Spider-Noir arrived on Prime Video on May 27, 2026, and quickly became a hit with both critics and audiences. The show currently holds a 91% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes with a 93% audience score. Starring Nicolas Cage as Ben Reilly, a washed-up private investigator in 1930s New York who also happens to be a superhero, the series pays tribute to classic film noir in every frame. If you finished the eight-episode season and want more of that gritty, stylish, and sarcastic energy, here are seven essential noir movies that capture the same spirit.
The Maltese Falcon (1941)
This is the film that started it all for many noir fans. Directed by John Huston, The Maltese Falcon stars Humphrey Bogart as Sam Spade, a private detective who gets caught up in a hunt for a priceless statue after his partner is murdered. The movie is packed with sharp dialogue, shady characters, and a hero who is more cynical than heroic.
Nicolas Cage has said his Spider-Noir performance was “70 percent” inspired by Humphrey Bogart. Watching Bogart’s Sam Spade, you will instantly recognize where Ben Reilly’s sarcastic tone and world-weary attitude come from. Spade’s famous speech about his murdered partner sets the tone for the whole genre.
“When a man’s partner is killed, he’s supposed to do something about it. It doesn’t make any difference what you thought of him. He was your partner, and you’re supposed to do something about it.”
The film is currently available to stream on Prime Video and Apple TV in most regions.
The Big Heat (1953)
Directed by Fritz Lang, The Big Heat follows Glenn Ford as Dave Bannion, a cop who goes after a powerful mobster after his wife is killed. Like Spider-Noir’s Ben Reilly, Bannion is not a clean-cut hero. He is driven by rage and a desire for revenge. The film shows the dark underbelly of a city controlled by corruption, much like the 1930s New York seen in the series. The movie is known for its brutal violence and a famous coffee scene that still shocks viewers today. It is available on TCM and for digital rental on major platforms.
Key Largo (1948)
Another Humphrey Bogart classic, Key Largo teams him up with Lauren Bacall. The story takes place mostly in one location, a hotel in the Florida Keys during a hurricane. A gangster played by Edward G. Robinson holds a group of people hostage. The movie has the same feeling of being trapped in a bad situation with no easy way out, similar to many situations Ben Reilly faces. Bogart’s dry sense of humor and his character’s refusal to back down from evil make this a must-watch. The film is available on Max and Prime Video.
Laura (1944)
Laura is a different kind of noir. Directed by Otto Preminger, it follows Dana Andrews as a detective investigating the murder of a beautiful socialite named Laura Hunt, played by Gene Tierney. The twist? Laura is actually alive. The detective has to find the killer before they finish the job. This movie features Vincent Price in an early role as Laura’s boyfriend. The film has the same kind of mystery and complicated personal relationships seen in Spider-Noir, especially with characters like Cat Hardy. The movie is available on Disney+ and Hulu.
Double Indemnity (1944)
Considered by many to be the perfect film noir, Double Indemnity comes from director Billy Wilder. It stars Fred MacMurray as an insurance salesman and Barbara Stanwyck as a dangerous woman who convinces him to help kill her husband. The movie is told in flashback, a common noir trick, with the main character already wounded and confessing into a tape recorder. The fast, clever dialogue and the theme of a man being pulled into a crime he cannot control fit perfectly with what Spider-Noir does. The film is available on Paramount+ and Prime Video.
The Third Man (1949)
Set in post-World War II Vienna, The Third Man has a unique look that influenced Spider-Noir’s visual style. Director Carol Reed used tilted camera angles, called Dutch angles, to make the audience feel like the world is off balance. The story follows a writer who goes to Vienna to find his old friend, only to discover he may have died. Or is he still alive? Orson Welles gives a short but unforgettable performance. The movie’s feeling of a city full of spies and criminals after a war is very similar to the dangerous New York of Spider-Noir. The film is available on Max and The Criterion Channel.
Chinatown (1974)
Chinatown is a neo-noir, meaning it was made long after the classic noir period ended. But it captures the feeling of the old movies perfectly. Directed by Roman Polanski, it stars Jack Nicholson as a private eye in 1930s Los Angeles who gets involved in a case about water rights, murder, and family secrets. Like Ben Reilly, Nicholson’s character J.J. Gittes thinks he is smart and in control, but he quickly learns he is in over his head. The movie has a famously dark ending that stays with you. Chinatown is available on Paramount+ and Pluto TV.
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If you want to continue with a more modern take, L.A. Confidential (1997) and Brick (2005) are also excellent choices. L.A. Confidential shows three very different cops in 1950s Los Angeles, while Brick puts noir dialogue and characters into a high school setting. Both are available on multiple streaming services.
Also Read: Veteran Actor James Handy Dead at 81 After Fatal Stabbing at Los Angeles Home
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