target on his back.

No Country for Old Men (2007)

Winner of the Academy Award for Best Picture, the Coen Brothers’ No Country for Old Men is widely considered one of the defining crime films of the 21st century. The film features a standout cast, including Josh Brolin as Llewelyn Moss, Tommy Lee Jones as Sheriff Ed Tom Bell, and Javier Bardem in an unforgettable performance as Anton Chigurh, a ruthless killer.

The story begins when Moss, a hunter, stumbles across the aftermath of a drug deal gone wrong in the Texas desert. Despite knowing he should leave it alone, he takes a suitcase filled with two million dollars. Unknowingly, Chigurh is soon dispatched to recover the money, leaving a trail of bodies as he closes in on Moss. Meanwhile, Sheriff Bell follows the growing carnage, attempting to protect Moss and stop escalating violence before it’s too late.

Pulp Fiction (1994)

For a different take on the genre, Pulp Fiction reimagined what a crime film could be. There’s certainly no less violence, but the quick-witted writing, dry dialogue, endlessly quotable performances, and interweaving narratives come together in a way that cements Quentin Tarantino’s legacy as a filmmaker.

The film follows two hitmen, Vincent Vega (John Travolta) and Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson), as they carry out assignments for their boss Marsellus Wallace (Ving Rhames). Along the way, they cross paths with a boxer named Butch Coolidge (Bruce Willis) and several others caught up in the criminal underworld. It’s full of character overlap and out-of-order madness, weaving a wildly entertaining story in which small decisions spiral into unpredictable consequences.

Roofman (2025)

Directed by Derek Cianfrance, Roofman stars Channing Tatum in this wild true crime story about a man who’s down on his luck, but uses his particular set of skills, particularly the strength of observing routines, to rob McDonald’s restaurants by entering through the roof. Over the next two years, he pulls off the same tactic more than 40 times, repeatedly evading authorities and somehow staying one step ahead. Either he’s really great at what he does, or the law enforcement is absolutely terrible. Eventually, he’s caught, but in true “you can’t make this up” fashion, he escapes again and goes on the run, hiding out in a Toys “R” Us while trying to figure out what his next move is.

While Roofman received mixed reviews from critics, it has earned an extremely positive response from audiences. It’s hard to believe a story this absurd is real, and it only gets more entertaining the deeper it goes.

How we picked the best crime movies on Paramount Plus

Though we had a hard time narrowing down our favorites, we considered fan and critical reception, as well as a variety across the crime genre. Honorable mentions for films that didn’t make our shortlist but certainly deserve a mention include The Wolf of Wall Street, Dead Man Walking, Zodiac, Gangs of New York, and The Grifters.