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Best Crime Movies

of the 1980s

The 20 highest-rated crime movies released between 1980 and 1989, ranked by IMDb score.

1

Once Upon a Time in America(1984)

8.3 IMDb86% RT75 Meta

A former Prohibition-era Jewish gangster returns to the Lower East Side of Manhattan over thirty years later, where he once again must confront the ghosts and regrets of his old life.

2

Scarface(1983)

8.3 IMDb79% RT65 Meta

After getting a green card in exchange for assassinating a Cuban government official, Tony Montana stakes a claim on the drug trade in Miami. Viciously murdering anyone who stands in his way, Tony eve

3

Time of the Gypsies(1988)

8.1 IMDb100% RT

In this luminous tale set in the former Yugoslavia, Perhan, an engaging young Romany with telekinetic powers, is seduced by the quick-cash world of petty crime that threatens to destroy him and those

4

Stand by Me(1986)

8.1 IMDb92% RT75 Meta

After learning that a boy their age has been accidentally killed near their rural homes, four boys decide to go see the body. Gordie, Vern, Chris, and Teddy encounter a mean junk man and a marsh full

5

The Thin Blue Line(1988)

7.9 IMDb100% RT79 Meta

This unique documentary dramatically re-enacts the crime scene and investigation of a police officer's murder in Dallas.

6

A Short Film About Killing(1988)

7.9 IMDb91% RT

Jacek climbs into the taxi driven by Waldemar, tells him to drive to a remote location, then brutally strangles him, seemingly without motive.

7

Pixote(1980)

7.9 IMDb94% RT

10-year-old Pixote endures torture, degradation, and corruption at a local youth detention center where two of its members are murdered by policemen who frame Lilica, a 17-year-old trans hustler. Pixo

8

The Blues Brothers(1980)

7.9 IMDb71% RT60 Meta

Jake Blues, just released from prison, puts his old band back together to save the Catholic home where he and his brother Elwood were raised.

9

The Untouchables(1987)

7.8 IMDb83% RT79 Meta

Elliot Ness, an ambitious prohibition agent, is determined to take down Al Capone. In order to achieve this goal, he forms a group given the nickname “The Untouchables”.

10

Who Framed Roger Rabbit(1988)

7.7 IMDb96% RT83 Meta

'Toon star Roger is worried that his wife Jessica is playing pattycake with someone else, so the studio hires detective Eddie Valiant to snoop on her. But the stakes are quickly raised when Marvin Acm

11

Down by Law(1986)

7.7 IMDb88% RT75 Meta

A disc jockey, a pimp and an Italian tourist escape from jail in New Orleans.

12

Blue Velvet(1986)

7.7 IMDb91% RT75 Meta

The discovery of a severed human ear found in a field leads a young man on an investigation related to a beautiful, mysterious nightclub singer and a group of psychopathic criminals who have kidnapped

13

Running on Empty(1988)

7.6 IMDb81% RT67 Meta

The Popes are a family who haven't been able to use their real identity for years. In the late sixties, the parents set a weapons lab afire in an effort to hinder the government's Vietnam war campaign

14

The Inquisitor(1981)

7.6 IMDb

Martinaud, an illustrious notary suspected of being the perpetrator of two horrendous crimes, voluntarily agrees to be questioned by Inspector Gallien on New Year's Eve. What initially is a routine pr

15

Police Story(1985)

7.5 IMDb93% RT78 Meta

Officer Chan Ka Kui manages to put a major Hong Kong drug dealer behind the bars practically alone, after a shooting and an impressive chase inside a slum. Now, he must protect the boss' secretary, Se

16

A Better Tomorrow(1986)

7.4 IMDb94% RT78 Meta

A reforming ex-gangster tries to reconcile with his estranged policeman brother, but the ties to his former gang are difficult to break.

17

Blow Out(1981)

7.4 IMDb88% RT86 Meta

While recording sound effects for a slasher flick, Jack Terry stumbles upon a real-life horror: a car careening off a bridge and into a river. Jack jumps into the water and fishes out Sally from the c

18

Mary Forever(1989)

7.3 IMDb

A teacher discovers his calling. Marco relocates to Palermo from Milan and takes a job teaching in a reform school while he waits for a high school position. He tries to understand and motivate his ha

19

So Long, Stooge(1983)

7.3 IMDb

In the 18th Arrondissement of Paris, Lambert, an aloof garage manager working the night shift at a petrol station spends his time drinking on the job, content in his own company. One night, Bensoussan

20

Toxic Love(1983)

7.2 IMDb

The alienating and repetitive life of a group of heroin junkies in 1980s Rome.

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