Movies Like Badlands (1974)

Badlands is a 1974 crime, drama, romance film from Terrence Malick with a MovieMagicScore of 7.5/10. Here are 20 similar films, ranked by real viewer ratings — starting with Bonnie and Clyde and The Sugarland Express.

Crime Drama Romance

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

The Sugarland Express

1974

Married small-time crooks Lou-Jean and Clovis Poplin lose their baby to the state of Texas and resolve to do whatever it takes to get him back. Lou-Jean gets Clovis out of jail, and the two steal their son from his foster home, in addition to taking a highway patrolman hostage. As a massive dragnet starts to pursue them across Texas, the couple become unlikely folk heroes and even start to bond with the captive policeman.

6.6

MagicScore

Breathless

1960

A small-time thief steals a car and impulsively murders a motorcycle policeman. Wanted by the authorities, he attempts to persuade a girl to run away to Italy with him.

7.5

MagicScore

Breathless

1983

Jesse, a small-time criminal, high-tails it to Los Angeles to rendezvous with a French exchange student. Stealing a car and accidentally killing a highway patrolman, he becomes the most wanted fugitive in L.A.

5.8

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

The 39 Steps

1935

Richard Hanney has a rude awakening when a glamorous female spy falls into his bed - with a knife in her back. Having a bit of trouble explaining it all to Scotland Yard, he heads for the hills of Scotland to try to clear his name by locating the spy ring known as The 39 Steps.

7.3

MagicScore

North by Northwest

1959

Advertising man Roger Thornhill is mistaken for a spy, triggering a deadly cross-country chase.

8.0

MagicScore

Dinosaur 13

2014

Two years after the discovery of "Sue," the largest and most complete Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton found to date, government officials seize the remains and claim that "Sue" was stolen from federal land.

6.9

MagicScore

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

#10

Natural Born Killers

1994

Two victims of traumatized childhoods become lovers and serial murderers irresponsibly glorified by the mass media.

7.0

MagicScore

#11

The Fast and the Furious

1954

A framed man escapes prison and takes a wealthy woman's Jaguar with her in it. After she tries to escape numerous times, they begin to develop feelings for each other, and enter a road race that ends in Mexico.

4.9

MagicScore

#12

God Bless America

2012

Fed up with the cruelty and stupidity of American culture, an unlikely duo goes on a killing spree, killing reality TV stars, bigots and others they find repugnant.

7.0

MagicScore

#13

Blues in the Night

1941

A struggling band find themselves attached to a fugitive and drawn into a series of old feuds and love affairs, as they try to stay together and find musical success.

6.2

MagicScore

#14

We Need to Talk About Kevin

2011

After her son Kevin commits a horrific act, troubled mother Eva reflects on her complicated relationship with her disturbed son as he grew from a toddler into a teenager.

7.5

MagicScore

#15

Les Misérables

1935

In 19th century France, Jean Valjean, a man imprisoned for stealing bread, must flee a relentless policeman named Javert. The pursuit consumes both men's lives, and soon Valjean finds himself in the midst of the student revolutions in France.

7.2

MagicScore

#16

Whistle Down the Wind

1961

When an injured wife-murderer takes refuge on a remote Lancashire farm, the farmer’s three children mistakenly believe him to be the Second Coming of Christ.

7.1

MagicScore

#17

Colorado Territory

1949

After escaping from jail, outlaw Wes McQueen is convinced by his old partner in crime to do one last heist.

7.0

MagicScore

#18

Hunted

1952

An unexpected bond develops between a fugitive killer and a runaway orphan on an odyssey across England.

6.8

MagicScore

#19

Species II

1998

Having just returned from a mission to Mars, Commander Ross isn't exactly himself. He's slowly becoming a terrifying alien entity with one goal -- to procreate with human women! When countless women suffer gruesome deaths after bearing half-alien offspring, scientist Laura Baker and hired assassin Press Lennox use Eve, a more tempered alien clone, to find Ross and his brood. Before long Eve escapes to mate with Ross.

5.2

MagicScore

#20

Swamp Water

1941

A hunter happens upon a fugitive and his daughter living in a Georgia swamp. He falls in love with the girl and persuades the fugitive to return to town.

6.3

MagicScore

Frequently asked

What are the best movies like Badlands?

The top films similar to Badlands by MovieMagicScore are Bonnie and Clyde (7.5), The Sugarland Express (6.6), Breathless (7.5). Each shares crime/drama/romance themes and is ranked by real viewer ratings, not critics or studios.

Is Badlands worth watching?

Badlands holds a MovieMagicScore of 7.5/10 from 1,274 viewer ratings, putting it among the better-reviewed titles in its genre.

What kind of movie is Badlands?

Badlands (1974) is a crime, drama, romance film directed by Terrence Malick, starring Martin Sheen, Sissy Spacek, Warren Oates.

Where can I find more recommendations like Badlands?

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 Bonnie and Clyde Movies like The Sugarland Express Movies like Breathless Movies like Breathless Movies like Shockproof Movies like The 39 Steps

About movies like Badlands

This ranked list pairs Badlands (1974), a crime and drama and romance film from Terrence Malick, with similar titles by genre, theme and cast overlap (fans of Martin Sheen 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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