6 Best Antihero Character Study Movies

By Vlad Zakh · June 9, 2026

We can’t help watching the worst people on screen. These films get under your skin with flawed, often frightening leads: Nightcrawler’s ambitious drifter filming crime scenes, Drive’s quiet getaway driver, The Machinist’s sleepless factory worker, and the traumatized hitman at the center of You Were Never Really Here. Sexy Beast and American Psycho take the same pull in much nastier directions.

You Were Never Really Here (2017)

TMDB ★ 6.5

A traumatised hitman hired to rescue a senator's daughter uncovers a conspiracy reaching the highest levels.

Directed by Lynne Ramsay · 1h 29m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent: Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Nightcrawler (2014)

IMDb ★ 7.8 RT 95% Metacritic 76

A sociopathic freelancer builds a career filming increasingly staged crime-scene footage.

Directed by Dan Gilroy · 1h 58m · Rated R

Nominated for 1 Oscar46 wins & 126 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Netflix, Sundance Now, Netflix Standard with Ads, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Drive (2011)

TMDB ★ 7.6

A getaway driver's growing attachment to his neighbour pulls him into a world of brutal violence.

Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn · 1h 40m · Rated R

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Machinist (2004)

TMDB ★ 7.5

A factory worker's crippling insomnia and guilt spiral into a terrifying unravelling of his sanity.

Directed by Brad Anderson · 1h 42m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, MGM Plus · Rent: JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Sexy Beast (2001)

IMDb ★ 7.3 RT 87% Metacritic 79

A retired safecracker enjoying a peaceful retirement is menacingly pressured back into one last heist.

Directed by Jonathan Glazer · 1h 29m · Rated R

Nominated for 1 Oscar21 wins & 21 nominations

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

American Psycho (2000)

IMDb ★ 7.6 RT 69% Metacritic 64

A Wall Street executive's polished exterior barely hides his violent double life.

Directed by Mary Harron · 1h 42m · Rated R

7 wins & 11 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Peacock Premium, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Peacock Premium Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.

6 Best Antihero Character Study Movies

You Were Never Really Here (2017)

Nightcrawler (2014)

Drive (2011)

The Machinist (2004)

Sexy Beast (2001)

American Psycho (2000)

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