6 Best SWAT and Tactical Unit Movies

By Vlad Zakh · June 25, 2026

Elite tactical squads storming into danger have powered some of action cinema’s tensest sieges and raids, testing discipline under fire. In Sicario (2015): An idealistic FBI agent joins a task force targeting a drug cartel, only to question the brutal methods used. Worth seeking out is Assault on Precinct 13 (1976): A skeleton police crew and a group of prisoners must defend a nearly abandoned precinct from a relentless gang siege.

Den of Thieves (2018)

IMDb ★ 7.0 RT 42% Metacritic 49

An elite sheriff's unit races to stop a crew of former Marines planning to rob the Federal Reserve.

Directed by Christian Gudegast · 2h 20m · Rated R

1 nomination

Where to watch

Stream: AMC Plus Apple TV channel, AMC+ Roku Premium Channel, AMC+, YouTube TV, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Sicario (2015)

TMDB ★ 7.6

An idealistic FBI agent joins a task force targeting a drug cartel, only to question the brutal methods used.

Directed by Denis Villeneuve · 2h 02m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max · 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

Dredd (2012)

TMDB ★ 7.1

A tough lawman and his rookie partner must fight their way out of a tower block controlled by a ruthless drug lord.

Directed by Pete Travis · 1h 36m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: MovieSphere+ Amazon Channel, Howdy Amazon Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

S.W.A.T. (2003)

TMDB ★ 6.2

An elite Los Angeles tactical unit is assembled to transport a dangerous criminal offering a huge bounty for his escape.

Directed by Clark Johnson · 1h 57m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: YouTube TV, Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel · 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

Assault on Precinct 13 (2005)

TMDB ★ 6.5

A corrupt conspiracy forces cops and criminals to band together against a police assault on their own station.

Directed by Jean-François Richet · 1h 49m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Philo, Starz Amazon Channel, Starz, Starz Apple TV channel, Starz Roku Premium Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Assault on Precinct 13 (1976)

TMDB ★ 7.4

A skeleton police crew and a group of prisoners must defend a nearly abandoned precinct from a relentless gang siege.

Directed by John Carpenter · 1h 31m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Night Flight Plus, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel · 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, 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 SWAT and Tactical Unit Movies

Den of Thieves (2018)

Sicario (2015)

Dredd (2012)

S.W.A.T. (2003)

Assault on Precinct 13 (2005)

Assault on Precinct 13 (1976)

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