The 10 Best Crime Movies Based on Books, Ranked

Many of the greatest crime movies of all time find their origins being adapted from books, such as The Godfather, L.A. Confidential, and Jackie Brown.

February 2, 2025 · 1 min · 97 words · Caroline Turner

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9’L.A.

Confidential' (1997)

Based on ‘L.A.

Confidentialcombines classic and modern filmmaking styles into a beautiful blending of worlds and styles.

Scene from The Godfather

Image by Federico Napoli

These elements wind up being further amplified by the top-notch performance from McDowell and Kubrick’s enthralling directing style.

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Daniel Craig sits on Robin Wright’s desk as they look at a computer screen from the movie The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

image via Sony Pictures Releasing

Russel Crowe as Wendell ‘Bud’ White looking angry in LA Confidential

Image via Warner Bros.

l-a-confidential-1997-poster-kevin-spacey-russel-crowe-guy-pearce-kim-basinger.jpg

Frank Sheehan talking to someone with their back to the camera in The Irishman

Image via Netflix

Alex DeLarge staring intently at the camera in ‘A Clockwork Orange’

Image via Warner Bros.

Pam Grier in Jackie Brown looking at someone or something off-camera.

Image via Miramax

Closeup of Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem) staring intensely in ‘No Country for Old Men’.

Image via Miramax

Hannibal smirks and looking intently ahead in The Silence of the Lambs

Image via Orion Pictures

Phyllis Dietrichson (Barbara Stanwyck) looks intently at something off-camera in Double Indemnity

Image via Paramount Pictures

Double Indemnity 1944 Movie Poster

Morgan Freeman as Red in The Shawshank Redemption

Image via Columbia Pictures

Don Vito Corleone, played by actor Marlon Brando, crying in The Godfather.

Image via Paramount Pictures

The Godfather Poster

Movie

The Irishman