Angels & Demons
2009ItalyLanguage: EnglishDirected by Ron Howard★ 6.7
Available in English: subtitled
Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is recruited by the Vatican to investigate the apparent return of the Illuminati – a secret, underground organization – after four cardinals are kidnapped on the night of the papal conclave.
Themes and style
Tone
tensecold and detached
Pacing
relentlessescalating
Story
investigationpursuitsurvival
Emotion
paranoiainjusticeloyalty under pressure
Themes
corrupt institutionsreligion and faithlife under oppression
Feel
exhaustingcrowd pleaserdiscussion starter
Violence
moderateWhere to watch
Hollywood films like Angels & Demons
If Angels & Demons hit you the right way, here are Hollywood films that share its DNA. Same emotional weight, same kind of stories, same kind of payoff.
The Da Vinci Code
2006USA★ 6.75 pt match
What ties these together is paranoia and injustice. They share the same lens on corrupt institutions, religion and faith, and life under oppression. Same energy: tense, cold and detached, and escalating.
The Silence of the Lambs
1991USA★ 8.34 pt match
What ties these together is paranoia. They share the same lens on corrupt institutions. The feel is the same: tense, cold and detached, and escalating.
Psycho
1960USA★ 8.44 pt match
Like Angels & Demons, this one is rooted in paranoia. Both move the same way too, tense, cold and detached, and escalating.
Basic Instinct
1992USA★ 6.94 pt match
Like Angels & Demons, this one is rooted in paranoia. They share the same lens on corrupt institutions. Both move the same way too, tense, cold and detached, and escalating.
Searching
2018USA★ 7.63.5 pt match
Like Angels & Demons, this one is rooted in paranoia. Same energy: tense, escalating, and relentless.
The Fugitive
1993USA★ 7.53.5 pt match
Both films sit with injustice and paranoia. They share the same lens on corrupt institutions. The feel is the same: tense, relentless, and escalating.
Primal Fear
1996USA★ 7.73.5 pt match
Like Angels & Demons, this one is rooted in paranoia. The world both films live in revolves around corrupt institutions and religion and faith. Same energy: tense, cold and detached, and escalating.