201 Movies about Journalism
(or a bit about journalism—starred films are standouts)
2023
Boston Strangler - Two underestimated female journalists battle sexism as they are the first to connect the 1960s Boston Strangler murders.
Freelance - An ex-special forces operative hired to protect a journalist becomes involved in a coup in South America.
Line of Fire (aka Darklands) - An Australian blogger and amateur journalist pursues her relentlessly for an interview, unwittingly endangering her family.
The Night Doctrine - When an Afghan journalist tries to discover who murdered her family 30 years ago, she uncover hundreds of civilians killed in a secretive American-backed program. This short animated documentary was produced by ProPublica.
2022
Endangered - A year in the life of four journalists reporting inside Mexico, Brazil and the US.
The Independent - A young young journalist teams up with a legendary journalist to uncover a conspiracy that places the fate of a presidential election. A mediocre effort.
The Killing of a Journalist - A young investigative journalist and his fiancée are murdered in Slovakia. Their deaths inspire the biggest protests in the country since the fall of communism. The police file about the murders are leaked, leading to the revelation of high level corruption.
Lyra - The life of Northern Irish investigative journalist Lyra McKee through her own work and words. She was murdered by political radicals in 2019.
She Said - Two New York Times reporters break a story that helped propel the #Metoo movement. Slow but focused on the journalism.
Vengence - A dark comedy about a journalist and podcaster who investigates the death of a woman he was seeing romantically.
2021
C’mon C’mon - (Joaquin Phoenix) A radio journalist interviews children about the future.
The French Dispatch - Wes Anderson’s stylized tribute to longform journalism. A collection of stories published by a fictional American newspaper in a French town come to life.
Profile - An unethical TV reporter impersonates an Islamic convert to catfish an ISIS soldier. The gimmicky and outlandish plot plays out on a computer screen.
Storm Lake - Iowa's Storm Lake Times, fights for survival of th biweekly small-town newspaper.
Writing With Fire - Meet the journalists behind India’s only all-female news organization. The filmmakers say this documentary shows “the raw power of independent journalism.”
2020
The Last Thing He wanted - A veteran journalist (Anne Hathaway) abandons coverage of the 1984 presidential campaign to fulfill her bed-ridden father's last wish—leading to political intrigue and covert ops. A muddled, uninteresting plot.
Most Wanted - A Canadian investigative reporter fights to expose dirty cops who framed a heroin addict sentenced to 100 years in a Thai prison.
Mr. Jones - An ambitious young journalist goes to Moscow to uncover the truth behind Stalin's propaganda machine prior to WWII. A tip could expose an international conspiracy—but get people killed. This fact-based story is well-meaning, heartfelt and compelling, but disjointed.
News of the World - (Tom Hanks) Not long after the end of the Civil War, Jefferson Kyle Kidd makes a living reading newspapers to audiences and takes a young girl across Texas.
The Photograph - The daughter of a famed photographer who died unexpectedly, delves into her mother's early life. The investigation leads to romance with a rising journalist.
Still Here - A journalist risks his life and career to solve the case of a missing New York City girl.
2019
Bad Education - (Hugh Jackman) A student reporter helps to uncover the single largest public school embezzlement scandal in American history. First-rate performances and based on true events.
A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood - An investigative journalist is assigned to write a puff piece on Fred Rogers (Tom Hanks) for Esquire. It turns in a 10,000-word profile. Journalism sometimes becomes deeply personal and human
Bombshell -(Nicole Kidman) Three women anchors take on Fox News head Roger Ailes and the toxic atmosphere he presided over at the network. Based on a real scandal, the strong cast can’t make up for the bloated, shallow effort.
Hustlers - Inspired by the viral New York Magazine article, a journalist is working on a story about a group former strip club employees (Jennifer Lopez among them) who band together to turn the tables on their Wall Street clients. A wild ride that serves as a commentary on the insight and power that a female storyteller brings to female stories.
Long Shot - (Seth Rogen, Charlize Theron) A gifted, free-spirited journalist is hired by one of the most influential women in the world as her speechwriter as she runs for the presidency.
Mike Wallace is Here - A compelling look at the career of 60 Minutes newsman Mike Wallace.
Mrs. Jones - A Welsh journalist in the Soviet Union during 1933. He finds evidence of a famine that killed millions of Ukrainians. This contradicts stories out of the New York Times Moscow bureau.
Official Secrets - The powerful true story of a British whistleblower who leaked information to the press about an illegal NSA spy operation designed to push the UN Security Council into sanctioning the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Richard Jewell - (Clint Eastwood-directed) A security guard saves lives during the 1996 Olympics bombing in Atlanta only to become a suspect, vilified by the media. Marred by the implication that a journalist sleeps with her sources despite there being no evidence to support the idea.
2018
City of Lies - (Johnny Depp) A detective teaming up with an investigative reporter looks into the unsolved murder of rapper the Notorious B.I.G. Confusing and not very compelling.
A Private War - War correspondent Marie Colvin roams the globe going into conflicts to give voice to the voiceless. She begins wearing a distinctive eye patch after being hit by a grenade, which, of course, didn’t stop her.
Under the Wire - A war correspondent and photographer in a Syrian city under siege tell the stories of trapped civilians. Only one of them returns.
2017
I am Jane Doe - A gut-wrenching documentary about the child sex trade and ads in a newspaper's online classified section.
Joan Didion: the center will not hold - Archival footage chronicles American literary icon Joan Didion reflects on her career, partly as a journalist, and her wrestling personal struggles in this closeup documentary.
Nobody Speak (trials of the free press) - The trial of wrestling star Hulk Hogan against an internet gossip magazine.
Obit - (Kate Middleton) In this 7 minute short film, a writer is sick of working the obituary desk.
*The Post - (Steven Spielberg directed) The story of the Pentagon Papers. historical but tightly edited as other Steven Spielberg movies. Less about investigative reporting and more about fighting for the right to publish as government lawyers try to stifle free speech.
Post Truth Times: We The Media - Documentary that looks at news organizations in Spain and the U.S.—their purpose and the business model.
Shock & Awe - A group of journalists, one played by Woody Harrelson, investigate the rationale behind the Bush Administration's 2003 invasion of Iraq.
2016
Christine - An investigative reporter becomes the first person to commit suicide on live TV. This is the portrait of the woman’s disturbing final days.
For Sardar: The Afghan Journalist - After his best friend is murdered, Afghan journalist Esmat Kohsar and American reporter Courtney Body investigate what happened in this short documentary.
Obit - New York Times writers discuss their approach to writing the obituaries of public figures.
Snowden - The NSA's illegal surveillance techniques are leaked to the press by a disillusioned employee, Edward Snowden.
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot - A news copywriter (Tina Fey) leaves her desk job in New York for war-torn Afghanistan. Reviewers generally tag this comedy-drama as offering decent acting with a predictable and mediocre script.
2015
10 Days in a Madhouse - The true story of journalist Nellie Bly's legendary undercover stint in a mental hospital in 1887.
Ballade vir 'n Enkeling – A prolific South African writer mysteriously disappears and a journalist launches an investigation.
The End of the Tour - A Rolling Stone reporters five-day interview with the late author David Foster Wallace soon after publication of Infinite Jest. Rolling Stone never published the interview which was later turned into a best-seller.
The Escort - A sex addicted, desperate journalist becomes immersed in the world of high-class escorts.
*Spotlight - Perhaps the best movie about journalism ever made, this powerful film won an Oscar for Best Picture. The truth story of how the Boston Globe revealed corruption in the Catholic church related to sexual abuse. An authentic feel for what investigative reporting is like where the story is the star and not the reporters.
True Story - Fired by the New York Times after a breach of ethics, a reporter learns a murder suspect (James Franco) has been using his identity and investigates the matter further. Not a very good movie.
Truth - Robert Redford as journalist Dan Rather whose inaccurate report about President George W. Bush and his military service put a black mark on the 60 Minutes franchise and CBS News.
2014
Kill the Messenger - A San Jose Mercury News reporter writes a three-part series in 1996 claiming that the country’s crack cocaine epidemic was the result of a C.I.A. conspiracy—and is quickly discredited by major media outlets.
*Judging Jewell - An ESPN short (22 minutes) about a security guard who helped save lives during the 1996 Olympics bombing in Atlanta, Georgia but he was misidentified by the media as the culprit; a great cautionary tale.
Killers - A journalist connects online with a psychopathic Japanese executive.
*Nightcrawler - An iconic sociopath rises up the local-news food chain as a late-night accident chaser. It’s the pursuit of crime scoops as a part of the blood sport of local TV. Sleek, pulse-pounding, and uncomfortable to watch.
Right to Believe - A local newspaper reporter writes a political story that leads to demotion, which challenges his Christian faith.
Rosewater - Comedian John Stewart tries his hand at a serious film. A journalist is detained by Iranian forces who brutally interrogate him under suspicion that he is a spy—for 118 days.
Shongram - An aggressive English reporter interviews a elderly Muslim freedom fighter about the 1971 Bangladesh liberation struggle. The story turns into romantic drama set during way.
2013
The Devil’s Path - A convicted killer on death row writes a Japanese journalist claiming he is ready to confess to new crimes. Based on true crime cases.
Philomean - (Judi Dench) A political journalist joins an Irish woman’s search for the son who was taken away from her years ago. She was single and she was forced to live in a convent. A quiet restrained film powerfully acted with some comedy, Based on a true story.
Venom: Truth in Journalism - (short docu) The questionable methods of an American journalist come to light when a French documentary crew comes to follow him through his daily life.
2012
Safety Not Guaranteed - (Aubrey Plaza) A magazine intern interviews a man who placed a classified ad in the publication in search of a time travel companion. An engrossing, quirky comedy with a smart script.
2011
Page One: Inside the NY Times - An award-winning short documentary about the paper.
Afghan Luke - An experienced journalist risks returning to Afghanistan to find out the truth about Canadian snipers possibly mutilating corpses. Bogs down in clichés and weak humor.
My Back Pages - In the late 1960s an idealistic Japanese journalist who works for a weekly magazine pursuing crime stories.
The Media: Journalism in Crisis - A Neal Cortell documentary narrated by one-time network correspondent Mort Dean. Renowned journalists, academics, regulators and activist discuss the future of news and the internet.
Polisse - A gripping French procedural drama about a journalist assigned to a juvenile division of the police becomes romantically involved with one of her subjects.
The Rum Diary - (Johnny Depp) An American journalist goes to Puerto Rico in the 1960s and struggles to balance island culture and the expatriates living there. He wrestles with writing an article in support of an unsavory business deal, Colorful and watchable but the story is rambling and unfocused.
2010
Bang Bang Club - Based on a true story about four combat photographers braving danger during the final days of South Africa’s apartheid. Detailed and well-shot but lacks insight into their motives and offers glossy Hollywood clichés.
Going the Distance - (Drew Barrymore) This rom-com follows an aspiring journalism student who moves to finish her degree while maintaining a bi-costal relationship with help from webcams and frequent-flyer miles. Some funny moments but also predictable.
Morning Glory - (Rachel McAdams, Harrison Ford) A young network TV producer tries to revive a morning show with waring and aging co-hosts. Sometimes charming but the script is weak.
The Shrine - A reporter investigates a cult in Poland. The Canadian horror flick
2009
The Soloist - A drama about the relationship between a Los Angeles Times columnist (Robert Downey Jr.) and a homeless classical musician. Strong performances but the story is disjointed and message unclear.
State of Play - It’s print vs blogging in this political thriller as a determined old school reporter (Russell Crowe) teams with a new school blogger (Rachel McAdams) to sort out the reasons behind the death of a woman who had been having an affair with a congressman (Ben Affleck). The message is about the need for journalists in a world where big money can easily influence important political decisions. A taut and well-acted.
Balibo - Gritty film about journalists who travel to East Timor to investigate why five Australian-based journalists have gone missing.. Powerful, well-told and disturbing.
The Girl Who Played with Fire - A suspenseful thriller where a journalist seeks to clear a computer hacker accused of three murders while also investigating a sex-trafficking ring.
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo - (Daniel Craig) A disgraced financial journalist is helped by a computer hacker in his search for the person who killed a woman 40 years earlier. Captivating but brutal.
Red Riding in the Year of Our Lord - A rookie UK journalist tries to solve the case of a child murderer.
2008
*Frost/Nixon A retelling of the post-Watergate TV interviews between British talk-show host David Frost and disgraced former president Richard Nixon three years after being forced from office. A weighty film with strong performances.
Gonzo: The Life & Work of Hunter S. Thompson - A stylized documentary introduction into the life of journalist Hunter S. Thompson and his “gonzo” style and toxic personal life.
Nothing But the Truth (Matt Dillon, Alan Alda) - A DC political writer refuses to reveal the source for a column that revealed the identity of a covert CIA operative, Her case goes all the way to the US Supreme Court. A well-crafted political thriller featuring a strong cast.
Yami no kodomo-tachi (Children of the Dark)- A Japanese journalist investigates child organ trafficking in Thailand.
2007
Lions for Lambs - A senator (Tom Cruise) offers a scoop to a skeptical reporter (Meryl Streep) about military operations in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, a an idealistic professor (Robert Redford) tries to inspire his students. A reminder that journalists’ watchdog role is often the only hope we have of cleaning up our government’s messes. Panned for being preachy and unenjoyable.
The Hunting Party - A journalist, cameraman, and a discredited reporter (Richard Gere) plan to capture Bosnia's top war criminal. Outlandish and light-hearted.
Buying the War - A Bill Moyers' documentary for PBS about the Iraqi War.
Final Edition - The Rocky Mountain News publishes its final edition on February 27, 2009.
A Mighty Heart - (Angelina Jolie) Based on the true story of journalist Daniel Pearl. When terrorists capture him in Pakistan, his wife goes there in hopes of securing his release. More of a retelling of the facts with strong performances instead of what could have been a preaching tone, making it more thrilling (though slow) than weepy.
Resurrecting the Champs - (Samuel L. Jackson) A young sports reporter rescues a homeless man only to discover that he is, in fact, a boxing legend believed to have passed away. He begins a personal journey to reexamines his own life. Limited by a mediocre script.
Zodiac - (Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr.) Fear grips San Francisco in the late 60s and early 70s as a serial killer called Zodiac stalks its residents. Investigators and reporters obsess over discovering the killer’s identity. A satisfying tale of journalism combined with police procedural.
2006
Scoop - A weak Woody Allen film. A journalism student (Scarlett Johansson) gets a tip from a ghost and tries to seduce a billionaire socialite (Hugh Jackman) who may be a murderer.
Anatema - A Kosovar journalist , working with two American journalists report from war torn Kosova. A poorly written and filmed movie.
Blood Diamond - (Leonardo DiCaprio) As civil war rages through 1990s Sierra Leone a white South African mercenary searches for a rare gem with the help of an American journalist. Exciting action but formulaic.
The Devil Wears Prada - (Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway) A recent journalism school graduate lands a job at a prestigious fashion magazine. Witty, agreeable comedy with some lessons along the way.
A Sunday in Kigali - A disillusioned Canadian journalist falls in love while making a documentary about AIDS in Kigali during the 1990s. The brutal violence of the Rwandan genocide separates them.
2005
*Good Night and Good Luck - (George Clooney directed) Journalist Edward R. Murrow takes on Sen. Joseph McCarthy during the 1950s “Red Scare.”
Capote - (Philip Seymour Hoffman) New York City writer Truman Capote, weary of composing autobiographical-type pieces for the New Yorker, decides to cover the story of a murdered Kansas family. He develops a relationship with one of the killers and eventually pens what he calls a “nonfiction novel.” Strong performances though later revelations from police reports showed Capote played fast and loose with his facts to compose a compelling story.
Green Street Hooligans - (Elijah Wood) An American journalism student moves to London and becomes involved in the violent underworld of football hooliganism. Lacks depth, failing to get beyond the cliches.
War and Truth - (short) The history of embedded journalists from WWII to today. The film details the courage and frustrations of journalists who risk their lives on the front lines.
2004
Anchorman - (Will Ferrell, Christina Applegate) TV news anchorman Ron Burgundy contends with having a woman added to the anchor desk during the 1970s. Inconsistent and filled with silliness and quotable lines.
Control Room - A behind-the-scenes look at the operations of Al-Jazeera during the war in Iraq. The TV news network is understood in this documentary through interviews with American journalists, journalists who work for the network, and high-ranking U.S. military officials, The film looks at media bias but is also sympathetic to the network.
In My Father's Den - A disillusioned but renowned war journalist is implicated in the disappearance of a teenage girl in New Zealand. Great acting, involving and knotty.
Outfoxed: Murdoch’s War on Journalism - This documentary about Fox News Channel includes interviews with former employees. A liberal take-down of right-wing billionaire Rupert Murdoch.
2003
*Shattered Glass - The true story of a young, well-liked journalist at The New Republic who fabricates a series of articles; some of the references are outdated but the lesson in this cautionary tale is not.
Veronica Guerin - The story of a relentless crime reporter (Cate Blanchett) whose investigations into Ireland’s underground drug trade got her killed in June 1996. Strong performance but the screenplay lacks depth.
How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days - (Kate Hudson, Matthew McConaughey) An advice columnist decide to write about how to get a man to leave you in 10 days. Meanwhile, the ad exec she experiments on thinks he can make any woman fall in love with him in 10 days. Predictable with plot inconsistencies from a weak script.
Journalists Killed in the Line of Duty - The stories of journalists who have been killed at the hand of criminals and corrupt governments.
2002
Live from Baghdad - (Michael Keaton) A CNN producer and crew are in Bagdad to cover the Gulf War.
2001
The Shipping News - A newspaperman (Kevin Spacey) and his daughter moving back to his ancestral home on a journey of self-discovery as he reports on shipping news.
War Photographer - A documentary about war photographer James Nachtwey, considered by many the greatest war photographer ever. Life on the front lines combines stark images and steely resolve.
2000
*Almost Famous - (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) A 15-year-old on tour in the 1970s with the band Stillwater so he can write a piece for Rolling Stone. More of a coming-of-age film than a journalism film but well-made.
1999
The Insider - (Al Pacino, Russell Crowe) A TV producer finds a whistleblower willing to speak up against big tobacco.
True Crime (Clint Eastwood) A journalist covering the execution of a death row inmate discovers the convict could be innocent.
Runaway Bride (Julia Roberts, Richard Gere) A newspaper columnist writes about a woman who has left a string of fiancés at the altar. The film includes a quote from Sir Francis Jeune: “Journalism is literature in a hurry.”
1998
Fear and Loathing Las Vegas - (Johnny Depp) An oddball journalist and his psychopathic lawyer travel to Las Vegas in a drug-induced haze. Aimless but visually compelling.
Gunshy - A New York journalist catches his cheating girlfriend, heads to Atlantic City where he befriends a mobster.
1997
Silent Cradle
Wag the Dog
Welcome to Sarajevo
1996
Focus
the Innocent Sleep
the People Versus Larry Flynt
Six O’Clock News (docu)
Up Close and Personal
1995
Dolores Claiborne - (Kathy Bates)
1994
I Love Trouble
*The Paper - (Michael Keaton, Robert Duval) A fast-paced day in the life of the New York Sun metro editor who is after a big story just before the publishing deadline.
1993
The Pelican Brief - (Julia Roberts, Denzel Washington) A law student and reporter uncovers the truth about the assassination of two Supreme Court justices.
1992
Impolite
Infamous
The Newsies - (musical)
1991
Guilty by Suspicion
1990
This Reporter - (docu)
1989
Rush Week - A student journalist is on the trail of an ax-wielding maniac terrorizing the campus in this generic slasher flick.
1988
Eight Men Out - (sports)
Talk Radio
1987
*Broadcast News - (Albert Brooks, Holly Hunter. William Hurt) This romcom takes the audiences behind the scenes of the Washington bureau of a national news network.
Cry Freedom
1986
Salvador - (Oliver Stone directed) The story of a photojournalist and his work on the civil war in El Salvador hampered by substance abuse problems.
1985
Defense of the Realm
Fletch - (Chevy Chase) An LA investigative reporter comedically uses disguises and false names as he pursues a story about police corruption and narcotics trafficking.
1984
*The Killing Fields - A New York Times journalist goes to Cambodia in search of a story during Pol Pot’s “ethnic cleansing” of the country. Nominated for seven Oscars and winner of three.
Making of the Magazine - A 16-minute look at the New York Times magazine.
1983
Under Fire - (Nick Nolte, Gene Hackman)
1982
Special to the Times - A short film showing how the New York Times goes from idea to printed product.
*The Year of Living Dangerously - (Mel Gibson) A young Australian reporter working in Indonesia when the military overthrows the government. Chasing news is the backdrop for a romance with a British embassy assistant.
1981
*Absence of Malice - (Sally Field, Paul Newman) A reporter is eager for a scoop, betrays her lover who gets her fired for unknowingly running a fake story.
Circle of Deceit
Continental Divide - (John Belushi)
Reds - (Warren Beatty)
1980
Farewell, Etaoin Shrdlu - A short film about the last day of hot metal typesetting at the New York Times as the Gray Lady moves to the new typesetting and photographic production process.
Where the Buffalo Roam
1979
China Syndrome - (Jane Fonda, Michael Douglas)
Superman - (Christopher Reeve) Newspaper reporter Clark Kent balances his Daily Planet job with love interest and saving the world.
1978
The Green Room
1977
Between the Lines - An ensemble cast works at an alternative newspaper in Boston. Less about journalism than it is a sex-escapade comedy showcasing the talents of the performers.
1976
*All the President’s Men - (D. Hoffman, R. Redford) Journalists help bring down a US president; slow; lacks relevancy now. The focus is on the the rock star journalists over the journalism.
*Network - A news anchor is about to be taken off the air so he promises to kill himself in next Tuesday’s broadcast. Ratings spike — and the show begins. A satirical black comedy-drama making a powerful combination of reality TV, media quality, and the corporatization of news.
1975
The Passenger (Jack Nicholson)
1974
Alice in the City
The Parallax View
The Front Page - (J. Lemmon, W. Matthau) Remake of 1931 film.
1973
Missing
1972
Slap the Monster on Page One
1971
the Cat o' Nine Tails
the Fifth Cord
Short Night of Glass Dolls
1969
Medium Cool
1963
Shock Corridor
1962
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance - (Jimmy Stewart, John Wayne, Lee Marvin) A small town newspaper reporter asks a senator why he would attend the funeral of a poor rancher. The answer is a story from 25 years before in this classic Western.
1959
-30- - (Jack Webb, William Conrad)
1957
Sweet Smell of Success - (Burt Lancaster)
1955
Headline Hunters - A rookie reporter is in over his head when he gets tangled up with big-time mobsters.
1953
Francis Covers the Big Town - The fourth adventure a talking Army mule and his human friend who begins working as a reporter at a newspaper. Silly, standard 50s comedy.
1952
Ace in the Hole - (Kirk Douglas) A washed up reporter discovers a man trapped in a cave, cynically exploiting the situation to boost his career.
The Captive City
Deadline USA - (Humphrey Bogart) As a publisher’s widow works to finalizes the sale of a New York newspaper, the managing editor races to finish an exposé on a gangster in a bid to increase circulation.
Park Row
Scandal Sheet
1951
Ace in the Hole - (Kirk Douglas) Douglas plays a New York reporter adrift in the Southwest who comes across a guy stuck in a mine and decides to make a sensation of it. An actual carnival rises up around it. Billy Wilder’s cynicism is on display with journalists portrayed as shameless opportunists.
1950
Scandal
Shakedown - A news photographer gets mixed up with criminals, robbery, and blackmail as he attempt to promote his career.
1948
Call Northside 777 - (James Stewart)
That Wonderful Urge
1947
Gentleman's Agreement - (Gregory Peck)
1944
It Happened Tomorrow - (Dick Powell) A reporter gets a copy of tomorrow's newspaper today. He spots a headline predicting his own death in this light comedy.
1942
Keeper of the Flame
1941
Citizen Kane - (Orson Welles)
Meet John Doe
1940
*His Girl Friday - (Cary Grant) A screwball comedy about a newspaper editor trying to get his ex-wife and top reporter from leaving the paper and getting remarried. It’s considered a classic example of the old-school fast-talking cynical newspaper reporter but there’s a lot of sexism.
A Dispatch from Reuters - The story of Julius Reuter (Edward G. Robinson) who started with carrier pigeons to eventually lead one of the most respected news wire services.
Foreign Correspondent - (Alfred Hitchcock)
The Philadelphia Story - (Cary Grant)
1939
Each Dawn I Die - (James Cagney) A newspaper reporter is on the trail of a corrupt DA but lands in jail. More about prison than journalism.
1938
King of News Boys
Blondes at Work - The fourth in the Torchy Blane film series. Torchy is a determined reporter investigating a murder.
1937
Nothing Sacred
1935
Front Page Woman – (Bette Davis) Rival reporters try to scoop each other on a murder story. Silly antics with a bit of sappiness.
1934
It Happened One Night
1932
Doctor X – A New York City reporter investigates murders committed under a full moon.
1931
Five Star Final - (Edward G. Robinson) The excesses of tabloid journalism on full display.
The Front Page - (Pat O'Brien; remade in 1974 with J. Lemmon, W. Matthau)