Movies and TV shows like A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story
If you like "A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story" you are looking for emotional, dark and dramatic movies or TV shows about / with true crime, death sentence, biopic, jealousy, female protagonist, guilt and execution themes of Crime, Drama and History genre shot in UK.
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A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story (2025)
2K
Genre: Crime, Drama, History
Country: UK
TV show
Story:
A 1950s true crime drama about Ruth Ellis, the last woman in Britain to be hanged. This startling story reveals hidden truths about Ruth's murder of her lover, the legal case surrounding it and those who were also complicit.
Style:
emotional, dark, dramatic, intense, atmospheric, bleak, noir, tragic, period drama
Plot:
true crime, death sentence, biopic, jealousy, female protagonist, guilt, execution, moral ambiguity, trial, domestic abuse, passion, obsession, nightclub, nightlife, remorse, scandal, police investigation, courtroom, accomplice, legal battle, feminism, murder, hanged woman, death penalty, capital punishment
Time:
1950s
Place:
britain, london
Movie in categories
Most similar movies to A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story
The list contains related movies ordered by similarity. Recommendation engine sorted out tense, dark, captivating and suspenseful films and TV series with plots about murder, investigation, true crime, moral ambiguity, obsession, cold case and slow burn mostly in Drama, Crime and History genres. Some movies like A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story: The Sixth Commandment (2023), Steeltown Murders (2023), Until I Kill You (2024), The Gold (2023), Happy Face (2025). The matching attributes are highlighted in bold.
Genre: Crime, Drama, History
Country: UK
Duration: 58 min.
TV show
Story:
A series that dramatises the shocking story of the true-life murder of former Stowe schoolmaster and deeply closeted evangelical Christian, 69-year-old Peter Farquhar by his 28-year-old student and young churchwarden Ben Field in October 2015.
Style:
crime drama, captivating, thrilling, psychological thriller, tense ...
Plot:
psychopath, true crime, murder, secret, life is a bitch, deception, manipulation, religion, trust, investigation, betrayal, moral ambiguity ...
Time:
2010s
Similarity:
95%
Genre: Crime, Drama, History, Mystery, Thriller
Country: UK
Duration: 58 min.
TV show
Story:
The hunt to catch the killer of three young women in the Port Talbot area in 1973 and the remarkable story of how - in the first case of its kind - the mystery was solved almost 30 years later using pioneering DNA evidence. Contrasting the policing ...
Style:
suspenseful, tense, captivating, thrilling, bleak ...
Plot:
murder mystery, investigation, police detective, criminal, police investigation, police procedural, serial killer, cold case, true crime, murder, murderer, murder investigation ...
Time:
2000s, 70s
Place:
wales
Similarity:
85%
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 45 min.
TV show
Story:
A extraordinary true story of Delia Balmer, who survived a near-fatal relationship with murderer John Sweeney. The series narrates the ordeal Delia suffered at the hands of John Sweeney, and her traumatic journey through the police and criminal ...
Style:
crime drama, tense, intense, psychological thriller, emotional ...
Plot:
murderer, true crime, female protagonist, domestic violence, survival, abusive relationship, resilience, police investigation, manipulation, stalking, psychological abuse, obsession ...
Place:
amsterdam
Similarity:
80%
10K
Genre: Crime, Drama, History
Country: UK
Duration: 58 min.
TV show
Story:
November 26th 1983, six armed men steal £26m worth of gold from the Brink’s-Mat security depot and set about trying to dispose of the bullion.
Style:
suspenseful, crime drama, captivating, exciting, dark ...
Plot:
robbery, masked robber, true crime, heist, stolen gold, gold, gold bar, burglar, crime investigation, criminal, underworld, greed ...
Time:
80s
Place:
london
Similarity:
70%
Movie in collections
Genre: Biography, Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 57 min.
TV show
Story:
The story of Melissa Reed, daughter of Keith Jesperson, aka the Happy Face Killer. After decades of no contact, Keith forces his way back into his daughter’s life, and Melissa must find out if an innocent man is going to be put to death for a ...
Style:
tense, intense, psychological thriller, emotional, dark ...
Plot:
true crime, serial killer, identity crisis, family drama, biopic, father daughter relationship, investigation, trauma, identity, justice, female protagonist, wrongful conviction ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
north america
Similarity:
66%
Genre: Crime, Drama, History
Country: UK
TV show
Story:
London is rocked by terrorist attacks as armed police shoot dead an innocent man on his way to work.
Style:
suspense, tragic
Plot:
true crime, civil rights, justice, investigation, urban, retiring, british politics, ethics, empathy, scandal, surveillance, media coverage ...
Time:
2010s, 20th century, 2000s, year 2007, year 2005
Place:
london
Similarity:
63%
Genre: Crime, Drama, History
Country: UK
Duration: 60 min.
TV show
Story:
Follows the ongoing struggle by Doreen and Neville Lawrence to achieve justice and how a detective, DCI Clive Driscoll - working closely with the Lawrences - puts together an investigation that finally - more than 18 years after his death - secures ...
Style:
tense, thrilling, captivating, thought provoking, emotional ...
Plot:
murder investigation, racial injustice, true crime, realism, biopic, racial tension, uncover truth, crime solving, homicide detective, police detective, police investigation, investigation ...
Time:
90s, 2000s, 2010s
Similarity:
59%
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 180 min.
TV show
Story:
True crime docu-series about Maxine Carr and Ian Huntley.
Style:
suspenseful, crime drama, captivating, exciting, serious ...
Plot:
true crime, small town, investigation, crime investigation, murder case, murder investigation, murderer, framed for murder, school, murder, homicide detective, schoolgirl ...
Time:
2000s
Similarity:
55%
Movie in collections
454
Genre: Crime, Drama, History, War
Country: Poland
Duration: 45 min.
TV show
Story:
Edward Popielski, a Polish detective, who suffers from photogenic epilepsy, which helps him track down criminals.
Style:
detective, suspenseful, captivating, exciting, serious ...
Plot:
investigation, sex scene, murder, police, crime investigation, dark killer, female nudity, rape, police investigation, crime scene, police officer, police detective ...
Time:
1930s
Place:
poland
Similarity:
51%
Genre: Crime, Drama, History
Country: USA, Poland
TV show
Story:
Commissioner Franz Podolsky investigates a brutal murder and, because of the upcoming Olympic Games, the pressure is on to catch the murderer.
Style:
detective, brutal, suspenseful, tense, dark ...
Plot:
investigation, cat and mouse, murder, police procedural, polish, serial killer, moral ambiguity, urban, suspicion, violent, post war, corruption ...
Time:
1930s, 1940s, year 1936, 20th century, 1950s
Similarity:
51%
Genre: Crime, Drama, History
Country: UK
Duration: 50 min.
TV show
Story:
City of Vice is a British historical crime drama television series set in Georgian London and was first screened on 14 January 2008 on Channel 4. It is produced by Touchpaper Television part of the RDF Media Group. The series mixes fiction with fact ...
Style:
captivating, serious, detective, historical drama, suspense ...
Plot:
blind character, murder, fighting crime, prostitution, legal, rivalry, gang, police, novelist, brothel, partners against crime, blind man ...
Time:
18th century, georgian era
Place:
london, england
Similarity:
49%
Genre: Crime, Drama, History, Thriller
Country: UK
Duration: 58 min.
TV show
Story:
In 1950, Timothy Evans was hanged for the murder of his baby daughter Geraldine. The police also believed that he had killed his wife Beryl. But to his final moments Evans protested his innocence. Three years later, a gruesome discovery at 10 ...
Style:
costume drama, realistic, atmospheric, bleak, melancholic ...
Plot:
true crime, serial killer, murder, british police, alter ego, hidden identity, criminal, mentally unstable, male female relationship, british, murderer, world war two ...
Time:
1940s, 1950s, 20th century, 50s
Place:
england, london
Similarity:
48%
Genre: Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 60 min.
TV show
Story:
Ann Ming is distraught when her 22-year-old daughter Julie goes missing. The police suggest that Julie must have fled to London to reunite with Julie's estranged husband, but Ann knows that Julie would never leave 5-year-old Kevin behind.
Style:
suspense, dark, tense
Audience:
adult
Plot:
true crime, miscarriage of justice, murder, missing person, cold case, acquittal, grief, mother daughter relationship, police investigation, haunting, missing child, confession ...
Time:
90s
Place:
london
Similarity:
47%
Genre: Biography, Crime, Drama, History, Sport
Country: Argentina
Duration: 44 min.
TV show
Story:
The story about Argentinian boxer Carlos Monzón in his career and life in prison.
Style:
psychological, suspense, disturbing, captivating, dark ...
Plot:
boxing, boxer, athlete's life, biopic, jail, career change, career, historical character, social problems, rise and fall, mature, prison ...
Time:
70s, 80s
Place:
argentina, latin america
Similarity:
47%
52
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: UK
Duration: 120 min.
TV show
Story:
In the summer of 1891, Oscar Wilde first met Lord Alfred Douglas — an encounter that will dramatically and tragically change both of their lives.
Style:
historical drama, emotional, dramatic, poignant, melancholic ...
Plot:
male prostitution, writers, tragedy, gay slur, sexuality, trial, british aristocracy, scandal, homosexuality, courtroom, morality, imprisonment ...
Time:
19th century, victorian era
Place:
ireland, london
Similarity:
45%
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: France
TV show
Story:
What's the worst that can happen to a police officer? Definitely an unresolved investigation. This is what happens on Boxing Day 1999. Charlotte Meyer, an 11-year-old girl, disappears without a trace. Captain Pierre Castaing, in charge of the ...
Style:
tense, crime drama, disturbing, captivating, enigmatic ...
Plot:
investigation, cold case, disappearance, missing person, missing child, police procedural, crime investigation, crime solving, police investigation, uncover truth, mysterious disappearance, haunting ...
Similarity:
44%
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: UK
Duration: 45 min.
TV show
Story:
Explores the relationship which develops between a grieving mother and the man she believes murdered her daughter.
Style:
psychological thriller, suspenseful, bleak, disturbing, captivating ...
Plot:
grief, murder, british, loss, mourning, relationships, prison visit, grieving mother, accused of murder, prison, prisoner, jail ...
Similarity:
44%
Genre: Drama, History
Country: UK
Duration: 59 min.
TV show
Story:
Sex, secrets and suspicion - the true story of a duchess publicly shamed in a high society divorce that gripped the nation.
Style:
costume drama, disturbing, psychological, captivating, period drama
Plot:
chess, divorce, duchess, aristocracy, marriage, high society, scandal, crumbling marriage, british royal family, duke, political scandal, relationship problems ...
Time:
1950s, 1940s, 60s, 20th century
Place:
london, britain
Similarity:
44%
Movie in collections
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: Sweden
Duration: 43 min.
TV show
Story:
Anna, a young and naive woman, moves to Knutby to become part of the free church congregation as a nanny, which to her seems like a warm and pious community. But soon the idyll that never existed crackles, and manipulation, power games, social ...
Style:
suspense, disturbing, captivating, dark, tension ...
Plot:
murder, religious cult, manipulation, christianity, true crime, female protagonist, fanaticism, brainwashing, religions or cults, manipulative behavior, life is a bitch, village life ...
Time:
2000s
Place:
eastern europe
Similarity:
44%
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: UK
TV show
Story:
While haunted by memories of a failed arrest that allowed the Ripton Stalker to remain free, retired detective Inspector Huw Miller becomes suspicious of his enigmatic new neighbour Patrick Harbottle.
Style:
psychological thriller, suspenseful, crime drama, tense, atmospheric ...
Plot:
cold case, investigation, obsession, guilt, stalker, cat and mouse, small town, paranoia, serial killer, isolation, slow burn, moral ambiguity ...
Similarity:
43%
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: Italy
Duration: 50 min.
TV show
Story:
The miniseries tells the eight double murders committed from 1968 to 1985, in the Florentine countryside, where young couples who were massacred appartavano in their cars looking for intimacy. It particularly emphasizes the personal battle of Renzo ...
Style:
tense, suspense, disturbing, dark, bleak ...
Plot:
serial killer, murder, true crime, investigation, murderer, killing, killing spree, victim, homicidal maniac, murder victim, criminal, serial murder ...
Time:
80s, 70s, 60s
Place:
florence, tuscany
Similarity:
42%
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: Finland
Duration: 60 min.
TV show
Story:
Kylmäverisesti sinun (Sincerely Yours in Cold Blood) is a Finnish true crime drama television series. All episodes are based on real life cases. The show follows Helsinki central police department investigator Veli Miettinen and lawyer Mira Kataja ...
Style:
detective, tense, crime drama, captivating, realistic ...
Plot:
true crime, murder investigation, police detective, murder, investigation, police procedural, sleuth, police department, partnership, lawyer, moral ambiguity, justice ...
Time:
2000s
Place:
helsinki finland, finland
Similarity:
41%
Genre: Drama, History
Country: UK
Duration: 352 min.
TV show
Story:
The minister, his mistress, and her lover the spy. The story of the woman at the centre of one of the 20th century's biggest scandals – which changed Britain forever.
Style:
psychological, disturbing, captivating, political, period drama ...
Plot:
extramarital affair, sex scandal, british prime minister, scandal, political corruption, government, post war, political scandal, political unrest, sexual relations, female protagonist, british history ...
Time:
60s, 20th century
Place:
britain
Similarity:
41%
Genre: Crime
Country: UK
Duration: 47 min.
TV show
Story:
Follow South Africa’s first forensic and investigative psychologist, Micki Pistorius (played by Charlotte Hope), as she studies the minds of South Africa's serial killers. Catch Me A Killer is an adaptation of Micki's autobiography that ...
Style:
crime drama, psychological thriller, captivating, psychological, intense ...
Plot:
serial killer, true crime, biopic, psycho killer, murderer, murder mystery, murder, killing spree, problem, forensics, investigation, trauma ...
Place:
south africa
Similarity:
41%
2K
Genre: Drama, History
Country: UK
Duration: 47 min.
TV show
Story:
Anne Williams, from Formby, near Liverpool, was devastated by the loss of her son, 15-year-old Kevin, who was tragically killed at the FA Cup semi-final in 1989 between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest. Anne stood defiantly alongside other parents ...
Style:
poignant, emotional, psychological, disturbing, captivating ...
Plot:
investigation, grief, determination, loss of family member, private investigation, tragedy, loss of child, tragic event, female protagonist, legal battle, family tragedy, resilience ...
Time:
year 1989, 80s
Place:
liverpool
Similarity:
41%
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 90 min.
TV show
Story:
Detective Cooper investigates the bizarre circumstances surrounding the murder of Matilda who was found dead in her bath wearing the Scold's Bridle.
Style:
detective, psychological thriller, crime drama, suspenseful, tense ...
Plot:
female victim, murder investigation, obsession, misogyny, macabre, suspicion, small town, jealousy, abuse of power, claustrophobia, moral ambiguity, revenge ...
Similarity:
40%
730
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 90 min.
TV show
Story:
The Vice is an ITV police drama about the Metropolitan Police Vice Unit. It ran for five short series between 1999 and 2003. It tells the story of the London Metropolitan police force's vice squad, where prostitution, underage sex, and other ...
Style:
detective, crime drama, dark, realistic, tense ...
Plot:
vice squad, sex trafficking, prostitution, sexploitation, investigation, mature, moral ambiguity, corruption, organized crime, underage sex, police corruption, slow burn ...
Time:
90s, 20th century
Place:
london
Similarity:
39%
269
Genre: Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 90 min.
Story:
The sexual rivalries over a new, potentially great rock'n'roll singer between a nightclub owner and a local gangster cause unrest and eventually lead to murder.
Style:
dark, intense, atmospheric, noir, period piece ...
Plot:
singer, nightclub, gangster, nightlife, power struggle, showbiz, jealousy, murder, music industry, character study, manipulation, tragedy ...
Time:
1950s, 50s
Place:
london, east end london
Similarity:
39%
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: Brazil
TV show
Story:
In the penitentiary complex that houses Brazil’s most famous criminals, unusual stories, intrigues and love affairs are revealed, going beyond the real crimes that shocked the nation.
Style:
psychological, intense, dark, tense, bleak ...
Plot:
true crime, imprisonment, family tragedy, violence, criminal psychology, social commentary, legal system, moral ambiguity, isolation, unsettling, morality, survival ...
Place:
brazil
Similarity:
38%
Genre: Crime, Drama
Country: UK
TV show
Story:
Set between 2002 and 2012, the drama deftly interweaves two real life stories, the uncovering of phone hacking at the News of the World, and running parallel, the investigation into the unsolved murder of private investigator Daniel Morgan.
Style:
historical drama
Plot:
journalist, hacking, abuse of power, british politics, tabloid journalism, media, court, private investigator, newspaper editor, investigation, journalism, political scandal ...
Time:
2000s, 2010s
Place:
scotland yard
Similarity:
38%
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