Movies like El cartel
If you like "El cartel" you are looking for serious, realistic and psychological movies about / with drug dealing, chase, media, journalist, business, border and drug cartel themes of Drama and Thriller genre shot in USA or Mexico.
Find your next favorite and similar movies in two steps:
1. Identify all themes of interest from this film (block below).
2. Look for them in the presented list.
El cartel (2009)
508
Original name: El cártel
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Country: USA, Mexico
Duration: 87 min.
Story:
Based on Mexico's current criminal climate, EL CÁRTEL is a rare look into the values and practices of the world's most intriguing and enigmatic industry - the multi-billion dollar business of drug trafficking. When Jules Land, a naïve business journalist, approaches Mexico's most notorious drug cartel and requests an audience with its leader, a one-time-priest turned murderous cutthroat, he quickl
Style:
serious, realistic, psychological, tense, rough, thought provoking, suspenseful
Plot:
drug dealing, chase, media, journalist, business, border, drug cartel, drugs, violence, graphic violence, journalism, clergy, criminal heroes, once in a lifetime opportunity, tough heroes, reporter, opportunity, crime, crimes
Time:
21st century, contemporary
Place:
mexico, latin america
Movie in categories
Most similar movies to El cartel
The list contains related movies ordered by similarity. Recommendation engine sorted out suspenseful, serious, realistic and tense films with plots about danger, murder, deadly, dishonesty, suspense, chases and races and journalist mostly in Drama, Thriller and Crime genres. Some movies like El cartel: Good Chemistry (2008), Beyond the Sky (2006), 600 Miles (2015), Unter Nachbarn (2011), Sabor tropical (2009). The matching attributes are highlighted in bold.
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Genre: Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 88 min.
Story:
After picking up an alluring woman,Toby, a gifted chemist slumming as a high school teacher, is kidnapped by her violent boyfriend and ordered to use his skills to create methamphetamine for a group of drug traffickers. When Toby refuses, his ...
Style:
serious, realistic, tense, rough, suspenseful
Plot:
murder, kidnapping, on the run, drug dealing, dishonesty, drug abuse, suspense, chemistry, graphic violence, farm, confined, forced into action ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
usa
⇓ similarity ⇓
95%
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: Mexico
Duration: 112 min.
Story:
Malboro and Cucu, the starring characters, are two brothers who split after the older one, Malboro, went to prison five years. One day he is set free, willing to return to his life. Cucu is the younger brother, who has become a boxer with possible ...
Style:
suspenseful, tense, realistic, serious, psychological ...
Plot:
disorder, family relations, siblings relations, estrangement, brother brother relationship, male objectification, orphan, male nudity, female bare legs, nude, mirror, urban ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
mexico, latin america
⇓ similarity ⇓
73%
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Country: Mexico, USA
Duration: 85 min.
Story:
Arnulfo Rubio smuggles weapons from Arizona to Mexico for a drug cartel, but he is being investigated by agent Harris. When agent Harris blows his covers, he and Arnulfo end up in a journey where he will be the hostage of this young criminal.
Style:
tense, serious, captivating, road movie, realistic ...
Plot:
on the run, escapades, on the road, government agency, arms dealing, criminal, border, desert, gang, reluctant partners, suspense, captive ...
Time:
2010s, 21st century
Place:
mexico, usa, arizona, latin america
⇓ similarity ⇓
71%
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Country: Germany
Duration: 96 min.
Story:
The Good Neighbour is a 2011 German film directed by Stephan Rick. It premiered in competition at the 2011 Shanghai International Film Festival and was screened at the 2011 Montreal World Film Festival and the Hof International Film Festival.
Style:
psychological, suspenseful, serious, tense, captivating ...
Plot:
friendship, journalism, neighbor, manslaughter, hidden truth, power relations, suspense, psycho, friendship between men, psychopath, journalist, car accident ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
germany
⇓ similarity ⇓
71%
Movie in collections
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Country: Panama, USA
Duration: 119 min.
Story:
Sex-charged journalist Brian is chosen by an online publication to travel to Panama and document one of Latin America s premier festival celebrations Carnaval de Las Tablas. Dangers lurk for foreigners, and caught up in the carnival madness, ...
Style:
psychological, captivating, tense, serious, realistic
Plot:
destructive relationship, latin, media, nightlife, suspense, journey, journalist, carnival, society, gay, gay erotica, journalism ...
Place:
panama
⇓ similarity ⇓
64%
Also search:
Movies like The Ides of March
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 88 min.
Story:
On the trail of her missing sister, Charlotte enlists the help of Wayne, an ex-Marine and alcoholic, to infiltrate the Church of One Accord - a community of snake-handlers who risk their lives seeking salvation in the Holy Ghost.
Style:
tense, serious, psychological, realistic, suspenseful ...
Plot:
religions or cults, rescue, uncover truth, missing person, woman in danger, clergy, religion, anti christianity, religious fanaticism, brainwashing, mountain, siblings ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
usa
⇓ similarity ⇓
63%
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: Mexico, USA
Duration: 90 min.
Story:
When her brother disappears during a brief travel layover in Mexico, Mitch begins a desperate search that will eventually lead the young divorcee into the capital city's most notorious neighborhood. But even with the aid of the American ...
Style:
tense, serious, realistic, suspenseful, talky
Plot:
missing person, mysticism, hotel, chase, murder witness, kidnapping, murder, police corruption, assassination, photograph, bespectacled male
Time:
90s
Place:
latin america, mexico, mexico city
⇓ similarity ⇓
62%
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: Sweden
Duration: 89 min.
Story:
A Swedish family found murdered in her home on the Costa del Sol in southern Spain - all except the 16-year-old daughter, who has disappeared. At first the police believe that there is a burglary gone wrong, but the more crime examined, the more ...
Style:
serious, suspenseful, realistic, psychological
Plot:
murder, journalism, media, journalist, mysticism, reporter, writers, on the run, investigation, strong female presence, ice hockey, female nudity ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
spain, morocco, europe
⇓ similarity ⇓
60%
Movie in collections
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Country: USA, Kenya, Somalia
Duration: 109 min.
Story:
In Somalia, principled, young husband and father Abdi turns to piracy to support his family. While his wife and child wait for him in Yemen, an outdated and fragile satellite phone is his only connection to all he truly values. Abdi and his fellow ...
Style:
tense, captivating, serious, realistic, psychological ...
Plot:
moral dilemma, pirate, hijacking, surrender, confined, piracy, escape, rivalry, graphic violence, hostage, power relations, realism ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
africa
⇓ similarity ⇓
58%
261
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 113 min.
Story:
When three very different people (Mike Baldwin, Will Haza, Ali Lukowski) from three completely different worlds begin a deadly game of Russian Roulette, they soon discover that their pasts are a trilogy of overlapping events that have brought them ...
Style:
tense, psychological, serious, suspenseful, non-linear ...
Plot:
russian roulette, suicide, mind game, life is a bitch, destiny, down on your luck, game of death, woman in danger, deadly, danger, unreliable narrator, gun
Time:
21st century
Place:
usa
⇓ similarity ⇓
57%
Also search:
Body Brokers related movies
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 105 min.
Story:
When a stunt man dies in Miami, his uncle, a New York mob boss, sends a hit man to tail the stunt coordinator, whom the boss wants dead. The hit man, Eric O'Bryne, gets close to his mark's daughter, and through her he asks her dad to teach ...
Style:
serious, tense, suspenseful, realistic
Audience:
boys' night
Plot:
hitman, undercover, witnessing a crime, gangsters, working undercover, introspection, crime gone awry, criminal heroes, rivalry, dishonesty, chase, vengeance ...
Place:
usa, miami, florida, new york
⇓ similarity ⇓
54%
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: Netherlands
Duration: 116 min.
Story:
The Black Widow is not dead ... Drug Queen Carmen van Walraven is hiding in Canada and leads an anonymous life there. One evening a colleague is harassed and Carmen helps her. In self-defense, she kills the perpetrator, is arrested and extradited to ...
Style:
psychological, tense, suspenseful, disturbing
Plot:
business, blind ambition, rivalry, dea, society, violence, gangsters, suspense, drugs, family relations, illegal drugs, escapades ...
Time:
21st century
⇓ similarity ⇓
52%
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min.
Story:
An average man finds himself in a position to prevent the murder of a family member -- the unnerving descent of a man caught between resilience and ruthlessness.
Style:
tense, serious, psychological, suspenseful, realistic
Plot:
moral dilemma, intrigue, dishonesty, rivalry, human nature, life is a bitch, life turned upside down, feud, murder, nude, sexual content, graphic violence ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
usa
⇓ similarity ⇓
52%
136
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Country: Argentina
Duration: 87 min.
Story:
"Chicos ricos" obviously tells the story of two successful advertisers Andy and Tomás who worked outside the country and have now joined an agency in Buenos Aires. The film takes place almost entirely in a large house where both intend to ...
Style:
rough, suspenseful, serious, realistic
Plot:
prostitute, dishonesty, drug dealing, kidnapping, nude, bondage, thief, prostitution, party, female nudity, sex, pubic hair
Time:
20th century, 90s
Place:
latin america, argentina
⇓ similarity ⇓
52%
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 99 min.
Story:
Monique Watson goes missing in Brooklyn, New York. Police are not doing anything to find a lead, instead they go after the family. The subject drops on the desk of the young journalist, Christian Baker.
Style:
psychological, suspenseful, thought provoking, rough
Plot:
african american, ignorance, missing girl, kidnapping, police, media, discrimination, family relations, empathy, journalism, journalist, investigative reporter ...
Place:
africa, new york
⇓ similarity ⇓
51%
Also search:
Films like The Parallax View
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: Spain, Mexico
Duration: 129 min.
Story:
Frantic to be free of Felix, her wealthy but drunken and violent drug-lord husband, Ana (Elena Anaya) tricks her fresh-from-prison sister, Aurora (Ariadna Gil), and two other ex-partners in crime into coming to her aid. Now that their crew is ...
Style:
serious, suspenseful, realistic, stylized, neo noir
Plot:
vengeance, gangsters, family problems, heist, dishonesty, criminal heroes, partners, family relations, cons and scams, strong female character, femme fatale, domestic disturbance ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
mexico, latin america
⇓ similarity ⇓
49%
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 99 min.
Story:
A reporter sent to cover a murder trial discovers a web of deceit stemming from a torrid affair.
Style:
serious, suspenseful, psychological, tense, realistic ...
Plot:
small town life, infidelity, extramarital affair, couple relations, couples, who done it, obsession, investigation, family problems, dishonesty, femme fatale, dangerous attraction ...
Time:
20th century, 90s
⇓ similarity ⇓
48%
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 83 min.
Story:
A couple goes to dangerous lengths to find a lung donor for their daughter.
Style:
serious, suspenseful, tense, captivating, psychological ...
Plot:
transplant, doctor, race against time, moral dilemma, parents and children, child illness, family problems, escapades, society, couple relations, street kid, daughter ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
mexico, usa, latin america
⇓ similarity ⇓
48%
Movie in collections
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 111 min.
Story:
Utah and his girlfriend Opal, are drug addicts living on the streets in rural Ohio. After getting recruited by body broker Wood, and offered treatment in Los Angeles, Wood takes Utah under his wing and introduces him to treatment center mogul Vin. ...
Style:
psychological, tense, suspenseful, thought provoking, disturbing ...
Plot:
destructive relationship, brutality, degradation, addiction, friendship, life philosophy, drug trip, drug traffic, downfall, drug dealing, drug addict, junkie ...
Place:
usa, los angeles
⇓ similarity ⇓
47%
Genre: Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min.
Story:
7 minutes from now in Nogales, Arizona, Thomas Conrad's life will forever change when he gets caught up in a Mexican cartels poetic game of drug mule chess.
Style:
captivating, tense, serious, realistic, suspenseful ...
Audience:
boys' night, teens
Plot:
drug dealing, race against time, rivalry, suspense, strong violent content, mexican, drug cartel, danger, chases and races
Time:
21st century
Place:
arizona, usa, mexico
⇓ similarity ⇓
45%
Also search:
Drug War related movies
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min.
Story:
Woman is trapped in her home with her husband's killers.
Style:
exciting, tense, realistic, serious, slasher ...
Plot:
murder, psychopath, disability, criminal heroes, track down, stalking, dealing with death, law enforcement, curses spells and rituals, woman in danger, safe, violence ...
Time:
80s
Place:
usa
⇓ similarity ⇓
45%
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 85 min.
Story:
A young married couple encounters a stranger who threatens their marriage and their lives.
Style:
psychological, suspenseful, tense, serious, realistic ...
Plot:
family problems, mysterious character, stranger, couples, sex scene, marriage, alcohol abuse, isolation, confined, life is a bitch, abuse, drug trade ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
usa
⇓ similarity ⇓
44%
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Country: Denmark, Sweden, France
Duration: 90 min.
Story:
A writer-director known for becoming obsessed with his own stories, Jacob Falk stumbles upon photographs of prisoners of war being tortured by Danish soldiers.Suspecting a political conspiracy, Falk falls into a frenetic chase to reveal the mystery ...
Style:
exciting, realistic, tense, serious, suspenseful ...
Plot:
uncover truth, dishonesty, chase, disorder, life turned upside down, state affairs, obsession, on the run, life is a bitch, hit and run, political conspiracy, reconnaissance ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
europe, denmark, eastern europe
⇓ similarity ⇓
43%
Movie in collections
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min.
Story:
Frank takes Pia Postman hostage on live TV, threatening to execute her after she accepts the blame for his daughter's suicide.
Style:
tense, serious, realistic, psychological, suspenseful ...
Audience:
boys' night
Plot:
swat team, nypd, hostage, hostage situation, confined, media, showbiz, haunted by the past, videotaping, hostage negotiator, talk show host, bomb squad ...
Time:
90s
⇓ similarity ⇓
43%
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Country: Canada, USA
Duration: 94 min.
Story:
A tough guy goes undercover on a personal mission of vengeance into the hardcore world of S&M, to find out who's responsible for the death of his brother.
Style:
tense, suspenseful, scary, realistic, serious ...
Plot:
dominatrix, serial killer, vengeance, law enforcement, investigation, dishonesty, tough heroes, death of brother, jack the ripper, violent, prostitute, undercover cop ...
Time:
90s
Place:
usa, san francisco
⇓ similarity ⇓
42%
Also search:
Lured Innocence related movies
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 92 min.
Story:
A playwright who begins to mentally unravel before premiere night. She is plagued by dreams and visions of being watched, but cannot decide if she is at the center of a manipulative plot or simply losing her grip on reality.
Style:
psychological, tense, suspenseful, atmospheric, realistic ...
Plot:
mentally unstable, woman in danger, couples, psychological manipulation, conspiracy, emotional manipulation, paranoia, murder, writers, dishonesty, writer's life, playwright
Time:
21st century
Place:
usa
⇓ similarity ⇓
42%
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min.
Story:
Michael is a recovering addict. Back on the wagon, he's now responsible for a young, beautiful, and pregnant wife. He's working the graveyard shift at a gas station to support his new family, but the job drives him crazy. Then a wealthy ...
Style:
serious, disturbing, psychological, realistic, suspenseful ...
Plot:
illegal drugs, life is a bitch, addiction, murder, alcohol abuse, dishonesty, drug dealing, drugs, psychology, mythical creature, suspense, mental disorder ...
Time:
90s
Place:
california, los angeles, usa
⇓ similarity ⇓
41%
Genre: Drama, Horror, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 112 min.
Story:
"Locked in a Room" is a story about three teenagers that are trapped in three separate rooms. They are monitored and watched by a masked man who takes notes on paper as to their every move and emotion. They are further tormented by an ...
Style:
psychological, tense, captivating, mind bending, scary ...
Plot:
vengeance, confined, mysterious character, trapped, teenager, room, isolation, survival, suspense, murder, violence, teenage life ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
mexico
⇓ similarity ⇓
41%
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: Sweden
Duration: 128 min.
Story:
The Victoriastadium is totally destroyed in a bomb attack and Christina Furhage, head-responsible for the Olympic Games in Stockholm, dies with it. Why did someone destroy the stadium and why is Christina murdered? The police desperately seek for ...
Style:
tense, rough, serious, psychological, suspenseful ...
Plot:
terrorism, female reporter, media, bomb, journalism, female protagonist, murder, mysticism, reporter, psychopath, newspaper, bombing ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
stockholm sweden, eastern europe
⇓ similarity ⇓
41%
Genre: Drama, War
Country: Canada
Duration: 100 min.
Story:
Disheartened when his story about Canadian snipers possibly mutilating corpses in Afghanistan is buried, Luke (Nick Stahl) quits his job but is even more determined to return to Afghanistan to get the real story. With his offbeat buddy, Tom (Nicolas ...
Style:
realistic, thought provoking, tense, captivating, psychological ...
Plot:
war correspondent, journalism, anti war, military, buddies, idealism, media, journalist, graphic violence, friends, soldier, war ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
afghanistan
⇓ similarity ⇓
40%
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