Top 10 Detective Films About Bribery

Description: This gritty police procedural features detectives Popeye Doyle (Gene Hackman) and Buddy Russo (Roy Scheider) uncovering a heroin smuggling operation, where bribery is a key element in the criminal network.

Fact: The famous car chase scene was filmed without permits, adding to its raw, unscripted feel.

Description: Based on the true story of NYPD officer Frank Serpico, who exposed widespread police corruption, including bribery, this film stars Al Pacino in one of his most iconic roles.

Fact: The real Frank Serpico was involved in the production, providing insights into his experiences. The film's ending was changed to reflect Serpico's actual fate.

Description: This neo-noir masterpiece by Roman Polanski explores the dark underbelly of Los Angeles, where private detective Jake Gittes (Jack Nicholson) uncovers a web of deceit involving water rights, murder, and bribery.

Fact: The film was inspired by real-life corruption scandals in Los Angeles. The ending was famously changed by Polanski, much to the dismay of screenwriter Robert Towne.

Description: Set in New Orleans, this film follows a detective (Dennis Quaid) who navigates through a world of bribery, corruption, and romance as he investigates a murder.

Fact: The film's title refers to New Orleans, known as "The Big Easy," and captures the city's unique atmosphere.

Description: Set during the Prohibition era, this film follows Eliot Ness (Kevin Costner) and his team as they attempt to bring down Al Capone (Robert De Niro), whose empire was built on bribery and corruption.

Fact: The screenplay was inspired by the real-life memoirs of Eliot Ness. The famous "baseball bat" scene was improvised by Sean Connery and Kevin Costner.

Description: This film, set in the 1950s, dives into the corrupt heart of the LAPD, where bribery, scandal, and cover-ups are the norm, as three very different cops investigate a series of murders.

Fact: The film was adapted from James Ellroy's novel of the same name. It was nominated for nine Academy Awards, winning two.

Description: A whistleblower drama where a tobacco executive (Russell Crowe) exposes the industry's corruption, including bribery, to a journalist (Al Pacino), leading to a high-stakes battle for truth.

Fact: The film is based on a true story involving Jeffrey Wigand, whose revelations led to significant changes in the tobacco industry.

Description: Martin Scorsese's intense crime drama features a mole in the Massachusetts State Police and a police officer infiltrating the Irish mob, with bribery and corruption at the core of their operations.

Fact: The film is a remake of the Hong Kong film "Infernal Affairs." It won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.

Description: While not solely about bribery, this Batman film showcases the corrupting influence of power and money, with characters like Harvey Dent and Gotham's officials being swayed by bribes and corruption.

Fact: Heath Ledger's portrayal of the Joker won him a posthumous Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Description: An ex-convict (Joel Kinnaman) becomes an informant for the FBI to bring down a Polish mob, where bribery and corruption are rampant, leading to a high-stakes game of survival.

Fact: The film is based on the novel "Three Seconds" by Anders Roslund and Börge Hellström. It was shot in New York City and Poland to capture the gritty realism of both settings.