6 Best Moonshine and Bootlegging Movies

By Vlad Zakh · May 10, 2026

Moonshine and bootlegging have fuelled colourful crime stories and comedies. Lawless has three Prohibition-era brothers defying a corrupt deputy, The Angels’ Share has Scottish offenders on community service discovering a rare whisky scheme, and Whisky Galore has islanders salvaging bottles from a wartime shipwreck. Moonshine County Express, Thunder Road and the 1949 Whisky Galore! round out the six.

Lawless (2012)

TMDB ★ 7.1

Three bootlegging brothers in Prohibition-era Virginia defy a corrupt deputy determined to shut them down.

Directed by John Hillcoat · 1h 55m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Angels' Share (2012)

TMDB ★ 7.0

A group of Scottish offenders on community service find a way to steal a fortune in rare whisky.

Directed by Ken Loach · 1h 41m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Philo, AMC Plus Apple TV channel, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+ Roku Premium Channel, AMC+, Sundance Now · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Whisky Galore (2016)

TMDB ★ 5.7

Islanders scheme to salvage thousands of bottles of whisky from a shipwreck during wartime rationing.

Directed by Gillies MacKinnon · 1h 38m

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Moonshine County Express (1977)

TMDB ★ 5.4

Three sisters take up their murdered father's moonshine business to seek revenge against a ruthless rival.

Directed by Gus Trikonis · 1h 36m · Rated PG

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Thunder Road (1958)

TMDB ★ 6.6

A Korean War veteran runs moonshine for his family while evading both gangsters and federal agents.

Directed by Arthur Ripley · 1h 32m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, ScreenPix Apple TV channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, ScreenPix Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Whisky Galore! (1949)

TMDB ★ 6.8

Islanders scheme to salvage thousands of bottles of whisky from a shipwreck during wartime rationing.

Directed by Alexander Mackendrick · 1h 22m

Where to watch

Stream: BFI Player Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, 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 Moonshine and Bootlegging Movies

Lawless (2012)

The Angels' Share (2012)

Whisky Galore (2016)

Moonshine County Express (1977)

Thunder Road (1958)

Whisky Galore! (1949)

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