I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. What most people know about the FBI comes from books, TV, and movies.
It’s wonderful that writers, producers and filmmakers love to present FBI characters and plots, and that most of these FBI films depict the Bureau and its employees as devoted public servants and heroes, dedicated to protecting victims, at-risk communities, and national security.
There are over 50 films highlighted in my Top FBI Movies chart. My criteria for what makes a film an FBI movie is if at least one of the main characters is an FBI agent and if there are scenes focused solely on what the FBI character does.
Which one is your favorite?
My favorites are The Firm, The Informant, and Boiler Room.
I did not include films with scenes where FBI agents show up, do their thing, and exit stage right. The movie Die Hard comes to mind. How can we forget that infamous and inaccurate moment when the FBI arrives and takes control of the crime scene? Other shows and novels have used that clip to create similar conflict-based storylines, perpetuating the tired, old misconception that the FBI doesn’t play well with others. Fortunately, in most movies, the FBI is portrayed in a positive light.
To date, I’ve published over 75 reviews of TV shows and movies, highlighting teachable moments to debunk cliches about the FBI. Read my reviews here.
In case you missed it, check out my chart of the Top FBI TV Shows and Series.
New FBI Movies Released in 2024
The following recently released films were added to the FBI Movies chart. I haven’t seen either movie. I’ll explain why I have no current plans to watch after I tell you about them.
Boneyard (2024) is an action crime drama. The premise is a police chief and a detective join forces with an FBI agent to find a serial killer who left skeletal remains in the New Mexico desert, but the chief fears that the killer is actually one of his own officers. It stars Mel Gibson as a veteran FBI agent and 50 Cent (aka Curtis James Jackson) as the Albuquerque Chief of Police. Watch the official trailer here. Boneyard is available for rent on most streaming apps.
Longlegs (2024) is described as a true horror film. It stars Maika Monroe and Blair Underwood as FBI agents, and Nicolas Cage as a demented serial murderer. The movie is about a female FBI agent, who, in pursuit of a serial killer, uncovers a series of occult clues. While investigating his killing spree, she discovers a personal connection to the killer and must stop him before he strikes again. Longlegs is available for rent or purchase exclusively on Prime Video. Watch the official trailer here.
Both movies look absolutely terrifying. I just rewatched Silence of the Lambs (read review here) and don’t plan on seeing another serial killer movie any time soon.
The Order is a historical neo-Nazi crime thriller. The film revolves around an Idaho-based FBI agent who spots a pattern in recent bank robberies, counterfeiting operations and armored car heists terrorizing communities across the Pacific Northwest. He sets out to prove it is not the work of a traditional organized crime unit, but a radical group with a charismatic leader Bob Mathews (Wikipedia). It stars Jude Law and Jurnee Smollett as FBI agents, and Marc Maron as a Jewish radio host. The movie is based on the 1989 non-fiction book, The Silent Brotherhood. The Order debuts in theaters on December 5, 2024. When this post was written, no official trailer was available.
(If you plan to check out The Order, I recommend you first listen to FBI Retired Case File Review episode 159: Wayne Manis – The Order, White Supremacist Group. Wayne promises to let me know what he thinks about the movie and the composite special agent character loosely based on him and others who investigated the case.)
