Film noir experienced its golden age throughout the 1940s and 1950s. Some of the most iconic and seminal noir films came out during these two decades, cementing the style as a legitimate cinematic force and a perfect companion to the dramatic and ruthless crime genre.
However, future examples proved that noir could go hand-in-hand with numerous other genres. Indeed, most neo-noir films expertly juggle genres, confirming that noir sensibilities complement other cinematic styles and traits perfectly. From comedy to action, horror, and beyond, neo-noir films are perfect companions for multiple cinematic genres, even the most unexpected.
10’A Simple Favor' (2018)
Blake LivelyandAnna Kendrickstar inPaul Feig’s campy thrillerA Simple Favor. Based on the eponymous novel, the plot follows a young mother who begins an investigation into her best friend’s disappearance, uncovering mysterious secrets about her past.Henry Goldingalso stars alongside an ensemble supporting cast, includingRupert Friend,Jean Smart, andLinda Cardellini.
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Stylish, subversive, and wickedly funny,A Simple Favoroffers a sharp and refreshing balance between mystery and comedy. Elevated by stellar performances from Lively and Kendrick,A Simple Favoris a classic noir disguised as a witty, biting dark comedy with several clever and genuinely shocking twists.
9’Kiss Kiss Bang Bang' (2005)
Shane Black’s delightful dark comedyKiss Kiss Bang BangstarsRobert Downey Jr.andVal Kilmer. The plot centers on Harry Lockhart, a thief mistaken for an actor, who travels to Los Angeles to train under a PI in preparation for a supposed movie role. Instead, the two become involved in a dangerous mystery.
Amodern neo-noir destined to become a classic,Kiss Kiss Bang Bangis ridiculous, hysterical, and intelligent. The screenplay brings out the best in Downey Jr. and Kilmer, whose silly chemistry powers the plot, satirizing some of noir’s most well-known tropes and taking the film to absurd new heights.
8’Body Heat' (1981)
Kathleen Turnerdelivers a star-making performance inLawrence Kasdan’s 1981 erotic noir thrillerBody Heat, co-starringWilliam Hurt. A remake of the iconic noirDouble Indemnity,Body Heatfollows the hapless lawyer Ned Racine, who begins a passionate affair with the alluring Matty Walker, hatching a plan to kill her husband and claim his life insurance.
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Sleek and sexy,Body Heatis among the best erotic thrillers ever made. The film uses its noir setup to present a story about treachery, desire, and lust, powered by a spectacular turn by the mighty Kathleen Turner, playing one of cinema’s most memorable femme fatales.
7’Collateral' (2004)
Tom Cruisedelivers one of his most assured and out-of-the-box performances inMichael Mann’s 2004 neo-noir action thrillerCollateral.Jamie Foxxstars as Max Durocher, a cab driver hired for the night by Vincent, a contract killer on a killing spree across Los Angeles.
Seldom does Tom Cruise play villains, but he should;Collateralis Cruise at his best, delivering a menacing and confident performance that ranks as one of the best depictions of villainy in neo-noir cinema.Collateralfinds the perfect balance between rivetting action and cerebral thrills, resulting in a rich, tense drama that ranks among the 21st century’s best neo-noirs.
6’The Grifters' (1990)
Stephen Frears' neo-noir crime thrillerThe Griftersis among the acclaimed director’s most underrated efforts.Anjelica Huston,John Cusack, andAnnette Beningstar in a story about a small-time conman torn between his allegiances to his new girlfriend and his estranged mother, both of whom have their own agendas.
Benefitting from a spectacular performance from Huston,The Griftersseamlessly blends noir’s most common themes with the exciting stakes of the crime genre and the wicked levity of the dark comedy. Funny but ruthless,The Griftersis a fascinating experiment that brings the best out of its trio of unbelievably talented performers.
5’The Batman' (2022)
Matt Reeves’s 2022 superhero movieThe BatmanstarsRobert Pattinsonas the Caped Crusader. The plot centers on Batman’s investigation into the Riddler, a criminal targeting powerful figures from Gotham City’s underworld while crossing paths with Catwoman and The Penguin.
The Batmanis asuperhero movie that expertly blends genres. It includes the most common traits found in comic book adaptations — high stakes, elaborate setpieces, easter eggs — and imbues them with a distinctive noir tone. The result is a rich and engrossing film that lives up to Batman’s reputation and ranks among the 21st century’s best superhero movies.
4’The Nice Guys' (2016)
Shane Black directsRyan GoslingandRussell Crowein the 2016 neo-noir comedyThe Nice Guys. The plot centers on Holland March and Jackson Healy, a clumsy PI and a tough enforcer who join forces to locate a missing girl in 1970s Los Angeles.
Like most other black comedy films,The Nice Guysis a silly, subversive, satirical take on the noir sub-genre and one ofthe 21st century’s funniest action movies. Anchored by a suitably ridiculous performance from Gosling, whose dynamic with Crowe’s brutish enforcer is the film’s beating heart,The Nice Guysis a hysterical buddy comedy that proves noir can be the perfect companion for the most unexpected genres.
3’Who Framed Roger Rabbit' (1988)
Who Framed Roger Rabbitis among the most original and refreshing films of the 1980s. Directed byRobert Zemeckis, the film is set in 1940s Hollywood, where humans and cartoons co-exist. The lateBob Hoskinsplays Eddie Valiant, a PI who must help cartoon character Roger Rabbit clear his name after being framed for murder.
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Combining animation and live-action,Who Framed Roger Rabbitis an inspired take on the noir genre. The film honors and satirizes noir’s most familiar tropes, cleverly subverting them in service of a gripping storyline that rises on the strength of its dazzling visuals and hilarious humor.
2’Blade Runner' (1982)
Ridley Scott’s groundbreaking, game-changing sci-fi noirBlade Runneris a modern classic. Set in a world where technology allows for the creation of synthetic humans known as “replicants,” the film starsHarrison Fordas Rick Deckard, a blade runner tasked with stopping a group of rogue replicants.
Despite its tepid initial reception,Blade Runnerbecame a surprising cult classic. The film uses neo-noir tropes to expand on the plot’s thought-provoking sci-fi themes.Blade Runneris a cerebral and challenging picture, crafting a compelling mystery and rising on the strength of Ford andRutger Hauer’s now-iconic performances.
1’Mulholland Drive' (2001)
ArguablyDavid Lynch’s masterpiece,Mulholland DrivestarsNaomi Watts,Laura Harring, andJustin Theroux. The elusive, dream-like plot centers on Betty Elms, a hopeful and aspiring actress, who connects with Rita, an amnesiac woman looking for clues about her past.
Using the best elements from the surrealist, drama, and mystery genres,Mulholland Driveis a one-of-a-kind picture that challenges conventions and rejects interpretations. Oneiric and unstructured,Mulholland Driveis more an experience than a simple film, a fascinating mystery that might not offer catharsis but presents numerous riveting questions that will haunt audiences long after the credits roll.
