Best Crime Movies On Disney+ Hotstar (September 2023)

By Andrew Lu | Updated on 02-Jun-2023

In all seriousness, any movie buff will attest to the ability of a crime film to transport you from the hustle and bustle of everyday life into a thrilling world full of mind-boggling and pulse-quickening moments. Now, whether you are in the mood for a good mystery to solve or wish to take a walk through the dreaded criminal world, here are the top 20 best crime movies on Disney+Hotstar that you can enjoy from the comfort of your home.

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Raid (2018)

Starring the dynamic Ajay Devgn, the plot revolves around a fearless income tax officer who investigates an influential man in Lucknow for money laundering. Apart from a stellar star cast, this top crime film on Disney+ is packed with action sequences, amazing cinematography and memorable background scores. However, that’s not all - this crime movie is directed by ace director Raj Kumar Gupta and has been brilliantly directed and shot. It is an amazing crime thriller and a must-watch for every movie buff out there!

Pink (2016)

Pink is one of those few Bollywood films that created a stir upon its release. The plot of this movie revolves around three young women who are molested and later implicated in a crime. When the case becomes rigged, a retired lawyer, Deepak, steps forward to help them clear their names. Pink as a crime movie is a masterpiece with a stellar star cast consisting of Amitabh Bachchan and Tapsee Pannu, fantastic cinematography, gut-wrenching dialogues and crisp storytelling. This crime thriller is one movie you will surely regret skipping.

Drishyam (2015)

Directed by the critically acclaimed Nishikant Kamat, the plot of Drishyam revolves around a man named Vijay, played by Ajay Devgn, who goes to extreme measures to save his family from the clutches of the dark side of the law after they commit an unexpected crime. Apart from the stellar cast, Drishyam also scores big in terms of cinematography, music and concept. A roller coaster of emotions, Drishyam is a mysterious, emotional and gut-wrenching crime thriller that you can enjoy with your family.

Vada Chennai (2018)

The first Tamil-language film on our list is Vada Chennai. Starring the brilliant Dhanush, the plot of Vada Chennai revolves around a proficient carrom player who reluctantly becomes a participant in a war between two dangerous and dreaded warring gangsters. The concept of Vada Chennai is unlike any other crime movie on Disney+ Hotstar. Moreover, this movie also has an impeccable supporting cast that deserves your appreciation. With top-notch music and brilliant direction, Vada Chennai is undoubtedly a masterpiece.

Laal Rang (2016)

This 2016 crime thriller is the story of two gangsters, Rajesh and Shankar, who join hands to run an illegal business. But when the police get to know about the dealings, the friendship of the two men is tested. Surprisingly realistic, Laal Rang is one of those few crime thrillers that would connect with an audience. Starring the talented Randeep Hooda, this Hindi crime movie on Hotstar is an emotional ride with awe-inspiring action sequences, naturally tickling humour and well-intended messages for the youth.

Monsoon Shootout (2017)

Directed by Amit Kumar, Monsoon Shootout is definitely not for the faint-hearted. This crime movie is dark, brutal and sometimes gut-wrenching to the extent that it will make you flinch. This movie follows the story of Adi, who is a Mumbai cop on his first assignment. As the rains lash Mumbai, Adi is faced with a life-altering choice whether to shoot a suspect or not. Apart from the brilliant cast and direction, you would definitely appreciate this movie for its tricky but gripping concept.

Talvar (2015)

Starring Irfan Khan and Konkana Sen Sharma, the story of Talvar revolves around an experienced investigator who is faced with conflicting perspectives regarding a brutal double murder. Dark, mysterious and intriguing, Talvar is the perfect option for those nights when you are craving a complicated murder mystery. As if the stellar star cast wasn’t enough, this crime thriller is directed by the Raazi director, Meghna Gulzar, who, with her crisp storytelling and direction, has made Talvar a must-watch for all crime buffs out there.

Jigarthanda (2014)

A one-of-a-kind Tamil-language crime thriller film, the story of Jigarthanda is as unique as its name. The plot of this crime movie revolves around a director who tries to research a ruthless and violent gangster in a bid to make a movie on the underworld. But his plans go haywire when he is caught snooping. Directed by Kartik Subbaraj and starring Siddharth, this Tamil crime thriller is a visually appealing musical masterpiece that you can enjoy with friends or family.

Dhuruvangal Pathinaaru (2016)

Another Tamil crime thriller on this list is Dhuruvangal Pathinaaru, otherwise known as D-16. The plot of this crime movie revolves around a police officer who is forced to retire after a brutal accident during a police investigation. Years later, the ill-fated officer recounts the unfortunate tale to his friend’s son. With deep character arcs, amazing cinematography, crisp storytelling and great background score, this crime movie is one of the best thrillers in recent times. Additionally, with an impressive star cast, you are definitely going to enjoy watching this one.

10.

Shankara (2016)

One of the first Telugu-language crime movies on our list, Shankara is a pretty realistic and relatable story of a college student, Shankar, who inadvertently gets involved in a fight with a powerful officer. Enraged with the incident, the cop starts harassing Shankara. Apart from a great star cast, beautiful cinematography and effective background score, Shakara is a massive winner in its authentic portrayal of a troubled college student who gets caught on the wrong side of the law.

11.

Shabri (2011)

One of the few crime movies with a female protagonist, Shabri, is the story of a woman who runs a small flour mill. When her brother is killed, she is forced to become a gangster to avenge his death. Apart from the gripping storyline, Shabri scores big time in cinematography, cast and its authentic portrayal of the struggles of a common woman. You must watch this movie if you are looking for a crime thriller that is different from the rest.

12.

Gurgaon (2017)

If a crime movie stars the impeccable Pankaj Tripathi, you know it is in a league of its own. Thrilling, dark and twisted, the story of Gurgaon revolves around a girl named Preeto who is abducted by her brother, Nikki. The rest of the movie is about how the family tracks Preeto and the many secrets that unravel on the way. Apart from a great storyline, this Best crime on Hotstar India movie deserves a special appreciation for its tackling of gender bias in our society.

13.

Rangoon (2017)

Rangoon is a Tamil crime thriller and is a gripping tale of three friends who are involved in gold smuggling in India. But everything goes haywire when a business deal goes wrong, and the boys are thereafter compelled to go to extreme measures to save themselves. What truly sets Rangoon apart from the rest of the movies on this list is its authentic portrayal of friendship, loyalty, betrayal and jealousy. Helmed by a stellar star cast, this movie has an interesting screenplay supplemented with multiple twists and turns.

14.

Singham Returns (2014)

It would have been rather unfair if we had not mentioned Singham Returns by far the best Disney plus crime movie on this list. Directed by the ace director Rohit Shetty, Singham Returns is the sequel to the blockbuster Singham. In this movie, our rowdy cop, Bajirao Singham, returns as the deputy commissioner of police with an aim to wipe out injustice and deal with the wrongdoers. Apart from the gripping storyline and stellar star cast, Singham Returns is a crime movie with nail-biting action sequences, brilliant dialogues and an amazing screenplay.

15.

Akira (2016)

Another female-centric film on this list is Akira, a crime thriller about a self-reliant woman who moves to Mumbai and soon after unwittingly becomes the target of four police officers. This crime thriller is a must-watch for its fantastic cinematography, background score, crisp direction and stellar star cast consisting of names like Sonakshi Sinha and Anurag Kashyap. We would say this movie is a must-watch if you are into crime thrillers with action.

16.

Richie (2017)

Directed by Gautham Ramachandran, the story of this crime movie revolves around a journalist named Megha, who sets out to investigate the death of a young man named Richie, played by the talented Nivin Pauly. While investigating, she meets different people connected to Richie and comes across several perspectives. Apart from a stellar star cast and gripping storyline, Richie is a massive winner in terms of background score, cinematography and crisp storytelling. Watch this movie if you want to know what happened to Richie.

17.

Hello (2017)

This is one of the few crime movies with a romantic angle. The plot of this crime thriller basically revolves around Avinash, played by Akhil Akkineni, who is in love with a girl since childhood. When he happens to get her number, his phone is stolen by a gangster. He thereafter sets on a dangerous journey for her love. If you are into criminal movies with undertones of love, loss and friendship, then Hello is a perfect choice.

18.

Baaghi 3 (2020)

Baaghi 3 is one crime movie that overlaps with the action genre. This movie revolves around Ronnie, a young man, played by Tiger Shroff, who shares a deep bond with his brother Vikram, a policeman. When Vikram is kidnapped, Ronnie sets out to rescue him. Apart from a stellar star cast, amazing cinematography, and background sound, this crime thriller is a must-watch for all action lovers out there.

19.

Bombay Velvet (2015)

Bombay Velvet is the story of an ordinary young man who tries to become a big shot in Bombay against all odds. With a stellar star cast consisting of names like Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma, this crime and romantic thriller is the debut movie of the ace director Karan Johar. With fantastic cinematography, great music and detailed art direction, Bombay Velvet is one of the must-watch romantic thrillers on this list.

20.

Nightingale (2014)

The best Hollywood crime movie on Disney+ is Nightingale. The story of this movie opens with a man who kills his mother and records the video of his confession. To put it simply, Nightingale is a masterpiece and is a psychological crime thriller movie with multiple great scenes, a stellar cast, amazing cinematography, and brilliant direction. We would say this is one movie you would definitely not want to miss out on from your watchlist.

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Andrew Lu

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About Me: A geek and nerd at heart, I love comic books, horror movies and professional fighting. Yes, I know how insane that sounds. Read More about Andrew Lu