Top 5 Cop Movies

Cops need downtime for effective rest and recovery. What better way to unwind than enjoying timeless cop films? SSP surveyed critics and film fans to present the top five movies.

Die Hard (1988)

Rotten Tomatoes: Critic 93% / Audience 94%

This action movie features Bruce Willis as NYPD officer John McClane. While off-duty on Christmas Eve, McClane travels to LA for reconciliation with his estranged wife at the Nakatomi Corporation’s Christmas party. Meanwhile, the crime boss Hans Gruber, played by Alan Rickman, seizes the event with his henchmen, taking everyone hostage except McClane. With no backup available, McClane fights to save the hostages and rescue his wife from Gruber's lucrative heist plan.

The Departed (2006)

Rotten Tomatoes: Critic 90% / Audience 94%

The film follows Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon), who grows up in South Boston. Trained by mob boss Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson), Sullivan becomes a mole in the Massachusetts State Police. Simultaneously, Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) becomes an undercover officer assigned to infiltrate Costello’s organization due to his family history. After a failed sting, both moles discover each other, racing to uncover identities before discovery. This film solidifies Scorsese’s cinematic prowess, blending questionable loyalties and blurred identities.

Dirty Harry (1971)

Rotten Tomatoes: Critic 93% / Audience 90%

Clint Eastwood's presence guarantees a place on this list. In San Francisco, Eastwood portrays inspector Harry Callahan, famously known as Dirty Harry. Inspired by the Zodiac Killer, the story begins with the serial killer Scorpio attacking a woman on a rooftop. He sends a blackmail note to the city, threatening further murder if his ransom isn't met. Callahan races against the clock as Scorpio executes his chilling plan.

End of Watch (2012)

Rotten Tomatoes: Critic 85% / Audience 86%

Filmed in a documentary style, this movie features Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Pena as LAPD officers Brian Taylor and Mike Zavala. It showcases their daily lives and personal relationships while fighting crime in South Los Angeles. After successful arrests involving illegal firearms and human trafficking, they confront the dangerous Surenos gang and the Sinaloa Cartel. Ordered to remain low-profile to avoid retaliation, they soon find themselves hunted by the cartel, fighting for survival.

Lethal Weapon (1987)

Rotten Tomatoes: Critic 83% / Audience 85%

No cop film list would be complete without the Lethal Weapon series. Set in the LAPD, these buddy cop films spotlight detective Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) and his unorthodox partner, Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson). Murtaugh takes a cautious approach, while Riggs, a deeply troubled former soldier, channels his aggression into their investigations. Their conflicting backgrounds create tension, but they cultivate a strong partnership, uncovering dark plots involving drug-smuggling, arms dealing, and human trafficking throughout the series.

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