Best movies like The Connection
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
Newly transferred to the bustling port city of Marseille to assist with a crackdown on organized crime, energetic young magistrate Pierre Michel is given a rapid-fire tutorial on the ins and outs of an out-of-control drug trade. Pierre's wildly ambitious mission is to take on the French Connection, a highly organized operation that controls the city's underground heroin economy and is overseen by the notorious —and reputedly untouchable— Gaetan Zampa. Fearless, determined and willing to go the distance, Pierre plunges into an underworld world of insane danger and ruthless criminals.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 12000
Genere: Action, Crime, Thriller
Country: France, Belgium
Duration: 135 min
Plot tags: exciting, serious, suspenseful, rough, noir, neo noir, captivating, hood, powerful, realistic
Best tv shows and movies like The Connection (2014):
Similar in 81%
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 76%
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 87%
French Connection II (1975)
Plot Summary:
"Popeye" Doyle travels to Marsailles to find Alain Charnier, the drug smuggler that eluded him in New York.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 20000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 119 min
Plot tags: neo noir, detective, crime drama, exciting, atmospheric, rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful, fast
Similar in 81%
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 75%
Sleepless Night (2011)
Plot Summary:
Vincent is a crooked cop whose drug heist goes wrong when he is stabbed and the criminals he is robbing discover his identity. Vincent escapes with a huge bag of cocaine, but discovers his loot belongs to a powerful mob boss who kidnaps Vincent's son. Vincent has until the end of the night to return the stash and save his son.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Action, Crime, Thriller
Country: France, Belgium, Luxembourg
Duration: 103 min
Plot tags: tense, exciting, rough, serious, suspenseful, hood, crime drama, intelligent, realistic, fast
Similar in 89%
Diamond 13 (2009)
Plot Summary:
A cop goes up against his lifelong friend, who has become one of the city's biggest drug traffickers.
IMDB Rating: 5.1
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Action, Crime, Thriller
Country: France, Belgium, Luxembourg
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: rough, serious, exciting, realistic, suspenseful
Similar in 80%
Johan Falk: Kodnamn Lisa (2012)
Plot Summary:
Five men break into Frank Wagner's apartment. Frank is able to escape and seeks out the help of Johan Falk. Has someone leaked that Frank is working with the police? Frank and John do not know who knows what and who they can trust.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Action, Crime, Thriller
Country: Sweden, Germany
Duration: 106 min
Plot tags: realistic, serious, suspenseful, tense, exciting, rough
Similar in 80%
Johan Falk: GSI - Gruppen för särskilda insatser (2009)
Plot Summary:
Johan works in tandem with the GSI organized crime unit to bring in a cadre of armored car robbers.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Action, Crime, Thriller
Country: Sweden, Germany
Duration: 118 min
Plot tags: rough, serious, suspenseful, exciting, realistic
Similar in 78%
Johan Falk: National Target (2009)
Plot Summary:
Frank Wagner goes deeper undercover to infiltrate Europe's most dangerous Mafia, the Russian-est, consisting of ex - KGB officers.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Action, Crime, Thriller
Country: Sweden, Germany
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: tense, exciting, serious, captivating, rough, realistic, suspenseful
Similar in 82%
Johan Falk: Spelets regler (2012)
Plot Summary:
It's been two years since John Falk and Frank Wagner broke their cooperation and Frank started working undercover with the police. Frank's search for Kevin crosses Johan's investigation and opens up a new collaboration between them - with the big difference being that this time it's personal for Frank.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Action, Crime, Thriller
Country: Sweden, Germany
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful, exciting
Similar in 87%
Crazy Six (1997)
Plot Summary:
In a crumbling Europe, powerful mafia families have emerged from the anarchy to vie for control of the lucrative arms trade.
IMDB Rating: 2.7
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Action, Crime
Country: Slovakia, USA
Duration: 94 min
Plot tags: rough, serious, suspenseful, exciting, realistic, independent film, futuristic
Similar in 86%
The Loner (1987)
Plot Summary:
A cop is looking for the killer of his friend.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: France
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: rough, exciting, serious, realistic, suspenseful, neo noir
Similar in 85%
Rage (2014)
Plot Summary:
When the Russian mob kidnaps the daughter of a reformed criminal, he rounds up his old crew and seeks his own brand of justice.
IMDB Rating: 5.0
IMDB Votes: 25000
Genere: Action, Thriller
Country: USA, France
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: exciting, serious, realistic, suspenseful, surprise ending, hood, independent film, ambiguous ending, rough, twisted
Similar in 77%
Mea Culpa (2014)
Plot Summary:
Franck and Simon are both good cops. They work as partners. But their lives take a tailspin when Simon, driving drunk, causes a tragic car wreck. A few years later, out of the police, he is forced to take matters into his own hands when his family is in danger.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Action, Crime, Thriller
Country: France, Belgium, USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: exciting, serious, tense, captivating, suspense, clever, twisted, rough, realistic, suspenseful
Similar in 78%
Bad Country (2014)
Plot Summary:
When Baton Rouge police detective Bud Carter busts contract killer Jesse Weiland, he convinces Jesse to become an informant and rat out the South's most powerful crime ring.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 9000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: exciting, rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful, neo noir, detective
Similar in 80%
36th Precinct (2004)
Plot Summary:
The Film takes place in Paris, where two cops are competing for the vacant seat of chief of police while in the middle of a search for a gang of violent thieves. The movie is directed by Olivier Marchal, a former police officer who spent 12 years with the french police before creating this story, which in part is taken from real facts that happened during the 1980s in France.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 18000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: France
Duration: 111 min
Plot tags: rough, tense, realistic, suspenseful, exciting, serious, disturbing, suspense, intense, neo noir
Similar in 87%
Drug War (2012)
Plot Summary:
The taciturn police commander Zhang leads an undercover drugs team and in his continuous battle against the ubiquitous drug barons, takes up arms against his arch enemy, Timmy Choi. When he gets hold of Choi, he makes a deal with him: in exchange for his life (in China you can get the death penalty for producing only 50 grams of drugs) the young criminal will help the police infiltrate a sizeable drug network.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 11000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: China, Hong Kong
Duration: 107 min
Plot tags: rough, serious, exciting, tense, suspenseful, neo noir, psychological, bloody, heroic, hood
Similar in 87%
The French Connection (1971)
Plot Summary:
Tough narcotics detective 'Popeye' Doyle is in hot pursuit of a suave French drug dealer who may be the key to a huge heroin-smuggling operation.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 133000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 104 min
Plot tags: detective, neo noir, atmospheric, tense, realistic, breathtaking, cerebral, grim, crime drama, exciting
Similar in 88%
Carlito's Way: Rise to Power (2005)
Plot Summary:
Jay Hernandez (Friday Night Lights), Mario Van Peebles (Ali), Luis Guzmán (Carlito's Way) and Sean Combs (Monster's Ball) star in the gripping tale of the early years of gangster legend Carlito Brigante. Seduced by the power of the brutal New York underworld, he enters a deadly circle of greed and retribution. Assisted by his two brothers-in-crime, Carlito is on the fast track to becoming Spanish Harlem's ultimate kingpin. He quickly learns, however, that the only way to survive at the top is through loyalty to his friends and respect for the rules of the street. (FILMAFFINITY).
IMDB Rating: 5.0
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful, stylized, hood, crime drama, action packed, surprise ending
Similar in 89%
A Gang Story (2011)
Plot Summary:
After growing up in a poor gypsy camp, Edmond Vidal, aka Momon, has retained a sense of family, unfailing loyalty and pride in his origins. Most of all, he has remained friends with Serge Suttel, with whom he first discovered prison life - for stealing cherries. The two of them inevitably got involved in organized crime. The team they formed, the Ganf Des Lyonnais, made them the most notorious armed robbers of the early 1970s. Their irresistible rise ended in 1974 with a spectacular arrest. Today, as he nears 60, Momon would like to forget that part of his life. He has found peace by retiring from the "business". He tends to his wife Janou, who suffered so in the past, and to his children and grandchildren, all of whom have great respect for this man of simple and universal values, so clear-headed and full of kindness. But then Serge Suttel, who has disowned nothing of his past, comes back into the picture.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 9000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, History, Thriller
Country: France, Belgium
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, twist ending, suspenseful, exciting, tense, noir, neo noir, surprise ending, tragic
Similar in 75%
22 Bullets (2010)
Plot Summary:
Charly Matteï has turned his back on his life as an outlaw. For the last three years, he's led a peaceful life devoting himself to his wife and two children. Then, one winter morning, he's left for dead in the parking garage in Marseille's Old Port, with 22 bullets in his body. Against all the odds, he doesn't die.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 36000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: France
Duration: 117 min
Plot tags: tense, serious, suspense, exciting, light, brutal, unusual plot structure, suspenseful, rough, bloody
Similar in 84%
A Man Apart (2003)
Plot Summary:
When Vetter's wife is killed in a botched hit organized by Diablo, he seeks revenge against those responsible. But in the process, Vetter and Hicks have to fight their way up the chain to get to Diablo but it's easier said than done when all Vetter can focus on is revenge.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 49000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA, Germany
Duration: 109 min
Plot tags: suspense, harsh, emotional, rough, serious, suspenseful, exciting, realistic, captivating, cult classic
Similar in 83%
Empire State (2013)
Plot Summary:
After failing to get into the police academy, Chris Potamitis (Hemsworth), settles for a security guard job with the EMPIRE STATE Armored Truck Company. He makes the mistake of mentioning the company's lax security to his best friend, Eddie (Angarano) & is unwittingly drawn into an elaborate scheme to rob the abundant amounts of cash being stored there - resulting in the largest cash heist in U.S. History. As the stakes continue to rise, Chris and Eddie must outwit James Ransone (Johnson), the veteran NYPD Detective hot on their trail, & the local crime bosses that want to know who pulled a job on their turf.
IMDB Rating: 5.2
IMDB Votes: 23000
Genere: Action, Crime, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 94 min
Plot tags: exciting, suspenseful, serious, realistic, surprise ending, thought provoking, captivating, visually appealing, tense, teen
Similar in 76%
Deep Cover (1992)
Plot Summary:
The black policeman Russell Stevens applies for a special anti-drug squad which targets the highest boss of cocaine delivery to LA: the Colombian foreign minister's nephew. Russell works his way up from the bottom undercover, until he reaches the boss. The first step is to get the lawyer and hobby dealer David Jason to trust him.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 14000
Genere: Action, Crime, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 107 min
Plot tags: neo noir, suspenseful, tense, enigmatic, suspense, hood, cult classic, exciting, rough, serious
Similar in 83%
Shaft (2000)
Plot Summary:
New York police detective John Shaft arrests Walter Wade Jr. for a racially motivated slaying. But the only eyewitness disappears, and Wade jumps bail for Switzerland. Two years later Wade returns to face trial, confident his money and influence will get him acquitted -- especially since he's paid a drug kingpin to kill the witness.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 80000
Genere: Action, Crime, Thriller
Country: Germany, USA
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: stylized, suspense, intense, hood, rough, realistic, exciting, serious, suspenseful, action packed
Similar in 80%
Welcome to the Punch (2013)
Plot Summary:
When notorious criminal Jacob Sternwood is forced to return to London, it gives detective Max Lewinsky one last chance to take down the man he's always been after.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 34000
Genere: Action, Crime, Thriller
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: tense, exciting, stylized, suspense, rough, serious, realistic, detective, suspenseful, noir
Similar in 85%
The Stronghold (2020)
Plot Summary:
A police brigade working in the dangerous northern neighborhoods of Marseille, where the level of crime is higher than anywhere else in France.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 13000
Genere: Action, Crime, Thriller
Country: France
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: tense, unusual plot structure, suspense, suspenseful, disturbing, hood, perverse, surprise ending, neo noir, independent film
Similar in 81%
Street Kings (2008)
Plot Summary:
Tom Ludlow is a disillusioned L.A. Police Officer, rarely playing by the rules and haunted by the death of his wife. When evidence implicates him in the execution of a fellow officer, he is forced to go up against the cop culture he's been a part of his entire career, ultimately leading him to question the loyalties of everyone around him.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 119000
Genere: Action, Crime, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 109 min
Plot tags: suspense, neo noir, detective, hood, harsh, tense, brutal, serious, entertaining, crime drama
Similar in 86%
Gangster Squad (2013)
Plot Summary:
Los Angeles, 1949. Ruthless, Brooklyn-born mob king Mickey Cohen runs the show in this town, reaping the ill-gotten gains from the drugs, the guns, the prostitutes and — if he has his way — every wire bet placed west of Chicago. And he does it all with the protection of not only his own paid goons, but also the police and the politicians who are under his control. It’s enough to intimidate even the bravest, street-hardened cop… except, perhaps, for the small, secret crew of LAPD outsiders led by Sgt. John O’Mara and Jerry Wooters who come together to try to tear Cohen’s world apart.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 221000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 113 min
Plot tags: rough, tense, exciting, stylized, serious, suspenseful, suspense, intense, realistic, neo noir
Similar in 86%
Point Blank (2010)
Plot Summary:
Samuel Pierret is a nurse who saves the wrong guy – a thief whose henchmen take Samuel's pregnant wife hostage to force him to spring their boss from the hospital. A race through the subways and streets of Paris ensues, and the body count rises. Can Samuel evade the cops and the criminal underground and deliver his beloved to safety?.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 15000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: France
Duration: 84 min
Plot tags: suspenseful, intense, unusual plot structure, suspense, exciting, rough, serious, neo noir, realistic, atmospheric