There’s something about a gangster film that is irresistible. Perhaps it’s the swagger, the sharp suits, the one-liners that will be remembered for eternity, or perhaps the risky pleasure of cheering on the bad guy. From the smoke-filled speakeasies of Prohibition-era America to the rough streets of Rio, the gangster film has brought us some of cinema’s most memorable scenes. So grab a seat (and yes, the cannoli), because we’re counting down the 10 greatest gangster movies ever made, starting from the bottom for maximum suspense.
10. American Gangster (2007)
Ridley Scott’s crime epic relates the true story of Harlem cocaine dealer Frank Lucas. Denzel Washington dominates the screen as Lucas, and Russell Crowe keeps pace with him as the cop bent on ending his reign. Sleek and exciting, the film blends blockbuster thrills with a contemplative examination of ambition, corruption, and the darker aspects of the American dream.
9. The Untouchables (1987)
Brian De Palma whisks us away to Prohibition, as lawmen and gangsters battle in operatic style. Starring Kevin Costner as Eliot Ness, Sean Connery in an Oscar-winning turn, and Robert De Niro scenery-chewing role as Al Capone, the film is a combination of style and spectacle. With its slow-motion shoot-’em-ups and swooping camera movements, The Untouchables is gangster drama at its most cinematic.
8. Scarface (1983)
“Say hello to my little friend!” Few phrases are as iconic as Tony Montana’s volcanic introduction. Al Pacino’s cocaine-fueled meltdown in Miami is hyperbolic, brutal, and indelible. With its neon-drenched decadence and operatic drama, Scarface transcended being a movie; it became a cultural reference point, informing everything from rap lyrics to video games.
7. Mean Streets (1973)
Before Goodfellas and Casino, Martin Scorsese introduced the world to his brutal vision of life in the mob with Mean Streets. Harvey Keitel and young Robert De Niro infuse raw energy into this tale of small-time hoods in Little Italy. With its jittery camera moves, rock ‘n’ roll score, and Catholic guilt, this was the film that signaled Scorsese as an emerging voice in American cinema.
6. Once Upon a Time in America (1984)
Sergio Leone’s epic sprawl is a story of friendship, betrayal, and regret that spans decades. Robert De Niro heads a top-notch cast in this tale of Jewish gangsters in New York, presented with Leone’s characteristic splendor and heightened by Ennio Morricone’s spine-tingling score. Its knotty history of release only adds to its myth, but the restored version is nothing short of gobsmacking.
5. City of God (2002)
Crime is not the exclusive property of American streets. City of God transports us to the favelas of Rio de Janeiro, where children mature prematurely and die sooner. With breakneck editing, documentary realism, and indelible performances, this Brazilian masterpiece redefined the possibilities of a gangster film. It’s raw, gorgeous, and unforgettable.
4. The Departed (2006)
Martin Scorsese finally captured his overdue Oscar with this Boston-based crime thriller. Jack Nicholson, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Matt Damon live a lethal game of deception and double lives in a betrayal-filled, blood-soaked payoff-rich tale. Half tense, half darkly comedic, The Departed is the reason why Scorsese is still the undisputed king of gangster films.
3. Goodfellas (1990)
“Ever since I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster.” And so Scorsese begins a whirlwind tale of life in the mob that’s both thrilling and terrifying. Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci, and Robert De Niro give performances for the ages, and narration, editing, and soundtrack that have become part of film history. Few films capture the highs and inevitable downfalls of life as a gangster as well as Goodfellas.
2. The Godfather (1972)
Francis Ford Coppola’s classic is not merely a movie; it’s a cultural touchstone. Marlon Brando’s Don Vito Corleone established the benchmark for all mob bosses to come, and the film’s breadth, dialogue, and craftsmanship have rendered it an enduring classic. The Godfather is still the greatest of the mob movies, combining crime, family, and tragedy in pure cinema.
1. The Godfather Part II (1974)
Somehow, Coppola topped himself. Sequeling the Corleone saga, The Godfather Part II juxtaposes Michael’s brutal reign with flashbacks of young Vito’s ascension, perfectly played by Robert De Niro. Al Pacino gives a searing performance at the film’s core, and the movie plays out like a Shakespearean tragedy. It’s not only the greatest gangster film ever, it’s one of the greatest films, period.
That’s the roster. From operatic sagas to hard-boiled street-level tales, these movies demonstrate why the gangster genre remains so compelling. They’re stories of power, loyalty, betrayal, and ambition, and they illustrate that occasionally the bad guys truly do get the good lines.