If you loved 'The Gutter (2024)' and are craving more films or shows with a similar vibe, you're in the right place! This article highlights 10 must-watch titles that share the same dark humor, gritty storytelling, or offbeat charm. Whether you're a fan of the film's unique style or just looking for your next binge, these recommendations will keep you entertained.

The Big Sleep (1946)
Description: A classic film noir with a famously convoluted plot, rapid-fire dialogue, and a hardboiled detective navigating a web of crime and deception.
Fact: The plot was so confusing that even the director and stars didn't understand it. Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall's chemistry led to rewrites emphasizing their romance.


The Long Goodbye (1973)
Description: A revisionist take on film noir, updating Raymond Chandler's detective to 1970s California with a cynical, meandering narrative style.
Fact: Director Robert Altman instructed the crew to never say 'cut,' leading to long, improvisational takes. The film was initially poorly received but later reappraised.


Chinatown (1974)
Description: A neo-noir masterpiece about corruption and conspiracy in 1930s Los Angeles, featuring a morally ambiguous detective and shocking revelations.
Fact: The famous 'Forget it Jake, it's Chinatown' line was almost cut for being too on-the-nose. The film's water conspiracy plot was based on real LA history.


Fargo (1996)
Description: A darkly comic crime story about bungled criminal plans and ordinary people caught in violent circumstances, with distinctive regional flavor.
Fact: The opening 'true story' claim was completely fictional. Frances McDormand's pregnancy was written into her character's storyline.


The Big Lebowski (1998)
Description: A quirky crime comedy with a laid-back protagonist caught in a web of absurd situations, blending noir elements with offbeat humor.
Fact: The Dude's love of White Russians was inspired by a real-life friend of the Coen brothers. The film initially underperformed but became a cult classic.


The Man Who Wasn't There (2001)
Description: A black-and-white neo-noir about a barber caught in a web of crime and existential dread, blending classic noir tropes with Coen brothers' absurdity.
Fact: Shot in color but converted to black-and-white in post-production. The film's visual style pays homage to 1940s noir cinematography.


Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)
Description: A self-aware crime comedy that deconstructs detective fiction tropes while delivering sharp dialogue and chaotic action sequences.
Fact: The title comes from a famous Pauline Kael essay about action movies. Robert Downey Jr.'s performance helped revive his career after personal struggles.


Inherent Vice (2014)
Description: A psychedelic detective story set in the 1970s, featuring a stoner PI navigating a convoluted conspiracy with a dreamlike, meandering narrative.
Fact: Based on Thomas Pynchon's novel, it was the first Pynchon adaptation to reach the screen. The film's hazy aesthetic mirrors the protagonist's drug-fueled perspective.


The Nice Guys (2016)
Description: A buddy crime comedy set in 1970s Los Angeles, mixing hardboiled detective tropes with slapstick humor and a convoluted mystery.
Fact: The script was originally written in the late 1990s but shelved for nearly two decades. The film's production design meticulously recreates 1970s LA.


Under the Silver Lake (2018)
Description: A surreal neo-noir mystery following an unemployed slacker uncovering hidden codes and conspiracies in Los Angeles, blending paranoia with dark comedy.
Fact: The film contains numerous hidden symbols and Easter eggs that mirror its themes of hidden meanings. It was inspired by classic Hollywood conspiracy theories.
