10 Must-Watch Crime Films About Corrupt Officials

Description: This political drama tells the story of Willie Stark, a populist Southern governor whose rise to power is marked by corruption and moral compromise.

Fact: Broderick Crawford won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Willie Stark. The film was based on Robert Penn Warren's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel.

Description: Based on the true story of NYPD officer Frank Serpico, this film follows his journey as he uncovers widespread corruption within the police force and becomes a target for his honesty.

Fact: Al Pacino's performance earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. The film was shot on location in New York City, giving it an authentic feel.

Description: A neo-noir mystery set in 1930s Los Angeles, where private detective Jake Gittes uncovers a web of corruption involving water rights, murder, and political intrigue.

Fact: The film's ending was famously changed from a happy resolution to a more ambiguous and darker conclusion. The screenplay was written by Robert Towne, who won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.

Description: A journalist investigates a series of political assassinations, uncovering a shadowy corporation that recruits killers and manipulates events for political gain.

Fact: The film was inspired by the real-life assassinations of the 1960s. Warren Beatty was initially set to direct and star but was replaced by Alan J. Pakula.

Description: This film chronicles the efforts of Eliot Ness and his team to bring down Al Capone during the Prohibition era, highlighting the corruption within the police and political systems.

Fact: Kevin Costner was not the first choice for the role of Eliot Ness; Harrison Ford and Mel Gibson were considered. The iconic train station scene was inspired by the Odessa Steps sequence from "Battleship Potemkin."

Description: A whistleblower drama where a former tobacco executive exposes the industry's knowledge of the addictive nature of cigarettes, facing corporate and governmental corruption.

Fact: The film was inspired by a real-life 60 Minutes segment. Al Pacino and Russell Crowe both received Academy Award nominations for their performances.

Description: In this modern take on the classic "Infernal Affairs," a police officer goes undercover in the Irish mob, while a mobster infiltrates the police, both dealing with corruption at every level.

Fact: Martin Scorsese won his first Best Director Oscar for this film. The movie was a remake of the Hong Kong film "Infernal Affairs."

Description: An Interpol agent and an American attorney attempt to expose a powerful bank's involvement in arms dealing and political corruption.

Fact: The film was shot in several locations around the world, including New York, Berlin, and Milan. The Guggenheim Museum shootout was a highlight of the film's action sequences.

Description: A young press secretary navigates the treacherous waters of a presidential campaign, facing ethical dilemmas and political corruption.

Fact: George Clooney directed, co-wrote, and starred in the film. The movie was adapted from the play "Farragut North" by Beau Willimon.

Description: A ghostwriter hired to complete the memoirs of a former British Prime Minister uncovers a web of political intrigue and corruption that threatens his life.

Fact: The film was directed by Roman Polanski, who was unable to attend the Oscars due to his legal issues. The screenplay was adapted from Robert Harris's novel.