Best movies like Life Without Principle
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
A criminal, a bank clerk and a police officer find their destinies entwined when a loan shark gets assaulted after having withdrawn $10 million from the bank in the midst of the world financial crisis.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: Hong Kong
Duration: 107 min
Plot tags: tense, rough, serious, suspenseful, atmospheric, realistic, captivating, noir, bloody, crime drama
Best tv shows and movies like Life Without Principle (2011):
Similar in 76%
Breathless (2008)
Plot Summary:
Sang-hoon is a lowlife gangster, a debt collector exercising thuggish ways to collect his money. The recipient of nothing but anger since his childhood, he expresses himself through violence. When he finally encounters someone who can stand up to him, feisty school-girl Yoon-hee they become unlikely friends.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: South Korea
Duration: 130 min
Plot tags: tense, rough, serious, emotional, realistic, disturbing, depressing, neo noir, bloody, crime drama
Similar in 75%
One Nite in Mongkok (2004)
Plot Summary:
Hong Kong nihilism. December 22, a street quarrel leads to the death of a gang leader's son. Next day, he seeks revenge on his brother, a rival boss. He calls on Liu, a fixer, to import a hit man from the mainland. Lai Fu, a tough and youthful hick, arrives with a day pass. The cops, led by the morose Milo, hear about the killer; they open a full-scale Christmas Eve operation to find the warring brothers and Lai Fu. Lai Fu rescues a hooker, Dan Dan, from a sadist and asks her to help him find his way around Mongkok. By nightfall, Liu has double crossed Lai Fu, the brothers are hiding, the cops are everywhere, and Lai Fu and Dan Dan are on the run. Peace on earth, good will to all?.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: Hong Kong
Duration: 110 min
Plot tags: serious, suspenseful, exciting, atmospheric, realistic, neo noir, crime drama, black and white
Similar in 90%
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 87%
God's Pocket (2014)
Plot Summary:
A boozy lowlife tries to bury the truth about his crazy stepson's suspicious death, but a nosy newspaper columnist and the young man's mother complicate matters.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 12000
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: psychological, tense, rough, captivating, neo noir, independent film, serious, realistic, gloomy
Similar in 79%
Cop on a Mission (2001)
Plot Summary:
Mike, a cop who is becoming increasingly frustrated with his tiresome job with little benefits, whilst the criminals live a life of luxury. He is offered a undercover job to infiltrate a Triad gang led by Boss Tin. Mike slowly becomes engrossed in this world and in Tin's wife.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 299
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: Hong Kong
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: exciting, rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful, crime drama
Similar in 87%
I Corrupt All Cops (2009)
Plot Summary:
In the early 1970s, the Governor of Hong Kong decided to clean up the police force. The ICAC was established, whose operation branch was headed by Yim. Bong and Unicorn also joined the ICAC. Despite threats of violence and intimidation, they managed to bring about the downfall of the empire of graft.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 598
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: Hong Kong
Duration: 112 min
Plot tags: tense, captivating, atmospheric, suspense, rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful, stylized
Similar in 82%
The Butcher's Son (2009)
Plot Summary:
A cop works against his country's corrupt government in order to find justice on a case.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 837
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: Dominican Republic
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: tense, serious, suspenseful, rough, crime drama, exciting, realistic
Similar in 85%
A Hero Never Dies (1998)
Plot Summary:
Jack and Martin are members of rival Chinese triads in the middle of a gang war. Both of their gang leaders like to get advice from a fortune teller living in Thailand. On one such trip, Martin's gang ambushes Jack's at a Thai hotel. There is a spectacular shootout, in which both Martin and Jack are severely wounded. The leader of Jack's gang was at the hotel, unlike Martin's, and escapes. Afterwards, both gang leaders, Mr. Fong of Martin's and Mr. Yam of Jack's, go to a general and make peace. Meanwhile, both Jack and Martin are hospitalized. Martin's legs are amputated, and his girlfriend whores herself in order to get them back into Hong Kong.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama
Country: Hong Kong
Duration: 86 min
Plot tags: heroic, neo noir, crime drama, rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful, stylized, fairy tale
Similar in 90%
Expect the Unexpected (1998)
Plot Summary:
In this "cops and robbers" film, a raid on a jewelry store staged by a band of amateur hold-up artists goes horribly wrong, leading to a shoot-out. The elite Organized Crime Bureau team, headed by Captain Ching King Gen, is poised to go into action at a moment's notice. Working as a unit, they bring law and order to Hong Kong streets, where they must rely on their courage and skills to survive.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama
Country: Hong Kong
Duration: 87 min
Plot tags: heroic, exciting, rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful, surprise ending
Similar in 86%
Breaking News (2004)
Plot Summary:
When an ambulatory TV news unit live broadcasts the embarrassing defeat of a police battalion by five bank robbers in a ballistic showdown, the credibility of the police force drops to a nadir. While on a separate investigation in a run-down building, detective Cheung discovers the hideout of the robbers. Cheung and his men have also entered the building, getting ready to take their foes out any minute. Meanwhile, in order to beat the media at its own game, Inspector Rebecca decides to turn the stakeout into a breaking news show.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama
Country: Hong Kong
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: exciting, rough, serious, suspenseful, neo noir, contemplative, realistic, fast
Similar in 90%
Ginostra (2002)
Plot Summary:
An FBI Agent from America and his bride and young child travel to the Sicilian island of Ginostra to solve the murder of a key witness.
IMDB Rating: 4.6
IMDB Votes: 790
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: France, Italy, USA
Duration: 139 min
Plot tags: tense, rough, serious, suspenseful, exciting, realistic, gloomy, independent film
Similar in 86%
Headshot (2011)
Plot Summary:
A hitman named Tul is shot in the head during an assignment. When he wakes up from a two month coma Tul discovers that he literally sees everything upside down.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: Thailand, France
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: neo noir, tense, rough, serious, suspenseful, exciting, atmospheric, realistic, erotic, sexy
Similar in 77%
Decisions (2011)
Plot Summary:
When a group of friends decide to pull a bank heist to get out from underneath their money troubles. They quickly discover that things can unravel in a hurry! A compromised LAPD Detective (Corey Haim) on the take with a crime syndicate figure want the money back and will go to any lengths to get it! Things go wrong quickly as bullets start to fly and the group finds that one thing affects another and discover that the voice of reason is not always what it appears to be.
IMDB Rating: 3.3
IMDB Votes: 273
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 89 min
Plot tags: tense, serious, suspenseful, captivating, exciting, independent film, rough, realistic
Similar in 77%
The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973)
Plot Summary:
Eddie's friends are numerous, but the term friends is suspect. As a small time hood Eddie is about to go back to jail. In order to escape this fate he deals information on stolen guns to the feds. Simultaneously he is supplying arms to his bank robbing/kidnapping hoodlum chums. But who else is dealing with the feds? Who gets the blame for snitching on the bank robbers?.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 12000
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: neo noir, cynical, noir, tense, retro, heartbreaking, hood, crime drama, crime thriller, atmospheric
Similar in 90%
The Detective 2 (2011)
Plot Summary:
Mysteries keep revolving around Tam’s life.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 582
Genere: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: Hong Kong
Duration: 104 min
Plot tags: realistic, atmospheric, serious, suspenseful, stylized, tense, rough
Similar in 87%
Mystery (2012)
Plot Summary:
A car full of irresponsible youths hit a woman on a rainy freeway and think she is trying an insurance scam.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: China, France
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: realistic, atmospheric, serious, emotional, tense, captivating, neo noir
Similar in 78%
Bloodlines (2005)
Plot Summary:
After Elaine Hopkin is found dead, apparent an OD suicide, her firstborn Mark wouldn't even inform his dad James Hopkin, who was locked up for murder. Kid sister Justine, a cocky uniformed cop, goes visit him, only to learn he was just released. After the autopsy concludes asphyxiation, she comprises friendly DC Jake Bannerman's official investigation by rash actions against procedure.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 117
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 180 min
Plot tags: tense, serious, realistic, suspenseful, rough
Similar in 88%
PTU: Police Tactical Unit (2003)
Plot Summary:
Over the course of one night, a team of cops frantically search for their colleague's missing gun.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: Hong Kong
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: neo noir, serious, suspenseful, exciting, realistic, heroic, contemplative, detective
Similar in 89%
Confession of Pain (2006)
Plot Summary:
A detective helps a friend investigate the mysterious death of his father.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: Hong Kong, China, Japan
Duration: 110 min
Plot tags: tense, serious, suspenseful, rough, realistic, neo noir, crime drama, twisted, detective
Similar in 83%
Infernal Affairs III (2003)
Plot Summary:
Infernal Affairs III is a 2003 Hong Kong crime thriller film directed by Andrew Lau and Alan Mak. It is the third installment in the Infernal Affairs film series, and is both a sequel and a semi-prequel to the original film, as it intercuts events before and after the events in the original.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 14000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: Hong Kong, China
Duration: 118 min
Plot tags: neo noir, tense, rough, serious, captivating, realistic, suspenseful, crime drama, psychological, bloody
Similar in 82%
Colour of the Truth (2003)
Plot Summary:
A man becomes a cop in order to take down the police superintendent who may have killed his father, and that of a vengeful Triad boss.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 678
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: Hong Kong
Duration: 104 min
Plot tags: exciting, captivating, suspense, tense, crime drama, rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful
Similar in 84%
Election (2005)
Plot Summary:
A drama-thriller centered on a democratic election within an organized crime society.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 11000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: Hong Kong
Duration: 101 min
Plot tags: suspense, rough, captivating, suspenseful, neo noir, bloody, crime drama, tense, serious, realistic
Similar in 79%
Protégé (2007)
Plot Summary:
Undercover officer Nick had spent the last seven years penetrating into the core of a drug ring working his way up from a street dealer post to the managerial position handling cargo deliveries for Kwan - the biggest player in the local heroin market. When the ailing Kwan makes Nick his protégé, Nick could not but sway before money and power and starts to perform his role like a real drug trafficker. This, together with his affair with heroin-addict Jane, causes Nick to becomes more and more confused about his true identity, and eventually leads to a disastrous end.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: Hong Kong
Duration: 106 min
Plot tags: rough, bleak, serious, realistic, suspenseful, neo noir, bloody, crime drama
Similar in 76%
Fulltime Killer (2001)
Plot Summary:
Professional assassin O has resided in an isolated world of killing and loneliness. But his life begins to change once he meets the innocent Chin; hired to clean O's apartment. However, soon the flamboyent and reckless Tok enters Chin's life with a mission--to unveil O's identity and usurp his place as the number one sharp-shooting assassin in the game.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 7000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: Hong Kong
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: tense, atmospheric, harsh, exciting, suspenseful, bloody, cult classic, stylized, heroic, neo noir
Similar in 88%
Exiled (2006)
Plot Summary:
A friendship is formed between an ex-gangster, and two groups of hitmen - those who want to protect him and those who were sent to kill him.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 10000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: Hong Kong
Duration: 110 min
Plot tags: exciting, rough, serious, suspenseful, heroic, neo noir, bloody, contemplative, stylized, hood
Similar in 90%
Trivisa (2016)
Plot Summary:
The film is set in Hong Kong before its handover to China in 1997, when the city’s booming economy inadvertently attracts three infamous criminals from Mainland China to cross the border and make their fortune in Hong Kong. Although unknown to one another, their notoriety has bred the rumor that the triumvirate will join forces to stage a shocking heist together, so much so that the criminals themselves get wind of it and are tempted to do just that.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: Hong Kong, China
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: tense, captivating, suspense, heroic, crime thriller
Similar in 76%
Triad (2012)
Plot Summary:
Three childhood friends join the Hong Kong Triads only to discover that fame and fortune will ultimately break them apart as only one can become the leader of the gang.
IMDB Rating: 5.2
IMDB Votes: 430
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: Hong Kong
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful
Similar in 81%
Election 2 (2006)
Plot Summary:
As election time nears, current Triad chairman Lok (Simon Yam) faces competition from his godsons. At the same time, Jimmy (Louis Koo) looks to increase his business relations with mainland China.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 7000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: Hong Kong
Duration: 93 min
Plot tags: serious, suspenseful, tense, rough, captivating, realistic, suspense, neo noir, bloody, stylized
Similar in 85%
Outlaw Country (2012)
Plot Summary:
A crime thriller/family drama set against the backdrop of southern organized crime and Nashville royalty where music, love, hope and tragedy collide. Created as a pilot for a TV Series which was not taken up, this has now been aired as a TV Movie.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 715
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 85 min
Plot tags: realistic, serious, suspenseful, captivating, tense, independent film, rough
Similar in 77%
Running Out of Time (1999)
Plot Summary:
Police inspector and excellent hostage negotiator Ho Sheung-Sang finds himself in over his head when he is pulled into a 72 hour game by a cancer suffering criminal out for vengeance on Hong Kong's organized crime syndicates.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: Hong Kong
Duration: 93 min
Plot tags: suspense, sexy, neo noir, dramatic, exciting, tense, rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful