10 Most Entertaining Film Noir Movies Ever, Ranked

Film noir is one of the most recognizable and influential genres in the history of the medium. Noir is French for "black", and as such, it's a word that perfectly captures the style, ambiance, and mood of the genre; film noirs feature morally bankrupt or conflicted characters navigating crime-ridden worlds that are generally devoid of any heroes. The stories of these films are cynical, and low-key lighting, sharp contrast between lights and shadows, and unconventional camera placement characterize the cinematography.