There is something incredibly captivating about the story of an innocent person being accused of a crime they didn’t commit. These heroes immediately have the audience’s sympathy for being thrown into an unfair scenario where they are fighting to prove their own innocence as the rest of the world condemns them.
There have been many different stories of this kind over the years. Whether it is a courtroom drama, a high-stakes mystery, or a nail-biting thriller, the wrongfully accused heroes make for captivating stories. Have a look at some of the best and most exciting films that fall into this category.
Invisible Man (2020)
Blumhouse sought to remake a classic Universal horror movie with Leigh Whannell at the helm. The result was a tense and thrilling update to The Invisible Man starring Elizabeth Moss as a woman who escapes an abusive relationship only to realize her ex has found a way to turn himself invisible.
As her ex continues to tear apart her life while remaining unseen, he even frames her for murder in the film’s most shocking scene. It is terrifying to see someone made to look so guilty while the truth is too outlandish for anyone to believe.
Gone Girl (2014)
Another unhealthy cinematic relationship was at the center of David Fincher’s phenomenal thriller, Gone Girl. Ben Affleck plays a man whose wife has gone missing. As the police investigation continues, the evidence begins to pile up that he is the one responsible for her disappearance and possible death. However, the case is not at all as it seems.
The twist revealing what is actually going on only comes halfway through the movie and then there is the fun of seeing how it was pulled off. There is also a thought-provoking commentary on how the media can decide guilt long before a trial even begins.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
The inventive comedy Who Framed Roger Rabbit mixes live-action with animation to explore a world in which people coexist with cartoons. A hardboiled private detective reluctantly takes on a case to clear the name of a popular cartoon rabbit who is accused of murder.
The movie is so much fun as it tells a classic noir story surrounded by the ridiculous world of cartoon mayhem. It’s like the Looney Tunes mixed with Chinatown as this toon-hating detective unravels a massive conspiracy.
The Hunt (2012)
The excellent Danish drama The Hunt star Mads Mikkelsen as Lucas, a caring kindergarten teacher living in a small community. When a young boy tells a small lie about Lucas, it spirals out of control making the teacher an outcast in the town while his innocence is threatened.
This is a more low-key film than the other entries on the list, but it deals with false accusations in a powerful way. It is frustrating and heartbreaking to see a good man have his whole world turned upside down for no reason.
Knives Out (2019)
Rian Johnson delivered one of the most entertaining films of last year with the murder mystery Knives Out. Following the death of a famed author, a brilliant detective (Daniel Craig) begins investigating the man’s dysfunctional family and loved ones to learn the truth.
The genius of this mystery is that it seemingly reveals the truth of the murder in the first act and makes the supposed guilty party quite sympathetic. However, as it is explored even further, it is clear someone else is pulling the strings, leading to a very clever resolution.
The Negotiator (1998)
An underrated thriller from the ’90s, The Negotiator stars Samuel L. Jackson as a skilled hostage negotiator who finds himself on the other side of the law when he takes a group of government officials hostage in order to clear his name of murder.
Jackson is excellent in the intense hero role. He is a man pushed into an extreme situation and willing to put everything on the line to ensure his name is cleared. It is also fascinating to watch him deal with the situation he has been on the other side of for so long.
Mission: Impossible (1996)
The Mission: Impossible franchise usually involved superspy Ethan Hunt being forced to go rogue in order to save the day. That trend started with the first film in the series as Hunt is the only survivor left after a mission went bad and he must uncover the truth about the real mole in the organization.
It is a fun plot device to put Hunt in a vulnerable situation in which he can’t rely on the IMF to help him. It also gives us the iconic sequence in which he breaks into the Pentagon to clear his name.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
While Steve Rogers was a clean-cut soldier back in World War II, Captain America: The Winter Soldier shows us how the superhero is coping with being a soldier in a very different era of the 21st century.
While working for S.H.I.E.L.D., Rogers discovers that Hydra is still operating within his own organization. As he attempts to expose the truth, he is named an enemy of the state and hunted down by the very people he fought alongside with. It is a very intriguing position to put Captain America in and the perfect way to bring him into the gray area of the modern world.
The Shawshank Redemption (1993)
Based on a story by Stephen King, The Shawshank Redemption is the story of a man who is sent to prison for a crime he didn’t commit. As he spends years of his life behind bars, this man builds friendships, betters himself, and finds his own small ways to be free.
This story explores the idea of corruption keeping an innocent man behind bars. However, the thrill of the final act of the movie makes all the heartache of what came before totally worth it.
The Fugitive (1993)
While there are plenty of movies about an innocent man on the run, The Fugitive remains the most iconic. Harrison Ford stars as a doctor whose wife is brutally murdered and he is framed for the crime. After escaping during a prison transport, he goes on the run while trying to prove his innocence.
Ford gives a powerful action hero performance while Tommy Lee Jones is also excellent as the dedicated lawman who is chasing him down. The Fugitive is an expertly done chase film with some truly superb sequences.
