6 Best SWAT and Tactical Unit Movies

By Vlad Zakh · June 25, 2026

Elite tactical squads storming into danger make for tense sieges. S.W.A.T. has a Los Angeles unit transporting a dangerous criminal, Dredd has a lawman and a rookie fighting their way out of a tower block, and Den of Thieves has an elite sheriff’s unit chasing former Marines planning a Federal Reserve robbery. Sicario and both Assault on Precinct 13s round out the six.

Den of Thieves (2018)

IMDb ★ 7.0 RT 42% Metacritic 49

An elite bank robbery crew and the detectives tracking them are more alike than either wants to admit.

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 FBI agent is pulled into a black-ops task force targeting a Mexican drug cartel.

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 freedom.

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 team up against an 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 some prisoners must defend a nearly empty 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. 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 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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