6 Best Moonshine and Bootlegging Movies

By Vlad Zakh · May 10, 2026

The illicit thrill and danger of homemade liquor and bootlegging has powered some of cinema’s most colorful crime dramas and comedies. In Lawless (2012): Three bootlegging brothers in Prohibition-era Virginia defy a corrupt deputy determined to shut them down. Don’t overlook The Angels’ Share (2012): A group of Scottish offenders on community service discover a scheme to steal a fortune in rare whisky.

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 discover a scheme 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 rival bootlegger.

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, built to fix a specific annoyance: most recommendation sites are just algorithm-driven noise. Our lists are researched and organized by who's in a film, where it's from, and the mood you're actually 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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