Best movies like Highway Patrolman
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
A naïve rookie in the Mexican highway patrol has to adapt to survive as he contends with dangerous drug-runners and widespread corruption.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 918
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: Mexico, Japan
Duration: 104 min
Plot tags: neo noir, rough, bleak, serious, realistic, suspenseful, surreal, disturbing, gloomy, independent film
Best tv shows and movies like Highway Patrolman (1991):
Similar in 86%
In the Flesh (1998)
Plot Summary:
A police detective (Ed Corbin) assigned to work a gay bar on an undercover drug operation gets hooked up with a gay student hustler (Dane Ritter). After the student witnesses a murder, the cop provides him an alibi and invites him to stay at his apartment. There a homosexual relationship develops.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 602
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: sexy, bleak, serious, realistic, suspenseful, gloomy, sexual, detective
Similar in 78%
Backyard (2009)
Plot Summary:
An astonishing fictional account of the unending series of murders of young women in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, which began in 1996. Most of the victims are low-paid laborers who have been drawn to the town by the possibility of work at American-owned factories. In the film Mexican police officer Blanca Bravo is sent to Cuidad Juarez to investigate and comes to learn realities of these women's lives, as well as the truth about a police force and local power structure embodied by entrepreneur Mickey Santos that has ceased to care.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: Mexico
Duration: 122 min
Plot tags: serious, rough, psychological, bleak, suspenseful, disturbing, crime drama, twisted, scary, tense
Similar in 76%
Route 9 (1998)
Plot Summary:
During a routine surveilance on desolate Route 9, two small town deputies come across over one million dollars in cash, a van full of drugs, several dead bodies and not a witness in sight.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: rough, bleak, serious, realistic, suspenseful
Similar in 76%
Killers Three (1968)
Plot Summary:
America's DJ Dick Clark and Robert Walker Jr. star as two country boys who decide to rob a pile of cash from a bootlegger, assisted by the man's restless wife (Diane Varsi). But the heist doesn't go as planned and takes a tragic turn. The trio of would-be thieves then takes off for California, but with the police already on their tail, it's clear that a trail of blood and death is going to follow them all the way there.
IMDB Rating: 4.7
IMDB Votes: 202
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: grindhouse, independent film, rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful, crying, psychotronic, cult film
Similar in 75%
The Major (2013)
Plot Summary:
On a cold winter’s day Sergey Sobolev, a major at the local police office, is driving to the hospital where his wife is about to give birth to their child. High from happiness, he’s driving too fast and runs down a boy on a passage walk, who dies. Now the major has only two options: go to prison or conceal the crime. Sobolev decides to compromise with his conscience and calls on a colleague to help him out. But the case turns out to be messy and when Sobolev finally changes his mind and tries to make up for his deed, it’s already too late….
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama
Country: Russia
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: tense, serious, suspenseful, rough, bleak, touching, suspense, disturbing, realistic, gloomy
Similar in 90%
Confessions of a Police Captain (1971)
Plot Summary:
Confessions of a Police Captain (Italian: Confessione di un commissario di polizia al procuratore della repubblica, also known as Confessions of a Police Commissioner to the District Attorney) is an Italian crime-drama film about a cop starring Franco Nero and Martin Balsam who is caught up in suffocating and incriminating big city "corruption." Nero tries desperately to bring an elusive criminal to justice who has been a thorn in his side for many years. This cop has a tough decision to make; does he turn in his partner or turn his head? The film won the Golden Prize at the Moscow International Film Festival in 1971 and the Prix lntemational de l'Academie du Cinema at the Étoile de Cristal Awards in 1972.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: Italy
Duration: 106 min
Plot tags: poliziottesco, grindhouse, rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful, disturbing, tragic ending
Similar in 80%
The Underground (1997)
Plot Summary:
A cop must stop the killings of rap stars. But, he gets in too deep after his partner is killed.
IMDB Rating: 4.7
IMDB Votes: 214
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: crime drama, exciting, tense, rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful, detective
Similar in 81%
City of M (2000)
Plot Summary:
After exhausting all legal channels in his search for a job, "M" struggles with the decision of whether or not to enter a life of crime by helping his friends deliver drugs to Miami.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 295
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: Peru
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: rough, serious, suspenseful, realistic, bleak
Similar in 87%
Last Man Standing (1995)
Plot Summary:
A gang of bank robbers, led by the ultra-violent Snake Underwood, pull off a daring mid-day heist that leaves dozens of burning police cars and scores of innocent victims in its wake. Heading the investigation into the gang is the equally violent detective Kurt Bellmore and going by the book just isn't going to be enough.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 520
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: independent film, serious, realistic, suspenseful, neo noir, detective
Similar in 77%
The Last of the Finest (1990)
Plot Summary:
An elite group of vice cops are fired from the L.A.P.D. for being over-zealous in their war against drugs. It is immediately apparent that some of their superiors are involved in the drug ring. Banded together, four of the banned cops (which quickly becomes three when one is killed early) band together to fight the drug ring undercover. They gain capital for weapons by ripping off minor drug dealers. Then well-armed they go after the kingpin (Boyd).
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 106 min
Plot tags: independent film, exciting, rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful, suspense
Similar in 89%
No Man's Land (1987)
Plot Summary:
A rookie cop goes undercover to infiltrate a gang of car thieves led by smooth and charming Ted. The rookie becomes too involved and starts to enjoy the thrill and lifestyle of the game, and becomes romanticly involved with the leaders sister.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 107 min
Plot tags: stylized, neo noir, suspense, rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful, independent film, exciting, road movie
Similar in 89%
Metro Manila (2013)
Plot Summary:
Seeking a brighter future in megacity Manila, Oscar Ramirez and his family flee their impoverished life in the rice fields of the northern Philippines. But the sweltering capital's bustling intensity quickly overwhelms them, and they fall prey to the rampant manipulations of its hardened locals. Oscar catches a lucky break when he's offered steady work for an armored truck company and gregarious senior officer Ong takes him under his wing. Soon, though, the reality of his work's mortality rate and the murky motives of his new partner force Oscar to confront the perils he faces in his new job and life.
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 9000
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: UK, Philippines
Duration: 115 min
Plot tags: tense, realistic, serious, captivating, noir, neo noir, dramatic, sincere, rough, bleak
Similar in 82%
The Badge (2015)
Plot Summary:
The only difference between a cop and a criminal is The Badge. Detective Vince McKinley and his partner Martin Goulet have to solve the biggest case of their careers: a series of evidence have been stolen from their own precinct. Through out the case, Vince discovers that the person responsible could be one of his closest friend. The Badge brings a unique view on how trust and friendship can switch to blood in an instant.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 19
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: Canada
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: tense, serious, realistic, suspenseful, rough
Similar in 79%
The Bull (2019)
Plot Summary:
The 1990s. Empty shelves in the shops, an economic abyss and criminal dramas that unfold literally at every corner. The young leader of a criminal gang Anton Bykov, with the nickname “Bull”, must make money in whatever way to provide for his family. After a local shootout, Anton ends up in the police station, from where he is released at the intervention of Moscow’s crime lords. In exchange, the latter asks Anton for a small, but dangerous service.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 896
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: Russia
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: realistic, tense, bleak, serious, harsh, suspenseful, captivating, disturbing
Similar in 87%
Paris by Night (2012)
Plot Summary:
Police commander Simon Weiss, head of the division that supervises Paris’s demi-monde, starts out on his nightly tour of bars, discos and strip clubs, making sure once again that the owners don’t bend the rules too far. Weiss knows he’s between a rock and hard place: it’s obvious that criminal gangs run rampant in his special domain, and even more obvious that they’re protected by higher-ups in the department.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: France
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: neo noir, serious, suspenseful, suspense, enigmatic, noir, crime drama, tense, rough, realistic
Similar in 84%
L.627 (1992)
Plot Summary:
Lulu is a tough streetwise narcotics cop who, like a Frank Serpico or a Dirty Harry Callahan, doesn't play by the rules or kowtow to his weak and/or corrupt superiors. Lulu thrives in this violent world, where sheer guts can overcome his squad's deficiencies of money and equipment. Despite the ruthless environment that he lives and works in every day, he still manages somehow to maintain his humanity.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: France
Duration: 145 min
Plot tags: anthology, tense, rough, bleak, serious, realistic, suspenseful, disturbing, suspense
Similar in 81%
The New Centurions (1972)
Plot Summary:
An idealistic rookie cop joins the LAPD to make ends meet while finishing law school, and is indoctrinated by a seasoned veteran. As time goes on, he loses his ambitions and family as police work becomes his entire life.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 103 min
Plot tags: neo noir, crime drama, tense, rough, bleak, serious, realistic, suspenseful, tension, suspense
Similar in 89%
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 85%
The Border (1982)
Plot Summary:
A corrupted border agent decides to clean up his act when an impoverished woman's baby is put up for sale on the black market.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 7000
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 108 min
Plot tags: talky, neo noir, atmospheric, rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful, retro, crime drama, cult classic
Similar in 75%
Phoenix (1998)
Plot Summary:
Gambling fever -- along with a brutal bookie -- leads three crooked cops into a double-dealing scheme that lands them in hot water way over their heads.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 107 min
Plot tags: neo noir, detective, independent film, rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful, contemplative, psychological, tense
Similar in 75%
Fort Apache the Bronx (1981)
Plot Summary:
From the sight of a police officer this movie depicts the life in New York's infamous South Bronx. In the center is "Fort Apache", as the officers call their police station, which really seems like an outpost in enemy's country. The story follows officer Murphy, who seems to be a tuff cynic, but in truth he's a moralist with a sense for justice.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 7000
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 125 min
Plot tags: detective, bleak, realistic, grim, hood, crime drama, perverse, rough, serious, captivating
Similar in 87%
Out-of-Sync (1995)
Plot Summary:
A DJ and ex-con is forced to work with the police in an undercover drug sting targeting his boss.
IMDB Rating: 4.5
IMDB Votes: 220
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: rough, realistic, suspenseful, serious, hood, independent film, surprise ending
Similar in 81%
56 So Far (2004)
Plot Summary:
Sadhu Agashe, a police officer in Mumbai, makes a name for himself by killing criminals in sting operations instead of locking them up in prison. The film follows his method of working, gives an insight into the Mumbai Police Crime Branch, and Agashe's alleged connection with the underworld.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 9000
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: India
Duration: 129 min
Plot tags: tense, rough, suspenseful, disturbing, experimental, funny, offbeat, intellectual, neo noir, entertaining
Similar in 89%
Rampart (2011)
Plot Summary:
Follows veteran police officer Dave Brown, the last of the renegade cops, as he struggles to take care of his family, and fights for his own survival.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 25000
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 108 min
Plot tags: bleak, intense, rough, psychological, neo noir, suspense, harsh, thought provoking, detective, cult classic
Similar in 78%
Prince of the City (1981)
Plot Summary:
New York City detective Daniel Ciello agrees to help the United States Department of Justice help eliminate corruption in the police department, as long as he will not have to turn in any close friends. In doing so, Ciello uncovers a conspiracy within the force to smuggle drugs to street informants.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 9000
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 167 min
Plot tags: tense, neo noir, detective, bleak, realistic, epic, political, crime drama, grim, sincere
Similar in 80%
Cement (2000)
Plot Summary:
What's the bond between partners, between brothers, and between spouses? In L.A., Bill Holt handcuffs Sean Rickhart inside a rebar frame for a freeway pillar at a construction site; Bill's going to bury Sean in quick-drying cement. Guided by the narration of Nin, Bill's coke-snorting partner, we go back and forth over the past 48 hours to find out what brings Bill and Sean to this deadly scene. Missing money, cops on the take, Sean's two brothers (one the leader of the mob, the other a camera-carrying simpleton), Bill's wife, dead young police officers, infidelity, and Bill and Nin's partnership make a mix as volatile and unstable as the cement is solid and immobile.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 654
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: neo noir, rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful, disturbing, dark, independent film, tense
Similar in 78%
The Glass Shield (1994)
Plot Summary:
J.J. is a rookie in the Sheriff's Department and the first black officer at that station. Racial tensions run high in the department as some of J.J.'s fellow officers resent his presence. His only real friend is the other new trooper, the first female officer to work there, who also suffers similar discrimination in the otherwise all-white-male work environment. When J.J. becomes increasingly aware of police corruption during the murder trial of Teddy Woods, whom he helped to arrest, he faces difficult decisions and puts himself into grave personal danger in the service of justice.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: France, USA
Duration: 109 min
Plot tags: tense, harsh, rough, bleak, serious, realistic, suspenseful, disturbing, neo noir, thought provoking
Similar in 89%
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
Similar in 88%
Dark Blue (2002)
Plot Summary:
Set during the Rodney King riots, a robbery homicide investigation triggers a series of events that will cause a corrupt LAPD officer to question his tactics.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 24000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA, UK, Germany
Duration: 118 min
Plot tags: neo noir, tense, detective, harsh, intense, stylized, serious, captivating, suspenseful, disturbing
Similar in 82%
New Jersey Drive (1995)
Plot Summary:
New Jersey Drive is a 1995 film about black youths in Newark, New Jersey, the unofficial "car theft capital of the world". Their favorite pastime is that of everybody in their neighborhood: stealing cars and joyriding. The trouble starts when they steal a police car and the cops launch a violent offensive that involves beating and even shooting suspects.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: realistic, hood, brutal, melancholic, rough, serious, suspenseful, disturbing, cult classic, independent film