A Glean movie guide
Beyond the Mask: Gritty Crime & Chaos
Serious stakes. Complex villains.
Intense thrillers and grounded epics that capture the dark, high-stakes spirit of Gotham.
Handpicked for this guide
The movie list
- 01
Heat
The definitive urban crime epic that directly inspired the grounded realism of Nolan’s Gotham.
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.
- 02
The Batman
A rain-soaked detective noir that leans into the dark, investigative roots of the Caped Crusader.
In his second year of fighting crime, Batman uncovers corruption in Gotham City that connects to his own family while facing a serial killer known as the Riddler.
- 03
Se7en
A bleak, atmospheric masterpiece featuring a brilliant antagonist who stays three steps ahead of the law.
Two homicide detectives are on a desperate hunt for a serial killer whose crimes are based on the "seven deadly sins" in this dark and haunting film that takes viewers from the tortured remains of one victim to the next. The seasoned Det. Somerset researches each sin in an effort to get inside the killer's mind, while his novice partner, Mills, scoffs at his efforts to unravel the case.
- 04
Joker
A haunting character study that explores the psychological descent into the chaos and nihilism of Gotham City.
During the 1980s, a failed stand-up comedian is driven insane and turns to a life of crime and chaos in Gotham City while becoming an infamous psychopathic crime figure.
- 05
Logan
A visceral, R-rated western-superhero hybrid that treats its legendary protagonist with somber, human gravity.
In the near future, a weary Logan cares for an ailing Professor X in a hideout on the Mexican border. But Logan's attempts to hide from the world and his legacy are upended when a young mutant arrives, pursued by dark forces.
- 06
The Departed
An explosive game of moles and betrayal where the line between cop and criminal is razor-thin.
To take down South Boston's Irish Mafia, the police send in one of their own to infiltrate the underworld, not realizing the syndicate has done likewise. While an undercover cop curries favor with the mob kingpin, a career criminal rises through the police ranks. But both sides soon discover there's a mole among them.
- 07
Sicario
A masterclass in sustained tension that explores the brutal moral compromises of the war on crime.
An idealistic FBI agent is enlisted by a government task force to aid in the escalating war against drugs at the border area between the U.S. and Mexico.
- 08
No Country for Old Men
A relentless pursuit driven by a terrifying, philosophical hitman who embodies pure, unstoppable chance.
Llewelyn Moss stumbles upon dead bodies, $2 million and a hoard of heroin in a Texas desert, but methodical killer Anton Chigurh comes looking for it, with local sheriff Ed Tom Bell hot on his trail. The roles of prey and predator blur as the violent pursuit of money and justice collide.
- 09
Prisoners
A harrowing look at how far a desperate man will go when the system fails to provide justice.
Keller Dover is facing every parent’s worst nightmare. His six-year-old daughter, Anna, is missing, together with her young friend, Joy, and as minutes turn to hours, panic sets in. The only lead is a dilapidated RV that had earlier been parked on their street.
- 10
Watchmen
A dense, cynical deconstruction of heroes operating in a world on the brink of nuclear annihilation.
In a gritty and alternate 1985, the glory days of costumed vigilantes have been brought to a close by a government crackdown. But after one of the masked veterans is brutally murdered, an investigation into the killer is initiated. The reunited heroes set out to prevent their own destruction, but in doing so they uncover a sinister plot that puts all of humanity in grave danger.