The Best Film Noir Movies of All Time

Film noir is among the most instantly recognizable genres in cinematic history. Defined as a heavily stylized take on a classic crime story, film noir is characterized by its striking black-and-white cinematography and complex, morally ambiguous stories about troubled men, whether they be detectives, investigators, boxers, or everyday citizens. At its core, film noir is about how easy it is to fall victim to tragic circumstances.

Here are the best film noir movies of all time, ranging from the classics to lesser-known treasures.

1. Sunset Boulevard (1950) The ultimate film noir also serves as a potent melodrama and a biting Hollywood satire. Sunset Boulevard stars future Oscar winner William Holden as Joe Gillis, a down-on-his-luck screenwriter who unwittingly enters the world of former silent star Norma Desmond, played by Oscar-nominee Gloria Swanson in a timeless performance. As Joe goes deeper into Norma's world, he begins to realize the true extent of her delusion. Excelling as a critique of the fame machine of classic Hollywood and a wickedly funny satire of show business, Sunset Boulevard is a perfect noir story about broken dreams, moral compromise, and the inescapable nature of aging. The film is an essential entry not only in film noir, but in American cinema as a whole, defining a very specific time and place and acting as a prophetic study in the ever-changing landscape of arts and entertainment. Movies don't get any better than Sunset Boulevard, a cinematic triumph that keeps getting better with age.
2. Double Indemnity (1944) Double Indemnity is a seminal film from the '190s and arguably the best of the purely noir films produced during this defining decade. The iconic Barbara Stanwyck stars as the flawless femme fatale Phyllis Dietrichson, who manipulates hapless insurance salesman Walter Neff (Fred MacMurray) into murdering her husband so she can claim the insurance. Phyllis Dietrichson is cinema's best femme fatale and one of the all-time-best movie villains. The actress delivers a career-defining performance as the cold and manipulative housewife, embodying everything a great femme fatale should be and defining the archetype for decades to come. Every future version of the trope, from Jessica Rabbit to Bridget Gregory, owes everything to Stanwyck's Phyllis. If Double Indemnity soars as highly as it does and endures to this day, it's because of Stanwyck, who gives the film purpose, drive, and enough bite to leave a lasting impression.
3. The Maltese Falcon (1941) One of the earliest film noirs, The Maltese Falcon also happens to be a true masterpiece of American cinema. Directed by the legendary John Huston, The Maltese Falcon stars noir mainstay and Oscar-winner Humphrey Bogart as San Francisco detective Sam Spade, who deals with several interested parties pursuing the titular statuette, a falcon encrusted with jewels. The titular Maltese Falcon is among cinema's best MacGuffins, and the film makes the best out of its vague, yet alluring nature. The film further rises on the strength of Bogart's performance; the seasoned actor was perfect for the genre, embodying the requisite stern, yet oddly relatable essence a noir leading man needed. However, it's Mary Astor's Brigid O'Shaughnessy who steals the show. One of cinema's best femme fatales, Brigid is a duplicitous and mercurial figure, remaining at the center of the story and changing allegiances, stories, and demeanor depending on the situation.
4. Notorious (1946) Alfred Hitchcock is among the most influential directors in cinematic history. The Master of Suspense made many films throughout his career, experimenting with multiple genres, from psychological thriller to straight-up horror to classic film noir. In the latter, none of his efforts is better than 1946's Notorious. Cary Grant stars as T.R. Devlin, a U.S. government agent who enlists the help of Alicia Huberman, the daughter of a German war criminal played by three-time Oscar winner Ingrid Bergman. Her task of seducing a Nazi hiding in Brazil is complicated by her ongoing involvement with Devlin. Hitchcock is at the top of his game in Notorious. The film expertly balances elements of romance, thriller, and the spy genre in service of a classic noir story of betrayal, danger, and deception. Grant and Bergman are perfect together and deliver one of the spy genre