10 Must-Watch Crime Films About Manhunts

Description: Detective "Popeye" Doyle is on the trail of a massive heroin shipment from France to New York. His relentless pursuit of the drug smugglers includes one of the most famous car chases in cinema history.

Fact: The film's iconic car chase was filmed without permission, leading to real chaos on the streets of New York. Gene Hackman won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role.

Description: A professional assassin known as "The Jackal" is hired to kill French President Charles de Gaulle. The French police and intelligence services launch an international manhunt to stop him before he can carry out the assassination.

Fact: The film was based on Frederick Forsyth's novel. The Jackal's identity remains a mystery throughout the film, adding to the suspense.

Description: FBI profiler Will Graham comes out of retirement to track down a serial killer known as "The Tooth Fairy." His investigation leads him to consult with the imprisoned Hannibal Lecter, setting off a psychological manhunt.

Fact: This film was the first to feature Hannibal Lecter, predating "The Silence of the Lambs." The character was played by Brian Cox.

Description: A Soviet submarine captain plans to defect to the United States with his new, stealth-capable submarine. The CIA and the U.S. Navy must find him before the Soviet fleet does, leading to a tense underwater manhunt.

Fact: Sean Connery, who played the Russian captain, had to learn to speak with a Russian accent for the role. The film was based on Tom Clancy's novel.

Description: Dr. Richard Kimble, wrongfully convicted of his wife's murder, escapes from custody to find the real killer, while a relentless U.S. Marshal, Sam Gerard, hunts him down. This film is a masterclass in tension and chase sequences, making it a quintessential manhunt movie.

Fact: The film was inspired by a 1960s TV series of the same name. Harrison Ford's character famously jumps off the dam, a scene that has become iconic in film history.

Description: A complex game of cat and mouse between a professional thief, Neil McCauley, and a determined detective, Vincent Hanna, unfolds in Los Angeles. Their paths cross in a series of intense confrontations, culminating in a memorable bank heist and subsequent manhunt.

Fact: The famous coffee shop scene between Al Pacino and Robert De Niro was the first time these two acting legends shared the screen. The film was inspired by real-life events.

Description: Jason Bourne, an amnesiac assassin, is on the run from the CIA, who are trying to eliminate him. His journey to uncover his identity turns into a global manhunt with high-stakes action sequences.

Fact: The film was a critical and commercial success, leading to a franchise. The hand-held camera work during action scenes became a signature style for the series.

Description: In Boston, an undercover cop infiltrates an Irish gang, while a mole in the police force feeds information back to the mob. The film's narrative weaves a complex web of betrayal and pursuit, culminating in a thrilling manhunt for the mole.

Fact: Martin Scorsese won his first Best Director Oscar for this film. It's a remake of the Hong Kong film "Infernal Affairs."

Description: After stumbling upon a drug deal gone wrong, Llewelyn Moss takes the money and runs, setting off a deadly pursuit by the psychopathic hitman Anton Chigurh. This film captures the essence of a modern-day manhunt with its bleak, relentless atmosphere.

Fact: The Coen brothers adapted this film from Cormac McCarthy's novel. Javier Bardem won an Oscar for his chilling portrayal of Anton Chigurh.

Description: A drifter with a guitar case full of snakeskin arrives in a small Southern town, sparking a series of events that lead to a manhunt after he's accused of a crime he didn't commit.

Fact: The film was directed by Sidney Lumet and starred Marlon Brando, who was known for his intense and methodical acting style.