For your consideration here are few market studies of specific film works dealing with crime and how well they have done at the box office.
Donnie Brasco
Director: Mike Newell
Distribution: Sony Pictures
Released: February 28, 1997
Worldwide Sales: $55.9M
Rated R
The Untouchables
Director: Brian De Palma
Distribution: Paramount Pictures
Released: June 3, 1987
US Sales: $76.2M
Ratered R
Bad Lieutenant
The Big Easy
Scarface
Heat
Sea of Love
The Departed
Catch Me If You Can
** Source: The-Numbers.com