Top 10 Serious Undercover Movies
These guys are armed, dangerous and playing both sides. In this video, http://www.WatchMojo.com counts down our picks for the top 10 serious undercover movies. For this list, we're focusing on those serious movies with plots that revolve around the taking of another identity, where the idea of “going undercover” is central to the film. If you didn't see a film you think should be on the list, be sure to check out our video of the Top 10 Comedic Undercover Movies as well.
Special thanks to our users Daniel John and Andrew A. Dennison for submitting the idea on our Suggestions Page at WatchMojo.comsuggest
Top 10 Serious Undercover Movies
Top 10 Funny Undercover Movies
These guys are armed, dangerous and playing both sides. Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10 serious undercover movies. For this list, we’re focusing on those serious movies with plots that revolve around the taking of another identity, where the idea of “going undercover” is central to the film. If you didn’t see a film you think should be on the list, be sure to check out our video of the Top 10 Comedic Undercover Movies as well.
#10: “Gangs of New York” (2002)
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This epic historical drama follows the vengeful scheme of a young man who goes to Manhattan to kill his father’s murderer. Taking to heart the old adage, “keep your friends close and your enemies closer,” Amsterdam Vallon infiltrates Bill ‘the Butcher’ Cutting’s inner circle. If the teaming up of Daniel Day-Lewis, Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese isn’t enough to convince you of the film’s merit, then perhaps the 10 Oscar nominations, including ones for Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Director, will do the trick.
#9: “The Fast and the Furious” (2001)
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This is the first in a series of action flicks that’d eventually make up Universal Studio’s biggest franchise ever. Following an undercover cop who’s trying to figure out a street racer’s involvement in a series of thefts, “The Fast and the Furious” features the late Paul Walker in a role that earned him mainstream fame. While wrapped up in the street-racing scene, Brian O’Conner winds up falling for the cars, the lifestyle, and the hot sister. Thanks to its exciting storyline and incredible action sequences, the film was a box office smash and spawned multiple sequels.
#8: “Reservoir Dogs” (1992)
In typical Quentin Tarantino fashion, this non-linear story follows a diamond heist gone horribly wrong. The band of thieves didn’t even know each other before the robbery, and most of them have adopted fake names. After realizing the police are always one step ahead of them, the group comes to believe that one of their crew is most likely an informant. Despite being produced on a modest budget, “Reservoir Dogs” boasted a stellar cast and became Tarantino’s big Hollywood break.
#7: “Serpico” (1973)
If this based-on-a-true-story movie teaches us anything, it’s that snitches get stitches. Al Pacino plays Frank Serpico, a truthful cop who goes undercover to sniff out the corruption that’s plaguing his own police force and ends up becoming a target. But what makes the crime drama so great is that the character’s honest efforts are hardly fictionalized, and the real Frank Serpico has since been recognized as a hero. Pacino also received an Oscar nod for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his depiction of the real-life legend.
#6: “Face/Off” (1997)
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Before these two actors became more associated with Internet memes and weird antics, they collaborated on this little gem. John Travolta and Nicolas Cage take their commitment to going undercover to a whole new level when their characters – an FBI agent and a terrorist respectively – switch faces and assume each other’s identities. Despite the premise being incredibly silly and far-fetched, the science fiction thriller is actually quite entertaining, as far as action movies go. “Face/Off” also allowed the actors to shine by playing two different personalities, which was another bonus.
#5: “Eastern Promises” (2007)
David Cronenberg and Viggo Mortensen team up for this dark thriller about a midwife who accidentally gets involved with the Russian Mafia. This also leads her to the undercover agent played by Viggo Mortensen, who is posing as a driver for the criminals in order to build a case against them. Although Viggo’s accent was reportedly unconvincing to native Russians, his portrayal of Nikolai was authentic enough to scare the crap out of locals who mistook him for the real thing – and earned him an Oscar nod.
#4: “American Hustle” (2013)
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In this comedy-drama, Amy Adams and a rather shabby Christian Bale play a couple of ‘70s con artists who are caught by the FBI. They are then coerced into helping an aggressive agent pull off a sting operation to implicate a slew of political figures. Featuring an impressive cast of Hollywood’s crème de la crème, like Jennifer Lawrence, Jeremy Renner and a Jerry-curled Bradley Cooper, the movie was nominated for ten Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
#3: “Point Break” (1991)
Before Paul Walker learned to drive with street racers, Keanu Reeves was learning to catch waves. This totally tubular film follows an FBI agent who goes undercover as a beach bum in order to investigate a string of bank robberies believed to be committed by a group of gnarly surfers. Directed by Oscar-nominated director Kathryn Bigelow of “The Hurt Locker” fame and also starring Patrick Swayze, this bitchin’ film has rightfully earned its stripes. It was a box office smash and later became a cult action classic.
#2: “Donnie Brasco” (1997)
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Based on a true story, this crime drama follows an FBI agent who assumes the identity of a jewel thief named Donnie Brasco so he can become a part of a New York mafia family. He’s so good at his job that he nearly winds up losing himself in the role. “Donnie Brasco” is one of those morally ambiguous stories where the audience may find themselves hoping Johnny Depp and Al Pacino get to ride off in the sunset together. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions: - “Rush” (1991) - “State of Grace” (1990) - “Hard Boiled” (1992) - “A Scanner Darkly” (2006) - “The Raid 2” (2014)
#1: “The Departed” (2006)
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A remake of the 2002 Hong Kong film “Infernal Affairs,” “The Departed” may seem like your typical undercover crime movie. But the star quality of everyone attached to the project made it a shoo-in at the Oscars. With cops trying to find the mole in their department while the mob guys simultaneously look for their rat, “The Departed” plays with the theme of identity in a complex, and entertaining way. Scorsese really outdid himself and even earned his first Oscar to prove it. Do you agree with our list? Who is your favorite double agent? For more entertaining top tens published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.
