Top 10 Film Noirs

A good detective never sleeps. In this video, www.WatchMojo.com counts down our picks for the top 10 film noirs. For this list, since experts fail to agree on a standard definition for the genre, we're limiting our choices to gritty, cynical thrillers and crime dramas from the early-'40s to late-'50s that are shot in black-and-white. Special thanks to our users theyakkoman, jkellis, Jaime Enrique Gutierrez Pérez, Vivek Varghese, Max Feldman, Andrew A. Dennison, robozilla94, iSmiTHDawGx, Philip Folta and walkercr3 for submitting the idea on our Suggestions Page at WatchMojo.com/suggest!
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[@MGM261]

Noir shouldn't just be classified as movies from a specific era. Its more of a style. And there should be lots more of it. Love it!

[@harrihaffi2713]

Kinda hard to make more if they are only from a specific era.

[@ElSantoLuchador]

David Lynch is a modern master of the form. And certainly there are others, like the Coen brothers. I'm something of an elitist snob so if it's not in black and white to me it's only noir-ish. Light and shadows, not technicolor, is a dominant theme.

[@harrihaffi2713]

@@ElSantoLuchador So does that mean that no Lynch movie is considered noir or that they all are?

[@mindlessmeat4055]

I was thinking the same, this removes Chinatown and Roger Rabbit which I think are great noir films.

[@harrihaffi2713]

@@mindlessmeat4055 but we’ll still have this gun for hire

[@TheKersey475]

WatchMojo List (WITHOUT Spoilers) 10. Strangers on a Train 9. In a Lonely Place 8. Kiss Me Deadly 7. Notorious 6. The Third Man 5. Touch of Evil 4. Sunset Boulevard 3. Double Indemnity 2. The Big Sleep 1. The Maltese Falcon There's the list without ANY spoilers.

[@daniellack3559]

Double Indemnity for me, not only best film noir, but best all time film period..

[@cooperkillen5729]

The Third Man is my favorite because of its style.

[@rentazzo]

thanks :)

[@Webbgurl2000]

TheKersey475 I’d add a few by Mitchum, too.

[@RichardCockerill]

lol silly snowflake lol lol lol

[@MrIke86]

Out of the Past is a quintessential, almost ideal typical, film noir. Shame it didn't break at least the top three.

[@jonathaningram7432]

I screamed when I saw it in honorable mentions, I was hoping it would be #1

[@wilsonstone935]

I agree completely, it's a much more definitive noir movie, -notorious Is a phenomenal movie, but not noir, in my opinion, confused list

[@DandyLion662a]

Very tough competition at that level. My top 2 noirs would be Maltese Falcon and Double Indemnity, which were 1 & 3 on this list. And #2 on theirs is The Big Sleep which is a fine noir movie. I like Out Of the past a lot but I think those other three are better.

[@ericholland9802]

I agree

[@mjohnson1741]

Yeah, film noir isn't complete without Robert Mitchum.

[@jamesdarcy666]

Great movies! The big Heat, Angel Face, Born to Kill, Dead Reckoning, Detour, Fallen Angel, Gun Crazy, Human Desire, Laura, Lady in the Lake, Murder, my Sweet, Night and the City, Nightmare Alley, On Dangerous Ground, Phantom Lady, Pickup on South Street, Scandal Sheet, Scarlet Street, Sweet Smell of Success, The Big Combo, The Blue Dahlia, The Blue Gardenia, The Killers, The Killing, The Lady from Shangai, The Postman Always Rings Twice, The Woman in the Window, They Live by Night, This Gun for Hire,Too Late for Tears, While the City Sleeps. All good movies!!! "I didn't get the money. And I didn't get the woman."

[@robertwiegman1]

Great list. And Gilda too!!!

[@mjohnson1741]

God bless you, you're a true Film Noir fan!

[@lawrencelewis8105]

@@mjohnson1741 that man has good taste! I've seen them all except for Phantom Lady- I'll find it eventually.

[@mjohnson1741]

@@lawrencelewis8105 I love how a lot of these film noir films are free on youtube, that's awesome for the film noir fans! The common folk don't understand how much of a gem that is, if they did, it wouldn't be free!

[@lawrencelewis8105]

@@mjohnson1741 If the government could tax it, they would.

[@TimeandMonotony]

My top 10 film noirs: 1. Shadow of a Doubt 2. Sunset Blvd. 3. Double Indemnity 4. Out of the Past 5. The Night of the Hunter 6. Sweet Smell of Success 7. Strangers on a Train 8. Laura 9. Gilda 10. Pickup on South Street

[@alexandercampbell1235]

***** I do have a problem with non-40's film noir, how can a 50's/60's film be a film noir just because it's shot in b&w ? i need to be convinced about that, am i the only one who thinks they 'must' be not only b&w, but made & set in a big US city in the 40's? -check out The Dark Corner, The Fountainhead , Lady in the Lake & The Locket. I'm happy to be convinced otherwise... please. Thanks in advance. ps: I ment to say i do love all the films you mentioned above.

[@mikosharp]

+TimeandMonotony hands-shaken, 7 of them are my favourites too.

[@mikosharp]

+Alexander Campbell Well maybe it doesn't have to be in b&w, Leave Her to Heaven for example. But it doesn't have to be set in a big US city neither. Some call it nonurban noir, like Out of the past, Touch of Evil , they are part of the classic film noir too. And as for decade matter, I do agree 40s noir films are more pure, but 50s somehow presents pretty good ones like The Big Combo, Gun Crazy, Sweet Smell of Success, The Killing, etc. I think it's the visual style of using light&shadows and the cynical story background that define film noir.

[@andrewma9682]

Strangers on a train and Out of the Past are my favorites, and Chinatown

[@82easyrider]

I strongly recommend The Enforcer (Murder Inc) to any Noir fans here. It is one hell of a movie, terribly underrated but as good as any in this list.

[@connerspencern]

Stanley Kubrick's The Killing starring a slew of fantastic character actors including Sterling Hayden, Elisha Cook Jr, and Shelley Winers is one if the most entertaining films noir I have ever seen. It's influenced such classics as Reservoir Dogs and The Dark Knight.

[@roberthanson6156]

Sunset Boulevard is a masterpiece

[@user-sn9ig9vl5p]

As lauded as this movie is, I personally find it just--creepy.

[@flikering5923]

LAURA 1944 (OTTO PREMIGER)

[@ByzantineCalvinist]

“Laura” has a haunting quality that’s difficult to put into words, but I think it has much to do with David Raksin’s memorable theme music.

[@YTfanofclips]

I'm sure you closely observed every scene and noticed flaws. But I think you put too much attention to it. Once you analyse ANY movie, you will find flaws. To me, it doesn't matter that much. I've seen the movie 20 times, so I know what I'm talking about. To me, the atmosphere is mesmerizing, of course enhanced by that haunting music.

[@tpatrick44]

Absolutely!!!

[@lawrencelewis8105]

@@ByzantineCalvinist Raskin hated the Spike Jones satirical version of his song. He even tried to take him to court. Look it up on YT- it's funny as hell!

[@normadesmond6017]

Gilda. Woman in the window. And body heat. Lvoed the ending.

[@mateil2277]

1.The Maltese Falcon 2.The Third Man 3.Sunset Boulevard 4.Gaslight 5.Spellbound 6.The Killing 7.Notorious 8.Strangers on A Train 9.Double Indemnity 10.The Wrong Man

[@richardscanlan3419]

I have copies of 1,2,3,6,8 and 10.You my good friend have great taste.

[@mateil2277]

Thanks.

[@MrManoMelo]

Matei L ff

[@DantesAwakening]

Came here just to take a list because I know WM lists sucks more often than not. Thank you

[@jeremymarshall7319]

Scarface is simply a crime film, not a noir at all.

[@drstrangelove6558]

Exectly

[@Painkiller_Productions]

The original is very much so one

[@calvinmartin508]

ruud gullit

[@marcusharton5463]

It's arguably protonoir.

[@johnathanclark79]

Noir is actually a new name for crime films of that era.

[@blinkzone1]

"Detour" should've been on the list too!

[@ThePiratemachine]

blinkzone1 An amazing film. That don't get much more film noir than Ann Savage.

[@Robson1898vascao]

My list... 10 - Kiss me Deadly 9 - Touch of Evil 8 - Scarlet Street 7 - In a Lonely Place 6 - Laura 5 - Out of the Past 4 - Double Indemnity 3 - The Big Sleep 2 - The Third Man 1 - The Maltese Falcon HM: Woman in the Window, The Killing, Strangers on a train, Gilda, The Big Heat

[@audiophileman7047]

You're missing a lot of great film noirs with that list. The Maltese Falcon is great, but it's not a film noir. It's a detective story. How about the other three Bogie & Bacall films?

[@VONOBER]

Laura is a masterpiece!

[@tsxtina2919]

No Gilda? No Postman Always Rings Twice? No Laura? not to mention Mildred Pierce, The Blue Dahlia, Leave Her To Heaven, and one of my all-time favorites Nora Prentiss

[@JT29501]

+Christina Venegas No "The Killers" as well, which is at least as good as Siodmak's Criss Cross which is mentioned

[@goopah]

And one of my favorites, "Angel Face", with its devastating finale.

[@ivangomez123]

Key Largo, The Lady of Shanghai and Rififi they forgot

[@ptery]

Blue Dahlia!

[@RodericSpode]

A few others not mentioned - Gun Crazy and Crossfire starring the Robert's Young, Mitchum and Ryan. Notorious is a great movie, but I never really thought of it as Film Noir. At least they included what is probably the least well known movie on the list, Kiss Me Deadly which is awesome and definitely film noir.

[@angus7278]

“The Sweet Smell of Success” with Burt Lancaster and Tony Curtis is an unmissable American film noir that everyone interested in the genre should see.

[@harrihaffi2713]

Sounds interesting… not sure how into the genre I am though… Did like this gun for hire a lot, But the blue dahlia was pretty bad.

[@TheFilipinoBoxer]

I FUCKIN LOVE FILM NOIR! they should bring this genre back to film. not so sure about the sin city sequel but that just shows how much this genre has watered down

[@drstrangelove6558]

+TheFilipinoBoxer agreed:)!

[@owensmith8607]

It’s called neo noir

[@jeremymarshall7319]

The Trevor Howard character, Major Callahan, was nothing like Inspector Clousseau, the major was smart, shrewd, and a step ahead of everyone else.

[@demongo2007]

Jeremy Marshall “...CallaWAY...”

[@russellcampbell9198]

She says viillain so perhaps she meant Popescu. Callaway was revealed as being ultra-competent.

[@chrishenson4450]

She also called one of the greatest soundtracks of all time “comical.” Epic fail noir.

[@uberbabeINC]

“Callaway! I’m ENGLISH, not IRISH!”

[@patrickmcevoy5080]

"Out of the Past" isn't an honorable mention. It's #1 or #2 on any reasonable list. Period.

[@wilsonstone935]

Absolutely, that's the 1st one I think of, they're confusing really good movies with noir

[@lawrencelewis8105]

@@wilsonstone935 I agree- I own a copy. Anything with Mitchum in it is excellent.

[@wilsonstone935]

@@lawrencelewis8105 luv mitchum -night of the hunter, and cape fear, -dinero. Was acting,, mitchum was just being mitchum

[@lawrencelewis8105]

@@wilsonstone935 that is so true. Mitchum made it look easy, the mark of a true pro.

[@DandyLion662a]

I like Out Of the Past a lot but I like Maltese Falcon and Double Indemnity even more and they're both legit noir movies.

[@PurpleCloud619]

10 other great film noir's not mentioned: 1.The Killing 2. White Heat 3. Key Largo 4. To Have & Have Not 5. Sweet Smell of Success 6. Angels With Dirty Faces 7. Gaslight 8. Scarlet Street 9. Woman in the Window 10. Lady From Shanghai

[@larrylanggard2609]

I would add “The Killers” with Burt Lancaster and Ava Gardner, 1946.

[@Tulipstarful]

I just watched The Maltese Falcon today. It was so good! Now I want to watch all these other movies too!!

[@drstrangelove6558]

+Tulip Star watc Sunset Bolluevard and double indemnity!!! I hope you like them!!!:):)

[@bekindunderstandhumannatur9874]

Yes me too. Awesomely made a timeless classic

[@audiophileman7047]

It really isn't a noir, but great none the less! All the movies on the list are great, but the Hitchcock films aren't noirs.

[@randalllompe3040]

No serious top ten film noir list could omit Out of the Past, The Asphalt Jungle, or The Killing. And you give honorable mention to Scarface, a movie that doesn't even match your own criteria.

[@chavruta2000]

Randall Lompe exactly.

[@huanero200]

Randall Lompe Scarface is like a fable, that is why De Palma made the remake. It is not Noir

[@wilsonstone935]

Perfect examples

[@stevensica89]

She is fooled by the cinematography.

[@mikey1941]

Some great films included here, but so many equally great omissions - The Killers (1946 version), The Spiral Staircase, D.O.A., The Glass Key, Laura, and I could go on and on - the list could easily be expanded to 50 or even 100.

[@RaysDad]

Although "Double Indemnity" certainly belongs on the list, I like two other movies based on James M Kane novels even more. "The Postman Always Rings Twice" was unique because the violence seems an inevitable outcome of the incredibly steamy and adulterous romance between a pennyless drifter (John Garfield) and the glamorous but low-born wife (Lana Turner) of a roadside cafe owner. "Postman" was really hot! "Mildred Pierce" was unusual because the title character was a woman (Joan Crawford) with no illusions . The character of Mildred was ground-breaking because she was a divorcee who was tough and self-sufficient. The competition between Mildred and her self-absorbed and cruel daughter Veda (Ann Blyth) for the affections of a worthless, high-society playboy named Monte (Zachary Scott) was both disturbing and fascinating. I rank "Mildred Pierce" as my #1.

[@krisscanlon4051]

Postman always rings twice absolutely

[@RaysDad]

@mr Han Man Two great movies, but Chinatown is a color film so I've never thought of it as noir.

[@angus7278]

Agreed, “Mildred Pierce” was great.

[@goopah]

"The Night Of The Hunter" certainly belongs here, and should score very high, if not number one. An all-time classic noir.

[@marcushaeberlen]

Certanliy true!!

[@Gos1234567]

No way is that noir,FFS

[@psychicoutlawchanel7430]

goopah Saw that as a kid, Mitchum was so scary I could never watch it again lol!!

[@frankmachin5438]

Great film but not quite noir

[@lawrencelewis8105]

@@frankmachin5438 No, not really a noir but it has elements of noir in it, like Mitchum in the basement.

[@orzelgryf]

I think this is gonna be my favourite list especially that you put my two beloved movies on first and second place. And I LOVE the fact, that you ignore suggestions on your side, and go only with true period noirs, not with neo-noirs (which are good too, but this is the topic for another list).

[@SgtMjr]

The Killing. Stanley Kubrick. How is it not even in the Honourable Mention category?

[@MoeGreensRightEye]

+Bill Bird great movie

[@alext8828]

Yes

[@YOTHISISYO]

Well it is a heist film !

[@pvtrichter88]

not even an honourable mention !! ~? Watchmojo you gits!! I would also like to add Asphalt jungle and Lady from Shanghai !! now watch as i retreat into the shadows!

[@TheSaltydog07]

"The Klling" is a mess, case in point -- that laughable ending. And that painful voiceover and that cringe-worthy script. And. . . .

[@toony826]

Out of the Past should have made the list. I think another top 10 is called for.

[@Whippets]

The Third Man is one of the greatest films ever made, not just in the film noir genre ... you've seriously underrated it.

[@audiophileman7047]

Yes, must agree! I'd put it at the top, slightly beating Double Indemnity.

[@guileniam]

It's considered the greatest British film ever made.

[@Whippets]

@@guileniam I wouldn't call anything flawless, but it's pretty damn close to being so. Everything about it screams excellence, from the acting, writing and direction, to the sets and cinematography. Plus it has the greatest line about Switzerland in Cinema history. lol

[@BarryPennock]

My favourite film of all. There is romance, love, friendship, intrigue, betrayal and the actors are out of this world.

[@Whippets]

@@BarryPennock Sounds a lot like Casablanca - when everything in a film just comes together. I vacillate between the two as to which is my favorite, kind of depends on which one I've seen last. lol

[@franko8858]

Wish "Out of the Past" was at least the Top 10 at least. One of the best.

[@opapergunner]

WHERE IS "Mildred Pierce"???

[@MrChuckbass92]

The poolscene intro of sunset boulevard is just so damn brilliant..

[@JadanDuffin127]

When I saw Strangers on A Train, I knew this list missed what noir is about...

[@44excalibur]

+Jadan Duffin No, Strangers On A Train is considered film noir, along with other Hitchcock classics like Notorious, Shadow of a Doubt, Spellbound, and even Psycho, to an extent.

[@toyaadams8167]

+44excalibur yeah, I was wondering why psycho wasn't on the list...I always thought with out a doubt that was a noir....and why don't they consider Hitchcock's films noirs?

[@44excalibur]

toya adams I guess because many feel that over time Hitchcock transcended the noir genre and became his own separate category, which is why they refer to any film that resembles his style of filmmaking "Hitchcockian." But Hitchcock was clearly one of the great early noir filmmakers along with Billy Wilder, John Houston, and Robert Sidomak.

[@randywhite3947]

@@44excalibur Psycho is far from from noir as it gets

[@44excalibur]

@@randywhite3947 Really? It starts off pretty noir at the beginning as it follows a doomed woman who steals money from her employer in order to run off with her divorced boyfriend while trying to evade the police. The moment that Psycho stops being noir is the moment she arrives at the Bates Motel, which is when the film goes full-on modern gothic horror.

[@ssesf]

One of the good things about the WatchMojo Top 10 videos is that it helps me get a better idea of what the many concepts/genres in movies mean like film-noir and breaking the fourth wall. "The Third Man" is the only of these movies that I have on DVD. I bought it because I'd read the book and a week before I'd seen the ferris wheel from the movie in Wien/Vienna.

[@GeneBurnett]

I love "In A Lonely Place". Really worth watching. Bogie in his darkest role.

[@jenniferhansen3622]

Yes, I like it too.

[@uberbabeINC]

Bogart had great chemistry with Director Nicholas Ray’s soon to be ex wife Gloria Grahame. All of them provided superb, sublime work.

[@stevenlupanko2983]

I didn't like it. Not a patch on key largo.

[@tommysmith4117]

My top 10 favorite film noirs: 10. Elevator to the Gallows 9. Laura 8. The Big Sleep 7. The Maltese Falcon 6. Sunset Boulevard 5. Out of the Past 4. The Third Man 3. Strangers on a Train 2. The Night of the Hunter 1. Double Indemnity

[@sclogse1]

I simply enjoy the scenes and am reminded of the brilliance. Not worried about the order or what's missing. Just seeing Akim ham it up for us puts a smile on my face and helps me forget my impending doom.

[@aguilarandrew95]

Stop with the spoilers please. I'm coming here to decide which one to watch.

[@SANTAMU3RTE]

right...

[@aguilarandrew95]

+SANTAMU3RTE Someone agrees! haha. Which film did you decide to watch? I myself enjoyed the Maltese falcon. Not so much for the plot and ect but more for the acting and great cinematic shots/costimes that were done throughout the film

[@dennistheconstitutionalpea6174]

Mute it and then scroll through the video, to find the names.

[@stevemcnary4301]

Out Of The Past should be on this list. Lady From Shanghai too!

[@jmd555555]

What about 'Murder My Sweet' - my favourite of them all?

[@pagano60]

Nice list. I appreciate you limiting your roll-call to films from the 1940s and '50s and in black & white. But I think that "Out of the Past" deserved a place on it. I hope that this video gets newcomers to look more closely at film noir.

[@marccolten9801]

Gypsy fortune teller Marlene Dietrich summed up Welles perfectly in Touch of Evil. When he asks about his future she tells him. "You don't have a future. You're all used up. "

[@lawrencelewis8105]

I just saw that movie last night- what a classic line!

[@bodensick]

Okay, where in the hell is Robert Mitchum? Out of the Past really defined the genre, and there are at least three more of his that should be on the list.

[@normadesmond6017]

Night of the hunter. Certainly. Cape fear. The Killers with Burt Lancaster and Ava Gardner.

[@ThePiratemachine]

@@normadesmond6017 The Killers is fantastic. The remake was quite good also but the Ava one - yes.

[@normadesmond6017]

@@ThePiratemachine for sure!

[@BluRayKing]

Of these listed, The Third Man is my favorite.

[@audiophileman7047]

Yes, I give it a slight edge over Double Indemnity.

[@dobypilgrim6160]

Bogart rules.

[@btetschner]

Agreed.

[@lawrencelewis8105]

@@btetschner Bogart could wear a hat. Mitchum wore it better. Widmark wore it best.

[@btetschner]

@@lawrencelewis8105 Ever see Night of the Hunter?

[@lawrencelewis8105]

@@btetschner Yes, about 3 months ago in a movie theatre- it was amazing! Not knocking Bogie here, you understand but Mitchum and Widmark work hats like they were born in them, like how Astaire wore a tuxedo.

[@btetschner]

@@lawrencelewis8105 I will have to check out Widmark.

[@AnnaMaria-oy1fp]

The Postman always rings twice?

[@FirstPlace97]

THIRD MAN IS 6th? WTF

[@philleotardo8038]

I know I was very upset about it myself.

[@FirstPlace97]

But Third Man is probably a better film overall than those

[@danielfebrizio9033]

Not as noir as those? I disagree. The Third Man is a pure film noir just like Sunset Boulevard, Double Indemnity and The Maltese Falcon. I actually think that there is a better argument to be had that Touch of Evil and The Big Sleep are not pure film noirs (primarily because of their endings). But, then again, everyone has a different interpretation of what a film noir actually is.

[@jacobvarney23]

Chinatown is a neo-noir film.

[@anitasmith4559]

One of the greats.

[@BluesImprov]

My only quibble with this list is that it just has to be the "Top 11!" "Out of the Past" is so well done that it absolutely must be on any "Top Noir" list. Robert Mitchum and Kirk Douglas are just perfect in this film, and Jane Greer really set the standard for the "femme fatale" character. And film noir really can't be boiled down to a "Top 10" list anyway. I'd say to be realistic you'd have to make it a "Top 15" at least! Film Noir films are the only ones I can watch, or listen to while doing something else, over and over again. . .I just love 'em!

[@bubhub64]

Loved the smokey jazz backround music!

[@SWISStoons]

This is a great list! And I'm happy to see my favorite Bogie movie, In a Lonely Place, included.

[@hughhemington9559]

"Laura" should be near the top!

[@RamZar50]

*Touch of Evil* (1958) is outstanding with expert direction by Orson Welles and great acting by Orson Welles, Charlton Heston, Janet Leigh, Akim Tamiroff and Marlene Dietrich. Great opening scene and cinematography. Gets better and better with each viewing. Another not included in your list (because it’s in the wrong era and in color) is *Body Heat* (1981) written and directed by Lawrence Kasdan. It was inspired by Double Indemnity (1944).

[@user-sn9ig9vl5p]

'The Big Combo' and ' Pickup on South Street' are two of my favorites..especially when Richard Widmark plants one on Jean Peters...OMG. And what Noir wouldn't be complete without Lisbeth Scott or Gloria Grahame...

[@Rhubba]

I don't recall Trevor Howard playing a Clouseau-like villain in The Third Man. I thought he was the calculating investigating officer manipulating Joseph Cotten into tracking down Harry Lime.

[@danielfebrizio9033]

I agree. He also is not even a villain.

[@CraftySouthpaw]

He helps kill the bad guy, FFS!

[@lehighcountylwv5278]

Trevor Howard took Joseph Cotten to see the kids who were put in the hospital forever, thanks to Harry Lime.

[@atollc7426]

I was waiting for Out of the Past to be #1, honestly, but when it was included in the honorable mentions instead...well, it throws the whole list into question. Not that you have to agree with me to be correct, but OOTP has everything on the checklist of Noir...more than does even The Maltese Falcon I'd reckon - without actually doing the work of checking off things on a checklist because I'm lazy.

[@dizbang3073]

+Atoll C boom - 10 thumbs up - so many great lines in that flick

[@elgreco50]

+Atoll C Absolutely. Out of the Past is the quintessential noir.....not Maltese Falcon.

[@beamorillo4552]

Atoll C the

[@patrickmcevoy5080]

Absolutely correct - it's not even debatable.

[@mercedyzmarieguion292]

Out of the Past is a helluva movie. It has some of the snappiest dialogue ever delivered, period. Cathy "I wish he was dead" Jeff "Give him time." Kirk Douglas, who usually hams it up a bit, is wonderful as Whit, the slimy antagonist who is behind one of the best double crosses and setups in cinematic history. His character, Whit, states "Think of a number, Joe" to show how dumb Joe is. Kirk was great here. Watch how he intimidates Jane Greer towards the end when he tells her how he'll "break her" before he kills her if she doesn't do as she's told. He holds his own with Big Bob Mitchum. He didn't overact as he sometimes does, he was perfect. Mitchum is the Man though with his patented 'I don't give a damn' attitude. Great movie.

[@drzarkov39]

It's hard to take this list seriously when every single movie critic considers "Laura" as one of the greatest film noirs ever made, but is not on this list. Incredible. I agree with "Double Indemnity", "The Big Sleep", and "Touch Of Evil", but I would also include "The Postman Always Rings Twice" 1946 version, "The Killers"1946 version, "Murder, My Sweet"1944 version, "Dark Corner", "Kiss Of Death", and "D.O.A." 1950 version. A color film noir to be considered is "Blue Velvet".

[@fritzwalter4660]

The top color noir films are LEAVE HER TO HEAVEN and NIAGARA.

[@thomasgelke6586]

i love the zither playing in The 3rd Man. so catchy.

[@herranton]

The Killers and Laura should be here. Laura should be in the top 3, if only for how ridiculously hot Gene Tierney is in it...

[@thomasmetz3]

Laura, The Killers, The Stranger, Dark Passage, Dead Reckoning, The List of Adrian Messenger, The Hitchhiker

[@BLUEsurf63]

And a brilliant noir called "He walked by Night" starring Richard Basehart, i think the film was made in 1948.

[@thomasmetz3]

Just watched “He Walked By Night” this month, and the original D.O.A. with Edmund O’Brien

[@maggiekoch9348]

I love film noir, Double Indemnity should have come in first or second, for the dialogue, the chemistry of Walter with Phyllis, and Keyes, and the bleak, sardonic tone. A little known favorite of mine "Repeat Performance" would have been a nice honorable mention. Beautifully shot, eerily scored, the themes of being trapped by fate and a hellish relationship ending in violence are as noir as good coffee.

[@montage2726]

Thank you for posting. Liked the list. Might have included Key Largo and Gilda.

[@DIANAROSS4EVER]

What about Laura?

[@omarsalkamusic]

Laura is excellent

[@kylefunderburk4194]

This is the first list I actually agree with. I watched the Maltese Falcon in my film history class, I loved that movie.

[@CrookedRosePOD]

Yeah I bought it on blue ray and it was amazing

[@postsuburban]

You are the best love. Keep up the great work. Love the content. My first go to for old movies.

[@BackSeatHump]

Normally I don't like your "top 10" lists. But this one is really good! I'll have to see what else you've done that's good! :)

[@camyoung6159]

Disappointed to see that 1946's The Killers got overlooked.

[@audiophileman7047]

Yes, one of the best.

[@lawrencelewis8105]

@@audiophileman7047 The dialogue in the diner is Hemingway, verbatim. It's one of the few pictures that he liked that was made from his stories. The other was The Breaking Point with John Garfield which is based on To Have and Have Not. I've always thought that Garfield was a more realistic Hemingway character than Bogart, but I sure am not knocking Bogie, and Lauren Bacall? Woo, what a babe!

[@archer1949]

If you are including prototypes like The Maltese Falcon and Scarface, you should include Fritz Lang's M.

[@chavruta2000]

***** they're including everything that is almost noir, because they've never seen a real noir film.

[@drstrangelove6558]

+Lew Archer 1949 m came out Before thew film noir Genre Begin, So It is not exactly a FN, But Scarface was not etheir a film Noir, but the maltese Falcon was a Noir!:)

[@bobhansen9874]

yes !

[@theodoremcgee334]

Actually Fritz's "You Only Live Once" with Henry Fonda and Sylvia Sidney. I consider it the first real film of Film Noir genre.

[@betunia98]

I recently watched the original 1930’s German version of M fantastic even if you watches today by current standards I’ll be watching the 1950’s American version shortly

[@mrbissonet]

Excellent list overall and a very good video presentation. You are never going to please everyone narrowing a list down to ten films so get over the fact that your favorite may be omitted.

[@donvitocorleone6443]

Touch Of Evil is LITERALLY PERFECT

[@bevtuft3572]

any list that leaves out "Out of the Past" is bogus

[@Eziokilla9595]

Sweet Smell of Success - Alexander McKendrick No doubt, it's the best.

[@noahtyre2535]

Eziokilla9595 THANK YOU

[@ProphetSoul]

The cat's in the bag and the bag's in the river.

[@romanclay1913]

@@ProphetSoul "I wouldn't take a bite of you. You're a cookie full of arsenic."

[@floridafyme]

Excellent choices. Noir demands at least a top 20 list.

[@TheSmokingHat]

So many good movies in that list. Noir is such a great genre, especially the older ones (1940s and early 1950s).

[@thenostalgiakid1]

#6. Major Calloway isn't a villain.

[@onebrokenegro]

What about "M" by Fritz Lang?

[@adrianoreis6368]

Great picture, but not a Noir film... Fritz Lang did many Noir hits, such as Human Desire, The Big Heat, etc, but this one is not a Noir film

[@austingonzales1405]

I must say that is a pretty good list. Good work!

[@dantheman4838]

Wow, I have only seen 2 films on the entire list, 10 and 1. Not very often Mojo have better cinematic knowledge than I do. Well done Mojo, well done.

[@strangerinwhite]

What isn't The Postman Always Ring Twice on here?

[@huanero200]

Jerome Allshouse Yes it is film noir and one of the great ones indeed. I"m telling you whoever compiled this list, god help em are not qualified. Out of the Past and the Asphalt Jungle honorable mentions????? Ha. Even The Treasure of the Sierra Madre is noir but some would not know that.

[@strangerinwhite]

miguel oquendo I see you like the Film Noir genre as well.

[@huanero200]

Yes, buddy, and the good thing to account in my case I did a lot of reading which later turned into noir films. Thanks for noticing.

[@strangerinwhite]

miguel oquendo I love to read a lot and watch the film. I am right now and writing a story that is film noir,when I am done then I going to look for a publisher.

[@mr.roberto1898]

+Jerome Allshouse Don't forget gun crazy, 1950.

[@GameCatcher89]

I think that The naked City should have been on this list, it is a very good Film Noir from the late 40's.

[@AlejandroPikoulasPlata]

The director is the same of Night and the City, a great director.

[@Blogrich55]

1. Dark Passage 2.Nightmare Alley 3. Rear Window 4. Whatever happened to Baby Jane 5. The Phantom Lady 6. The Postman always rings twice 7. China Town etc... Although noir is french for black and works best in black and white, it is primarily a feel of gritty realism based on pulp fiction and hardboiled novels. Many good noir films have been made in color. Perry Mason was noir as was the Naked City.

[@_Peremalfait]

Out of the Past should've been more than an honorable mention, and Detour belonged on the list.

[@fabioblanco8571]

You missed the Raymond Chandler cameo in Double Indemnity. ;)

[@Gregory_McIntosh]

Yeah, the guy sitting in the chair in the hallway.

[@lawrencelewis8105]

@@Gregory_McIntosh He wrote the screenplay.

[@lt.w.575]

#1...SUNSET BLVD.....YES!!, Maltese Falcon....yes! Double Indemnity--Barbara Stanwyck...love her, Strangers on a Train---one of the best. Hitch was the BEST film director in film history. Cary Grant, Ingrid !!!!, All great pics. Great job. Gaslight should be in here. Ingrid Bergman won the oscar.

[@lawrencelewis8105]

Bogart was on his boat at Catalina when someone knocked on the hull waking him up. Referring to "The Big Sleep" he asked Bogie, "Who killed the chauffeur?" Bogie replied, "Damned if I know." It seems that even Raymond Chandler didn't know. Funny, that.

[@YTfanofclips]

Indeed. The plots were going so fast, few people knew what was going on, ha ha.

[@user-sn9ig9vl5p]

I am amazed 'The Postman Always Rings Twice' didn't make this list

[@0Lu.Lu0]

Dark Passage and Scarlet Street belong on the list too (maybe of top 14). To me Double Indemnity should be right up there with The Maltese Falcon. Film Noir is a fantastic genre that featured all the glamorous elements of Hollywood's Golden Age with angelic-looking leading ladies and impossibly cool cat daddies and at the same time the storylines that interrupted the fantasy that would completely carry you away into the idyllic, letting you see in greatly detailed grime that all those beautiful, sophisticated people were lesbians and murderers and funds' extortioners--something we wouldn't think just to look at them and bask in the simplicity of their $75-a-week income that was plenty with which to house, transport and eat out.

[@guileniam]

I thought dark passage sucks? It's never ranked with key largo or big sleep

[@0Lu.Lu0]

@@guileniam I mean, okay: that's you. Everything's not a competition.

[@WatchMojo]

In case you were wondering how the Mojoholics voted in our poll, see the votes and entries here: watchmojo.com/suggest/Top%2010%20Film%20Noirs Note, of course, that viewer votes are just one of the hundreds of data points and variables that we consider and look at when we create our lists. Make sure to sign up and participate on future lists at www.WatchMojo.com/suggest

[@sandmanzcommin08]

Wow thanks for doing this list, great choices too.

[@The_Irate_Penguin]

Lists such as these will always draw criticism, but this one seems a particularly good example of leaving out practically every seminal film noir and concentrating solely on the glossy A-movies with the matching box office numbers. • Stranger on the Third Floor (1940) • This Gun for Hire (1942) • Murder My Sweet (1944) • Laura (1944) • Leave Her to Heaven (1945) • Detour (1945) • The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946) • The Blue Dahlia (1946) • Notorious (1946) • Gilda (1946) • Out of the Past (1947) • Kiss of Death (1947) • Crossfire (1947) • Force of Evil (1948) • Act of Violence (1948) • Cry of the City (1948) • He Walked by Night (1948) • Criss Cross (1949) • D.O.A. (1949) • Impact (1949) • Night and the City (1950) • Gun Crazy (1950) • On Dangerous Ground (1952) • Pickup on South Street (1953) • Angel Face (1953) • The Big Combo (1955) • The Killing (1957) ... just to mention a few.

[@Megz47506]

Thank you for including Notorious on this list! That movie is perfection.

[@blinkzone1]

Double Indemnity should've been #1. That is the greatest film noir IMO

[@audiophileman7047]

I can really understand why you would say that, but I think that The Third Man beats it by a hair due to Orson Welles' genius as a film maker.

[@robertplattner1636]

@@audiophileman7047 Orson Welles didn’t direct it though, he only acted in it. Carol Reed directed it.

[@audiophileman7047]

@@robertplattner1636 Thanks for clearing that up. It's a great movie either way.

[@robertplattner1636]

@@audiophileman7047 I absolutely agree! It’s one of my favorites! Orson Welles absolutely steals the show!

[@audiophileman7047]

@@robertplattner1636 From The Mercury Theatre War of the Worlds broadcast to Citizen Kane and just about everything else he did, he was truly excellent and a genuine innovator! As you may know, they called him the "boy genius". I consider him to be the greatest and most important media artist of the 20th Century! 👍👍👍👍👍

[@DL6379R]

wow had to watch the third man for my film studies course last year and boy am i glad i did, the scene in the ferris wheel is one the most unforgettable scenes i have ever viewed in a movie

[@MFGreth]

Beautiful, wonderful list

[@AngusMilneVids]

touch of evil and maltese falcon r the best

[@Cleon29Warrior]

It's kinda interesting and unusual list, but it has some serious flaws. Out of the past should be on the top and you didn't even mention Detour, Laura, The killing, The postman always rings twice, SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS, Gilda, Lady from Shanghai.............

[@ClarqueAllen]

Also no Touch of Evil

[@PurpleCloud619]

Cleon29Warrior Exactly right. And what about, The Woman in the Window, To Have & Have Not, Key Largo, Scarlet Street, Gaslight, Angels With Dirty Faces and White Heat.

[@michaelcioni8599]

Touch of Evil was included as #5

[@mikelipsey8837]

I agree Laura needs to be top 10, maybe Gilda; but, Detour is not even top 30.

[@duskinsmoviereviews297]

@@mikelipsey8837 I completely disagree. Give me Detour over Laura any day. Yes detour is really cheaply made and doesn't have any big stars but it's at least atmospheric and forbiddening unlike laura which is a snooze fest

[@user-do1zx1pj6o]

Also Asphalt Jungle , The Killing , The Man Who Knew Too Much , The Wrong Man , Double Indemnity

[@TDH24Live]

Those classic films seem so intriguing

[@Stiffkittens01]

I know it fall outside the timezone you set, but my fave noir films are L.A. Confidential & Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid

[@GinEric84]

Neither of those are of the genre

[@D-FensDogG]

Yes, they are. But they are more precisely categorized as "Neo-Noir".

[@CarlosRiveraFernandez]

If it were up to me, I'd have made an exception to the rules just to put in Chinatown.

[@chrishenson4450]

The soundtrack to “The Third Man,” written and performed entirely on the zither by Anton Karas, is a work of remarkable genius and absolutely makes the film. To call it “comical” robs this list of any cred noir it may have had.

[@richardscanlan3419]

"The Third Man" "Touch of Evil" "The Asphalt Jungle" These 3 belong there.I,naturally have copies of all of them. "D.O.A" (1947) :Pickup on South Street' (1950). A place should be found for them in the top 10.

[@JoeyPsych]

why isn't this video loading, has it been removed?