Movies Like Crime Wave (1953)

Crime Wave is a 1953 crime, thriller film from André de Toth with a MovieMagicScore of 7.1/10. Here are 20 similar films, ranked by real viewer ratings — starting with He Walked by Night and Shockproof.

Crime Thriller

He Walked by Night

1949

Roy Martin aka Roy Morgan is a burglar and former war-time Radio & Electronics Engineer who listens in to radio police calls, allowing him to stay one step ahead of the cops.

6.7

MagicScore

Shockproof

1949

Jenny Marsh, recently released from prison for killing a man, finds herself under the watchful eye of her parole officer, Griff Marat, who helps her secure a job caring for his ailing mother.

6.4

MagicScore

Slightly Scarlet

1956

Kleptomaniac Dorothy Lyons is paroled from prison into the custody of her sister June, secretary to "reform" politician Frank Jansen. Ben Grace, associate of crime boss Sol "Solly" Caspar, sees this as a way to smear Jansen's campaign. Seductive Dorothy will do anything to get what she wants, which includes having a good time with Ben-- whom June is now in love with.

6.2

MagicScore

The Big Caper

1957

A con artist moves into a small town to spearhead a payroll robbery.

6.2

MagicScore

Le Deuxième Souffle

1966

A gangster escapes jail and quickly makes plans to continue his criminal ways elsewhere, but a determined inspector is closing in.

7.6

MagicScore

The Hitcher

1986

On a stormy night, young Jim, who transports a luxury car from Chicago to California to deliver it to its owner, feeling tired and sleepy, picks up a mysterious hitchhiker, who has appeared out of nowhere, thinking that a good conversation will help him not to fall asleep. He will have enough time to deeply regret such an unmeditated decision.

7.0

MagicScore

Bonnie and Clyde

1967

In the 1930s, bored European-American waitress Bonnie Parker falls in love with a European-American ex-con named Clyde Barrow and together they start a violent crime spree through the country, stealing cars and robbing banks.

7.5

MagicScore

Heat

1995

Obsessive master thief Neil McCauley leads a top-notch crew on various daring heists throughout Los Angeles while determined detective Vincent Hanna pursues him without rest. Each man recognizes and respects the ability and the dedication of the other even though they are aware their cat-and-mouse game may end in violence.

7.9

MagicScore

Double Jeopardy

1999

Libby Parsons, wrongly convicted for her husband Nick's murder, thinks he is still alive and wants to settle the score and find their son. As she has been tried for the crime, she cannot be re-prosecuted if she finds and kills Nick.

6.6

MagicScore

#10

Piano 17

2006

A man is hired to place a bomb inside a high-rise building to destroy some compromising documents, but he gets stuck in the elevator with two unaware workers, while the timer on the bomb keeps ticking.

5.9

MagicScore

#11

Nobody's Fool

2018

After serving five years in prison, wild child Tanya looks to her buttoned-up, by-the-book sister Danica to help her get back on her feet. The feisty ex-con becomes suspicious and concerned when Danica tells her that she's in a long-distance, online relationship with a mysterious man she's never seen. As the polar opposites start to collide, Tanya soon discovers that her sibling's picture-perfect life may not be what it seems.

6.1

MagicScore

#12

Ned Kelly

1970

Unable to support his family in the Australian outback, a man turns to stealing horses in order to make money. He gets more deeply drawn into the outlaw life, and eventually becomes involved in murders. Based on the life of famed 19th-century Australian outlaw Ned Kelly.

4.7

MagicScore

#13

Armored Car Robbery

1950

While executing an armored car heist in Los Angeles, icy crook Dave Purvis shoots policeman Lt. Phillips before he and his cronies make off with the loot. Thinking he got away scot-free, Purvis collects his money-crazy mistress, Yvonne, then disposes of his partners and heads out of town. What Purvis doesn't know is that Phillips' partner, tough-as-nails Lt. Cordell, is wise to the criminal's plans and is closing in on his prey.

6.5

MagicScore

#14

The Racket

1951

The big national crime syndicate has moved into town, partnering up with local crime boss Nick Scanlon. McQuigg, the only honest police captain on the force, and his loyal patrolman, Johnson, take on the violent Nick.

6.3

MagicScore

#15

Naked Alibi

1954

Questioned as a murder suspect, solid (but drunk) citizen Al Willis attacks his police questioners, is beaten, and swears vengeance against them. Next night, Lieut. Parks is murdered; Willis is the only suspect in the eyes of tough Chief Conroy, who pursues him doggedly despite lack of evidence. The obsessed Conroy is dismissed from the force, but continues to harass Willis, who flees to a sleazy town on the Mexican border. Of course, Conroy follows. But which is crazy, Conroy or Willis?

6.0

MagicScore

#16

The Violent Years

1956

A newspaper publisher's daughter suffers from neglect by her parents. She and her friends turn to crime by dressing up like men, holding up gas stations, raping young men at gunpoint, and having makeout parties when her parents are away. Their "fence" gets them to trash the school on request of sinister un-American clients, and they run afoul of the law, apple pie, and God himself.

4.3

MagicScore

#17

Gun Crazy

1950

Bart Tare is an ex-Army man who has a lifelong fixation with guns, he meets a kindred spirit in sharpshooter Annie Starr and goes to work at a carnival. After upsetting the carnival owner who lusts after Starr, they both get fired. Soon, on Starr's behest, they embark on a crime spree for cash.

7.4

MagicScore

#18

The Crooked Way

1949

A war veteran suffering from amnesia, returns to Los Angeles from a San Francisco veterans hospital hoping to learn who he is and discovers his criminal past.

6.2

MagicScore

#19

The Steel Trap

1952

Joseph Cotten plays an assistant bank manager who steals $1,000,000 from the safe late on a Friday and then plans to flee to Brazil over the weekend.

6.4

MagicScore

#20

Highway 301

1950

The "Tri-State" gang goes on a successful bank robbing streak causing local authorities to turn up the heat on the daring career criminals.

6.4

MagicScore

Frequently asked

What are the best movies like Crime Wave?

The top films similar to Crime Wave by MovieMagicScore are He Walked by Night (6.7), Shockproof (6.4), Slightly Scarlet (6.2). Each shares crime/thriller themes and is ranked by real viewer ratings, not critics or studios.

Is Crime Wave worth watching?

Crime Wave holds a MovieMagicScore of 7.1/10 from 76 viewer ratings, putting it among the better-reviewed titles in its genre.

What kind of movie is Crime Wave?

Crime Wave (1953) is a crime, thriller film directed by André de Toth, starring Sterling Hayden, Gene Nelson, Phyllis Kirk.

Where can I find more recommendations like Crime Wave?

Browse the full ranked list above, or explore more crime recommendations on MovieMagicScore, where every list is ordered by genuine viewer ratings.

Keep exploring

Movies like He Walked by Night Movies like Shockproof Movies like Slightly Scarlet Movies like The Big Caper Movies like Le Deuxième Souffle Movies like The Hitcher

About movies like Crime Wave

This ranked list pairs Crime Wave (1953), a crime and thriller film from André de Toth, with similar titles by genre, theme and cast overlap (fans of Sterling Hayden take note). Unlike critic-driven sites, every position here is ordered by MovieMagicScore — a rating built only from real viewers, with no studio marketing or paid placement. Scores update as more people rate, so the list stays current.

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