The Best Crime Movies on Netflix Right Now (2024)

Need a good mystery to solve? Want to take a walk through the criminal underworld? Well, if you wanna do it from the comfort (and safety) of your own home, you're probably gonna want to watch a movie. Fortunately for fans of the genre, filmmakers have been turning to the thrills of crime for inspiration pretty much since folks started capturing moving pictures on film, so there are a whole lot of great options to watch when you're in that mood. And if you're looking for the best crime movies on Netflix, there are plenty of titles currently streaming to scratch that itch. Browse our list of the best picks below.

In the mood for something a little lighter? Check out our lists for the best comedies, romances, or family movies on the platform, or browse our recommendations of the best movies on Netflix across all genres.

'The Guilty' (2021)

Rotten Tomatoes: 74% | IMDb: 6.3/10

The Guilty (2021)

Crime

Thriller

Release Date

September 24, 2021

Director

Antoine Fuqua

Cast

Jake Gyllenhaal , Christina Vidal , Adrian Martinez , Riley Keough , Ethan Hawke

Runtime

90 minutes

Based on Den Skyldige, the Danish film written by Gustav Möller and Emil Nygaard Albertsen, The Guilty is a situational thriller set in a 911 dispatch center. Joe Baylor (Jake Gyllenhaal) is a police officer, demoted to an operator role. Baylor is in the midst of some type of investigation, and he views this temporary assignment as more a punishment than a job. But when Baylor takes a seemingly innocuous call, his night, and the direction of his entire life, changes in ways he never could imagine. Where once Baylor doubted his instincts, those very same instincts could be all that stands between a family and certain death. Shot in just 11 days with director Antoine Fuqua directing from a van, The Guilty is a stunning showcase of Gyllenhaal’s acting prowess, alongside an excellent voice cast including Riley Keough, Peter Sarsgaard, and Ethan Hawke. – Monita Mohan

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'Reptile' (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes: 45% | IMDb: 6.8/10

Reptile

Crime

Thriller

Drama

Release Date

September 29, 2023

Director

Grant Singer

Cast

Benicio Del Toro , justin timberlake , Thad Luckinbill , Alicia Silverstone , Michael Pitt , Owen Teague

Runtime

134 minutes

Grant Singer’s directorial debut Reptile is a whodunnit following veteran detective Tom Nichols (Benicio Del Toro), whose long-standing career faces its toughest test. Justin Timberlake, Eric Bogosian, and more make up an ensemble cast that thrives with Singer and Benjamin Brewer’s unpredictable story. One of many successes at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival, Reptile’s twisting narrative lures viewers in, with its mystery holding a vice-like grip around the audience. Never far from desperate tension, Reptile is a crime thriller with enough suspense to keep viewers hooked long after the credits roll. - Jake Hodges

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'The Mule' (2019)

Rotten Tomatoes: 70% | IMDb: 7.0/10

The Mule

Drama

Crime

Mystery

A 90-year-old horticulturist and WWII veteran is caught transporting $3 million worth of cocaine through Michigan for a Mexican drug cartel. This is the latest directorial effort from Clint Eastwood, and his second of 2018. It is based on the true story of Leo Sharp, a World War II veteran who worked with the cartel. Eastwood joined the project in January 2018, with Bradley Cooper and other members of the supporting cast signing on in the months after. Production started in June 2018 and wrapped shortly after. The Mule marks Eastwood's first acting role sinceTrouble With the Curve in 2012.

Release Date

December 14, 2018

Director

Clint Eastwood

Cast

Michael Pena , Clint Eastwood , Loren Dean , Noel Gugliemi , Bradley Cooper , Dianne Wiest , Daniel Moncada , Robert LaSardo , Clifton Collins Jr. , Alison Eastwood , Laurence Fishburne , Manny Montana , Taissa Farmiga , Jill Flint

Clint Eastwood (Gran Torino) directs and stars in this crime thriller about an ailing 90-year-old man who unwittingly signs up to be a drug mule for the Mexican drug cartel, getting him on the radar of the DEA. The Mule is a story of regret and taking responsibility for one’s failings, and although it leans a bit heavy on stereotypes to get its point across, it is a well-shot and introspective piece that is based on a true story. The cat-and-mouse game between Eastwood’s Earl Stone and the tenacious DEA Agent Colin Bates, played by Bradley Cooper (American Sniper), is a tense affair that drives this drama, giving the film equal levels of heart and stakes. – Tauri Miller

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'Luther: The Fallen Sun' (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes: 68% | IMDb: 6.4/10

Luther: The Fallen Sun

Drama

Crime

Mystery

Release Date

March 10, 2023

Director

Jamie Payne

Cast

Idris Elba , Cynthia Erivo , Andy Serkis , Dermot Crowley

Runtime

129 minutes

Idris Elba throws on his signature overcoat and revisits his beloved character, brilliant detective John Luther, in Luther: The Fallen Sun — an exciting film continuation of the award-winning series Luther. Directed by ​​Jamie Payne, Luther: The Fallen Sun watches the disgraced London detective break out of prison in order to finally hunt down a villainous psychopath. Co-starring Cynthia Erivo and Andy Serkis, Luther: The Fallen Sun is a feature-length chapter of Luther, albeit one with a simple plot and expectant mystery. However, it effortlessly and energetically revitalizes the franchise that audiences know and love. – Yael Tygiel

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'Enola Holmes' (2020)

Rotten Tomatoes: 91% | IMDb: 6.6/10

See Also

25 produções de crimes reais para assistir na Netflix25 Best Police and Detective Movies on Netflix (October 2024)The 19 best crime movies on Netflix right nowFilms disponibles sur Netflix

Enola Holmes

Crime

Mystery

Drama

Adventure

Release Date

September 23, 2020

Director

Harry Bradbeer

Cast

Millie Bobby Brown , Helena Bonham Carter , Sam Claflin , Fiona Shaw , Henry Cavill , Louis Partridge , Burn Gorman , Adeel Akhtar , Susie Wokoma

Runtime

123 minutes

Enola Holmes is an adorably sweet movie about the secretive Holmes family that focuses on Sherlock’s baby sister Enola, played delightfully by Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown. When her mother (Helena Bonham Carter) disappears, Enola sets off on a journey to find her, forging allies and uncovering a dangerous conspiracy along the way. Enola Holmes cleverly fuses mystery and adventure with a hint of romance and a whole lot of heart. Co-starring Henry Cavill (Man of Steel) and Sam Claflin (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire) as the more famous Holmes detectives, Enola Holmes allows the youngest of the family to blossom and shine with her own endearing charm. – Yael Tygiel

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'Lost Girls' (2020)

Rotten Tomatoes: 73% | IMDb: 6.2/10

Lost Girls

Mystery

Drama

Release Date

March 13, 2020

Director

Liz Garbus

Cast

Amy Ryan , Gabriel Byrne , Thomasin McKenzie

Runtime

1 hr 35 min

Inspired by horrific true events, Lost Girls is a suspenseful mystery directed by Liz Garbus and starring Amy Ryan (Only Murders in the Building) as a determined mother investigating the disappearance of her teenage daughter. Lost Girls begins with a single missing girl in a gated community, venturing into the discovery of over a dozen unsolved murders and shining a light on ill-equipped police departments that overlook cases involving the unsolved deaths of young sex workers. Talented supporting actors Gabriel Byrne, Miriam Shor (Younger), Oona Laurence (Bad Moms), and Dean Winters (Law and Order: Special Victims Unit) revolve around Ryan as she drives Lost Girls. – Yael Tygiel

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'The Gray Man' (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes: 44% | IMDb: 6.5/10

The Gray Man

Thriller

Action

Release Date

July 22, 2022

Director

Anthony Russo , Joe Russo

Cast

Ryan Gosling , Chris Evans , Ana De Armas , Billy Bob Thornton

Runtime

122 minutes

An action-packed spy thriller, The Gray Man stars Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans as highly skilled CIA operative rivals in a big-budget caper. This intricate game of cat and mouse is an explosive feast for the eyes with a ridiculously attractive all-star cast and massive set pieces that allow for colossal stunts. Gosling and Evans are truly exceptional in these fast-paced and meticulous roles. Their comfort with the material, as well as the creative team behind the camera, comes through. Anthony Russo and Joe Russo (Avengers: Endgame) excel in directing large-scale operations, as highlighted in The Gray Man. – Yael Tygiel

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'Sweet Girl' (2021)

Rotten Tomatoes: 24% | IMDb: 5.5/10

Sweet Girl

Action

Thriller

Release Date

August 20, 2021

Director

Brian Andrew Mendoza

Cast

Jason Momoa , Isabela Merced , Manuel Garcia-Rulfo

Runtime

1 hr 50 min

Sweet Girl is a father-daughter action flick starring Jason Momoa (Aquaman) and Isabela Merced (Dora and the Lost City of Gold). Set in our glib reality where pharmaceutical companies profit off the deaths of sick patients, Sweet Girl stems from that anger and devastation, transforming into a fantasy where the fight for family and justice is literal. Juxtaposed with the car chases, gunfire, and hand-to-hand combat is a conversation starter about societal inequalities and the corruption of politics, leading to a compelling couple of hours. – Yael Tygiel

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'Windfall' (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes: 58% | IMDb: 5.7/10

Windfall

Crime

Thriller

Release Date

March 18, 2022

Director

Charlie McDowell

Cast

Lily Collins , Jesse Plemons , Jason Segel

Runtime

1 hr 32 min

If you don’t immediately recognize the name Charlie McDowell, you should. McDowell is making a name for himself as a creative independent filmmaker who is able to make the most out of isolated environments. McDowell’s latest film, Windfall, is one of the best thrillers of the year so far. The 92-minute feature follows a nameless robber (Jason Segel) who breaks into the home of a wealthy CEO (a scenery-chewing Jesse Plemons) and his illustrious girlfriend (Lily Collins). Segal turns in another stellar dramatic performance following McDowell’s previous film, The Discovery. Raw, violent, and darkly amusing, Windfall is another winner for McDowell. -Liam Gaughan

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'The Unforgivable' (2021)

Rotten Tomatoes: 39% | IMDb: 7.1/10

The Unforgivable

Drama

Crime

Release Date

December 10, 2021

Director

Nora Fingscheidt

Cast

Sandra Bullock , Jon Bernthal , Vincent D'Onofrio , Viola Davis , Richard Thomas , Aisling Franciosi

Runtime

112 minutes

If you’re used to seeing Sandra Bullock in projects like The Proposal, Miss Congeniality, and The Lost City, then buckle up. Based on the British miniseries Unforgiven written by Sally Wainwright, the intense crime drama The Unforgivable follows the life of Ruth Slater (Bullock), a woman newly released from prison after serving several years for a deadly crime. As she tries to piece together a normal life, she quickly finds that reintegrating into society is far harder than she expected. Haunted by her past and worried for her future, Ruth connects with new owners of the home (Viola Davis and Vincent D’Onofrio) where the horrific crime took place. Will she ever find closure? -Emily Bernard

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'The Devil All the Time' (2020)

Rotten Tomatoes: 65% | IMDb: 7.1/10

The Devil All The Time

Thriller

Crime

Psychological

See Also

5 unmissable crime movies on Netflix with over 90% on Rotten Tomatoes

Release Date

September 11, 2020

Director

Antonio Campos

Cast

Donald Ray Pollock , Bill Skarsgard , Tom Holland , Michael Banks Repeta , Emilio Subercaseaux Campos , Emilio Subercaseaux Campos

Runtime

138 minutes

Who isn’t in The Devil All the Time? This star-studded adaptation of the Donald Ray Pollock novel is unexpected and unpredictable in so many ways. This is an immersive story set deep in the heart of the American backwaters and littered with a combination of morally ambiguous and vile characters. Though Tom Holland is the film’s lead, he doesn’t enter the picture till partway through. This is more of an ensemble cast and each character is fully realized in their own way. There’s a corrupt deputy played by Sebastian Stan, a dodgy couple played by Riley Keough and Jason Clarke, and the mysterious new priest, brought to life by Robert Pattinson. Be prepared for a dark and intense crime thriller that will leave you hyperventilating! – Monita Mohan

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'21 Bridges' (2019)

Rotten Tomatoes: 54% | IMDb: 6.6/10

21 Bridges

Crime

Action

Thriller

An NYPD detective with a reputation for excellence is thrust into a citywide lockdown to capture two suspects believed to be responsible for killing police officers. As he navigates through the deserted streets of Manhattan, he begins to uncover a massive conspiracy that tests his loyalties and values.

Release Date

November 22, 2019

Director

Brian Kirk

Cast

Toby Hemingway , Dale Pavinski , Louis Cancelmi , Taylor Kitsch , Jamie Neumann , Sienna Miller , Christian Isaiah , Chadwick Boseman , Keith David , Gary Carr , Shayna Ryan , J. K. Simmons , Stephan James , victoria cartagena , Katie McClellan

Runtime

99 Minutes

In 21 Bridges, the late Chadwick Boseman plays an embattled NYPD detective, Andre Davis, who finds himself embroiled in a conspiracy. While the plot of this action-thriller may sound familiar, 21 Bridges elevates the story with a gripping tale and unpredictable twists. The story, much of which is told through the eyes of the central character played by Boseman, hints at the underlying politics that plague law enforcement in America. The ensemble cast is littered with recognizable faces who all give great performances. But Boseman is the star of the show. While the role of a morally grounded detective whose belief system is shaken is hardly a novelty, Boseman adds depth and nuance to his character which makes every scene he’s in compelling to watch. – Monita Mohan

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'Red Notice' (2021)

Rotten Tomatoes: 37% | IMDb: 6.3/10

Red Notice

Action

Comedy

Thriller

Release Date

November 12, 2021

Director

Rawson Marshall Thurber

Cast

Dwayne Johnson , Ryan Reynolds , Gal Gadot , Ritu Arya , Chris Diamantopoulos , Ivan Mbakop

Runtime

118 minutes

It may not inspire a lot of critical thought, but Rawson Marshall Thunder’s modern take on the caper movie is a good way to kill two hours if all you’re looking for is good-looking movie stars, lots of action, and some of the most ridiculous one-liners you could imagine. Dwayne Johnson and Ryan Reynolds are hardly cast against type, but their engaging chemistry keeps this international heist thriller moving at a pleasant pace. There’s a hint of self-awareness to the whole thing; when he’s delivering a tragic monologue about his relationship with his father, Reynolds looks like he’s barely keeping a straight face. — Liam Gaughan

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'El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie' (2019)

Rotten Tomatoes: 92% | IMDb: 7.3/10

El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie

Drama

Crime

Action

Release Date

October 11, 2019

Director

Vince Gilligan

Cast

Krysten Ritter , Jonathan Banks , Matt Jones , Aaron Paul , Robert Forster , Bryan Cranston , Jesse Plemons , Charles Baker

Runtime

122 minutes

Breaking Bad already had a pretty excellent ending with the season five finale “Felina,” so the prospect of a continuation was a risky one. Thankfully, series creator Vince Gilligan delivered a satisfying follow up that continued the tragic story of Jesse (Aaron Paul) without giving him a definitive conclusion. Although El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie features just as much creative problem solving as the series, it was a more intimate story. Paul gives one of his best performances as the character, and shows Jesse’s complex healing process. El Camino is also notably the final screen performance of the late great Robert Forster. — Liam Gaughan

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'Extremely Wicked Shockingly Evil and Vile' (2019)

Rotten Tomatoes: 55% | IMDb: 6.7/10

Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile

Crime

Drama

Release Date

January 26, 2019

Director

Joe Berlinger

Cast

Zac Efron , Lily Collins , John Malkovich , Jim Parsons

Runtime

110 Minutes

With Extremely Wicked Shockingly Evil and Vile, Zac Efron perfectly captures what made real-life serial killer Ted Bundy become a celebrity in the U.S., gathering a legion of female fans while being on trial for murdering dozens of women. Efron’s Ted Bundy is charming, funny, and confident, and during the entire duration of Extremely Wicked Shockingly Evil and Vile, we can even start to cheer for him if we are not cautious. There’s a wolf wearing Efron’s handsome sheep skin, but it’s not until the final moments of the film that we can see a glimpse of the monster hiding behind Bundy’s eyes. While many films explored the life and trial of Ted Bundy, only Extremely Wicked Shockingly Evil and Vile was capable of explaining how such a hideous figure could be cherished while on trial for brutal murders. — Marco Vito Oddo

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'1922' (2017)

Rotten Tomatoes: 92% | IMDb: 6.2/10

1922

Thriller

Crime

Documentary

Horror

Mystery

Release Date

October 20, 2017

Director

Zak Hilditch

Cast

Thomas Jane , Dylan Schmid , Neal McDonough , Molly Parker , Brian D'Arcy James , Kaitlyn Bernard

Runtime

101minutes

1922 is one of the many original movies that Netflix just quietly releases on its streaming service without much fanfare. I had no idea this movie was even in production until the day it suddenly appeared in my “Movies You May Like” category, an area of Netflix that is generally about as hit-or-miss as blindfolded brain surgery. But the presence of a significantly overalls-clad Thomas Jane and the fact that it was based on a story by Stephen King made me check it out, and I was rewarded with a delightfully creepy supernatural murder story. It’s sort of like A Simple Plan, only it takes place in the pre-Depression American heartlands and features actual ghosts.

Jane plays a farmer at the end of his life writing a full confession of a truly unforgivable crime, with the movie told primarily in flashback. Within the opening 60 seconds, you will be slapped in the face with the realization that Thomas Jane is Doing A Thing. His performance is absolutely batshit in the best possible way, and, if I’m being totally honest, he’s really quite good. It’s a tense slow-burn thriller, with a central character so despicable that you almost don’t mind seeing the taint of what he’s done corrupt everything around him. Almost. — Tom Reimann

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'The Night Comes for Us' (2018)

Rotten Tomatoes: 91% | IMDb: 6.9/10

The Night Comes For Us

Action

Crime

Thriller

Release Date

October 5, 2018

Director

Timo Tjahjanto

Cast

Joe Taslim , Iko Uwais , Julie Estelle , Sunny Pang , Asha Kenyeri Bermudez

Runtime

121 Minutes

If you’re a fan of The Raid films - or action films period, for that matter - and haven’t seen The Night Comes for Us yet, what are you waiting for? Stop everything and watch this mesmerizing display of fight choreography brilliance! Joe Taslim leads the ensemble as Ito, an agent for the South East Asian Triad, also known as the Six Seas, who betrays the crime syndicate in order to protect a young girl. Ito opts to head back to his hometown of Jakarta where a group of old associates help him protect the girl from a slew of invading Triad enforcers including Iko Uwais as Arian. Are the set-up and plot points anything unique? Nope, but the movie is better off because the more screen time devoted to the insanely creative and ultra-violent set pieces, the better. The Night Comes For Us is basically two hours of masterful martial arts and visionary bloodshed. Just when you think you’ve seen it all, Tjahjanto unveils yet another shockingly violent use for an everyday object or knocks the wind out of you with even more super stylish combat. - Perri Nemiroff

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'The Irishman' (2019)

Rotten Tomatoes: 95% | IMDb: 7.8/10

The Irishman

Crime

Drama

Release Date

November 27, 2019

Director

Martin Scorsese

Cast

Jesse Plemons , Robert De Niro , Anna Paquin , Al Pacino , Joe Pesci , Harvey Keitel

Runtime

209 minutes

Don’t be daunted by the 3.5-hour runtime on The Irishman. Martin Scorsese’s epic about the life of Teamster and hitman Frank Sheeran flies by as it morphs from entertaining mob story to a powerful mediation on life, age, and regret. Sheeran (Robert De Niro) tells us his life story of being friends with mobster Russell Bufalino (Joe Pesci) and Teamster leader Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino) and how these friendships converged into deadly consequences with Frank stuck in the middle. The movie discards the glamour of films like Goodfellas and Casino and instead focuses on the slow decay of a man who has always seen himself as a good soldier when really all he has to offer is violence and selfishness. Far from “just another mob movie” from Scorsese, The Irishman is a powerful look at your twilight years and reflecting on the choices you’ve made in life. It’s among Scorsese’s best. – Matt Goldberg

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'Triple Frontier' (2019)

Rotten Tomatoes: 70% | IMDb: 6.5/10

Triple Frontier

Action

Adventure

Crime

Drama

Thriller

Release Date

March 6, 2019

Director

J.C. Chandor

Cast

Charlie Hunnam , Oscar Isaac , Ben Affleck , Pedro Pascal , Adria Arjona , Garrett Hedlund

Runtime

125

If Triple Frontier isn't your dad's favorite movie, that just means your dad hasn't seen Triple Frontier yet. Directed by J.C. Chandor (A Most Violent Year) from a script he co-wrote with Mark Boal (Zero Dark Thirty), Triple Frontier is basically the man-cave of movies; part military drama, part action-packed heist, and all the story of men who have mad bro-love for each other. Oscar Isaac stars as Santiago "Pope" Garcia, a DEA agent who gets the old Special Forces band back together to rob a drug lord's jungle hideaway. Joining Isaac is the similarly strong-jawed crew of Ben Affleck, Charlie Hunnam, Pedro Pascal, and Garrett Hedlund. The kicker of Triple Frontier is that there's actually a good amount of brains under all that brawn; it's an explosions-and-helicopters flick first, yeah, but it also has a lot to say about what happens to professionally violent men once the gunfire stops. — Haleigh Foutch

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'The Lovebirds' (2020)

Rotten Tomatoes: 66% | IMDb: 6.1/10

The Lovebirds

Comedy

Drama

Crime

Release Date

May 22, 2020

Director

Michael Showalter

Cast

Kelly Murtagh , Anna Camp , Joe Chrest , Moses Storm , Paul Sparks , Andrene Ward-Hammond , Kumail Nanjiani , Kyle Bornheimer , Issa Rae , Jaren Mitchell

Runtime

86 minutes

You'll feel the color return to your cheeks as you watch 2020's The Lovebirds — it is that good. The Lovebirds was originally set for theatrical release by Paramount Pictures, eventually getting scooped up by Netflix for a May release. This delightful 2020 movie arrived just in time to reaffirm there is still some life left in big studio comedies and romantic comedies — especially when there is a healthy dose of action mixed in.

Directed by Michael Showalter (Wet Hot American Summer), The Lovebirds stars Issa Rae (Insecure) and Kumail Nanjiani (The Big Sick) as our titular romantic duo, Leilani and Jibran. When the movie opens, Leilani and Jibran have hit an uncomfortably comfortable point in their long-term relationship. They know each other well enough to keep a debate on whether they'd want to do The Amazing Race together spicy, but it's clear there is something amiss. Things take a wild turn out of romantic drama and into romantic comedy-meets-action-movie when, as Leilani and Jibran debate breaking up on their way to a friend's house for dinner, an injured man (Paul Sparks) hijacks their car and chases down a bike messenger as the couple getting a front-row view of this carjacker killing the biker in an alleyway. From here, Leilani and Jibran find themselves propelled headlong into an action-packed mystery that will take them all over their hometown of New Orleans and force them to re-examine their relationship. If you’re in need of a strong comedy pairing making a case for why they need to star in every rom-com from here on out or you’re in need of an action movie with plenty of delightful twists, The Lovebirds is absolutely the movie for you. — Allie Gemmill

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