If You Liked the Movie Sugar, There Is Another Movie You Should Definitely Watch.
The Apple TV series “Sugar” is remarkable in many ways. It’s partly a return to classic film noir (with obvious nods to classic films), partly an unexpected sci-fi twist, and partly thanks to Colin Farrell’s charisma. It’s difficult to pinpoint the series as a genre, but it’s also incredibly easy to watch and thoroughly enjoyable.
The major plot twist provoked mixed reactions, but it worked exceptionally well because it wasn’t just a shocking twist—it reimagined John Sugar’s story and character in a gripping way, paying homage to his film noir roots. If you’re looking for more stories about unflappable detectives navigating a sordid world of secrets, mysteries, and violence (with a few surprises), there are plenty of TV series worth checking out . If you’ve already seen it, there’s one film all Sugar fans should probably check out: 1955’s Kiss Me Deadly .
Why Sugar Fans Will Love Kiss Me Deadly (1955)
You might recognize this film even if you’ve never seen it: it’s one of the old films used in Sugar to showcase John’s inner monologue and the films he watched to understand human nature. It appears twice in the first season, and the reasons are obvious: the main character, Detective Mike Hammer (Ralph Meeker), drives around Los Angeles in a cool Corvette, just like John Sugar; the plot perfectly matches the tone of Sugar ; and there’s a surprising, exciting twist at the end that sets it apart from most other classic mid- 20th- century noirs.
Kiss Me Deadly is an adaptation of Mickey Spillane’s novel of the same name and one of the most influential films in the film noir genre. Mike Hammer plays a typical hard-nosed private detective with a deep sense of ethics. Cynical and ready to solve problems with violence, he cannot resist the desire to achieve true justice, so when a woman named Christine (Cloris Leachman) appears in front of his car wearing only a coat, he offers her a ride. When they are attacked by gangsters and Christine is brutally murdered, he awakens in the hospital determined to discover the truth behind her death.
Hammer is exactly the type of detective John Sugar wants to emulate, and Kiss Me Deadly is a story that straddles the noir and science fiction genres, just like the series (it even has an entry in The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction ). The film’s visual style and dark tone have been used, recycled, and outright stolen in hundreds of films since. If you enjoy the noir atmosphere and shocking conclusion of Sugar , Kiss Me Deadly is the perfect movie to watch. In fact, it’s the perfect movie to watch. Watch Kiss Me Deadly on JustWatch or the Internet Archive. (Note: This is the colorized version.)
More movies like Sugar
Want more noir? More twists? More aliens? We’ve got you covered. Whether you enjoy action-packed detective stories, unexpected plot twists, or the show’s stunning visuals, here are a few more films that Sahara fans will love.
LA Confidential (1997)
Based on the novel by James Ellroy, LA Confidential is a perfect choice if you’re looking for something more stylized and modern film noir, like Sugar . While it doesn’t make the same genre-bending moves as the TV series, the plot is dark and twisty enough to keep you engaged throughout. Set in early 1950s Los Angeles, it follows the fading dreams of several cops trying to keep their souls safe in a corrupt police department and city government, with only partial success. Rent LA Confidential on Prime Video .
The Third Man (1949)
One of the greatest films of all time (and another film directly referenced by the series), The Third Man is set far from 1950s Los Angeles, in post-World War II Vienna. American writer Holly Martins arrives after an old friend, Harry Lime, offers her a job, only to learn that Lime has died in a car accident. Although Martins is no John Sugar—he’s not the world’s smartest investigator—he becomes embroiled in a complex mystery involving (you guessed it) a mysterious third man spotted at the scene of Lime’s death. If you enjoy the ominous atmosphere that permeates Sugar , you should definitely check this film out. The Third Man is available to stream on Kanopy , Plex , or Tubi , or rent on Prime Video .
The Long Goodbye (1973)
Directed by Robert Altman and written by Leigh Brackett, this adaptation of Raymond Chandler’s novel is set in the early 1970s, but detective Philip Marlowe (Elliott Gould, a triumph of unexpected casting) seems stuck in an earlier era, driving a classic car and chain-smoking as he navigates a convoluted plot, making him as out-of-place in Los Angeles as John Sugar. The story is an unpredictable masterpiece of deception, and the atmosphere is perfect for fans of the series. Watch “The Long Goodbye” on Hoopla or Tubi , or rent it on Prime Video .
Brick (2006)
If you loved how Sugar reimagines noir detective tropes, check out Rian Johnson’s debut film , Brick , which applies those same tropes to a story set in a suburban high school. When teenager Brendan (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) receives a disturbing call from his ex-girlfriend shortly before her death, he launches a classic investigation that uncovers a morass of crime, corruption, and betrayal. Featuring terse, crime-novel-style dialogue and a gripping mystery, Brick is an unexpected noir treat that will delight fans of Sugar . Rent Brick on Prime Video .
Angel Heart (1987)
If you’re craving a classic noir detective story with a John Sugar-like twist, watch Angel Heart . In 1955 New York City, private investigator Harry Angel (Mickey Rourke) is hired by the mysterious Louis Cyphre (Robert De Niro) to find a missing man named Johnny Favorite. Harry reluctantly descends into a morass of lies, violence, and self-loathing as he tracks Johnny’s movements—and what it all leads to is both a shock and a genre-defining twist, with a powerful final shot you won’t soon forget. Watch Angel Heart on Kanopy , Hoopla , or YouTube , or rent it on Prime Video .