Best movies like A Piece of the Action
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
How does retired cop Joshua Burke (James Earl Jones) get two career criminals, Manny Durrell (Sidney Poitier) and Dave Anderson (Bill Cosby), to follow the straight and narrow? Con them into helping juvenile delinquents turn over a new leaf. But how? Burke has never been able to nail the duo, but he uses what he knows of their seedy past to blackmail them into volunteering.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Crime, Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 135 min
Plot tags: detective, black comedy, action comedy, independent film, feel good, humorous, realistic, semi serious, black cinema
Best tv shows and movies like A Piece of the Action (1977):
Similar in 82%
A Rage in Harlem (1991)
Plot Summary:
A beautiful black gangster's moll flees to Harlem with a trunkload of gold after a shootout, unaware that the rest of the gang, and a few other unsavoury characters, are on her trail. A pudgy momma's boy becomes the object of her affections and the unlikely hero of the tale.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Comedy, Crime
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 115 min
Plot tags: neo noir, black comedy, crime drama, independent film, humorous, realistic, stylized, semi serious, surprise ending
Similar in 81%
Uptown Saturday Night (1974)
Plot Summary:
Sidney Poitier and Bill Cosby team up in this hilarious misadventure as buddies Steve and Wardell, who head uptown to a swanky nightclub. Unfortunately, thieves hit the club and steal Steve's wallet -- which happens to hold a winning lottery ticket. Poitier also directed this classic 1970s comedy, which co-stars Harry Belafonte as Godfather figure Geechie Dan Beauford and Richard Pryor.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Action, Comedy, Crime
Country: USA
Duration: 104 min
Plot tags: parody, funny, humorous, black comedy, action comedy, independent film, realistic, semi serious, light, inspirational
Similar in 81%
Let's Do It Again (1975)
Plot Summary:
Clyde Williams and Billy Foster are a couple of blue-collar workers in Atlanta who have promised to raise funds for their fraternal order, the Brothers and Sisters of Shaka. However, their method for raising the money involves travelling to New Orleans and rigging a boxing match.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Action, Comedy, Crime
Country: USA
Duration: 110 min
Plot tags: black comedy, action comedy, feel good, humorous, realistic, witty, semi serious, black cinema
Similar in 79%
Cotton Comes to Harlem (1970)
Plot Summary:
The Charismatic black nationalist leader Rev Deke O'Malley is trying to sell the people of Harlem a dream. Invest $100 in his company and live in Africa. But cops Gravedigger and Coffin know all about Deke and his fraudulent schemes that take advantage of the poor and the ignorant and can't wait for a chance to expose him.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Action, Comedy, Crime
Country: USA
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: realistic, humorous, witty, semi serious, neo noir, grindhouse, funny, black comedy, action comedy, grim
Similar in 86%
The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings (1976)
Plot Summary:
Tired of the slave-like treatment of his team's owner, charismatic star Negro League pitcher Bingo Long takes to the road with his band of barnstormers through the small towns of the Midwest in the 1930's.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Comedy, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 110 min
Plot tags: road movie, black comedy, sentimental, feel good, humorous, realistic, semi serious
Similar in 90%
How to Beat the High Co$t of Living (1980)
Plot Summary:
Oregon, 1980: Jane, Elaine and Louise are all feeling the effects of inflation and cannot afford, as the title states, the high cost of living. Jane cannot afford a babysitter or get married and if she wants privacy with her boyfriend, she has to sleep in the car. Even worse, her war veteran father comes to live with her to turn her life upside down. Louise lives a happy life with her veterinarian husband, Albert. She runs an antique shop on the side, but since it doesn't take in any profit, the IRS considers it a hobby. She needs to come up with the money to keep it going, or she will be trouble with the IRS. Elaine's husband has left her for another woman and without any money. She is in a constant struggle with banks, power companies, and gas stations. She needs money to get by and also catches the eye of police officer Jack. The local mall is having a contest that features a giant money ball that states it will help fight the inflation.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Comedy, Crime
Country: USA
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: scenic, grindhouse, independent film, feel good, humorous, realistic, semi serious
Similar in 89%
Harry and Walter Go to New York (1976)
Plot Summary:
Two hoplessly out of their class con-men attempt to pull off the largest bank heist of the l9th century. They gain the enmity of the most famous bank Robber in the world and the affection of a crusading newspaperwoman.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Comedy, Crime
Country: USA
Duration: 115 min
Plot tags: offbeat, humorous, realistic, semi serious
Similar in 83%
First Sunday (2008)
Plot Summary:
Durell and LeeJohn are best friends and bumbling petty criminals. When told they have one week to pay a $17,000 debt or Durell will lose his son, they come up with a desperate scheme to rob their neighborhood church. Instead, they end up spending the night in the presence of the Lord and are forced to deal with much more than they bargained for.
IMDB Rating: 4.6
IMDB Votes: 11000
Genere: Comedy, Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: humorous, not serious, hood, feel good, entertaining, black comedy, realistic, slapstick comedy, black cinema
Similar in 79%
I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (1988)
Plot Summary:
Jack Spade returns from the army in his old ghetto neighbourhood when his brother, June Bug, dies. Jack declares war on Mr. Big, powerful local crimelord. His army is led by John Slade, his childhood idol who used to fight bad guys in the 70s.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 15000
Genere: Action, Comedy, Crime
Country: USA
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: parody, spoof, funny, hood, cult classic, black comedy, humorous, slapstick, action comedy, slapstick comedy
Similar in 89%
Feds (1988)
Plot Summary:
Ellie DeWitt and Janis Zuckermann are admitted to the very strict FBI Training Academy. They get a hard course, in which they learn to deal with guns and to recognise crimes. They also get a physical training. It appears that Ellie is a real fighting- machine, in contrast with Janis, the great student. They have to help each other, all the way to graduation.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Comedy, Crime
Country: USA
Duration: 82 min
Plot tags: melancholic, intense, humorous, semi serious, action comedy, realistic, erotic, funny, inspirational, sexy
Similar in 88%
The Jerky Boys (1995)
Plot Summary:
When two unemployed telephone pranksters decide to use their vocal "talents" to impersonate a Chicago mob boss and curry favor with organized crime in New York, the trouble begins. It isn't long before Johnny and Kamal (the "Jerky Boys" of crank call fame) are wanted by the local mafia, the police, and their neighbor.
IMDB Rating: 4.7
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Comedy, Crime
Country: USA
Duration: 82 min
Plot tags: funny, humorous, realistic, semi serious, parody, clever, unusual plot structure, suspense, melancholic, surreal
Similar in 85%
On the Run (1999)
Plot Summary:
Albert is an introverted travel agent living a lonely life in New York. When Louie, his best friend from childhood, appears having just escaped from prison, Albert's quiet existence is permanently disrupted. what ensues is one long, crazy night in New York that will change both their lives forever.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 316
Genere: Comedy, Crime
Country: USA, Portugal, France
Duration: 94 min
Plot tags: independent film, offbeat, humorous, realistic, cynical, semi serious, biting, black comedy, dark comedy, suspense
Similar in 79%
We're Talkin' Serious Money (1992)
Plot Summary:
A couple of bumbling con men go on the lam when they can't repay a loan from the mob.
IMDB Rating: 5.3
IMDB Votes: 223
Genere: Comedy, Crime
Country: USA
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: independent film, humorous, realistic, semi serious
Similar in 84%
Paper Soldiers (2002)
Plot Summary:
Paper Soldiers follows an overeager burglar named Shawn (Kevin Hart) through the ups and downs of his short, stressful career.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Action, Comedy, Crime
Country: USA
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: humorous, semi serious, hood, exciting, realistic, black comedy, crime drama, independent film
Similar in 81%
Quick Change (1990)
Plot Summary:
With the aid of his girlfriend, Phyllis Potter, and best friend, Loomis, Grimm enters a Manhattan bank dressed as a clown, creates a hostage situation and executes a flawless robbery. The only thing left for the trio to do is make their getaway out of the city and to the airport. It sounds simple enough, but it seems that fate deserts them immediately after the bank heist. One mishap after another conspires to keep these robbers from reaching freedom.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 22000
Genere: Comedy, Crime
Country: USA
Duration: 89 min
Plot tags: feel good, humorous, light, absurd, cult classic, witty, sweet, buddy comedy, fast, realistic
Similar in 84%
Stir Crazy (1980)
Plot Summary:
New Yorkers, Skip Donahue and Harry Monroe, have no jobs and no prospects. They decide to flee the city and find work elsewhere, and land jobs as woodpeckers to promote the opening of a bank. When their feathery costumes are stolen and used in a bank robbery, they no longer have to worry about employment -- they're sent to prison!.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 30000
Genere: Comedy, Crime
Country: USA
Duration: 111 min
Plot tags: funny, feel good, humorous, witty, romantic comedy, neurotic, exciting, realistic, not serious, dark comedy
Similar in 87%
Which Way Is Up? (1977)
Plot Summary:
Richard Pryor plays three roles - a beleaguered, sex-starved farm worker named Leroy Jones; the farm worker's randy old father Rufus; and the hypocritical town preacher Rev. Lenox Thomas - and Pryor has never been so outrageously funny. The lives and love lives of these three men cross and crisscross as Leroy tries to get his life back on track.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 94 min
Plot tags: black comedy, feel good, humorous, realistic, not serious, campy, cult film
Similar in 83%
Mo' Money (1992)
Plot Summary:
Trying to get his act together, a con artist gets a job in a credit card company. He falls in love with a fellow employee, he steals a couple of cards, everything is going great. But soon, the chief of security drags him into the big leagues of criminals.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 8000
Genere: Action, Comedy, Crime, Romance, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 89 min
Plot tags: light, intense, humorous, hood, semi serious, clever, black comedy, funny, action comedy, realistic
Similar in 85%
What's the Worst That Could Happen? (2001)
Plot Summary:
Thief Kevin Caffery attempts to rob from the home of rich businessman Max Fairbanks. But Fairbanks catches him and steals his cherished ring that his girlfriend gave him. Caffery is then bent on revenge and getting his ring back with the help of his partners.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 17000
Genere: Comedy, Crime
Country: USA
Duration: 94 min
Plot tags: entertaining, humorous, funny, intense, semi serious, exciting, hilarious, light, detective, black comedy
Similar in 86%
Malibu's Most Wanted (2003)
Plot Summary:
A senator arranges for his son, a rich white kid who fancies himself black, to be kidnapped by a couple of black actors pretending to be murderers to try and shock him out of his plans to become a rapper.
IMDB Rating: 5.2
IMDB Votes: 21000
Genere: Comedy, Crime
Country: USA
Duration: 86 min
Plot tags: funny, humorous, melancholic, satirical, intense, hood, feel good, semi serious, realistic, spoof
Similar in 90%
Dolemite (1975)
Plot Summary:
Dolemite is a pimp who was set up by Willie Greene and the cops, who have planted drugs, stolen furs, and guns in his trunk and got him sentenced to 20 years in jail. One day, Queen B and a warden planned to get him out of Jail and get Willie Green and Mitchell busted for what they did to him.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 7000
Genere: Action, Comedy, Crime
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: grindhouse, hood, funny, surreal, black comedy, cult classic, spooky, parody, offbeat, humorous
Similar in 85%
I Got the Hook Up (1998)
Plot Summary:
Two broke buddies feel lucky when they come upon a truckload of cellular phones and begin selling them out of the back of their van. Trouble arises though, when the phones develop faults. The two friends then not only have to deal with unsatisfied customers but also the FBI.
IMDB Rating: 4.1
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Comedy, Crime
Country: USA
Duration: 93 min
Plot tags: funny, humorous, light, hood, semi serious, black comedy, entertaining, realistic, stylized, buddy comedy
Similar in 84%
Special Delivery (1976)
Plot Summary:
A gang of thieves plan a daring bank robbery, making their escape across the rooftops of Los Angeles. The police are quickly called in, however, and only one of the robbers, Murdock, makes a clean getaway. Unfortunately, in order to do so, he is forced to dump the stolen cash into a mailbox, which he then finds is locked until midnight, forcing him to wait until the mailman makes his late night pickup. As he waits, he discovers that his hiding place has been observed by several other people, all of whom want a share of the loot.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 450
Genere: Comedy, Crime
Country: USA
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: neo noir, grindhouse, independent film, humorous, realistic, semi serious
Similar in 78%
Wise Guys (1986)
Plot Summary:
Harry Valentini and Moe Dickstein are both errand boys for the Mob. When they lose $250,000, they are set up to kill each other. But they run off to Atlantic City and comedy follows.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Comedy, Crime
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: buddy comedy, feel good, humorous, semi serious, realistic, black comedy, dark comedy, fast, cult film
Similar in 76%
A Low Down Dirty Shame (1994)
Plot Summary:
A black detective becomes embroiled in a web of danger while searching for a fortune in missing drug money. During the course of his investigation, he encounters various old connections, ultimately confronting the criminal responsible for Shame's expulsion from the force. He must also deal with two women, Angela, a beautiful old flame, and Peaches, his energetic but annoying sidekick.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 8000
Genere: Action, Comedy, Crime
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: humorous, talky, realistic, suspenseful, action comedy, suspense, retro, clever, black comedy, hood
Similar in 85%
The Hustle (2008)
Plot Summary:
Disenchanted pest worker and single dad Freddie Manning unintentionally steals and then loses mob money and now he really is in trouble. So when a run-down Baptist church mistakes him and his best friend Junior for replacement ministers, he grabs at the opportunity that might save his life.
IMDB Rating: 4.6
IMDB Votes: 397
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: humorous, not serious, realistic, light, feel good, entertaining, black comedy, independent film
Similar in 84%
High Rollers (1976)
Plot Summary:
Belle Duke, in order to get revenge on her former lover Philip Bang, organize his jail break. But instead of Philip is the Italian Felice Brianza, AKAS Felix, to escape. Now Felix is obliged to help Philip to escape. He will succeeded and from that moment on the two will join to defraud Belle. The swindle plot become more complicate when Felix falls in love for Philip's daughter.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Comedy, Crime
Country: Italy
Duration: 110 min
Plot tags: humorous, cynical, realistic, poliziottesco, semi serious
Similar in 78%
Life (1999)
Plot Summary:
Two men in 1930s Mississippi become friends after being sentenced to life in prison together for a crime they did not commit.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 54000
Genere: Comedy, Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 108 min
Plot tags: funny, humorous, entertaining, semi serious, feel good, hilarious, hood, black comedy, retro, realistic
Similar in 80%
Harlem Nights (1989)
Plot Summary:
"Sugar" Ray is the owner of an illegal casino, who contend with the pressures of vicious gangster and corrupt policemen who want to see him go out of business. In the world of organized crime and police corruption in the 1920s, any dastardly trick is fair!.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 24000
Genere: Comedy, Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 116 min
Plot tags: hood, funny, black comedy, humorous, stylized, retro, action comedy, cult classic, action adventure, exciting
Similar in 76%
The Mack (1973)
Plot Summary:
Goldie returns from five years at the state pen and winds up king of the pimping game. Trouble comes in the form of two corrupt white cops and a crime lord who wants him to return to the small time.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 110 min
Plot tags: grindhouse, hood, funny, cult classic, independent film, rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful, stylized