10 Best British Crime and Thriller Movies

By Vlad Zakh · December 17, 2025

British crime cinema has its own distinct rhythm, fast, cockney-accented dialogue, gallows humor, and criminals who are somehow more entertaining than the cops chasing them, a tone Guy Ritchie basically built a whole career on. In Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998): Four broke friends owe a crime boss money they don’t have, and everything spirals from there. Worth seeking out is In Bruges (2008): Two hitmen hide out in a Belgian tourist town while waiting for orders that will change everything.

Kill List (2011)

TMDB ★ 6.2

A hitman's new contract spirals from ordinary crime job into something far stranger.

Directed by Ben Wheatley · 1h 35m · Rated NR

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Sexy Beast (2000)

IMDb ★ 7.3 RT 87% Metacritic 79

A retired safecracker is pressured back into one last job by a terrifyingly persistent old associate.

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

Legend (2015)

TMDB ★ 6.7

The Kray twins' rise and rivalry, with one actor playing both brothers.

Directed by Brian Helgeland · 2h 12m · Rated R

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Green Street Hooligans (2005)

TMDB ★ 7.4

An American student is pulled into a London football firm's violent rivalries.

Directed by Lexi Alexander · 1h 49m · Rated R

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Rakuten TV, Sky Store, YouTube

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Layer Cake (2004)

IMDb ★ 7.2 RT 81% Metacritic 73

A cocaine dealer planning his exit gets pulled into one messy job too many.

Directed by Matthew Vaughn · 1h 45m · Rated R

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award2 wins & 9 nominations total

Where to watch

Stream: Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Long Good Friday (1980)

TMDB ★ 7.5

A London gangster's empire comes under attack the same weekend he's trying to go legitimate.

Directed by John Mackenzie · 1h 54m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home, MovieMe · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Gentlemen (2020)

TMDB ★ 7.8

An American expat's marijuana empire attracts buyers, blackmailers, and a journalist digging for dirt.

Directed by Guy Ritchie · 1h 53m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads · 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

Snatch (2000)

IMDb ★ 8.2 RT 74% Metacritic 55

A stolen diamond passes through the hands of boxers, gangsters, and one very unlucky dog.

Directed by Guy Ritchie · 1h 43m · Rated R

4 wins & 7 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Sundance Now, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · 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

In Bruges (2008)

IMDb ★ 7.9 RT 84% Metacritic 67

Two hitmen hide out in a Belgian tourist town while waiting for orders that will change everything.

Directed by Martin McDonagh · 1h 48m · Rated R

Nominated for 1 Oscar25 wins & 55 nominations

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)

IMDb ★ 8.1 RT 75% Metacritic 67

Four broke friends owe a crime boss money they don't have, and everything spirals from there.

Directed by Guy Ritchie · 1h 45m · Rated R

Won 1 BAFTA Award13 wins & 9 nominations

Where to watch

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.

10 Best British Crime and Thriller Movies

Kill List (2011)

Sexy Beast (2000)

Legend (2015)

Green Street Hooligans (2005)

Layer Cake (2004)

The Long Good Friday (1980)

The Gentlemen (2020)

Snatch (2000)

In Bruges (2008)

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)

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