10 Movies & Shows Like Miami Blues (1990)

Description: A gritty, realistic crime drama about small-time criminals and the inevitable consequences of their choices, told with unflinching honesty.

Fact: The film features authentic Boston locations and accents, with many non-professional actors in small roles. Robert Mitchum's performance is considered one of his best late-career roles.

Description: A modern take on classic film noir, blending a laid-back, almost surreal tone with hardboiled detective tropes and a cynical view of human nature.

Fact: The film updates Raymond Chandler's novel to 1970s Los Angeles, with Elliott Gould's portrayal of Philip Marlowe being notably different from the traditional tough-guy detective. The cat in the film was director Robert Altman's own pet.

Description: A detective story that subverts genre expectations, featuring a complex plot, morally ambiguous characters, and a downbeat, existential tone.

Fact: The film's famous final shot was achieved by mounting the camera on a crane that could move in all directions. The title refers both to the protagonist's nocturnal activities and to chess, a recurring motif in the film.

Description: A character-driven crime film that explores the seedy underbelly of nightlife and organized crime, with a protagonist in over his head.

Fact: Director John Cassavetes originally made a 135-minute version that was poorly received, so he recut it to 108 minutes. The film has since gained a cult following for its raw, improvisational style.

Description: A steamy, suspenseful neo-noir about lust, murder, and double-crossing, with a hapless protagonist caught in a web of deception.

Fact: The film's famous line 'You're not too smart, are you? I like that in a man' was improvised by Kathleen Turner. The movie was shot during a Florida heat wave to enhance the sweaty, oppressive atmosphere.

Description: A moody, character-driven neo-noir that blends elements of crime drama with psychological depth and a sense of impending doom.

Fact: The film was originally titled 'Cutter and Bone' but was changed after test audiences reacted negatively. It has since been reevaluated as a cult classic of 1980s cinema.

Description: A gritty, atmospheric crime film with a focus on deception, betrayal, and the consequences of impulsive decisions, all set against a bleak urban backdrop.

Fact: This was the directorial debut of the Coen Brothers. The film's title comes from a term in Dashiell Hammett's novel 'Red Harvest,' referring to the addled, paranoid mindset of someone after prolonged exposure to violence.

Description: A high-energy crime thriller with a morally ambiguous protagonist, stylish visuals, and a pulsating synth-heavy soundtrack that underscores its neon-lit, sun-soaked setting.

Fact: The film features one of the most intense and realistic car chases ever filmed, shot without permits on actual Los Angeles freeways. The soundtrack was composed by Wang Chung, who also make a cameo in the film.

Description: A neo-noir crime thriller that delves into the dark underbelly of con artists, featuring morally ambiguous characters and a tense, unpredictable narrative.

Fact: The film was based on a novel by Jim Thompson, a prolific writer of hardboiled crime fiction. It was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Actress for Anjelica Huston.

Description: A neo-noir featuring a ruthless, manipulative femme fatale who outsmarts everyone around her, set against a backdrop of small-town corruption and greed.

Fact: Linda Fiorentino's performance was critically acclaimed but ineligible for an Oscar nomination because the film aired on HBO before its theatrical release. The script was originally written with a male lead in mind before being rewritten for a female protagonist.