For this list of movies, Stacker compiled data on all crime movies to come up with a Stacker score—a weighted index split evenly between IMDb and Metacritic scores. To qualify, the film had to be listed as a crime movie on IMDb, have a Metascore, and have at least 5,000 votes. Ties were broken by Metascore and further ties were broken by IMDb user rating.
Every film on the list has been considered according to the cinematic history and development of crime. Many of the following movies changed film history. Some movements that were centered around depictions of crime include film noir and New Hollywood, but the crime movies' effect on film history is definitely not limited to those eras in time.
