Best movies like Contraband
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
Cigarette smugglers in Naples run into problems with cocaine operations being set up by a rival smuggler. Full of violence, including a women's face being burned off with a blow torch and a graphic rape scene.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: Italy
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: poliziottesco, realistic, suspenseful, rough, serious, cult classic, bloody, disturbing, controversial, action thriller
Best tv shows and movies like Contraband (1980):
Similar in 84%
Street Law (1974)
Plot Summary:
Carlo Antonelli, an engineer from Genoa, gets mugged and decides to take justice into his own hands. At first the muggers seem to get the upper hand, but then he's helped by Tommy, a young robber who takes his side.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Action, Thriller
Country: Italy
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: poliziottesco, grindhouse, cult classic, action thriller, exciting, rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful, psychotronic
Similar in 89%
Live Like a Cop, Die Like a Man (1976)
Plot Summary:
Fred and Tony are members of an elite 'special squad' of police in Rome, Italy who are licensed-to-kill, undercover cops and who love to live dangerously.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: Italy
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: poliziottesco, perverse, cult classic, psychotronic, cult film
Similar in 89%
The Heroin Busters (1977)
Plot Summary:
Drug use in the city of Rome is at an all-time high. Children score from dealers in front of their schools, mules waltz straight through airport security, and Interpol's main man, Mike Hamilton (David Hemmings), is at his wits' end. Fed up to the back teeth with the local police force's incompetence, his only hope is to rely on one of his own men, Fabio (Fabio Testi), an officer so deep undercover that no-one but Hamilton knows who he really is. Even as Fabio gains the trust of cartel leader Gianni (John Loffredo), however, the dealers are edging ever closer to the truth, and when his cover is blown, the hunter becomes the hunted as Fabio finds himself alone in a desperate fight to survive.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 910
Genere: Action, Crime, Thriller
Country: Italy
Duration: 94 min
Plot tags: poliziottesco, exciting, rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful, fast, neo noir, psychotronic, cult film
Similar in 85%
The Big Racket (1976)
Plot Summary:
Nico Palmieri is a police inspector who battles against hoodlums terrorising a sleepy Italian village, extorting cash from the locals.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: Italy
Duration: 104 min
Plot tags: poliziottesco, cult classic, grindhouse, cult film
Similar in 82%
The Cynic, the Rat and the Fist (1977)
Plot Summary:
This is probably the best example of a 70's Italian crime movie, though not the "best" movie of the genre (does that make sense?). It has, besides Saxon, an entirely Italian cast but most of them are pretty recognizable regulars in very amusing roles. Maurizio Merli is best as the role he was born to play, that of yet another ticked off Police commissioner. His very charismatic, yet level-headed performance is the one thing that keeps this movie moving along so well, and it is notable that of Lenzi's crime movies, this is probably the one that entrusts Merli with the most screentime.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Action, Crime, Thriller
Country: Italy
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: poliziottesco, cult classic, rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful, cult film
Similar in 90%
The Tough Ones (1976)
Plot Summary:
A tough, violent cop who doesn't mind bending the law goes after a machine-gun-carrying, hunchbacked psychotic killer.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: Italy
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: poliziottesco, cult classic, exciting, rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful, surprise ending, tragic ending, cult film
Similar in 80%
Syndicate Sadists (1975)
Plot Summary:
A biker's brother is killed while investigating the kidnapping of a young boy, the byproduct of a war between two crime families. The biker vows to get revenge by finding the kidnapped boy and destroying the two families.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 937
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: Italy
Duration: 93 min
Plot tags: poliziottesco, exciting, rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful, fast, cult film
Similar in 80%
The Mad Dog Killer (1977)
Plot Summary:
Sadistic no-count killer Nanni Vitali and three other equally brutish hoodlums escape from prison. The foul foursome embark on a savage rape, murder, and robbery spree. Vitali even abducts and defiles frightened hapless lass Giuliana Caroli. Meanwhile, rugged police inspector Giulio Santini is determined to bag the despicable Vitali.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: Italy
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: poliziottesco, grindhouse, slasher, cult classic, exciting, rough, bleak, serious, realistic, suspenseful
Similar in 90%
Violent Naples (1976)
Plot Summary:
Inspector Betti (Maurizio Merli) is transferred to Naples and immediately after his arrival receives a warm welcome from The Commandante (Barry Sullivan), the city's crime lord. Betti then goes on a personal mission against corruption and organized crime, and tries to force the syndicate out of town with any means necessary.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Action, Crime, Thriller
Country: Italy, France
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: poliziottesco, cult classic, rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful, psychotronic, cult film
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Similar in 89%
Caliber 9 (1972)
Plot Summary:
Just out of prison, ex-con Ugo Piazza meets his former employer, a psychopathic gangster Rocco who enjoys sick violence and torture. Both the gangsters and the police believe Ugo has hidden $300,000 that should have gone to an American drug syndicate boss.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Action, Crime, Thriller
Country: Italy
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: poliziottesco, grindhouse, slasher, cult classic, action thriller, rough, bleak, serious, realistic, suspenseful
Similar in 84%
Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs (1974)
Plot Summary:
Agent Zero (Miki Sugimoto) is a cop that uses her own methods for dealing with criminals. After she unlawfully kills a rapist in a violent fashion, she is sent to prison and stripped of her badge. But very soon after, a rich politician's daughter is kidnapped by a ruthless gang. Agent Zero is let out of prison with the mission of going undercover to find the politician's daughter and return her safely. Using her deadly red handcuffs, she disposes of the criminals one by one.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 961
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: Japan
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: grindhouse, disturbing, controversial, exciting, rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful, fast, cult film
Similar in 76%
The Italian Connection (1972)
Plot Summary:
When a shipment of heroin disappears between Italy and New York, a small-time pimp in Milan is framed for the theft. Two professional hitmen are dispatched from New York to find him, but the real thieves want to get rid of him before the New York killers get to him to eliminate any chance of them finding out he's the wrong man. When the pimp's wife and daughter are murdered in the course of the "manhunt", he swears revenge on everyone who had anything to do with it.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Action, Crime, Thriller
Country: Italy, West Germany
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: poliziottesco, grindhouse, erotic, cult classic, rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful, neo noir, black comedy
Similar in 78%
The Boss (1973)
Plot Summary:
A bomb attack in a cinema in Palermo kills all the fellows of Attardi's clan a part from Cocchi. He immediately understands that the author of the bomb attack is Daniello from Don Corrasco's clan. Cocchi is determined to revenge. His actions, including the Corrasco's daughter kidnap, in a Palermo in which also the police is corrupted, will soon destroy the old equilibrium giving the way to an escalation of violence that won't save anyone. If Cocchi will survive to the mafia war he will be the new boss for sure.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Action, Crime, Thriller
Country: Italy
Duration: 109 min
Plot tags: grindhouse, poliziottesco, noir, perverse, cult classic, action thriller, rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful
Similar in 79%
Colt 38 Special Squad (1976)
Plot Summary:
When his wife is kidnapped by a local crime lord, a determined police captain forms his own squad of rogue cops, each of whom wields a .38 Colt revolver. The mission, of course, is to rescue the captain's wife -- but the conflict soon explodes into a citywide spree of violent crime.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 682
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: Italy
Duration: 103 min
Plot tags: poliziottesco, cult film
Similar in 78%
Violent Cop (1989)
Plot Summary:
Detective Azuma is a Dirty-Harry style rogue cop who often uses violence and unethical methods to get results.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 13000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: Japan
Duration: 103 min
Plot tags: neo noir, bloody, detective, bleak, crime drama, ironic, witty, controversial, hood, suspense thriller
Similar in 90%
Blood in the Streets (1973)
Plot Summary:
An Italian prison official's wife is kidnapped, and the kidnappers demand that a notorious prisoner be released in order for the man to get his wife back. He gets the man released - but then kidnaps him himself, in order to ensure that the man's colleagues don't kill his wife. Enraged, the gang sets out to free their compatriot and kill the man who took him.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: Italy, France, West Germany
Duration: 111 min
Plot tags: poliziottesco, retro, cult classic, action thriller, rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful, cult film
Similar in 89%
Tiger Cage (1988)
Plot Summary:
Something fishy is going on in the anti-Drug Trafficking Unit of the HK Police, and only a few honest cops know that the corruption goes all the way to the top. However, they must prove their case quickly, and by unconventional means, after they are framed for murder and drug-trafficking themselves. Dodging bullets from cops and criminals alike, the race is on to clear their names, protect their loved ones, and bring their corrupt colleagues to justice.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: Hong Kong
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: bloody, heroic, cult classic, exciting, rough, bleak, serious, realistic, suspenseful, fast
Similar in 82%
A Better Tomorrow II (1987)
Plot Summary:
A restaurant owner his ex-con brother and a policeman team up to avenge the murder of his old friends daughter by the Triad.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 11000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: Hong Kong
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: neo noir, heroic, stylized, bloody, perverse, cult classic, exciting, rough, serious, realistic
Similar in 78%
Rich and Famous 2 (1987)
Plot Summary:
After being released from prison, Tang Kat-Yung exacts revenge on Li Ah Chai, in this sequel to Rich and Famous.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 673
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: Hong Kong
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: heroic, crime drama, cult classic, exciting, tense, rough, serious, realistic, stylized, nostalgic
Similar in 80%
A Better Tomorrow (1986)
Plot Summary:
A reforming ex-gangster tries to reconcile with his estranged policeman brother, but the ties to his former gang are difficult to break.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 25000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: Hong Kong
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: neo noir, bloody, cult classic, intense, heroic, exciting, stylized, suspense, manga, hood
Similar in 89%
Rapid Fire (1992)
Plot Summary:
College student Jake Lo is pursued by smugglers, mobsters and crooked federal agents after he witnesses a murder by a Mafia kingpin.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 10000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: exciting, intense, serious, suspenseful, cult classic, suspense, crime drama, rough, realistic, fast
Similar in 85%
Black Caesar (1973)
Plot Summary:
Tommy Gibbs is a tough kid, raised in the ghetto, who aspires to be a kingpin criminal. As a young boy, his leg is broken by a bad cop on the take, during a payoff gone bad. Nursing his vengeance, he rises to power in Harlem, New York. Angry at the racist society around him, both criminal and straight, he sees the acquisition of power as the solution to his rage.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 87 min
Plot tags: grindhouse, neo noir, psychotronic, hood, crime drama, grim, cult classic, action thriller, action adventure, rough
Similar in 86%
Almost Human (1974)
Plot Summary:
A psychotic small-time criminal realizes that the everyday robberies, rapes and murders he commits aren't profitable enough, so he figures to hit the big time by kidnapping the daughter of a rich man.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: Italy
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: poliziottesco, tense, rough, serious, suspenseful, slasher, grindhouse, action thriller, terrifying, realistic
Similar in 75%
The Exterminator (1980)
Plot Summary:
A man's best friend is killed on the streets of New York. The man (Robert Ginty) then transforms into a violent killer, turning New York into a great war zone and Christopher George is the only one to stop him.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 104 min
Plot tags: disturbing, suspense, brutal, stylized, rough, serious, suspenseful, cult classic, slasher, retro
Similar in 90%
Out for Justice (1991)
Plot Summary:
Gino Felino (Steven Seagal) is an NYPD detective from Brooklyn who knows everyone and everything in his neighborhood. Killing his Partner was someone's mistake, because he's now Out For Justice.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 25000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: suspense, bloody, detective, cult classic, suspenseful, grindhouse, hood, perverse, action thriller, exciting
Similar in 76%
Urban Justice (2007)
Plot Summary:
Seagal plays a man with a dark and violent past, who seeks revenge for the murder of his son.
IMDB Rating: 5.1
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Action, Crime, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: rough, suspenseful, exciting, serious, realistic, suspense, bloody, cult classic, bleak, fast
Similar in 81%
Street Fighters (1982)
Plot Summary:
New York City factory worker Eddie Marino (Robert Forster, Oscar nominee for JACKIE BROWN) is a solid citizen and regular guy, until the day a sadistic street gang brutally assaults his wife and murders his child. But when a corrupt judge sets the thugs free, Eddie goes berserk and vows revenge.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Action, Crime, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: cult classic, grindhouse, psychotronic, hood, grim, action adventure, independent film, rough, bleak, serious
Similar in 82%
Assassination Games (2011)
Plot Summary:
Brazil is a contract killer, willing to take any job if the price is right. Flint left the assassin game when a ruthless drug dealer’s brutal attack left his wife in a coma. When a contract is put out on the same coldblooded drug dealer, both Brazil and Flint want him dead – one for the money, the other for revenge. With crooked Interpol agents and vicious members of the criminal underworld hot on their trail, these two assassins reluctantly join forces to quickly take out their target before they themselves are terminated.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 18000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA, Hong Kong, Romania
Duration: 101 min
Plot tags: exciting, rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful, suspense, intense, cult classic, surprise ending, neo noir
Similar in 88%
Code of Silence (1985)
Plot Summary:
A Chicago cop is caught in a middle of a gang war while his own comrades shun him because he wants to take an irresponsible cop down.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 9000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: exciting, cult classic, suspense, detective, rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful, neo noir, independent film
Similar in 82%
Until Death (2007)
Plot Summary:
Van Damme plays a dirty cop who is hooked on heroin, and everyone dislikes him. Because of an accident he is put into a coma, and comes out of it a better person. He wakes up wanting to put things right.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 10000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: UK, Bulgaria, Germany, USA
Duration: 101 min
Plot tags: rough, serious, suspense, cult classic, action packed, realistic, suspenseful, surprise ending, neo noir, independent film