Movies Like Emil and the Detectives

If you liked Emil and the Detectives (1964), a action and adventure movie directed by Peter Tewksbury, here are 20 movies with a similar feel, based on TMDB's recommendations. Each one links to its cast, trailer and where it's streaming.

1
Red Notice (2021)
★ 6.7/10Also action and comedy
An Interpol-issued Red Notice is a global alert to hunt and capture the world's most wanted. But when a daring heist brings together the FBI's top profiler and two rival criminals, there's no telling what will happen.
2
Gotcha! (1985)
★ 6/10Also action and comedy
A student on a trip to France is tricked into smuggling secrets across the Iron Curtain by a sexy spy.
3
Bandidas (2006)
★ 6.1/10Also action and comedy
When a ruthless robber baron takes away everything they cherish, a rough-and-tumble, idealistic peasant and a sophisticated heiress embark on a quest for justice, vengeance…and a few good heists.
4
The Family Plan 2 (2025)
★ 6.6/10Also action and comedy
Now that Dan's assassin days are behind him, all he wants for Christmas is quality time with his kids. But when he learns his daughter has her own plans, he books a family trip to London—putting them all in the…
5
Arctic Dogs (2019)
★ 5.9/10Also adventure and comedy
Animals band together to save the day when the evil Otto Von Walrus hatches a sinister scheme to accelerate global warming and melt the Arctic Circle.
6
The Naked Gun (2025)
★ 6.3/10Also comedy and crime
Only one man has the particular set of skills... to lead Police Squad and save the world: Lt. Frank Drebin Jr. Following in his father's footsteps, he must solve a murder case to prevent Police Squad from closure.
7
How to Rob a Bank (2007)
★ 5.8/10Also action and comedy
Caught in the middle of a bank robbery, a slacker and a bank employee become the ones who arbitrate the intense situation.
8
Hostile Takeover (2025)
★ 6.9/10Also action and comedy
Follows Pete, a professional hitman, as he faces a group of assassins after the boss of a crime syndicate suspects disloyalty due to his attendance at Workaholics Anonymous meetings.
9
Knight and Day (2010)
★ 6.2/10Also action and comedy
A fugitive couple goes on a glamorous and sometimes deadly adventure where nothing and no one – even themselves – are what they seem. Amid shifting alliances and unexpected betrayals, they race across the globe, with…
10
Who's Harry Crumb? (1989)
★ 6/10Also comedy and crime
Harry Crumb is a bumbling and inept private investigator who is hired to solve the kidnapping of a young heiress which he's not expected to solve because his employer is the mastermind behind the kidnapping.
11
Ocean's Eight (2018)
★ 6.9/10Also crime and comedy
Debbie Ocean, a criminal mastermind, gathers a crew of female thieves to pull off the heist of the century at New York's annual Met Gala.
12
The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976)
★ 6.9/10Also comedy and crime
Charles Dreyfus, who has finally cracked over inspector Clouseau's antics, escapes from a mental institution and launches an elaborate plan to get rid of Clouseau once and for all.
13
Point Break (2015)
★ 6/10Also action and adventure
A young undercover FBI agent infiltrates a gang of thieves who share a common interest in extreme sports. A remake of the 1991 film, "Point Break".
14
See Spot Run (2001)
★ 6.1/10Also comedy and action
A drug sniffing agent canine is a target for an assassin boss so the FBI calls Witness Protection to send him somewhere else. Meanwhile a single Mom puts her 6 year old boy James in the care of her irresponsible…
15
Retribution (2023)
★ 6.5/10Also action and adventure
When a mysterious caller plants a bomb under his car seat, a bank executive begins a high-speed chase across the city to complete a specific series of tasks — all with his kids trapped in the back seat.
16
Excess Baggage (1997)
★ 6.1/10Also action and comedy
A rich brat fakes her own kidnapping, but in the process ends up locked in the trunk of a car that gets stolen.
17
Stark Raving Mad (2002)
★ 6.1/10Also comedy and crime
A crook quietly plots his revenge against the boss who murdered his brother while working for him.
18
LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League - Attack of the Legion of Doom! (2015)
★ 6.6/10Also action and adventure
Crime is on the run as the newly formed Justice League keeps Metropolis safe and this makes evil genius Lex Luthor very unhappy. Together with Black Manta, Sinestro and a gang of ruthless recruits, Lex builds his own…
19
Short Time (1990)
★ 6.5/10Also action and comedy
As a result of a misdiagnosis, Detective Burt Simpson is told he has just weeks to live. He gains a new respect for his life and loved ones but learns that in order for his wife, Carolyn, and son, Dougie, to collect…
20
Thick as Thieves (2009)
★ 6/10Also action and crime
A master thief recruits a notorious thief to help him steal two famous Faberge eggs from an impenetrable vault in an effort to pull off one final job and repay his debt to the Russian mob.