10 Must-Watch Classic Noir Films

For almost 100 years, there has been a certain kind of crime movie captivating audiences all over the world: film noir. The archetypes of noir are familiar, with the main character often being a male detective trying to figure out a crime. Along the way, he finds himself tempted by a woman who defies the stereotypes of the period: often, she is the femme fatale.

While many kinds of these movies have come out throughout the years, there certainly was a golden period of film noir throughout the ’40s and ’50s. Some epic romances and comdies also came out in that period, but some of the most memorable movies are the film noirs that struck awe and fear in the hearts of those watching them. Here are the must-watch film noir movies that have become classics.

10 Murder, My Sweet (1944)

Film noirs weren’t really a thing until the release of movies like Murder, My Sweet, making it one of the most defining movies of the genre. Released in 1944, the movie is about the character Philip Marlowe, who has become a beloved figure in the literary crime genre. The film opens with him talking to police, as two people have been murdered, and he’s connected to it. Told in a flashback, we learn the details of the case and his involvement.

One of the Original Film Noirs

Not only is Philip Marlowe such an iconic figure when it comes to understanding the literary culture of the period, but the film brings him to life in a dignified manner. A dark thriller, it’s worth checking out to understand how film noir came to be. Rent on AppleTV

9 Rebecca (1940)

Although film noirs had not been fully established by the time Rebecca had come out in 1940, it has some of the core elements of the genre. It, too, opens with a harrowing scene: a man stands at the edge of a cliff, ready to jump, as a passerby encourages him not to do it. When she finds him later at an event, she learns that he is mourning his late wife. They marry anyway, but his former wife’s shadow haunts them.

Psychological Journeys and Overcoming Trauma

With its intense brooding and thriller elements, Rebecca can be quite the journey to watch. It’s one of Alfred Hitchcock’s earlier films, showing how he would become a master of the art of cinema. Stream on The Criterion Channel

8 Kiss Me Deadly (1955)

1955’s Kiss Me Deadly stars Ralph Meeker as Mike Hammer, a character who rose to prominence through a series of crime novels that were popular during the late-40s and early-50s. A private investigator, he finds himself stopped by a young woman on the road one night, which will change his life. The woman is murdered, and he’s pushed off the cliff, still in his car, but he becomes obsessed with cracking this case.

The Mystery of a Passing Moment

Although this one moment is so brief Hammer’s life, he becomes obsessed with it. That’s an interesting take that becomes a broader metaphor for the current state of politics and life during the mid-1950s, making Kiss Me Deadly a fascinating movie in context. Stream on The Criterion Channel

7 Double Indemnity (1944)

When Double Indemnity came out in 1944, it kicks-tarted the film noir genre in broader popular culture. Fred MacMurray portrays an insurance salesman, named Walter, who finds his life tangled with a housewife (Barbara Stanwyck) who kills her husband. The term “double indemnity” heavily comes into play with this story, as a big insurance cash-out may be involved with the murder and its motives.

An Iconic Film Noir

One of the standout aspects of Double Indemnity is how star Barbara Stanwyck plays her role as the femme fatale so well, which is a staple in the film noir genre. With some ugly twists that were shocking for the period, this was a defining moment for film noir as a genre. Rent on Prime Video

Related: 20 Greatest Film Noir Directors of All Time

6 Sunset Boulevard (1950)

In Sunset Boulevard, William Holden is Joe Gillis, a struggling Hollywood screenwriter, who is given a golden opportunity. He meets the aging silent film star Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson), and takes advantage of her and her declining mental state in order to get payments, meals, and a room. However, as she falls for him and the attention he gives her, it puts him in a precarious situation.

Old and New Hollywood Clash

Not only does Sunset Boulevard show the stark differences between Hollywood’s past and present in the period it’s set within, it also shows how parasitic relationships within it can be. While Joe and Norma’s relationship definitely isn’t the norm, it demonstrates what it takes for some to succeed. Stream on Paramount+

5 The Maltese Falcon (1941)

Directed and written by John Huston, The Maltese Falcon was based on a novel that was released a decade prior, in 1930. In it, Humphrey Bogart portrays a private investigator, Sam Spade, who, with his partner, meets a new client. She wants to find her missing sister, but when his partner ends up dead, something more sinister is unearthed.

A 1940s Thriller with a Punch

The Maltese Falcon stands out as a film noir because of how well it plays up its thriller elements, and Bogart does an excellent job with the main character. As it twists in on itself, it becomes impossible to look away at times. Stream on Tubi

4 Laura (1944)

Based on a novel that came out in 1943, Laura is another must-watch from the film noir genre and the classic period overall. In New York City, detective Mark McPherson is on the chase for the killer of a hotshot marketing executive. As he interviews people who are connected to the case, he finds himself inside a web of motives and who might’ve done it. At the same time, he becomes obsessed with the victim.

Captivating Stories Set in New York

Laura is about obsession and what gets someone to kill another, even if they find themselves attached to that person. Tension is high throughout the movie, keeping audiences at the edge of their seats during its runtime. Rent on Prime Video

3 Out of the Past (1947)

Released in 1947, Out of the Past has become one of the biggest film noirs from the late-40s. Its main character is Joe Stefanos, who has arrived in a Californian town in the mountains in search of someone very specific. When he meets a woman in love with the guy he’s looking for, he reveals that he is a private investigator looking for a person who stole thousands of dollars.

A Game of Cat and Mouse

The essence of this film is the chase, and despite the flashbacks and muddling to get to the point where it happens, it’s very much worth all the waiting. For those who are interested in character studies, this film has some perfect examples of characterization. Rent on AppleTV

Related: How Film Noir Reflected Society After World War Two

2 Shadow of a Doubt (1943)

Alfred Hitchcock came out with Shadow of a Doubt in 1943, and the film is now known to be one of the master filmmaker’s favorite movies he ever made. In it, a teenager lives in a quiet California town where nothing seems to really happen. But when an uncle shows up and gives her a ring, she notices something is off about the ring: it has the initials of someone else on it. When she learns he might be a murder suspect, it changes everything.

Storytelling at Its Finest

When the movie came out in the early forties, it was immediately recognized for the strength of its story. With some classic Hitchcock elements, this movie works so well for the screen and as a film noir. Rent on Prime Video

1 The Night of the Hunter (1955)

The Night of the Hunter released in 1955, featuring Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, and Lillian Gish. It borrows the story from a novel of the same name, and a preacher, Hary Powell, works his way through the region as a serial killer. When he is busted and his cellmate reveals he hid his treasure, he returns to his cellmate’s town in order to find the hidden money.

Now a Classic Noir

While this film was largely unappreciated outside its cult status early in its release, it has now become one of the most iconic film noirs. A villain is its main character, leading to some compelling questions about the nature of humanity and what we will do for each other if it means getting what we want. Stream on Tubi