Cover-ups are essential to film noir’s fatalistic world, where one bad decision snowballs into destruction. Whether hiding a murder, concealing an affair, or protecting a criminal act, characters in noir attempt to bury the truth — only to sink deeper into lies and paranoia. The harder they struggle to maintain control, the more inevitable their downfall becomes.

10 Cover-Up Noir Films:

The Woman in the Window (1944, International Pictures)

A mild-mannered professor tries to cover up a killing in self-defense, only to find the deception impossible to maintain.

Where the Sidewalk Ends (1950, Twentieth Century-Fox)

A violent cop accidentally kills a suspect and frames an innocent man to protect his career.

Dark Passage (1947, Warner Bros.)

A wrongfully convicted man undergoes plastic surgery to cover up his identity while seeking the real murderer.

Please Murder Me (1956, United Artists)

A defense lawyer realizes too late that he helped cover up his lover’s crime—and tries to set a trap for her.

The Prowler (1951, Horizon Pictures)

A corrupt cop orchestrates a murder and desperately covers his tracks to win the woman he loves.

Sudden Fear (1952, RKO Radio Pictures) A wealthy woman discovers her husband’s murderous plot and secretly plans her own form of justice.

Born to Kill (1947, RKO Radio Pictures)

A cold-blooded killer and his accomplice continually cover up a string of murders to protect their social climbing ambitions.

Too Late for Tears (1949, United Artists) A housewife kills to keep a bag of illicit money, covering up her crimes with increasing ruthlessness.

The Reckless Moment (1949, Columbia Pictures)

A suburban mother covers up her daughter’s involvement in a man’s death, drawing the attention of dangerous blackmailers.

The Big Clock (1948, Paramount Pictures)

A publishing tycoon kills his mistress and tries to frame an innocent employee while covering up the crime.