Best movies like An American Crime
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
The true story of suburban housewife Gertrude Baniszewski, who kept a teenage girl locked in the basement of her Indiana home during the 1960s.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 37000
Genere: Biography, Crime, Drama, Horror
Country: USA
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: disturbing, harsh, serious, bleak, brutal, psychological, suspense, suspenseful, emotional, sad
Best tv shows and movies like An American Crime (2007):
Similar in 90%
My Friend Dahmer (2017)
Plot Summary:
Jeffrey Dahmer struggles with a difficult family life as a young boy. During his teenage years he slowly transforms, edging closer to the serial killer he becomes.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 23000
Genere: Biography, Drama, Horror
Country: USA
Duration: 107 min
Plot tags: psychological, tense, sentimental, bleak, captivating, suspense, melancholic, disturbing, retro, philosophical
Similar in 76%
The Craigslist Killer (2011)
Plot Summary:
Based on a true story. Philip Markoff, a charismatic and popular med student at Boston University, leads a double life as a brutal and cruel sexual deviant who abuses prostitutes he finds via Craigslist.
IMDB Rating: 5.0
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Biography, Crime, Drama, Horror, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 87 min
Plot tags: rough, suspenseful, bleak, serious, realistic, psychological, dark, slasher
Similar in 89%
Snowtown (2011)
Plot Summary:
Based on true events, 16 year-old Jamie falls in with his mother's new boyfriend and his crowd of self-appointed neighborhood watchmen, a relationship that leads to a spree of torture and murder.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 20000
Genere: Biography, Crime, Drama
Country: Australia
Duration: 119 min
Plot tags: psychological, disturbing, serious, tense, rough, realistic, dark, controversial, scary, bleak
Similar in 82%
Provoked: A True Story (2006)
Plot Summary:
Provoked is the true story of Kiranjit Ahluwalia, a Punjabi woman who moved to London after her marriage with Deepak Ahluwalia. Her husband seemed caring at first but then began to beat her up. He started drinking a lot and sleeping around with other women. he also subjected her to spousal rape. After ten years and having two children with him, out of fear, she sets him on fire.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Biography, Crime, Drama
Country: UK, India
Duration: 113 min
Plot tags: serious, bleak, realistic, suspenseful, exciting
Similar in 83%
Blue-Eyed Butcher (2012)
Plot Summary:
Lifetime biopic based on the story of Susan Wright. Susan appeared to be the model wife and mother, living the fairytale life, literally married to Mr. Wright. In a shocking turn of events, the media dubs Susan Wright the "Blue-Eyed Butcher" when her loving husband is discovered buried in the backyard, with close to 200 stab wounds.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Biography, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 85 min
Plot tags: suspense, bleak, suspenseful, disturbing
Similar in 82%
The Burning Bed (1984)
Plot Summary:
An abused battered wife has had enough of husband beating up on her. Everywhere she turns for help, there's not much anyone will do. After he rapes her one night, she sets the bed on fire with him in it asleep.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Biography, Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: disturbing, psychological, non fiction, crime drama, thought provoking, serious, realistic, suspenseful
Similar in 81%
Alpha Dog (2006)
Plot Summary:
Johnny Truelove likes to see himself as tough. He's the son of an underworld figure and a drug dealer. Johnny also likes to get tough when things don't go his way. When Jake Mazursky fails to pay up for Johnny, things get worse for the Mazursky family, as Johnny and his 'gang' kidnap Jake's 15 year old brother and holds him hostage. Problem now is what to do with 'stolen boy?'.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 107000
Genere: Biography, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: Germany, USA
Duration: 122 min
Plot tags: disturbing, serious, rough, teen, harsh, hood, realistic, dark, sad, erotic
Similar in 85%
Funny Games (1997)
Plot Summary:
Two psychotic young men take a mother, father, and son hostage in their vacation cabin and force them to play sadistic "games" with one another for their own amusement.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 82000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: Austria
Duration: 108 min
Plot tags: disturbing, bleak, suspense, psychological, scary, psychological thriller, tense, atmospheric, suspenseful, bloody
Similar in 89%
The Onion Field (1979)
Plot Summary:
Greg Powell, a disturbed ex-con, recruits Jimmy Youngblood (Smith) a petty thief, as partner in crime. Powell panics when they two of are pulled over by two cops for tail lights. Powell decides to kidnap the cops and Smith goes along with his crazy scheme. They drive out to a deserted onion field in Bakersfield, where one cop is killed and the other escapes. The film explores the consequences.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 126 min
Plot tags: neo noir, atmospheric, psychological, realistic, rough, serious, disturbing, detective, bleak, emotional
Similar in 82%
The Hunt for the BTK Killer (2005)
Plot Summary:
After 31 years at-large, detectives in Wichita, Kansas hone in on the serial killer known as BTK.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Biography, Crime, Drama, Horror, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 82 min
Plot tags: rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful, bleak, detective, suspense, creepy
Similar in 81%
Ed Gein (2000)
Plot Summary:
The true story of Edward Gein, the farmer whose horrific crimes inspired Psycho, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and The Silence of the Lambs. This is the first film to Gein's tormented upbringing, his adored but domineering mother, and the 1957 arrest uncovered the most bizarre series of murders America has ever seen.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Biography, Crime, Drama, Horror, Thriller
Country: USA, UK
Duration: 89 min
Plot tags: psychological, disturbing, rough, suspenseful, slasher, suspense, dark, psychological horror, scary, serious
Similar in 82%
Dahmer (2002)
Plot Summary:
On February 15, 1992 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Jeffrey Lionel Dahmer, one of the world's most infamous serial killers, was convicted of 15 counts of murder and sentenced to 937 years in federal prison. This movie is based on events from his life. Certain characters and events are fictional.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 12000
Genere: Biography, Crime, Drama, Horror, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 101 min
Plot tags: disturbing, psychological, scary, slasher, stylized, rough, suspense, suspenseful, dark, controversial
Similar in 77%
Chained (2012)
Plot Summary:
A serial killer kidnaps a young boy after murdering his mother, then raises him to be his accomplice. After years in captivity, the boy must choose between escaping or following in his captor's bloody footprints.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 20000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Horror, Thriller
Country: Canada
Duration: 94 min
Plot tags: psychological, disturbing, scary, suspenseful, rough, serious, twisted, dread, erotic, psychological thriller
Similar in 76%
The Girl Next Door (2007)
Plot Summary:
In a quiet suburban town in the summer of 1958, two recently orphaned sisters are placed in the care of their mentally unstable Aunt Ruth. But Ruth's depraved sense of discipline will soon lead to unspeakable acts of abuse and torture that involve her young sons, the neighborhood children, and one 12-year-old boy whose life will be changed forever.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 29000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Horror, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: scary, disturbing, bleak, psychological, suspenseful, rough, brutal, depressing, suspense, controversial
Similar in 81%
Bastard Out of Carolina (1996)
Plot Summary:
Difficult tale of poor, struggling South Carolinian mother & daughter, who each face painful choices with their resolve and pride. Bone, the eldest daughter, and Anney her tired mother, grow both closer and farther apart: Anney sees Glen as her last chance. The film won an Emmy Award for "Outstanding Casting for a Miniseries or a Special" and was nominated for "Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries or a Special", "Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Special", and "Outstanding Made for Television Movie". It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: disturbing, emotional, realistic, touching, suspense, thought provoking, serious, heartbreaking, depressing, gothic
Similar in 83%
This Boy's Life (1993)
Plot Summary:
In 1957, a son and mother flee the East and an abusive boyfriend to find a new life, and end up in Seattle, where the mother meets a polite garage mechanic. The boy continually gets into trouble by hanging out with the wrong crowd. The mom marries the mechanic, but they soon find out that he's an abusive and unreasoning alcoholic, and they struggle to maintain hope in an impossible situation as the boy grows up with plans to escape the small town by any means possible. Based on a true story by Tobias Wolff.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 57000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 115 min
Plot tags: depressing, touching, emotional, realistic, epic, retro, uplifting, sad, period piece, thinking
Similar in 87%
Mommie Dearest (1981)
Plot Summary:
In this biographical film, glamorous yet lonely star Joan Crawford takes in two orphans, and at first their unconventional family seems happy. But after Joan's attempts at romantic fulfillment go sour and she is fired from her contract with MGM studios, her callous and abusive behavior towards her daughter Christina becomes even more pronounced. Christina leaves home and takes her first acting role, only to find her mother's presence still overshadowing her.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 18000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 129 min
Plot tags: disturbing, controversial, factual, talky, intense, psychological, tense, serious, rough, emotional
Similar in 86%
Sleepers (1996)
Plot Summary:
Two gangsters seek revenge on the state jail worker who during their stay at a youth prison sexually abused them. A sensational court hearing takes place to charge him for the crimes.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 234000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 147 min
Plot tags: disturbing, sadistic, harsh, suspenseful, suspense, serious, psychological, brutal, intense, emotional
Similar in 88%
Changeling (2008)
Plot Summary:
Christine Collins is overjoyed when her kidnapped son is brought back home. But when Christine suspects that the boy returned to her isn't her child, the police captain has her committed to an asylum.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 263000
Genere: Biography, Crime, Drama, History, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 141 min
Plot tags: psychological, heartbreaking, sentimental, tense, bleak, disturbing, touching, suspense, detective, emotional
Similar in 90%
Chicago Massacre: Richard Speck (2007)
Plot Summary:
A horror film based on a real-life mass murder that took place in 1966. Richard Franklin Speck was a mass murderer who systematically tortured, raped and murdered eight student nurses from South Chicago Community Hospital in 1966.
IMDB Rating: 3.9
IMDB Votes: 926
Genere: Crime, Drama, Horror, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: tense, rough, slasher, disturbing, bloody, suspense, scary, bleak, serious, realistic
Similar in 76%
Bully (2001)
Plot Summary:
After finding himself at the constant abuse of his best friend Bobby, Marty has become fed up with his friend's twisted ways. His girlfriend, a victim of Bobby's often cruel ways, couldn't agree more and they strategize murdering Bobby.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 40000
Genere: Biography, Crime, Drama
Country: USA, France, UK
Duration: 108 min
Plot tags: disturbing, bleak, realistic, controversial, sexy, stylized, melancholic, depressing, intense, teen
Similar in 79%
The Woman (2011)
Plot Summary:
A lawyer puts his family in jeopardy when he captures the last member of a violent clan and tries to forcibly tame her.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 26000
Genere: Drama, Horror, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 101 min
Plot tags: disturbing, bleak, scary, rough, suspenseful, slasher, twisted, controversial, psychological thriller, bloody
Similar in 83%
A Cry in the Dark (1988)
Plot Summary:
Based on the true story of Lindy Chamberlain: During a camping trip to Ayers Rock in outback Australia, she claims she witnessed a dingo taking her baby daughter, Azaria, from the family tent. Azaria's body is never found. After investigations and two public inquests, she is charged with murder. The case attracts a lot of attention, turning it into a media sideshow.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 11000
Genere: Biography, Drama
Country: Australia, UK, USA
Duration: 120 min
Plot tags: realistic, disturbing, tense, emotional, suspense, thought provoking, serious, sincere, sad, compassionate
Similar in 82%
Hard Candy (2005)
Plot Summary:
A mature 14-year old girl meets a charming 32-year old photographer on the Internet. Suspecting that he is a pedophile, she goes to his home in an attempt to expose him.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 167000
Genere: Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 104 min
Plot tags: disturbing, psychological, twist ending, suspenseful, tense, independent film, suspense, controversial, rough, psychological thriller
Similar in 80%
Dungeon Girl (2008)
Plot Summary:
A shocking story of captivity and survival inspired by actual events.
IMDB Rating: 1.5
IMDB Votes: 941
Genere: Crime, Drama, Horror
Country: USA
Duration: 81 min
Plot tags: rough, disturbing, psychological, serious, realistic, scary, bleak, suspense, suspenseful
Similar in 90%
Monster (2003)
Plot Summary:
Aileen Wuornos is an emotionally scarred highway hooker who shoots a sadistic trick who rapes her and ultimately becomes America's first female serial killer.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 159000
Genere: Biography, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA, Germany
Duration: 109 min
Plot tags: bleak, disturbing, psychological, depressing, emotional, harsh, heartbreaking, sad, rough, captivating
Similar in 88%
The Riverman (2004)
Plot Summary:
A series of interviews are conducted with convicted serial killer Ted Bundy in hopes of gaining insight into the Green River Killer who is terrorizing Seattle.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Biography, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: psychological, rough, serious, suspenseful, disturbing, mystical, detective, realistic, suspense
Similar in 87%
Ted Bundy (2002)
Plot Summary:
Docu-drama based on the life of Ted Bundy, a serial killer who killed at least 19 young women during the 1970's (though some sources say as many as 30 to 35 were murdered). Set from his college student years, to his first victims, his capture, escape from prison (twice), his final killing spree to his trial, conviction and execution.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 8000
Genere: Biography, Crime, Drama, Horror, Thriller
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: scary, disturbing, rough, suspenseful, suspense, slasher, controversial, cult classic, frightening, twisted
Similar in 75%
Cleveland Abduction (2015)
Plot Summary:
A single mother becomes Ariel Castro's first kidnapping victim, and finds herself trapped in his home with two other women for 11 years.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 8000
Genere: Biography, Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: psychological, tense, bleak, serious, emotional, disturbing, realistic, dark
Similar in 81%
3096 Days (2013)
Plot Summary:
A young Austrian girl is kidnapped and held in captivity for eight years. Based on the real-life case of Natascha Kampusch.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 16000
Genere: Biography, Crime, Drama
Country: Germany
Duration: 111 min
Plot tags: realistic, rough, dark, saga, disturbing, controversial, teen, twisted, captivating, serious