Are you a fan of the gritty British crime drama Luther? The TV show first premiered in 2010 and, since then, won a legion of hardcore fans. Now it’s time to offer you our recommendations for movies like Luther – we are sure you’re going to appreciate it.
The story resolves around DCI John Luther (starring Idris Elba) – a detective with unorthodox working methods. And some might say – questionable ethics. He’s brilliant in his job but also troubled as a human being. Although he always finds a way to break the case, John Luther will not get an award for playing by the book. Except for Idris Elba, in the Luther cast we can also find actors like Ruth Wilson, Dermot Crowley, Warren Brown, Indira Varma, etc.
Luther gathered critical acclaim for its few seasons because of its intense storylines and intriguing crime cases. DCI John Luther himself became a cult hero regardless of his habits of bending the law in his favor.
Throughout the series, DCI John Luther is chasing all kinds of criminal scum – from serial killers to organized crime syndicates. At the same time, he fights his inner demons and tries to stay on the right side of the law. And you can see it’s not an easy thing to do. Not for him.
In 2023, we got the opportunity to watch the first movie based on the Luther series – Luther: The Fallen Sun. Directed by Jamie Payne, this rough crime drama is available for streaming on Netflix.
If you have already watched Luther: The Fallen Sun and liked it, we can give you 10 similar recommendations. Have fun!
Se7en (1995)
Created in 1995 by the brilliant director David Fincher, Se7en remains in movie history as one of the most fascinating psychological thrillers of all time. Starring great actors such as Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, and Kevin Spacey, Se7en follows the work of two dedicated detectives and their hunt for a gruesome serial killer. What’s more different about this case? The killer targets his victims based on the seven deadly sins.
One of the best things about David Fincher’s flick is its gritty atmosphere which adds to the tension. Meanwhile, the movie’s end will offer you a shocking conclusion you’re not ready for.
Today Se7en is considered a true classic in the thriller genre. The actors’ performances are legendary, while the composer Howard Shore did terrific work with the movie. It’s one of the movies like Luther we can offer you.
Zodiac (2007)
Who’s the mystery Zodiac killer? His identity remains unknown decades after his horrific killings. This man terrorized the San Francisco Bay Area in the late 60s until his killings suddenly stopped. He’s known for his incredible attention to detail and how he sent different riddles to the police and press.
Directed by David Fincher again, Zodiac premiered on the big screen in 2007. In the movie’s cast, we find actors such as Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, and Robert Downey Jr. The movie plot spans several decades and focuses on the ongoing investigation of the Zodiac Killer. Jake Gyllenhaal portrays Robert Graysmith – a San Francisco cartoonist who gets obsessed with the killer. He starts his own investigation into his crimes.
It’s a terrific movie to watch. Just as always, David Fincher’s attention to detail is unmatched. Now Zodiac is a cult classic and regarded as one of the best true-crime dramas ever created. And one of the Luther similar movies.
Memories of Murder (2003)
Memories of Murder is a Korean crime drama directed by the renowned filmmaker and Academy Award winner Bong Joon-ho. Just like Zodiac, it’s based on a true story. The plot follows the details of the first ever serial killer case in the history of South Korea – between 1986 and 1991.
The action takes us to a rural Korean city. It introduces us to two police detectives investigating multiple brutal murders of young women. It’s a complex case, though – the detectives have to deal with constant pressure to solve the matter as quickly as possible. At the same time, they lack enough resources and expertise to do the job.
The investigation of the murders drags for years while the tension between the detectives grows. The unsolved case takes a psychological toll on them. At some moment, viewers can’t help themselves but start thinking about the true nature of justice. Memories of Murder is a perfect example of a movie that portrays police work in the most realistic way possible. It’s Bong Joon-ho’s breakthrough movie and one of the best Korean flicks ever. And one of the best movies like Luther.
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
You can’t make such a list without mentioning one of the most legendary psychological thrillers of all time – The Silence of the Lambs. Directed by Jonathan Damme and starring Sir Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster, The Silence of the Lambs is based on the book of the same name written by Thomas Harris.
In the center of the plot, we find the young FBI agent Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster), tasked with interviewing the highly-intelligent serial killer Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins). Although Hopkins doesn’t get more than 16 minutes of screen time, his performance as Dr. Lecter remains legendary in the history of cinema. Except for his conversations with Clarice, one of the memorable scenes in the movie is how he escapes from custody.
Except for the brilliant acting, the intense atmosphere makes The Silence of the Lambs one of the most brilliant psychological thrillers ever made. It won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor/Best Actress. Today we can call it a movie that impacted pop culture in a really huge way. And one of the films like Luther.
True Detective (2014 – 2019)
If you look for movies similar to Luther, pay attention here. Created by HBO and telling a different story each season, True Detective is one of the most intense crime dramas we’ve ever watched. It debuted in 2014 with Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson as the leading actors, while in the third season, we had the opportunity to watch another Academy Award winner – Mahershala Ali.
Many things make True Detective one of the greatest crime shows of all time. It’s the flawless writing, the impressive acting, the cinematic style, and the gritty cases of mystery. We also see how the writers explore essential topics such as power and corruption.
It’s a thought-provoking show, so be ready to watch it open-mindedly. You will thank us later.
Mindhunter (2017 – 2019)
Once again, David Fincher is involved in this stunning crime drama you can stream on Netflix. While Fincher acts as an executive producer of Mindhunter, the show is created by Joe Penhall.
It is set in the late 1970s and the early 1980s when two FBI agents are responsible for leading a new department of the Bureau – the so-called Behavioral Science Unit. Their job is to interview serial killers and use the information they receive to develop new techniques for criminal profiling. And eventually, use these new techniques in solving complicated cases.
During Mindhunter’s two seasons, the protagonists, Holden and Bill, interview real-life serial killers like Ed Kemper, Jerry Brudos, and Richard Speck. But what’s the price for this, and what’s the psychological toll on the two agents? You can see that in Mindhunter – one of Netflix’s best shows ever.
The Killing (2011 – 2014)
Still looking for films similar to Luther? Here we go. This show was created by Veena Sud, and it’s based on the Danish TV series Forbrydelsen. It follows the investigation of the murder of a teenage girl in Seattle. Each one of the episodes of the first two seasons follows a day of police work regarding Rosie’s shocking death. The later seasons shift the attention to other cases, but it remains as intriguing as ever.
Many things make AMC’ The Killing so good to watch: the moody atmosphere, the complex and well-built characters, and the well-written plot. When they show the investigation of Rosie’s murder, they actually show it from different perspectives: the police, the victim’s family, and the suspects.
The lead actors, Mireille Enos and Joel Kinnaman, were praised for their work in The Killing. At the same time, the end of the second season will probably surprise you – is Rosie’s murder going to be solved? We will leave it for you to see. It’s one of the finest movies like Luther.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)
Based on Stieg Larsson’s novels, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo allows seeing renowned actors like Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, and Christopher Plummer in action. The story follows the journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig), who a wealthy man hires to investigate the disappearance of his niece.
To crack the case, Mikael teams up with a talented young hacker (Rooney Mara), who helps him dive into the mystery and uncover the truth behind everything.
While Stieg Larsson’s books became a global sensation, the movie also stood its ground. It was praised for its stylish direction and intense atmosphere. At the same time, the Academy nominated Rooney Mara for her portrayal of the troubled hacker Lisbeth Salander. We can advise you to start with the novels and then move to the film adaptation.
Hannibal (2013-2015)
Once again, we meet with Dr. Hannibal Lecter – the legendary horror character created by Thomas Harris. In 2013 we saw another adaption of Lecter’s tale, but this time as a TV show. Mads Mikkelsen was simply brilliant as Hannibal, which didn’t help the show as it got canceled after its second season. It was a bummer because it was so good.
Developed for television by Bryan Fuller, Hannibal is one of the most stylish TV shows you can watch. It follows the unique relationship between Dr. Lecter and the young FBI agent Will Graham (Hugh Dancy). The show’s visuals were stunning, while the acting was flawless – Hannibal had it all before it was shockingly canceled for no reason.
There were rumors that Hannibal could continue its existence on another network, but there’s nothing concrete about that. We can only hope that someday the show is going to be resurrected. It’s one of the best movies like Luther.
Broadchurch (2013 – 2017)
We finish our list with Broadchurch – a British crime drama about two detectives investigating a murder that shocked a small town in Dorset, England.
Broadchurch will impress you with its fantastic storytelling and how it addresses sensitive topics such as trauma, grief, and sexual assault. Each show season focused on a different case, but the quality remained the same. One of the most exciting things about it is how it shows the way crime affects the community and how everyone deals with it differently.
Nowadays, we can call Broadchurch a true classic in the genre, and it’s a must-watch for every crime fan. It’s one of the Luther: The Fallen Sun similar movies.
So, that’s it. You can now watch Luther online on Netflix but don’t miss these recommendations as well. They are worthy!
FAQ:
Is there going to be a Luther Season 6?
Most likely – no. The show’s creator Neil Cross admitted that there are no plans to continue the TV show. But there could be another movie.
Is the Luther film good?
Yes, it’s a pretty good movie. The movie didn’t betray the show’s fans. We can say it was up to the show’s standards.
The movie about DCI John Luther where to watch?
You can stream Luther: The Fallen Sun on Netflix.