If you’re a fan of gritty crime dramas like The French Connection, then you’re in for a treat. This genre, known for its intense plots and complex characters, keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. Here are 14 movies that capture the same essence and will surely satisfy your craving for more.

1. Serpico

Serpico stars Al Pacino as an honest cop who exposes corruption within the NYPD. This film, directed by Sidney Lumet, is based on the true story of Frank Serpico and his battle against a corrupt police force.

2. Heat

Directed by Michael Mann, Heat features an all-star cast including Al Pacino and Robert De Niro. The film revolves around the cat-and-mouse game between a dedicated detective and a master thief.

3. L.A. Confidential

L.A. Confidential is a neo-noir crime film directed by Curtis Hanson, featuring Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe, and Guy Pearce. It delves into the dark underbelly of 1950s Los Angeles, exposing corruption and scandal.

4. The Departed

Directed by Martin Scorsese, The Departed stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, and Jack Nicholson. The film is a gripping tale of undercover cops and informants within the Boston mafia.

5. Training Day

Training Day, directed by Antoine Fuqua, stars Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke. The film follows a rookie cop’s first day with a rogue narcotics officer, exploring themes of morality and corruption.

6. Bullitt

Bullitt stars Steve McQueen as a San Francisco cop determined to find the underworld kingpin who killed the witness in his protection. Directed by Peter Yates, the film is famous for its iconic car chase scene.

7. Chinatown

Directed by Roman Polanski, Chinatown stars Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway. The film is a complex tale of private investigator J.J. Gittes uncovering corruption and murder in 1930s Los Angeles.

8. Ronin

Ronin, directed by John Frankenheimer, stars Robert De Niro and Jean Reno. This action-packed thriller follows a group of mercenaries hired to retrieve a mysterious briefcase.

9. Donnie Brasco

Donnie Brasco stars Johnny Depp and Al Pacino in a film directed by Mike Newell. Based on a true story, the film follows an undercover FBI agent as he infiltrates the mafia.

10. The Untouchables

Directed by Brian De Palma, The Untouchables stars Kevin Costner, Sean Connery, and Robert De Niro. The film tells the story of Eliot Ness’s efforts to bring down Al Capone during Prohibition.

11. To Live and Die in L.A.

To Live and Die in L.A. is directed by William Friedkin and stars William Petersen and Willem Dafoe. The film follows a Secret Service agent determined to bring down a counterfeiter who killed his partner.

12. Mystic River

Directed by Clint Eastwood, Mystic River stars Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, and Kevin Bacon. The film revolves around three childhood friends who are reunited by a tragic event in their adult lives.

13. Collateral

Collateral, directed by Michael Mann, stars Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx. The film follows a cab driver who finds himself the hostage of an engaging contract killer as he makes his rounds from hit to hit.

14. American Gangster

Directed by Ridley Scott, American Gangster stars Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe. The film is based on the true story of Frank Lucas, a heroin kingpin in Harlem during the 1970s.