Noir cinema was a defining highlight of the Golden Age of Hollywood, with such films asThe Maltese FalconandDouble Indemnityrevered classics which have stood the test of time and still provide enthralling stories to modern viewers. While film noir experienced something of a decline from the 1960s onwards, it has undergone a powerful resurgence with a spate of neo-noir films being released in recent years, many of which have refreshed the genre while taking it to interesting new heights.
Staying in vogue withthe striking imagery, hard-boiled and gritty narratives, and the complicated characters that saw film noir become such an acclaimed genre, these neo-noir hits offer compelling viewing experiences. Unafraid of mixing genres, these films - many of which are by some of the most illustrious filmmakers currently working - have excelled as critical darlings and fan favorites, and appear certain to become modern classics in their own right as time goes on.
12’Brick' (2005)
Directed by Rian Johnson
Rian Johnson’s directorial debut,Brickmarked a bold and authoritative introduction to feature films by the acclaimed filmmaker which also served as his first of many collaborations withJoseph Gordon-Levitt. The mystery picture sees Gordon-Levitt star as Brendan Frye, a high school student who receives a frantic phone call from his ex-girlfriend before she winds up murdered, prompting Brendan to look into the killing and come face to face with some of the nastiest figures in his school in the process.
The meshing of crime noir and teenage drama is dubious in theory, butBricknails its obtuse mixing of tones and styles with aplombthanks to an exceptional,witty screenplay from Johnsonand an assured lead performance from Gordon-Levitt. While abundant and overwhelming, its overt homages to classic noir never diminish the charm of the film which is sure to only grow in stature as the neo-noir subgenre continues to evolve and gain new fans as well.
Rent on Amazon
11’Sin City' (2005)
Directed by Frank Miller & Robert Rodriguez
Made famous for its violence and its sense of style which included blendingblack and white imagery with flashes of color,Sin Citywas an instant cult classic because of its striking nature. Following three storylines which take place amid the criminal corruption of Basin City, it tracks a musclebound vigilante out for revenge, a rogue cop battling against a child-killer, and an ex-prostitute who works with her new boyfriend - a private investigator - to evade her aggressive former pimp.
Based onFrank Miller’s graphic novel series of the same name, which Miller himself adapted to the screen along withRobert Rodriguez,Sin Citybecame an enticing classic with its arresting visual aesthetic, its tales of ultra-violence and human depravity, and its immaculate ensemble cast. It broke new ground in terms of what could be done in mainstream film, and juggled its interweaving plot threads with great poise.
Rent on Apple TV
10’Nocturnal Animals' (2016)
Directed by Tom Ford
A stunningly decadent yetunderrated psychological thriller filmwith a disturbing story of love and revenge,Nocturnal Animalsis, at times, a difficult viewing experience but an enthralling one nonetheless. It starsAmy Adamsas Susan Morrow, the owner of an upscale art gallery overseeing a confronting new exhibition who is shaken when she receives a novel manuscript from her ex-husband which details a vacationing family being attacked in disturbing fashion.
The second, and, to date, most recent film byTom Ford,Nocturnal Animalssees the director lean heavily into his fashion design skillset to present a visually arresting adaptation ofAustin Wright’s novelTony and Susan.With its entrancing atmosphere mixing with its violent sensitivities hypnotically,Nocturnal Animalsis a beautifully distressing picturethat will be revered as a triumph in style and tone in years to come.– Ryan Heffernan
Nocturnal Animals
9’Kiss Kiss Bang Bang' (2005)
Directed by Shane Black
When it comes to mixing the moral levity of noir cinema with a riveting sense of fun and chaos, there are few in the business better thanShane Black. Serving as his directorial debut after having spent years in the industry,Kiss Kiss Bang Bangwas able to have its cake and eat it too asa ridiculously entertaining crime comedythat produced a genuinely engrossing mystery story as well.
Coasting on the brilliant chemistry between Robert Downey Jr. and Val Kilmer, it follows a petty thief from New York who is sent to Los Angeles to train under a private eye for a movie role when he is mistaken for an actor, only for the feuding duo to become embroiled in a mysterious murder case alongside a struggling actress.An instant cult classic, the film’s legacy has continued to grow with the expansion of the genre and the evolution of Downey Jr.’s career, with his outing as Harry Lockhart still one of his most divine performances thus far.
8’Blade Runner 2049' (2017)
Directed by Denis Villeneuve
Blade Runner 2049is so widely regarded as an underrated cult classic that it is practically on the brink of becoming a bona fide sci-fi classic in its own right, and rightfully so. Awell-made legacy sequeltoRidley Scott’s 1982 classicBlade Runner, it follows K (Ryan Gosling), a replicant blade runner who uncovers a dangerous secret concerning not only the fate of humanity and the androids, but his own destiny as well, and journeys to find Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) who has been missing for more than 30 years.
Surpassing the original film in several key aspects,Blade Runner 2049was a rare achievement in filmmaking, with Denis Villeneuve conjuring up an enchanting viewing experiencedefined by its breathtaking visuals, its immersive atmosphere, and its measured pacing of an intricate and complex story. Despite the fact that it flopped at the box office, the film has become a revered modern gem that reinforced the original film’s themes of identity and humanity while exploring those core issues from an intriguing new angle.
Blade Runner 2049
7’Nightmare Alley' (2021)
Directed by Guillermo del Toro
Based on what had become a forgotten gem of 40s cinema and classic noir,Guillermo del Torobeautifully reinvigorated the dazzling and disturbing story ofNightmare Alleyfor new audiences, breathing new life into the carnival crime flick with an eerie and stylistic punch. The film follows Stanton Carlisle (Bradley Cooper), an ambitious carnie who uses his expertise in psychic practices and showmanship to swindle social elites, but his scheme soon grows dangerous when he becomes involved with a psychiatrist and plots his most ambitious take yet.
Benefitting from del Toro’s unique style,Nightmare Alleyis a cruel and relentless look into ambition and desperation, heightened by a stellar castled by a devastating Cooper. Gleefully wicked,Nightmare Alleymight be a tough watch, but its deft handling of thorny subjects and lush production values make it a modern noir with a bite as strong as its powerful bark.
Nightmare Alley
Watch on Hulu
6’Gone Baby Gone' (2007)
Directed by Ben Affleck
A scintillating and effectively disturbingdirectorial debut fromBen Affleck,Gone Baby Gonesaw the actor-turned-director make an immediate impression with his film-making with an engrossing crime mystery defined by its powerful performances and its depiction of working-class Boston. It follows Patrick Kenzie (Casey Affleck) and his partner and girlfriend Angie Gennaro (Michelle Monaghan) as they investigate the disappearance of a four-year-old girl in Dorchester.
Gone Baby Goneexhibits a bleak and dismal, though undeniably enthralling atmosphereas Kenzie and Gennaro’s investigation sees them confront all manner of local criminals, ranging from drug dealers and gangsters to pedophiles. Treading a strained morality,Gone Baby Gonesucceeds in being a provocative and subversive thriller, sidestepping genre conventions with deft brilliance to be one of the most impactful and complex neo-noir films in recent memory.
Gone Baby Gone
Gone Baby Gone is a crime drama centering on a detective investigating the disappearance a little girl. But soon after he begins digging for the truth, he is victim to a personal and professional crisis.
Watch on Paramount+
5’Prisoners' (2013)
Another Denis Villeneuve masterclass in neo-noir style and mounting tension,Prisonersmade for a big 2013 for the Canadian filmmaker alongside his celebrated release ofEnemy. The mystery crime thriller focuses on the abduction of two young girls, with one of the children’s fathers going to extreme lengths to find answers while the detective investigating the case struggles to make inroads.
Emotionally complex and loaded with dread,Prisonershas an engrossing intensitywhich saw the film excel as both a fascinating look at desperate characters as well as a harrowing and disturbing viewing experience. WithHugh Jackmanputting in a career-best performancewhileJake Gyllenhaalwas equally magnetic in the co-starring role, the film is gradually coming to be revered as a modern neo-noir classic and an underrated highlight of Villeneuve’s career.– Ryan Heffernan
Watch on Netflix
4’Nightcrawler' (2014)
Directed by Dan Gilroy
Running as a shockingly callous though utterly captivating thriller,Nightcrawleris a relentless character study that delves into the mind of a sociopath to be one of the most brilliant and unique neo-noir films ever made. It follows Lou Bloom (Jake Gyllenhaal), a troubled and unattached stranger who spends his nights pursuing violent crimes and deadly accidents across Los Angeles with a camera to sell the footage to a local news station.
While directorDan Gilroysucceeds in striking a gritty and uncomfortable tone from the film’s opening moments, it isGyllenhaal who deserves full creditfor an unforgettable career-best performance that has the capacity to genuinely rattle viewers.Completely unapologetic,Nightcrawleris a cynical and brutal depiction of the amorality of journalism, posing intriguing and hard-hitting questions that cement a long-lasting legacy as a ruthless exploration of unethical behavior in American capitalism.
Nightcrawler
Watch on Starz
3’The Nice Guys' (2016)
Another blending of neo-noir narrative with a dash of comedic brilliance from director Shane Black,The Nice Guysis a true modern comedy classic that functions as a buddy cop film and thrives on the back of thechemistry between stars Ryan GoslingandRussell Crowe. The duo star as a shady P.I. and a hired thug respectively, with the two having to work together to look into a young woman’s disappearance as the mystery surrounding a dead porn star overshadows their investigation.
Absurdly entertaining and endlessly rewatchable,The Nice Guyswas a triumphant achievement in its ability to blend the best elements of neo-noir mystery with sensational comedy dialogue. Its financial failure upon release was a damning shock not only for the film but for lovers of the genre, with hopes for a sequel unfulfilled even though it is widely viewed to be one of the best neo-noir films this century.
