Rank the Best Gangster Movies of all time
From smoky backroom deals to explosive betrayals and blood-stained loyalties, mob movies have carved out an unforgettable niche in cinematic history. These films don’t just showcase crime - they dissect power, loyalty, and the human cost of ambition with brutal elegance. For decades, directors and actors have immersed us in the morally complex worlds of mob bosses, undercover agents, and streetwise hustlers, delivering stories that are as emotionally potent as they are thrillingly violent. This list highlights the most iconic gangster movies of all time -films that didn’t just entertain us but redefined the genre. Whether they’re revered classics or modern masterpieces, each one earns its place through unforgettable performances, brilliant direction, and a pulse-pounding narrative. Now it’s your turn - rank these legendary mob movies and tell us which ones deserve to be on top!
Introduction
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The Godfather
#11.0Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather is not just a mob movie—it's a cornerstone of American cinema. With Marlon Brando’s unforgettable turn as Don Vito Corleone and Al Pacino’s chilling evolution into Michael Corleone, the film explores the blurred lines between family loyalty and criminal enterprise. Set against a richly detailed backdrop of post-war America, it’s a masterclass in storytelling, cinematography, and character development. What makes The Godfather endure is its operatic scope. The film takes its time unraveling the corruption, tradition, and emotional coldness that define mob life. Every scene is meticulously crafted, from the haunting opening monologue to the brutal baptism montage. This film didn’t just define the mob genre—it elevated it to art.
The Godfather, Part II
#22.0The Godfather Part III is often seen as the most polarizing entry in the Corleone saga, but it remains an essential conclusion to the epic trilogy. Released in 1990, it finds Michael Corleone older, wealthier, and desperate to legitimize his empire. Al Pacino returns with a more haunted, remorseful performance as Michael, while Andy García brings fiery energy as his ambitious nephew, Vincent Mancini. Despite mixed reviews upon release, the film’s meditations on redemption, legacy, and mortality bring the trilogy full circle. Francis Ford Coppola’s direction remains lush and operatic, and the climactic opera house sequence is a tragic masterstroke. When viewed as an elegiac epilogue rather than a direct continuation, The Godfather Part III earns its place among the greats.
Goodfellas
#33.0Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas is a lightning bolt of energy and style, chronicling the real-life rise and fall of mob associate Henry Hill. With Ray Liotta’s charismatic narration, Joe Pesci’s unhinged volatility, and Robert De Niro’s stoic menace, the film creates a vivid portrait of life inside the Mafia. Its kinetic editing and Rolling Stones-heavy soundtrack give it a rock-n-roll edge that’s both exhilarating and terrifying. But beneath the slick surface is a deeply unsettling story about addiction—to power, violence, and the illusion of control. Scorsese doesn’t glamorize the mob; he exposes its hollow promises and inevitable betrayals. It’s not just a great mob movie—it’s a cautionary tale told with razor-sharp precision.
The Departed
#44.0The Departed, directed by Martin Scorsese, is a high-stakes game of cat and mouse set in the gritty underbelly of Boston’s criminal world. Leonardo DiCaprio plays a cop deep undercover in an Irish-American mob, while Matt Damon portrays a mole embedded within the police department. With Jack Nicholson delivering one of his most menacing performances as crime boss Frank Costello, the film keeps audiences guessing at every turn. What makes The Departed exceptional is its psychological complexity. It’s a story about duality—loyalty and betrayal, law and crime, truth and identity. The tension is suffocating, the violence sudden and shocking. It’s a modern mob masterpiece that earned Scorsese a long-overdue Oscar for Best Director.
Casino
#55.0Martin Scorsese’s Casino takes the mob story to Las Vegas, where greed and brutality converge under the glimmering neon lights. Robert De Niro plays Sam “Ace” Rothstein, a meticulous casino manager who tries to run a clean operation while surrounded by corruption. Joe Pesci, as the volatile enforcer Nicky Santoro, brings chaos into Ace’s carefully controlled world. Though sometimes overshadowed by Goodfellas, Casino dives even deeper into the mechanics of organized crime. It’s not just about hits and heists—it’s about business, politics, and betrayal. The film’s grandeur, punctuated by Sharon Stone’s powerhouse performance, makes it a visually stunning and thematically rich entry into the mob canon.
Scarface
#66.0Scarface reimagines the mob genre through the eyes of an immigrant chasing the American Dream by any means necessary. Al Pacino’s Tony Montana is a Cuban refugee who claws his way to the top of Miami’s cocaine empire with ruthless ambition. Directed by Brian De Palma and written by Oliver Stone, the film is a violent, stylish epic that has become a pop culture phenomenon. While Scarface may have divided critics upon release, it has since gained cult status for its over-the-top style and quotable lines. At its core, it’s a cautionary tale about unchecked ambition and the self-destruction it brings. Tony Montana’s meteoric rise and spectacular fall encapsulate the genre’s core themes: power, greed, and inevitable downfall.
Once Upon A Time In America
#77.0Once Upon a Time in America, directed by Sergio Leone, is an epic saga that spans decades in the lives of Jewish gangsters in New York. Starring Robert De Niro as David "Noodles" Aaronson and James Woods as his volatile friend Max, the film moves between Prohibition-era crime and the regrets of old age with a haunting, elegiac tone. What sets Once Upon a Time in America apart is its ambitious scale and emotional depth. It’s less concerned with mob machinations than with memory, time, and the price of ambition. Ennio Morricone’s unforgettable score and Leone’s operatic style elevate this to one of the most poetic, melancholic entries in the mob canon—a true masterpiece.
Donnie Brasco
#88.0Donnie Brasco offers a quieter, more emotionally resonant take on mob life, anchored by stellar performances from Johnny Depp and Al Pacino. Based on the real-life story of FBI agent Joseph D. Pistone, the film follows Depp's character as he infiltrates the Mafia under the alias Donnie Brasco, forging a complicated bond with low-level hitman Lefty Ruggiero, played heartbreakingly by Pacino. What makes Donnie Brasco stand out is its intimate focus on friendship and identity. As the lines between the agent’s real life and undercover role blur, the psychological toll becomes unbearable. This is a mob story not about power, but about trust—and what happens when that trust is shattered for a greater cause. It’s subtle, tragic, and unforgettable.
The Untouchables
#99.0Brian De Palma’s The Untouchables pits the law against organized crime in Prohibition-era Chicago, chronicling the legendary battle between Eliot Ness (Kevin Costner) and crime kingpin Al Capone (Robert De Niro). With a screenplay by David Mamet and a memorable score by Ennio Morricone, the film blends action, drama, and historical fiction into a stylish and emotionally charged package. Though it takes liberties with the facts, The Untouchables thrives on its mythic tone and unforgettable moments—none more iconic than the slow-motion baby carriage shootout on the train station steps. It’s a heroic tale of justice, defined by its crisp direction and an all-star cast delivering performances that have stood the test of time.
Mean Streets
#1010.0Mean Streets marks the gritty, groundbreaking beginning of Martin Scorsese’s long love affair with the mob genre. Released in 1973, the film stars Harvey Keitel as Charlie, a young man trying to balance Catholic guilt with Mafia ties, and Robert De Niro as the volatile Johnny Boy, whose reckless behavior threatens them both. It’s raw, restless, and deeply personal. More than just a mob movie, Mean Streets is a street-level character study—less about organized crime empires and more about the daily grind of small-time hustlers. Its handheld camera work, rock ’n’ roll soundtrack, and naturalistic performances paved the way for Scorsese’s later masterpieces. It’s a foundational film that showed just how personal and poetic a crime story could be.
The Godfather, Part III
#1111.0The Godfather Part III is often seen as the most polarizing entry in the Corleone saga, but it remains an essential conclusion to the epic trilogy. Released in 1990, it finds Michael Corleone older, wealthier, and desperate to legitimize his empire. Al Pacino returns with a more haunted, remorseful performance as Michael, while Andy García brings fiery energy as his ambitious nephew, Vincent Mancini. Despite mixed reviews upon release, the film’s meditations on redemption, legacy, and mortality bring the trilogy full circle. Francis Ford Coppola’s direction remains lush and operatic, and the climactic opera house sequence is a tragic masterstroke. When viewed as an elegiac epilogue rather than a direct continuation, The Godfather Part III earns its place among the greats.
L.A. Confidential
#1212.0While not a traditional mob film, L.A. Confidential dives deep into organized crime, corruption, and power in 1950s Los Angeles. Featuring an all-star cast including Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, and Kevin Spacey, this neo-noir crime drama uncovers a sprawling conspiracy between police, politicians, and gangsters. It’s taut, stylish, and endlessly gripping. The film’s brilliance lies in its layered storytelling and moral ambiguity. As three very different cops investigate a series of crimes, their paths converge in unpredictable ways. With sharp dialogue, complex characters, and a haunting atmosphere, L.A. Confidential brings a unique West Coast flair to the mob genre.
Gangs of New York
#1313.0Martin Scorsese’s Gangs of New York shifts the mob narrative back to its chaotic roots in Civil War-era Manhattan. The film follows Amsterdam Vallon (Leonardo DiCaprio) as he returns to avenge his father’s death at the hands of Bill "The Butcher" Cutting, played with terrifying bravado by Daniel Day-Lewis. This is a world where gang warfare predates the Mafia—raw, political, and primal. What makes Gangs of New York compelling is its operatic scope and historical ambition. Scorsese paints a brutal, blood-soaked portrait of a city being born through violence and tribalism. The film is both a historical epic and a dark meditation on the origins of organized crime in America.
Pulp Fiction
#1414.0Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction may not be a conventional mob movie, but its stylish intertwining of hitmen, gangsters, and criminal lowlifes earns it a rightful place on this list. With John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson as philosophical enforcers Vincent and Jules, and Bruce Willis and Uma Thurman adding unforgettable arcs of their own, the film changed cinema forever. Its nonlinear narrative, razor-sharp dialogue, and ironic tone made Pulp Fiction a cultural phenomenon. At its core, it’s a film about life at the fringes of the mob—equal parts hilarious, profound, and ultra-violent. Tarantino’s masterpiece redefined what crime cinema could be.
A Bronx Tale
#1515.0Directed by Robert De Niro, A Bronx Tale is a coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of 1960s New York, where a young boy named Calogero finds himself torn between two father figures: his honest, hardworking dad (played by De Niro) and a local mob boss, Sonny (Chazz Palminteri). The film is based on Palminteri’s one-man show and captures the moral complexity of growing up in a world shaped by crime and temptation. Unlike most mob movies, A Bronx Tale doesn’t center on the Mafia's inner workings—it’s about the ripple effects of its influence on a community and a young boy’s soul. With its poignant themes of loyalty, respect, and personal choice, the film delivers a powerful message wrapped in nostalgia and grit.
Shark Tale
#1616.0A surprising addition to the list, Shark Tale is an animated spoof of mob tropes set under the sea. Featuring the voices of Will Smith, Robert De Niro, and Jack Black, it tells the story of a small fish who pretends to be a shark slayer, only to get entangled with the ocean’s mafia. Though played for laughs, Shark Tale cleverly incorporates recognizable mob film elements—family dynasties, betrayal, and “offers you can’t refuse”—in a kid-friendly package. It’s a fun, self-aware homage that introduces a new generation to the genre’s tropes through scales and fins.
Bugsy
#1717.0Bugsy tells the story of infamous gangster Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel and his vision to build a gambling empire in the Nevada desert. Warren Beatty stars as the charismatic yet volatile mobster, with Annette Bening in a magnetic supporting role. Directed by Barry Levinson, the film blends romance, ambition, and violence in equal measure. The movie dives into the transformation of Las Vegas from barren wasteland to mob mecca, making it as much about dreams as it is about crime. Stylish, tragic, and impeccably acted, Bugsy is a sophisticated biopic that adds historical gravitas to the mob canon.
Road to Perdition
#1818.0Road to Perdition is a visually haunting tale of revenge, redemption, and the bond between father and son. Directed by Sam Mendes and starring Tom Hanks, Paul Newman, and Jude Law, the film follows a hitman (Hanks) on the run with his son after a betrayal within their mob family. Shot with poetic elegance by cinematographer Conrad L. Hall, it’s one of the most artistically crafted mob films ever made. Unlike the more explosive entries on this list, Road to Perdition is quiet and meditative, focused on the emotional weight of violence and legacy. It’s a story about cycles—of crime, of loss, of family—and how they might be broken. With understated performances and a haunting score, it leaves a lasting impression long after the final shot.
Mobsters
#1919.0Mobsters dramatizes the rise of America’s most infamous crime figures—Lucky Luciano, Meyer Lansky, Bugsy Siegel, and Frank Costello—as they take over organized crime in the 1920s. Featuring a youthful cast including Christian Slater and Patrick Dempsey, the film adds a pulp-fiction energy to real historical events. Though it takes dramatic liberties, Mobsters captures the volatility and glamour of young gangsters carving out their empire. It’s a stylish origin story for the very men who would become legends, offering an energetic, if exaggerated, take on the formation of the American Mafia.
American Hustle
#2020.0American Hustle, directed by David O. Russell, may revolve more around con artists and FBI sting operations than traditional mob families, but its world of corruption, crime, and manipulation fits snugly within the genre. Featuring a powerhouse ensemble—Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper, and Jennifer Lawrence—the film is a whirlwind of scams, seduction, and sharp suits. Loosely based on the real-life ABSCAM operation of the 1970s, American Hustle stylishly blurs the lines between criminal and cop, con and consumer. It's a vibrant, chaotic dance through a morally compromised world, and a smart, satirical love letter to crime cinema.
Carlito's Way
#2121.0Brian De Palma’s Carlito’s Way tells the story of Carlito Brigante (Al Pacino), a former drug kingpin trying to walk the straight and narrow after being released from prison. But escaping the criminal life proves harder than expected, especially with Sean Penn’s unhinged lawyer dragging him back in. What makes Carlito’s Way so powerful is its tone of melancholy and fatalism. Carlito wants out, but the streets won’t let him go. With one of Pacino’s most underrated performances and a heart-wrenching conclusion, the film is a somber yet thrilling swan song to a man trapped by his past.
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