Starring as an enterprising cocaine dealer who has one last job to take care of before getting out of the game – Daniel Craig’s superb performance as the unnamed Mr X catapulted his career into the limelight, and all but secured the role for him to become the next James Bond. The rest as they say is history.
While there’s certainly a lot to love about Craig’s influence in Layer Cake, it’s also an incredibly stylish, and well-rounded crime-caper that dazzles in all the right places.
If you’re looking for more of the same, don’t worry we’ve got you covered. Check out these 9 movies like Layer Cake.
1. Snatch
Staying firmly within the British crime-comedy genre, we’re kicking things off with Guy Richie’s – Snatch. Released in 2000, the ensemble cast of Brad Pitt, Jason Statham, Stephen Graham and co. weren’t quite considered the titans of film as they are now. But that’s all the better, because with Ritchie’s bold direction and fast-paced storyline, there’s an undeniable element of these actors honing their craft on screen while having great fun doing so.
2. The Guard
In the first of several worthy nods to Brendan Gleeson, next up – we’ve got the wildly entertaining buddy-cop movie, The Guard. Gleeson and Don Cheadle star as two contrasting police officers for the National Police Service of Ireland and the FBI. While assigned on a joint drug smuggling case, they uncover corruption deep within the upper-echelons of the Irish police.
The Guard was released in 2011 to critical acclaim and became a major hit at the box-office. If you’ve never seen it before, then we highly recommend you check this one out.
3. Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
Guy Ritchie’s directorial debut Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels is similar to Layer Cake in many ways, whether it be the London backdrop, the frantic plot or the gritty action. Nick Moran stars as a card shark who loses out in a rigged, high stakes card game that puts him and his friends £100,000 in the hole. In big debt to the local mob boss and with little time to spare, they must do whatever it takes to repay the sum.
Lock, Stock makes for an enthralling ride that will be sure to have you in fits of laughter throughout.
4. Cavalry
John Michael McDonagh followed up his sensational hit, The Guard, with an even funnier black-comedy, Cavalry. Brendan Gleeson teams up with McDonagh again, this time around playing a Priest who is told in confession that he will be murdered. In response to being abused as a child, the mysterious parishioner says that Father James has been chosen to pay for the sins of the Church.
This extremely well-done Whodunnit will have you on the edge of your seat and casting your vote for who you believe is the dangerous assailant.
5. The Gentlemen
One of the more recent entries on our list, we have Guy Ritchie’s long awaited return to the crime-comedy genre with 2019’s The Gentlemen. Much like Daniel Craig’s Mr X in Layer Cake, Matthew McConaughey’s character Mickey Pearson is also looking to cash out and sell his thriving drug business, albeit this time it’s Marijuana in place of cocaine. A host of potential suitors line up to make offers, while simultaneously trying to undermine Pearson’s business/negotiating position at the same.
This return to form by Ritchie should definitely be on your list if you haven’t yet got an opportunity to watch it.
6. In Bruges
Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell play two wayward hitmen who have been sent to Bruges in response to a job that goes horribly wrong. A masterpiece of black-comedy, written and directed by Martin McDonagh, it’s packed full of hilarious jokes that will have you rolling around with laughter in between the bursts of serious events that unfold.
In Bruges is a witty, funny and exhilarating ride that plays to Farrell’s strengths allowing him to shine in one of his very best performances. Getting a top rating from us – this movie ticks off all the boxes if you still aren’t set on anything up to this point.
7. Revolver
Revolver added to an already burgeoning reputation for Jason Statham in the action-crime genre. Playing a recently released convict who served time for a crime he didn’t commit, this high-octane ride sees him hell bent on revenge against his former employer, Dorothy Macha.
While it has an enormous amount of action that pleases the eye, Statham also gets plenty of opportunity to shine displaying some deft comedic timing. The story might not be groundbreaking but the execution makes it well worth watching.
8. Lucky Number Slevin
Swapping the streets of London for New York, our penultimate entry is Paul McGuigan’s 2006 crime-thriller – Lucky Number Slevin. This energetic and thrilling ride centers around an ordinary man who mistakenly gets caught up in the middle of two warring mob bosses.
Josh Hartnett is compelling as the lead and there’s also the stacked cast of Morgan Freeman, Ben Kingsley and Bruce Willis to enjoy.
9. RocknRolla
And last but not least, we have Guy Richie’s epic action-crime story – RocknRolla. Featuring an ensemble cast of Gerard Butler, Idris Elba and Layer Cake’s Tom Hardy, this movie somehow went under the radar despite offering an abundance of thrills and cleverly written dialogue.
Involving two small time crooks who lose their investment in a crooked real estate deal, they enter dangerous territory when stealing from the Russian mob in an effort to recoup their funds.
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