45 Great Movies About Going Undercover

From cops posing as crooks to men posing as women, this is the definitive list of undercover movies.

There are many reasons why people go incognito and pretend to be someone they’re not. Sometimes it’s for the greater good, like bringing down criminal empires or bringing funky music to religious types. Other times the purpose is more nefarious, like when White Chicks sought to torture movie-goers like me who were dumb enough to buy the DVD and watch it. For me, though, the best undercover stories are the ones where the players involved walk the line between good and evil, forced to compromise their values along the way, always at risk of being drawn towards the dark side.

This list features all sorts of movies, though. Movies that you can watch with your friends and families, as well as movies that are best watched in secret when no one is around. The beauty of going undercover is that there’s plenty of reasons for doing it and cinema has responded accordingly throughout the years with a diverse range of stories, spread across an array of genres.

There are similarities between most of these movies, but there’s still something for all kinds of film fan — from hard crime thrillers to gender-swapped comedies. Apart from the ones who just don’t like movies about liars anyway. If that’s the case then I recommend you go read a list that promotes something admirable and truthful. I recommend Valerie’s Celebration of LGBTQ Movies and TV Shows with Happy Endings if that’s the case.

45. 2 Fast 2 Furious

While this will never be regarded as the franchise’s frontrunner, the film is still a lot of fun thanks to the charming chemistry between Paul Walker and a hungry Tyrese Gibson. Here, the loveable pair of rogues are recruited by the cops to infiltrate a Miami drug kingpin, win his trust, and take him down. Throw some fast cars and Chingy songs into the mix and you have all the right ingredients for an early 2000’s recipe for success.

44. In Too Deep

The 90’s was somewhat of a golden age for gritty crime dramas starring rappers in prominent roles. Most of them showed that there was more to these artists than spitting rhymes as well. This one is particularly good, and features LL Cool J as a violent crime lord giving a performance that goes harder than “Mama Said Knock You Out.” In Too Deep is conventional and by-the-book in many ways as far as crime-thrillers go, but its lack of originality is made up for by strong performances and gritty urban flavor.

43. Deep Cover

Just how far would you be willing to go to get the job done? That’s the question cop Russell Stevens (Laurence Fishburne) must ask himself as he ascends the L.A. drug underworld to reach its king (Jeff Goldblum). Naturally, this results in our guy doing some pretty bad things and losing sense of his cop values, which makes for one hell of a movie experience.

42. Betrayed

A FBI agent is sent undercover to America’s heartland to investigate the murder of a talk show host at the hands of some white supremacists. Upon arrival, she ends up falling in love with one of the suspected killers and the family life he can offer her. Talk about a problematic dilemma. That said, by focusing on the everyday lives of these people, as well as their hateful worldview, Betrayed makes for quite a thought-provoking examination of racism.

41. Stone

I previously discussed the awesomeness of this movie in our Ozploitation list. But any opportunity I get to talk about this gem, you know I will. The movie follows a cop who joins a biker gang in order to track down the killer who’s been offing its members. What ensues is lots of partying, violence, and badass types riding motorcycles. However, like Easy Rider and The Wild Angels before it, Stone offers a glimpse into a counter-culture that rode the highways.

40. Kindergarten Cop

Like most children who grew up in the 90’s, my introduction to undercover cop movies was this comedy starring Arnold Schwarzenegger a hulking oak police officer posing as a kindergarten teacher. Even as an adult, though, the film holds up spectacularly well as wholesome family fun. At the time, Kindergarten Cop also marked a change of pace for Arnie, who’d primarily featured in macho action fare until then. This showed that he could do comedy as well, and further proved that he is a god among mortals.

39. Beyond the Law

Before Charlie Sheen thought he was a rock star from Mars, he was a mere mortal actor who starred in some cool movies back in the 90’s. One of those movies was Beyond the Law, which saw him sport a mullet and pretend to be a biker. In the film, he’s a cop tasked with taking down a gang that specializes in weapons and drugs. Michael Madsen also stars and rounds off a cast of talent who could have been much bigger if they didn’t party so hard irl.

38. Foxy Brown

Pam Grier is the original female action star of American cinema. In the 70’s she paved the way for women to break into the genre and show that they could kick as much ass as their male counterparts. Alongside Coffy and Jackie Brown, Foxy Brown is a career-defining role and one of her best to boot. In the movie, she poses as a prostitute out to avenge the death of her boyfriend who was assassinated by the mob. And you best believe that she don’t take no jive.

37. Miami Vice

Michael Mann’s adaptation of the 80’s TV series of the same name isn’t on the same level as the original. Nothing really is, though, is it? However, it’s a much better movie than its reputation suggests and functions as a highly-enjoyable crime-thriller in its own right. I suspect this one will also be subject of multiple think pieces when Vin Diesel’s TV reboot arrives in the near future.

36. A Scanner Darkly

Forget the fact that Alex Jones has a small role in this one. Richard Linklater’s foray into animation, based on the Philip K. Dick short story of the same name, is a treat. Set in the near future, the story follows a narcotics detective who becomes an addict after going undercover to fight the war on drugs. Like Linklater’s other animated flick, Waking Life, The rotoscoping animation makes for one hypnotic and trippy experience. Which is very fitting for a movie about drugs that’s set in the future.

35. Some Like It Hot

The first movie on this list about cross-dressing individuals follows two men who must disguise themselves as women after witnessing a the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. Of course, when one of the dudes falls in love with a woman, you know it’s only a matter of time before he blows their cover. Elsewhere, the other fella is courted by another man and much hilarity ensues. We have more movies like this to come, albeit not as classy as this one.

34. Coming to America

Not every undercover mission is crime-related. If you use online dating apps then you know first-hand that people occasionally pretend to be someone else in order to find romance. In the case of Eddie Murphy’s character in this comedy classic, it’s because he’s a rich prince and he wants to be loved as a person first and not for his wealth. To accomplish this he pretends to be a broke college student until he meets the woman of his dreams.

33. Stone Cold

If you’re like me and spend the majority of your free time watching over the top 90’s action movies, then Stone Cold is essential viewing. Bikers check? Shirtless dudes in leather? Naturally. Gung-ho action madness? You’re damn straight! Don’t be put off by the ex-footballer Brian Bosworth in the lead role either — this is campy machismo cinema at its most delightful. Of course, Bosworth isn’t the most charismatic actor on the planet (even for lowbrow action standards), but Stone Cold is pure entertainment all the same.

32. Imperium

Daniel Radcliffe has come a long way since his Hogwarts days. This is due to his constant desire to take on roles that are challenging and unpredictable. One of the best movies you’ll find in his diverse filmography is this thriller where he plays a FBI agent tasked with bringing down a Neo-Nazi terrorist group. Like most movies involving violent racists, it’s quite disturbing and not for the faint of heart. What’s more disturbing, though, is just how timely movies like this feel in the present day.

31. Gangs of New York

Martin Scorsese‘s epic period crime drama had been 32 years in the making before it saw the light of day in 2002. Inspired by Herbert Asbury’s 1928 non-fiction book “The Gangs of New York: An Informal History of the Underworld”, the story centres around an Irish immigrant who infiltrates a ruthless gang so he can avenge his father’s death. The tale is also set against the backdrop of a tumultuous time for immigrants in the Big Apple, most of whom were poverty-stricken. And while the movie isn’t entirely historically accurate, it has been praised for capturing the panic of the era in which it’s based.

30. Sister Act

Out of all the titles on this list, Sister Act has the best selection of songs. Here, the incredible Whoopi Goldberg plays a lounge singer who gets sent to a convent for her own protection. Life is uneventful among the nuns at first, but when Whoopi brings some music to their lives, things perk up and she receives widespread attention. Of course, that’s not ideal when gangsters want to make you sleep with the fishes. This inability to lay low, while fun, is what makes Whoopi’s character one of the worst nuns in cinema history.

29. 21 Jump Street/22 Jump Street

Technically this is two films, but if there’s one thing undercover movies have taught us it’s that sometimes breaking the rules is warranted. Therefore, if any list is allowed to break the rules, it’s this one. Besides, 21 Jump Street and its sequel are best viewed as a double bill anyway. They’re basically the same movie and this is acknowledged in numero deux. In both movies, Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill play cops who go undercover as fake students in the education system. As far as mainstream dumb-out comedies go, these movies get the job done.

28. Undercover Brother

Black Dynamite might be regarded as the ultimate comedic homage to Blaxploitation films, but Undercover Brother deserves some love as well. Can you dig it? In true genre spirit, we see a black undercover cop go up against a villain known as The Man, who’s real bad news. You see, this villainous cracker is trying to derail a black presidential campaign. Naturally, our titular detective isn’t about to let that happen, but white women getting in the way causes some distraction. Those damn White She Devils…

27. Rush

A common trope in these movies is protagonists who are seduced by the life of crime. Why stick to making a lousy cop salary when you could make more money and have more fun breaking the law? If you have access to the dope, why not go wild? In this regard, Rush doesn’t rewrite the rules or try to rejuvenate the genre by any means, though the film does an excellent job of exploring the descent into darkness. But it’s one of the more gripping efforts, and one which caused controversy upon release due to its portrayal of cops. There’s a gritty sense of realism here which adds to the film’s power. Meanwhile, the commentary pertaining to the drug war provides enough food for thought to elevate proceedings above standard crime-drama fare.

26. Live Like a Cop, Die Like a Man

On top of boasting one of the most memorable and badass titles in the history of cinema, this poliziotteschi thriller from Italian exploitation maestro Ruggero Deodato is mean-spirited fun of the highest order. Italian crime films of the 70’s are renowned for being excessively violent and unrestrained. Even though they were inspired by Dirty Harry, they set out to show that American crime movies were for pansies. The justice delivered here is so casually violent and insidiously right-wing that the film’s detectives would feel right at home in the imaginations of NRA members. But you have to admire Deodato’s unapologetic approach to his craft.

25. Hard Boiled

Undercover police work isn’t central to the plot of John Woo’s bullet ballet, but it plays a small part. And I am never one to turn down an opportunity to reappraise one of the finest action movies to ever grace our lives. The story follows a jaded cop who teams up with an undercover agent to take down the baddies, but that’s not important. This movies is all about thrills. The action is spectacular, culminating in a 30-minute shoot-out in a hospital that unleashes some of the finest gun-fu ever captured on film.

24. Big Momma’s House

Our next cross-dressing comedy sees Martin Lawrence play a federal agent and master of disguise. In order to protect a woman and her son from a dangerous crook, he pretends to be her southern church-going granny. At the same time, he falls in love with the woman he’s supposed to protect. However, as we all know, dating is difficult when you’re pretending to be someone’s same-sex elderly relative.

23. Donnie Brasco

Based on the true story of real-life FBI agent Joseph D. Pistone, Donnie Brasco stars Johnny Depp as an agent who infiltrates the mob. But when he gets close to a hit man (played by Al Pacino), their burgeoning friendship risks jeopardizing people’s lives. As the case progresses, it begins to take its toll on our protagonist’s personal life. But if he walks away, his new buddy faces certain death. This is top notch stuff and the performances across the board are spectacular. I miss these versions of Pacino and Depp.

22. New World

This gripping drama from South Korea is yet another story of duel roles and torn loyalties. Events revolve around a cop who’s struggling to choose between his job as a lawman and his ties to the crime syndicate he’s a part of. His own chief wants him to rise to power within the syndicate so they can control the organization from within. But this involves getting his hands dirty if he wants to eliminate his rivals who also have their eyes on the throne. Now do you understand why he’s conflicted? New World was written and directed by Park Hoon-jung, who also penned I Saw the Devil — another masterpiece.

21. The Raid 2

In the first installment of this Indonesian action series, we witnessed a one-man army (played by Iko Uwais) lay the smackdown to a bunch of gangsters in an apartment block. Unfortunately, this was just the beginning of his nightmare. In the sequel, he goes undercover and fights his way through the criminal underworld with the aim of bringing down the big dogs that want him dead. Here, writer-director Gareth Evans expanded the scope of his criminal universe while retaining all the stylish and bloody action that made us fall in love with it in the first place. Now please the hurry the hell up and make the third movie, Gareth.

20. City on Fire

This is one of the movies that Quentin Tarantino owes his career to, as it was the main inspiration behind Reservoir Dogs. The story follows an undercover cop who takes one last assignment before retiring — and it doesn’t involve giving out parking tickets. His task involves buddying up with a gang of thieves who are being pursued by a special police squad. This puts our hero’s life in danger as neither side knows his true identity.

19. The Mole Song: Undercover Agent Reiji

Japanese maverick Takashi Miike has made a lot of movies in his time. With so much output to his name, it’s sometimes easy to overlook a few gems from time to time. The Mole Song is far from the director’s best, but it’s a silly, over-the-top action-comedy about an inept detective that showcases Miike at his most unabashedly fun. Movies like are an acquired taste, but if you can appreciate some cartoonish energy and weirdness, The Mole Song is well worth a spin.

18. Man of the House

Tommy Lee Jones is no stranger to playing tough law enforcement officers — especially of the cranky Texan variety — but how often do we get to see him pretend to be a cheerleading coach? Not enough is the answer to that question. Thankfully, though, Man of the House exists, which sees Jones play a cranky old Ranger who goes undercover as a coach to protect a high school cheerleading squad from mobsters. What ensues is a lighthearted and surprisingly fun comedy about a grumpy old man in the company of annoying teenagers.

17. The Street with No Name

As a Samuel Fuller die-hard, I was tempted to put his loose remake of this movie on the list as well. House of Bamboo also deserves to be seen and worshipped at the holy alter of hard-boiled crime classics. The Street with No Name, though, is a gritty gem of a flick. Shot with a sense of documentary-esque realism, the story follows an operative who joins a gang and helps them plan a robbery that will lead them into the authorities clutches. But there’s an informant in the force, and it’s only a matter of time before the crooks do the math…

16. District 13

This is a prime example of how to take a familiar premise and turn it into something special. On paper this is another tale of a cop who must pose as someone else to prevent a tragedy. In this case it’s a bomb attack in the Paris ghettos. Where District 13 shines, however, is through its use of parkour, which makes for some dazzling action sequences. The film’s protagonist, David Belle, is also regarded as the founder of the discipline. This is legit.

15. Mrs. Doubtfire

The final movie on this list about a man pretending to be a lady is also the most heart-warming of the bunch. Sure, the movie is very silly and features Aerosmith’s “Dude Looks Like a Lady” to really hammer the point home. At the same time, Robin Williams is so damn good that you really believe that this is a father who’ll do anything to be with his kids. Even if that means pretending to be their nanny, unbeknownst to them and his ex-wife.

14. House of Flying Daggers

Ancient China provides the backdrop for the next movie on our list. In this visually stunning wuxia epic, two government agents track down a beautiful dancer who’s in business with a rebel group that steals from the rich and gives to the poor. Those bastards. All is going to plan until her charms enrapture them, though, which leads to them helping her escape instead.

13. Eastern Promises

Although David Cronenberg is arguably most known for his body horror pictures, his fascination with garish violence ahas featured in his crime sagas as well. Easter Promises adopts the framework of a mafia drama, but themes that are commonplace in the director’s wackier output are present here. Revealing the undercover element of this movie is too much of a spoiler, but it’s exploration of collective and individual violence makes for a fascinating dissection of the Russian mob. If you’re easily squeamish then there are a couple of scenes in this that will require a sick bag. There is one throat-slicing scene that is particularly grim.

12. White Heat

James Cagney is Cody Jarrett, a violent gang leader with a cunning plan to get off with a daring heist… sort of. After robbing a train, he confesses to a lesser crime so the cops don’t pin the big one on him. The cops want him to go down for life, though, so they place an undercover agent in his cell in the hopes Jarrett spills the beans to him. Together they end up busting out, which leads to Jarrett reaching the top of the world.

11. Infernal Affairs

A cop goes undercover and rises to the top of a Triad society. Meanwhile, a Triad member joins the police force to be a mole for his gang. With both men at the top of their respective hierarchies, it’s only a matter of time before their paths cross.

10. Point Break

If you don’t root for Keanu Reeves siding with criminals during this movie, then you don’t have a heart. In this action extravaganza, the great man plays a cop who infiltrates a surfer gang who’ve been dressing up as presidents and committing robberies. They’re addicted to the thrill of thievery as it gives them the same rush as riding the waves and jumping out of planes. Things get complicated when he develops a bromance with their leader and falls in love with a sweet surfer woman.

9. The Fast and the Furious

10 years after Point Break, this movie basically stole the same idea and replaced the surfing with street racing. Fortunately, this is a prime example of how to make a successful copycat movie with its own identity, as it paved the way for one of the most prosperous and fun franchises of all time.

8. BlacKkKlansman

Stating that movies about racism are topical in the modern age is too damn obvious. But that doesn’t dismiss the truthfulness of the statement. When it comes to addressing hot-button issues about race relations in America, though, few pack a punch as hard as Spike Lee‘s. BlacKkKlansman was inspired by the real-life true story of Ron Stallworth, a black cop who infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan in Colorado Springs in the late 70’s. Lee uses this story to explore the contemporary socio-political divide as well. The film traverses American history — both past and present — and explores the country’s long-standing history with white supremacy.  The movie is angry and provocative. It’s also funny and accessible. The closing moments are revelatory and necessary.

7. Serpico

Sidney Lumet’s tale of police corruption follows Frank Serpico (Al Pacino), a whistleblowing cop out to expose the criminals in the NYPD. When he’s not rooting out the filth in the force, he hangs out with a shaggy dog. The movie is also based on a true story, which you can read all about in “Serpico: The Cop Who Defied the System” by Peter Maas.

6. Face/Off

The second John Woo movie to make this list is the only good Hollywood movies he’s made so far — but it’s very good. The story follows an FBI agent who undergoes facial transplant surgery and assumes the identity of a terrorist. He wants to stop a tragedy and is prepared to go above and beyond. But the plan turns from bad to worse when the same terrorist impersonates the FBI agent and sets about ruining his life. John Travolta and Nic Cage co-star as the identity-swapped rivals and ham it up spectacularly. Read all about it here.

5. Miss Congeniality

In this excellent fish-out-of-water comedy, a terrorist plot threatens a beauty pageant. A tomboy FBI agent must go undercover by posing as a contestant. The only trouble is that she’s not exactly a girly girl like the other contestants. She prides herself on being a tomboy, but if she’s going to save the day then she’s going to have to undergo a massive transformation.

4. Cruising

This one is much more disturbing than the other entries on the list. The story focuses on a serial killer that’s targeting gay men. Al Pacino plays a cop who goes undercover in the underground S&M scene to flush the lunatic out. The film was controversial upon release and criticized for stigmatizing gay people and inciting hate crimes. Director William Friedkin has denied any anti-gay sentiments, but the film’s legacy is one of sheer divisiveness all the same.

3. Reservoir Dogs

As far as debut features by hotshot young directors go, Quentin Tarantino’s is arguably the most impressive. As our own Brian Salisbury notes, “QT didn’t simply hit the ground running with a smart, engaging neo-noir, he also helped jump-start an indie film revolution.” The story takes place during the aftermath of a heist gone wrong. The surviving criminals can smell a rat, and tensions get heated. This is also the movie that made black suits and shades cool again in the 90’s.

2. Prince of the City

Sidney Lumet’s thick but nonetheless compelling drama stars Treat Williams as a Manhattan detective who agrees to help the U.S. Department of Justice expose corruption in the NYPD. It’s also the perfect companion piece to Serpico in many ways, though it’s far more complex and rewarding. With Prince of the City, Lumet explored similar themes but on a much bigger and more sprawling canvas. And that’s a big compliment, I know, considering that Serpico is magnificent.

1. The Departed

Scorsese has been robbed of Oscars too many times to count, but he finally won the big one for this remake of Infernal Affairs. This is one movie that defies the opinion that all remakes are turds. Not only is The Departed a testament to how good they can be, it’s also a prime example of how great filmmakers don’t even make redos feel like a new version of someone else’s work. The Departed borrows the same premise as Infernal Affairs and pays tribute to it here and there. But the end product is an accessible and epic crime saga that ranks among Scorsese’s very best.

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