The Best Drama Movies Set in Boston

Ranker Film
Updated March 28, 2024
Voting Rules
The drama movie must be primarily set in Boston.

The best drama movies set in Boston feature several A-list stars who come from the city. Mark Wahlberg, Matt Damon, and Ben Affleck are all Boston natives, and all have made dramas showing their city's unique qualities. Other beloved actors and filmmakers have similarly given us drama movies based in Boston. It is a very atmospheric city, with wealthy sections and working class areas that give it real diversity onscreen. Hollywood and indie productions alike have taken advantage of that.

Vote up the best drama films based in Boston below. Don't see your favorite? Add it to the list and let others weigh in with their votes. 

Latest additions: Finestkind
Help shape these rankings by voting on this list of The Best Drama Movies Set in Boston
  • The Departed
    1

    The Departed

    Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson
    18 votes
    In the gritty crime thriller, The Departed, Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a young undercover cop in Boston who infiltrates an Irish mob run by the ruthless Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson). Simultaneously, Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon), a criminal planted within the state police, climbs the ranks. As both sides become deeply entrenched in their disguises, they grapple with divided loyalties and deadly stakes. Directed by Martin Scorsese, this intense cat-and-mouse game won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. The movie's layered plot mirrors a complex labyrinth of deception and betrayal.
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  • The Fighter
    2

    The Fighter

    Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams
    12 votes
    In the gritty drama The Fighter, Micky Ward (Mark Wahlberg), a struggling boxer from the hard-knock streets of Lowell, Massachusetts, fights to break free from the shadow of his older brother, Dicky Eklund (Christian Bale). Eklund, once a promising boxer himself, now battles drug addiction and failed dreams. With fierce determination and unyielding spirit, Ward navigates family loyalty, personal ambition, and the brutal world of boxing. Amy Adams plays Charlene Fleming, Ward's steadfast girlfriend who stands by him through his tumultuous journey. This film won two Oscars for Best Supporting Actor (Bale) and Best Supporting Actress (Melissa Leo).
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  • Gone Baby Gone
    3

    Gone Baby Gone

    Casey Affleck, Michelle Monaghan, Morgan Freeman
    11 votes
    In the heart of Boston's gritty underbelly, private detectives Patrick Kenzie (Casey Affleck) and Angie Gennaro (Michelle Monaghan) are thrown into a morally complex world. They're hired to find a missing four-year-old girl, Amanda McCready. Directed by Ben Affleck, Gone Baby Gone is a gripping drama that explores the line between right and wrong. As the pair dig deeper into the case, they uncover a web of corruption and deceit within their own neighborhood. The film has earned accolades for its thought-provoking narrative and stellar performances. It's a tale of lost innocence, tough choices, and unexpected consequences.
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  • Good Will Hunting
    4

    Good Will Hunting

    Matt Damon, Robin Williams, Ben Affleck
    13 votes
    In the heart of Boston, a self-taught genius janitor, Will Hunting (Matt Damon), solves complex mathematical problems at MIT unnoticed. His talents are discovered by Professor Gerald Lambeau (Stellan Skarsgård). The professor seeks therapy for Will's emotional issues from Sean Maguire (Robin Williams), an empathetic psychologist. As Will grapples with his past and future, he finds solace in his relationship with Skylar (Minnie Driver), a Harvard student. Good Will Hunting, a compelling drama directed by Gus Van Sant, won two Academy Awards including Best Original Screenplay.
  • Manchester by the Sea
    5

    Manchester by the Sea

    Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams, Kyle Chandler
    12 votes
    After the death of his older brother Joe, Lee Chandler (Casey Affleck) is shocked that Joe has made him sole guardian of his teenage nephew Patrick. Taking leave of his job as a janitor in Boston, Lee reluctantly returns to Manchester-by-the-Sea, the fishing village where his working-class family has lived for generations. There, he is forced to deal with a past that separated him from his wife, Randi (Michelle Williams), and the community where he was born and raised.
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  • Black Mass
    6

    Black Mass

    Johnny Depp, Joel Edgerton, Benedict Cumberbatch
    7 votes
    While his brother Bill (Benedict Cumberbatch) remains a powerful leader in the Massachusetts Senate, Irish hoodlum James "Whitey" Bulger (Johnny Depp) continues to pursue a life of crime in 1970s Boston. Approached by FBI agent John Connolly (Joel Edgerton), the lawman convinces Whitey to help the agency fight the Italian mob. As their unholy alliance spirals out of control, Bulger increases his power and evades capture to become one of the most dangerous gangsters in U.S. history.
  • Mystic River
    7

    Mystic River

    Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Kevin Bacon
    11 votes
    In Mystic River, childhood friends Jimmy Markum (Sean Penn), Dave Boyle (Tim Robbins), and Sean Devine (Kevin Bacon) are drawn back together after a horrifying incident shakes their Boston neighborhood. Directed by Clint Eastwood, this gripping drama examines the lasting impact of trauma on friendship and family. It's a tale woven with threads of suspicion, grief, and loss - all underpinned by an unyielding quest for justice. The film won two Academy Awards: Best Actor for Penn and Best Supporting Actor for Robbins. A complex narrative unfolds against the gritty backdrop of working-class Boston, where past demons refuse to rest.
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  • Spotlight
    8

    Spotlight

    Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams
    10 votes
    In the gripping drama Spotlight, a team of investigative journalists from The Boston Globe, known as the Spotlight unit, embark on an intense journey to unearth a hidden scandal. Led by Walter 'Robby' Robinson (Michael Keaton), the team includes Michael Rezendes (Mark Ruffalo), Sacha Pfeiffer (Rachel McAdams), and Matt Carroll (Brian d'Arcy James). They delve into allegations of child molestation within the Roman Catholic Church. Their relentless pursuit leads to shocking revelations, shaking the foundations of one of the world's most powerful institutions. This film clinched the Best Picture award at the 88th Academy Awards, testament to its profound impact and masterful storytelling.
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  • The Boston Strangler
    9

    The Boston Strangler

    Tony Curtis, Henry Fonda, George Kennedy
    6 votes
    When a string of women in Boston start turning up dead, the police launch an investigation headed by John Bottomly (Henry Fonda). Through chance, Bottomly gets the evidence he needs to arrest Albert DeSalvo (Tony Curtis). Though DeSalvo denies having any connection to the murders at first, the police use hypnosis, pressured interrogation, and interviews with the only surviving victim (Sally Kellerman) to coax him into confessing. Still, whether he is truly guilty remains a mystery to many.
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  • Patriots Day
    10

    Patriots Day

    Mark Wahlberg, J. K. Simmons, Kevin Bacon
    7 votes
    Patriots Day is a 2016 American biopic drama film directed by Peter Berg, based on the book Boston Strong by Casey Sherman and Dave Wedge. Starring Mark Wahlberg, J. K. Simmons, John Goodman, Kevin Bacon and Michelle Monaghan, the film is about the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing and the subsequent terrorist manhunt led by Boston Police Commissioner Edward F. Davis.
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  • The Friends of Eddie Coyle
    11

    The Friends of Eddie Coyle

    Robert Mitchum, Peter Boyle, Richard Jordan
    7 votes
    Aging Boston gunrunner Eddie Coyle (Robert Mitchum) is looking at several years of jail time for a hold-up if he doesn't funnel information to Dave Foley (Richard Jordan), an ATF agent. Eddie buys some guns from another gunrunner, Jackie Brown (Steven Keats), then gives him up to Foley, but the agent isn't satisfied. Conflicted, Eddie decides to also give up the gang of bank robbers he's been supplying, only to find that Foley already knows about them, and the mob believes Eddie snitched.
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  • Edge of Darkness
    12

    Edge of Darkness

    Mel Gibson, Ray Winstone, Danny Huston
    5 votes
    When the only daughter of a Boston homicide detective, Thomas Craven (Mel Gibson), is shot on his doorstep, everyone assumes that he was the intended target. Then evidence suggests otherwise, and Craven sets out to find her killer and, in the process, uncovers her secret life, corporate coverups, government collusion, and murder.
  • What Doesn't Kill You
    13

    What Doesn't Kill You

    Mark Ruffalo, Ethan Hawke, Amanda Peet
    5 votes
    Friends since childhood, Brian (Mark Ruffalo) and Paulie (Ethan Hawke) do whatever it takes to survive in their hardscrabble South Boston neighborhood. Crime has always been part of their lives, and now they find themselves on the payroll of a hoodlum named Pat Kelly (Brian Goodman). While Brian sinks deeper into the criminal cesspool, Paulie plans one last heist, one that he hopes can pull them both out of their dead-end lives.
  • Southie
    14

    Southie

    Rose McGowan, Amanda Peet, Will Arnett
    5 votes
    Southie is a 1999 American film directed by John Shea and starring Donnie Wahlberg. The film centers on Danny Quinn who returns home to South Boston from New York City and gets stuck between his friends, who are supported by one Irish gang, and his family, which are members of another. The film also stars Rose McGowan, Anne Meara, Will Arnett, Lawrence Tierney, Robert Wahlberg, and Amanda Peet. Memorable scenes were shot at the South Boston Yacht Club and Bowlarama on East Broadway.
  • The Verdict
    15

    The Verdict

    Paul Newman, Charlotte Rampling, James Mason
    6 votes
    A boozing lawyer (Paul Newman) takes on a law-firm dean (James Mason), the Archdiocese of Boston and the system in general.
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  • Stronger
    16

    Stronger

    Jake Gyllenhaal, Tatiana Maslany, Miranda Richardson
    5 votes
    Jeff Bauman loses both of his legs when two bombs explode during the Boston Marathon on April 15, 2013. After regaining consciousness in the hospital, Jeff is able to help law enforcement identify one of the suspects, but his own battle is just beginning. With unwavering support from his family and girlfriend, Bauman embarks on a long and heroic journey to physical and emotional rehabilitation.
  • Brinks: The Great Robbery
    17

    Brinks: The Great Robbery

    Leslie Nielsen
    3 votes
    Brinks: The Great Robbery is a 1976 American crime drama television film. It stars Leslie Nielsen and is based on the Great Brink's Robbery in Boston in 1950.
  • The Brink's Job
    18

    The Brink's Job

    Peter Falk, Peter Boyle, Warren Oates
    3 votes
    On Jan. 17, 1950, a group of unlikely criminal masterminds commits the robbery of the century. Led by Tony Pino (Peter Falk), a petty thief fresh out of prison, and Joe McGinnis (Peter Boyle), who specializes in planning lucrative capers, the gang robs Brink's main office in Boston of more than $2 million. However, things begin to go awry when the FBI gets involved, the cops start cracking down on the gang and McGinnis refuses to hand over the loot.
  • Monument Ave.
    19

    Monument Ave.

    Famke Janssen, Martin Sheen, Billy Crudup
    3 votes
    Monument Ave., originally titled Snitch in the USA and titled Noose in Australia, is a 1998 American crime comedy-drama film directed by Ted Demme and starring Denis Leary. The film takes place in Charlestown, Massachusetts and centers on small-time criminal Bobby O'Grady, who becomes conflicted due to Charlestown's code of silence when his loyalty and drive for self-preservation are tested after two of his close family members are gunned down by their boss. Bobby mentors his young cousin, Seamus, into a life of drugs and crime soon after Seamus emigrates from Dublin, Ireland. Bright, conscientious, but notably naive, Seamus finds himself unable to get used to the spontaneous dangers and recklessness of his new life in America. After two particularly traumatic incidents, Seamus is afraid of further involving himself with Bobby and Bobby's circle of criminal friends. Seamus tells Bobby he wants to return Dublin, and the two argue after Seamus blames Bobby for dragging him into a dangerous and "damaging" lifestyle he never wanted.
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  • A Civil Action
    20

    A Civil Action

    John Travolta, Robert Duvall, Tony Shalhoub
    4 votes
    In this legal thriller based on a true story, John Travolta stars as Jan Schlichtmann, a tenacious personal-injury attorney whose fierce determination entangles him in a case that threatens to destroy him. The case -- which appears straight forward -- instead evolves into a labyrinthine lawsuit of vast dimensions, in the intelligent, fast-paced drama, "A Civil Action."
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  • The Cardinal
    21

    The Cardinal

    Tom Tryon, Romy Schneider, Carol Lynley
    6 votes
    On his path to the College of Cardinals, Stephen Fermoyle (Tom Tryon), a newly ordained Catholic priest, is confronted with family, personal and social crises that cause him spiritual turmoil. First, his sister (Carol Lynley) conceives a child out of wedlock; then he is tempted away from the Church by a woman (Romy Schneider) ; later he contends with racial bigotry within the Church and encounters Nazism in Austria. Will Stephen overcome his trials and reach the rank of cardinal?
  • Finestkind
    22

    Finestkind

    Ben Foster, Toby Wallace, Jenna Ortega
    0 votes
    Two brothers from opposite sides of the tracks are reunited as adults. Desperate circumstances force them into a deal with an organized crime syndicate in Boston, and a young woman gets caught in the middle.
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  • Ray Donovan: The Movie
    23

    Ray Donovan: The Movie

    Liev Schreiber, Eddie Marsan, Dash Mihok
    0 votes
    Ray Donovan: The Movie centers on professional fixer, Ray Donovan (Liev Schreiber) as he grapples with his father Mickey's (Jon Voight) betrayals and the impact they've had on their family. The film picks up where the seventh season of the acclaimed Showtime series left off, providing closure to fans with a blend of the present and flashbacks that reveal Ray's tumultuous past. The film ties up loose ends while spotlighting themes of redemption, family dysfunction, and the inescapable pull of one's upbringing. It serves as a final chapter for the complex characters that viewers have followed for years, culminating in a dramatic conclusion to Ray Donovan's story.
  • Harvard Man
    24

    Harvard Man

    Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ray Allen, Rebecca Gayheart
    3 votes
    Harvard Man is a 2001 crime comedy-drama thriller film written and directed by James Toback, and starring Adrian Grenier, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Joey Lauren Adams, Eric Stoltz, and Rebecca Gayheart.