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The 20 Best Movies About Gangs and Gangsters, Ranked

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Guns, girls, and gangs—such is the life of the gangster. And betrayals, manhunts, robberies, sacrifices, drugs, and weapons... these tropes make up much of the gangster film subgenre.

Recent successes like The Outfit and Peaky Blinders show us that gangsters are still as popular as ever in movies and television. We can't get enough of murderous anti-heroes, apparently!

That said, gangster movies have been around for ages, ever since the surprise hit of Josef von Sternberg's film Underworld in 1927, which is generally accepted as the first-ever gangster film.

Here are my picks for the best movies about gangs and gangsters, spanning everything from America to Europe to Asia, from 1920s gangsters to modern-day street thugs.

20. The Gentlemen (2019)

Directed by Guy Ritchie

Starring Matthew McConaughey, Charlie Hunnam, Michelle Dockery

Action, Comedy, Crime (1h 53m)

7.8 on IMDb — 75% on RT

When thinking of gangsters, two images might come to mind: the hat-and-trench-coat-wearing cigar smokers of Prohibition, or the tracksuit-wearing weed smokers who flex on the streets.

The Gentlemen presents us gangster types who are somewhere in between. Although Colin Farrell does rock a tartan tracksuit as Coach, most of the other characters wear fine suits and drink whiskey.

They're "gentlemen gangsters," so to speak.

While Coach's students are stupidly making a music video at a crime scene, Ray (Charlie Hunnam) whips out a machine gun to teach some wannabe roadmen gangsters some humility.

Apart from Matthew McConaughey, The Gentlemen prides itself on being distinctively British and distinctively Guy Ritchie.

19. Donnie Brasco (1997)

Directed by Mike Newell

Starring Al Pacino, Johnny Depp, Michael Madsen

Biography, Crime, Drama (2h 7m)

7.7 on IMDb — 88% on RT

Johnny Depp has appeared in several mobster movies—most notably Public Enemies and Black Mass —but his best appearance came alongside Al Pacino in Donnie Brasco .

Many gangster movies take the undercover angle, where officers must convincingly infiltrate a dangerous gang. This keeps us on our toes for every near-miss mistake that could blow their cover.

But this one's even more tense since Donnie Brasco was a real undercover cop who made it into the Mafia during the 1970s, exemplifying the adage of "fake it 'til you make it."

Mike Newell adapted the nonfiction book into a two-hour drama that dodges the usual criminal tropes you might expect.

18. American Gangster (2007)

Directed by Ridley Scott

Starring Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Chiwetel Ejiofor

Biography, Crime, Drama (2h 37m)

7.8 on IMDb — 81% on RT

Criminal organizations take a lot of, well, organizing. The most successful ones involve tons of people, jobs, bribes, secrets, fights, meetings, rigs, robberies, etc.

In 1968, Frank Lucas decided to cut out the middleman and deal with his heroin source directly—like any true businessman would. After all, Frank Lucas was a real-life corporate guy.

He's played by Denzel Washington in Ridley Scott's American Gangster , going up against detective Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe).

While most of Harlem takes Lucas at face value when he fronts as a businessman striking connections with politicians, Roberts sees through it and works to bring him down.

Although not entirely accurate (Roberts took issue with Washington's "noble" portrayal of Lucas), American Gangster is a gripping watch thanks to Ridley Scott's expert dramatization.

17. The Long Good Friday (1980)

Directed by John Mackenzie

Starring Bob Hoskins, Helen Mirren, Paul Freeman

Crime, Drama, Mystery (1h 54m)

7.6 on IMDb — 97% on RT

Most British crime films feature Cockney gangsters. There's just something about the accent and their want for London domination.

The London setting is crucial in The Long Good Friday , which serves as a backdrop to the politics of the era, all of which is expertly woven throughout the film by director John Mackenzie.

Bob Hoskins is Harold Shand, a gangster trying to go legit. The corruption of cops and politicians help, as he's able to strike deals and make plans to redevelop the London Docklands.

Then, bombs go off. Friends are murdered. Harold has to chuck it all in to find the culprit, and he has to do it all without showing any cracks or blind spots in his growing business.

The watertight plot and Hoskins's "sinister" performance put The Long Good Friday up there with Britain's best gang movies.

16. Eastern Promises (2007)

Directed by David Cronenberg

Starring Naomi Watts, Viggo Mortensen, Vincent Cassel

Crime, Drama, Thriller (1h 40m)

7.6 on IMDb — 89% on RT

Gangsters are a hard bunch, but Russian gangsters are something else. Eastern Promises depicts the Russian mafia in London as they're approached by Anna (Naomi Watts), despite being warned not to.

After delivering the baby of a 14-year-old prostitute—who dies giving birth—Anna tries to track down the girl's family using her diary. This diary leads her straight to the doorstep of Nikolai Luzhin, whose tattoos and Russian accent speak to his mafia status.

Viggo Mortensen gives a chilling performance as the violent, man-of-few-words mobster, made all the more real by his study of Russian gangs and symbology before filming.

The psychological aspect of Eastern Promises is what differentiates it from most action-based crime flicks. David Cronenberg directs this brooding drama that isn't afraid to outsmart its viewers.

15. Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)

Starring Jason Flemyng, Dexter Fletcher, Nick Moran

Action, Comedy, Crime (1h 47m)

8.1 on IMDb — 75% on RT

Circling back to Guy Ritchie, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels puts the comedy in crime via Ritchie's usual style of dark humor.

Although Ritchie's Snatch is more well-known for its tapestry of criminal plotlines and characters, everything that made Snatch great can first be found in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels .

Ritchie laid the foundations for his trademark collaborations, criminal themes, fast-paced filming, and British slang/humor (where everyone seems to have a nickname) in his feature debut.

Of these collaborations, Vinnie Jones, Jason Statham, Jason Flemyng, and Alan Ford all appear in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels . Sting is also in there, somewhere.

This one isn't just a gangster movie—it's also a heist movie! And it's all awash in themes of masculinity, patriotism, power, loyalty, and revenge, presented with a rough-and-tumble sheen.

14. Reservoir Dogs (1992)

Directed by Quentin Tarantino

Starring Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen

Crime, Thriller (1h 39m)

8.3 on IMDb — 90% on RT

An independent cult neo-noir? That might sound like one for the cinephiles, but Reservoir Dogs seems to be popular with everyone. Quentin Tarantino's feature debut was a hit—to say the least—and it only got more popular after the release of Pulp Fiction .

Gangsters love nicknames, but these guys take it to another level by adopting secret color aliases: Mr. Brown, Mr. White, Mr. Blonde, Mr. Blue, Mr. Orange, and Mr. Pink.

Reservoir Dogs depicts a gang trying to pull off a heist that inevitably goes wrong, but soundtrack dissonance, deadpan jokes, trivial conversations, and a Mexican standoff set Reservoir Dogs apart as one of the most unique crime movies in the genre.

Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Chris Penn, Steve Buscemi, and Michael Madsen make their first of several Tarantino movie appearances, alongside the director himself as Mr. Brown.

13. Casino (1995)

Directed by Martin Scorsese

Starring Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, Joe Pesci

Crime, Drama (2h 58m)

8.2 on IMDb — 79% on RT

If there's one person to rule the gangster genre, it's Robert De Niro—usually under the direction of Martin Scorsese.

The acclaimed director grew up in Little Italy of New York City back during the Mafia's "golden age," so he witnessed the gangster lifestyle first-hand, albeit from a distance.

You'll notice that Martin Scorsese's mobster movies often go beyond gang warfare and into family dynamics, friendship, culture, loyalty, guilt, and religion (specifically Catholicism).

That's what makes them so great—alongside strong casts and dynamic camerawork—and it's a direct result of his childhood observations.

Scorsese's first gangster flick Mean Streets marked the dawn of New Hollywood's greatest crime duo: De Niro and Scorsese. They got together with Joe Pesci for Casino , and later again for The Irishman .

The Chicago Outfit is a huge Italian-American crime syndicate (formerly led by Al Capone) that, in Casino , asks a gambling expert to oversee a casino in Las Vegas. Although he starts off doubling profits, working under the Mafia's eye proves a difficult task.

11. Get Carter (1971)

Directed by Mike Hodges

Starring Michael Caine, Ian Hendry, Britt Ekland

Action, Crime, Thriller (1h 52m)

7.3 on IMDb — 87% on RT

Mike Hodges's directorial debut Get Carter ended up becoming an emblem of 1970s British cinema.

Known for his anti-heroic characters and sarcastic humor, Michael Caine had already established himself as the go-to Cockney casting choice for his work in the infamous caper film The Italian Job .

Caine came on board as another criminal in Get Carter , but this time he was an official London gangster returning to Newcastle to investigate his brother's murder.

Jack Carter isn't a trained detective, but his history in organized crime has sharpened his senses to foul play. And even though he's the protagonist, Carter is a truly terrible person, resulting in a blatantly amoral movie that was praised for its soulless realism.

12. A Prophet (2009)

Directed by Jacques Audiard

Starring Tahar Rahim, Niels Arestrup, Adel Bencherif

Crime, Drama (2h 35m)

7.8 on IMDb — 96% on RT

French cinema has some truly great crime movies, from La Haine to Purple Noon . There's also A Prophet , which takes us off the streets and into prison, where 19-year-old Malik El Djebena (Tahar Rahim) is taken in by the Corsican Mafia.

Generally, prison is supposed to rehabilitate inmates and prevent further crime. But in A Prophet , Malik enters as a petty criminal and leaves as a high-ranking assassin.

What else is there to do in prison except learn new skills?

As Malik rises through the ranks to become a respected member of the mob, director Jacques Audiard grabs us from the start and holds us captive with this character-driven prison drama.

10. Tokyo Drifter (1966)

Directed by Seijun Suzuki

Starring Tetsuya Watari, Chieko Matsubara, Hideaki Nitani

Action, Crime (1h 22m)

7.1 on IMDb — 93% on RT

Leaving the criminal life behind is easier said than done—once you're in the game, you're effectively in it forever.

"Phoenix Tetsu" Hondo didn't ask to quit the game, though. His boss just up and left, leaving Tetsu to wander around Tokyo, ducking rival gangs like a deadly game of dodgeball.

That said, it's a lifestyle he ends up quite attached to.

Seijun Suzuki's yakuza film starring Tetsuya Watari as hitman-turned-vagrant is a bold and poppy crime flick, filmed in crazy camera angles. Looking for an Asian gangster flick? It's one of the best.

Sadly, Suzuki was fired by Nikkatsu not long after releasing Tokyo Drifter . As wild and wonderful as it is, the company had been warning Suzuki to tone down his work for a while—and he refused.

9. The Departed (2006)

Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson

Crime, Drama, Thriller (2h 31m)

8.5 on IMDb — 91% on RT

Martin Scorsese is one of the few filmmakers who can actually turn a reboot into something better. He did it first with Cape Fear , then again with The Departed many years later.

The critically acclaimed Hong Kong original—titled Infernal Affairs —didn't seem like one that needed an English-language remake. People feared that it would butcher the original's emotional depth.

But Martin Scorsese knows what he's doing. In collaboration with one of his favorites, Leonardo DiCaprio, he went ahead and based The Departed on real corrupt agents and Irish mob bosses.

The Departed takes your standard undercover cop plot and doubles it: while MSP trooper Billy Costigan is trying to infiltrate a Boston gang, the gang's leader has already planted his own spy within the MSP.

The complex plot is brought to life by a star-studded cast that includes Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, Ray Winstone, Vera Farmiga, and Alec Baldwin.

8. Scarface (1983)

Directed by Brian De Palma

Starring Al Pacino, Michelle Pfeiffer, Steven Bauer

Crime, Drama (2h 50m)

8.3 on IMDb — 79% on RT

Did you know that Brian De Palma's Scarface was actually a semi-remake of the 1932 pre-Code Scarface by Howard Hawks?

Hawks had based his film on Armitage Trail's novel, which in turn was based on the life of Al Capone, who was nicknamed "Scarface."

Brian De Palma took that basic framework and remodeled it into a Hollywood movie. Set in the 1980s, we now have Tony Montana (instead of Al Capone) selling illegal substances and getting charged with tax evasion.

Profanely portrayed by Al Pacino, Tony is a Cuban refugee who starts working for a drug lord in exchange for a green card. The indulgent three-hour runtime is worth it for that grand finale.

7. Gomorrah (2008)

Directed by Matteo Garrone

Starring Toni Servillo , Gianfelice Imparato, Maria Nazionale

Crime, Drama (2h 17m)

7.0 on IMDb — 91% on RT

How about some Italian gangsters? Not the New York variety—we're talking real mobsters from Italy. The Casalesi clan is a subsection of the Camorra criminal society operating between Naples and Latium.

Roberto Saviano wrote about the Casalesi in his nonfiction book Gomorrah , and his involvement in the film adaptation is partly why Gomorrah is so good!

Gomorrah takes us through the lives of five separate characters affected by gang warfare in Naples. It took six writers to weave it all together: Maurizio Braucci, Ugo Chiti, Gianni Di Gregorio, and Massimo Gaudioso, alongside Saviano and director Matteo Garrone.

The street rivalries aren't just surface level in this New Italian Epic. Matteo Garrone probes deeper to show the full scale of organized crime, with tendrils that spread low and wide below society.

6. Once Upon a Time in America (1984)

Directed by Sergio Leone

Starring Robert De Niro, James Woods, Elizabeth McGovern

Crime, Drama (3h 49m)

8.3 on IMDb — 87% on RT

Once Upon a Time in America is the third installment in Sergio Leone's "Once Upon a Time" trilogy, which all share similar titles but are otherwise unrelated.

Set in 1918, street kids named Noodles, Patsy, Cockeye, and Dominic are committing petty crimes for a guy called Bugsy. Fifteen years later, they're adults who are practically running Manhattan thanks to bootleg liquor profits during Prohibition.

Although it's now considered among the greatest gangster movies ever made, Once Upon a Time in America was initially met with nonchalance and a distinct lack of Oscar nominations.

If you're a hardcore Robert De Niro fan, there's an Extended Cut that stretches over four hours for your enjoyment. It was originally intended to be two movies, but Leone fused them into one big film—and then Warner Bros. shortened it without Leone's supervision...

5. Boyz N the Hood (1991)

Directed by John Singleton

Starring Cuba Gooding Jr., Laurence Fishburne, Ice Cube

Crime, Drama (1h 52m)

Most of these movies take place back in the day, with old-school mobsters making up the bulk of cinema's greatest gang films. Boyz N the Hood , however, is all about 90s urban gang culture.

Once upon a time in South Central LA, young Tre is sent to live with his tough-loving father. Despite the rough neighborhood, Tre grows into a respectable young man... until his old friends return from prison.

Cuba Gooding Jr., Ice Cube, Morris Chestnut, and Laurence Fishburne star in what was supposed to be a script for film school application, but turned into an Oscar-winning classic that launched careers and changed cinema forever.

Director John Singleton became the first African American—and youngest person—to get an Oscar nomination for Best Director, thanks to this poignant coming-of-age drama.

4. The Public Enemy (1931)

Directed by William A. Wellman

Starring James Cagney, Jean Harlow, Edward Woods

Crime, Drama (1h 23m)

7.6 on IMDb — 100% on RT

The Public Enemy wasn't just set during the era of Al Capone and speakeasies—it was made during it!

The early 1930s saw Hollywood take over the film industry and become dominated by big studios, drifting in a kind of limbo phase between "talkies" and censorship laws.

Set in Chicago, a hotbed for Prohibition-era mobsters, Tom Powers and Matt Doyle climb the ladder from poverty to bootlegged riches. They credit their success to "beer and blood" (which is the title of the unpublished novel The Public Enemy was based on).

The Public Enemy is a gangster-versus-law narrative, rather than the typical gang-versus-gang story of the time. Critics weren't overly fond of its glorification of crime, but that's not much of an issue nowadays.

3. The Godfather (1972)

Directed by Francis Ford Coppola

Starring Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan

Crime, Drama (2h 55m)

9.2 on IMDb — 97% on RT

It's hard to pick just one film from this legendary trilogy... so even if I'm going with the first, it's really a stand-in for the entire series. The Godfather is best appreciated in its full form, anyway.

Adapted from Mario Puzo's 1969 novel, The Godfather movies center on the Corleone crime family, for whom loyalty means everything.

Marlon Brando leads the family as Vito Corleone, a Sicilian orphan and immigrant who builds his empire from scratch. Vito has four children, with Michael (Al Pacino) next in line for the throne.

Francis Ford Coppola's Oscar-winning trilogy is in the top five of pretty much any mainstream "best movies" list. The complex storyline, high-caliber acting, symbolic cinematography, and keen character development all make for a cinematic masterpiece.

2. City of God (2002)

Directed by Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund

Starring Alexandre Rodrigues, Leandro Firmino, Matheus Nachtergaele

Crime, Drama (2h 10m)

8.6 on IMDb — 91% on RT

City of God might just be the least glamorized gangster movie on our list. The savagely vicious gangs in Cidade de Deus make The Gentlemen look like a tea party.

Plus, this one's based on a real period of time when warfare in Rio was at its peak—and the filmmakers made the brave decision to shoot on-location (using locals instead of actors).

Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund direct this Brazilian crime epic that's not for the faint-hearted. We witness Rio's gang culture through the eyes of Rocket (Alexandre Rodrigues), a young wannabe photographer who captures the events on his camera and narrates the movie.

City of God is a raw and bloody-nosed depiction of poverty and what it can lead to, made all the more astounding by the fact it even got made at all. (That said, some Brazilian critics disliked how City of God reduced the favela down to pure violence.)

1. Goodfellas (1990)

Starring Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci

Biography, Crime, Drama (2h 25m)

8.7 on IMDb — 96% on RT

Did you know Martin Scorsese was reluctant to make yet another gangster film when he was planning Goodfellas ? It ended up being the most famous gangster movie of all time.

Robert De Niro is at the forefront in one of his most iconic roles, alongside Ray Liotta and Joe Pesci (with his notoriously improvised "Funny how?" scene).

Set between the 1950s and 1980s, Goodfellas is the rise-and-fall story that tops them all. The long takes and candid dialogue give us a peek into the everyday life of a mafia man as he saunters from nightclubs to drug deals to family dinners.

Goodfellas is the epitome of Scorsese's trademarks, as if all his other gangster films were just practice for this one. It's the perfect balance between naturalism, entertainment, and craftsmanship!

10 Most Accurate Depictions of the Mafia in Movies

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For decades, gangster films have captivated the masses with their complex characters, gripping storylines, and exhilarating action sequences, with revered directors like Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Scorsese emerging as powerful voices in the thrilling crime genre. Scorsese's Italian-American background and New York City upbringing had a profound effect on his filmmaking, as did his enduring personal and professional friendship with go-to leading man Robert De Niro , who starred in countless pictures crafted by the Oscar-winning director since 1973's Mean Streets.

When it comes to the cinema, Hollywood has no problem amping up the violence, drama, and theatrics in order to create an electrifying finished product, with studios and producers often choosing style over substance.

However, there have been many critically acclaimed films focusing on the Mafia that are deeply rooted in fact and realism, with Scorsese's masterpiece Goodfellas and Mike Newell's Donnie Brasco being just a few that went to painstaking lengths to remain authentic in their storytelling. Here are 10 of the most accurate depictions of the Mafia in movies.

10 Casino (1995)

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In the eighth collaboration between Hollywood dream team Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro , 1995's Casino takes place in 1973 Las Vegas and centers on Mafia associate and gambling expert Sam "Ace" Rothstein, who is tasked by the Chicago Outlet to oversee the Tangiers Casino, doing so with the help of his childhood friend and fiery mob enforcer Nicky Santoro (Joe Pesci).

The critically-acclaimed picture chronicles Sam's many struggles as he attempts to keep the casino thriving amid an ever-changing Sin City, all the while dealing with the Mafia's constant involvement in its day-to-day operations and the volatile Santoro.

Exposing Las Vegas' Seedy Underbelly

Based on reporter Nicholas Pileggi's true crime non-fiction novel, which detailed the relationship between Jewish Mafia associate Lefty Rosenthal and mob enforcer Tony Spilotro, Scorsese went to great lengths to ensure Casino accurately depicted how the Mafia controlled Vegas and many of its casinos.

Sam and Nicky are based on Rosenthal and Spilotro, and many elements depicted in the drama reflect the Mafia's violent tactics employed to stay in power, such as the cheating gambler having his hands brutally smashed by the casino's secruity guard and Nicky gruesomely crushing a rival's head in a vise.

Casino details "made man" Nicky's spectacular fall from grace and the Mafia's subsequent handling of one of their own who ran afoul, with the events featured being confirmed by the real-life Rosenthal during production. Though the film takes some creative license, it nonetheless showcased the tight grip the Mafia had on Las Vegas and how they controlled the casinos and its many colorful patrons, while also exposing the lucrative skimming operations that took place.

9 Donnie Brasco (1997)

Donnie Brasco

Al Pacino and Johnny Depp brilliantly portrayed two men on opposite sides of the law when the talented actors headlined the 1997 crime drama Donnie Brasco , focusing on aging Bonanno crime family enforcer Lefty Ruggiero as he takes jewel thief Donnie Brasco under his wing and teaches him the rules of the Mafia, not realizing that Brasco is actually an undercover FBI agent named Joseph D. Pistone.

Donnie finds himself conflicted with where his loyalties truly lie as he develops a profound friendship with the mob hitman while working the case, coming to the chilling realization that fulfilling his job will likely lead to Ruggiero's demise.

Intimate Look at the Life of an Undercover Agent

Pistone served as a consultant for both Pacino and Depp, helping them flesh out their characters and correctly understand the essence and motivations of their on-screen counterparts. Donnie Brasco chronicles the young undercover agent as he rises in the ranks within the Mafia and slowly morphs into the monsters he's trying to hunt down, though his dangerous operation ultimately led to 200 indictments and 100 convictions.

Pistone's admirable work helped convince the FBI that employing undercover agents was crucial to taking down the mob, as opposed to simply relying on informants, and Donnie Brasco demonstrated the emotional and mental toll working undercover had on agents and the turmoil it caused their loved ones.

Depp masterfully captured the inner anguish Pistone experienced while on the job and its impact on his personal life, as he was forced to prove his loyalties to the crime family in an effort to become a made man.

8 Goodfellas (1990)

Widely regarded to be one of the greatest films ever made and a true trailblazer in the gangster genre, Martin Scorsese's masterpiece Goodfellas depicts the dramatic rise and fall of Lucchese crime family associate and mobster Henry Hill from the 1950s to 1980, and touts a phenomenal ensemble cast led by Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci, and Paul Sorvino.

Liotta skyrocketed to superstardom when he appeared as Hill, who infamously went on to become an FBI informant and later testified against his former associates, ultimately leading to the conviction of 50 convictions.

Scorsese's Revealing Gangster Masterpiece

An adaptation of Nicholas Pileggi's Wiseguy , Scorsese called Goodfellas "a mob home movie" and felt that the subject source was the most honest and realistic representation of gangsters that he had ever read: "The book [ Wiseguy ] gives you a sense of the day-to-day life, the tedium, how they work, how they take over certain nightclubs, and for what reasons. It shows how it's done."

Both critics and fans all across the world agreed that Goodfellas captured the horrors of living a life in organized crime, while also detailing the undeniable allure that comes with the power and respect the Mafia affords a person.

The real Henry Hill was paid $480,000 to provide guidance for the cast and crew, with De Niro contacting the former mobster multiple times a day to figure out his character James "Jimmy" Conway's (based on gangster Jimmy Burke) mannerisms and how he walked, talked, and even held a cigarette.

Joe Pesci's Oscar-winning portrayal of Tommy DeVito has been singled out by many as one of the most accurate depictions of a Mafia member, and in his rave review of Goodfellas , Roger Ebert boldly declared: "No finer film has ever been made about organized crime – not even The Godfather."

7 The Irishman (2019)

The Irishman

Robert De Niro once again tackled the gangster genre when he appeared as truck driver-turned-Bufalino crime family enforcer Frank Sheeran in Martin Scorsese's captivating epic The Irishman , sharing the screen with Hollywood heavy hitters like Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, and Harvey Keitel in the Oscar-nominated picture.

Chronicling Sheeran's journey from a union delivery truck driver to one of Russell Bufalino's most feared hit men, the film details the mobster's climb in the ranks as one of the family's most trusted men, while also examining how Sheeran became involved with prominent Teamsters leader Jimmy Hoffa (Pacino).

The Dangerous Corruption of Jimmy Hoffa

As with most of his cinematic wonders, Scorsese based The Irishman on former homicide prosecutor Charles Brandt's nonfiction memoir I Heard You Paint Houses , which he wrote on behalf of Sheeran and his personal recollections as an associate to the Bufalino crime family.

Though Sheeran's alleged involvement in the disappearance and likely death of Hoffa has been disputed, his ties to the Mafia and the drama's depictions of Hoffa's relationship with organized crime as the president of Teamsters remains unquestioned; Hoffa was heavily investigated by Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy for corruption and connection to the mobsters.

The great Joe Pesci came out of retirement to portray crime boss Russell Bufalino, ruling the crime family from 1959 to 1994 and playing a significant role in Hoffa's disappearance in 1982.

The Irishman depicts the profound regret Sheeran experienced as a result of his ties to the Bufalino crime family, with Collider including it on their list of "25 Best Epic Movies of All Time" and writing, "Throughout the film, The Irishman reveals itself to be about the unstoppable nature of death, and the guilt that one can feel as it approaches and one realizes how a life was perhaps misspent."

6 Gomorrah (2008)

Focusing on the Casalesi clan, one of the most powerful crime syndicates within the Camorra in Italy, Matteo Garrone's 2008 film Gomorrah depicts the unfathomable reach the Mafia has and how the Naples mob had their hand in countless industries that only grew their influence and reign.

In the Grand Prix-winning picture, five intertwined stories chronicle how organized crime impacts the lives of people directly exposed to the violence, from two wannabe gangsters hoping to challenge the Casalesi to a 13-year-old boy undergoing an initiation to join the Camorra.

The Many Atrocities the Mafia Commits

Gomorrah fearlessly delves into the ruthless underworld of Naples and its brutal influence on the masses, with Garrone even casting real-life mobsters to add to its overall authenticity and realism.

The poignant film does not glamorize the crime world and instead unabashedly depicts the hellish realities of the Mafia, with The New York Times noting that "part of what's bracing about Gomorrah , and makes it feel different from so many American crime movies, is both its deadly serious take on violence and its global understanding of how far and wide the mob's tentacles reach, from high fashion to the very dirt."

Upon the film's worldwide release, rumors even swirled that Garrone conspired with the Camorra to get the drama made and that they paid protection money during its production process out of fear of their safety. Italian journalist Roberto Saviano wrote the book Gomorrah is based on, and he spent eight years under police protection after he received multiple death threats for exposing sordid Mafia secrets in the novel.

The film adaptation brought these unthinkable horrors to the big screen, doing so in a non-glorifying and gripping manner. Stream on Prime Video

5 A Bronx Tale (1993)

Robert De Niro showed off his skills both in front of and behind the camera when he made his directorial debut with 1993's A Bronx Tale , sharing the screen with Chazz Palminteri in an adaptation of the former star's autobiographical one-man show.

The coming-of-age crime drama tells the story of 9-year-old Italian-American Calogero, who is growing up in the Bronx in the 1960s with his hard-working MTA bus driver father Lorenzo (De Niro) and becomes enamored by the Mafia and the presence of local crime boss Sonny (Palminteri), feeling torn between what path to pursue in life in a racially divided New York.

Palminteri's Deeply Personal Project

Palminteri based the original play on his own upbringing and personal experiences with the Mafia during his childhood, with the shooting Calogero witnessed as a boy mirroring the actor's own as well as his subsequent silence to the police after the murder.

A Bronx Tale refreshingly follows Calogero as he grows up in a neighborhood heavily influenced by the mob and delves into the inner conflicts the young child faces as he attempts to establish his own identity while being guided by two vastly different mentors: his honest father Lorenzo and the dangerous-yet-charismatic Sonny.

A Bronx Tale is a straightforward yet moving film that chronicles a father's efforts to protect his son from the Mafia's crushing influence, doing so from the perspective of an everyman, mobster, and innocent child. The underrated yet acclaimed drama not only features a compelling story about the impact of organized crime, but it also accurately depicts the racial tensions of the time period and clashing of the Mafia and rival New York gangs. Rent/Buy on Apple TV+

4 The Godfather (1972)

The Godfather

Universally regarded as one of the finest and most influential films of all time , Francis Ford Coppola's sweeping gangster epic The Godfather famously featured the talents of Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, and James Caan and followed the powerful Corleone family as it is led by respected patriarch Vito Corleone, an orphaned immigrant from Sicily who painstakingly built the Mafia empire from the ground up upon his arrival in the United States.

When Vito decides to step down and hand over the dynasty to his youngest son Michael (Pacino), who has spent the majority of his life shunning the dangerous lifestyle, a violent and deadly series of events ensues that rocks both the family and empire.

Related: 15 Best Mafia and Gangster Movies Ever Made

A Cinema Offer Audiences Can't Refuse

There is a reason that The Godfather is considered a cinematic masterpiece and a groundbreaking example of the gangster genre, as Coppola made sure that Italian immigrant culture was represented in every scene and character, while also depicting the psychological and emotional complexity mobsters possessed that was not previously explored in film.

Many critics have expressed how The Godfather represented the dual identities many immigrants wrestled with upon locating to the country, as Vito's traditional values clashed with the modern methods of America and those of his son Michael.

The shocking brutality, personal struggles, and ever-escalating violence enchanted moviegoers all across the world, as did the raw and unparalleled performances of both Brando and Pacino.

Upon its premiere, real-life gangsters were reportedly thrilled by the story and picture and its unapologetic authenticity, with former Gambino crime family underboss Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" Gravano saying of the Oscar-winning epic: "I left the movie stunned ... I mean I floated out of the theater. Maybe it was fiction, but for me, then, that was our life. It was incredible. I remember talking to a multitude of guys, made guys, who felt exactly the same way."

3 The Many Saints of Newark (2021)

The many saints of newark.

A prequel to HBO's crime drama juggernaut The Sopranos , 2021's The Many Saints of Newark dives into the origin story of the notorious Tony Soprano and takes place during the '60s and '70s as racial tensions build and gang wars breakout, as rival gangsters challenge the DiMeo crime family and a teenage Tony's beloved uncle and mentor Dickie Moltisanti.

The gripping film highlights the city's 1967 riots and the aftermath of the deadly event, while depicting the changing Mafia landscape of the race-torn Newark and Tony's introduction to the family business, with the late James Gandolfini's real son Michael taking on his father's iconic role.

Racial Tensions & Clashing Gangs

Fans of the acclaimed series were excited to see Tony's childhood play out on screen, and The Sopranos creator David Chase wanted to explore the mounting tensions between the Italian-American and African-American communities during the tumultuous time period and the Mafia's involvement in the conflict.

The Many Saints of Newark also shined a light on how life in organized crime is often generational, with Tony being exposed to the violent lifestyle at a young age and effectively being molded into becoming one of the most iconic gangsters of all time.

Related: Coolest Gangsters of All Time in Movies and TV, Ranked

Tony watched as Dickie struggled to remain in control of both is personal and professional life, while also dealing with outside threats who wanted to challenge his empire and legacy. The prequel expertly conveys the uncertainty, bloodshed, and brutality that ravaged the city during the '60s and how the Mafia attempted to capitalize on the civil unrest, and the film provides viewers with a fascinating look at the legendary Tony Soprano's early years.

2 Mean Streets (1973)

The first big screen collaboration between Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro, 1973's Mean Streets is set in Little Italy and focuses on friends and small-time hoods Charlie Cappa (Harvey Keitel) and John "Johnny Boy" Civello (De Niro) as they both attempt to hustle and climb the ranks within the mob despite their vastly different temperaments and motivations.

Charlie must ultimately choose between his devotion to his Catholic faith and impressing his powerful Mafioso uncle Giovanni (Cesare Danova), all the while dealing with his volatile and unhinged close pal Johnny.

A Mafioso in the Making

As with The Godfather, Mean Streets chronicled the struggles many Italian-Americans experienced upon relocating to the country and attempting to survive, and how they often turned to hustling the streets as a way to make ends meet.

Both Charlie and Johnny grew up in the gangster environment and understood what was expected of them when it came to carrying on with the family business. While Johnny dove head-first into the criminal life, Charlie was more conflicted and experienced a profound moral journey on his quest to become a Mafioso.

Though perhaps not as iconic as Raging Bull and Taxi Driver, the sensational crime drama nonetheless packed a powerful emotional punch and was based on many of Scorsese's own childhood experiences growing up in Little Italy and his exposure to the Mafia during his early years.

Means Streets features realistic action/conflict and gritty dramatic sequences that fully utilize Keitel and De Niro, and Scorsese analyzing the life of a gangster and their connection with their faith and religion made it even more impactful and memorable for audiences. Rent/Buy on Apple TV+

1 Once Upon a Time in America (1984)

Revered Italian filmmaker Sergio Leone directed the riveting 1984 epic Once Upon a Time in America , enlisting the talented Robert De Niro to portray Jewish Mafia member David "Noodles" Aaronson as he and his close friend Maximilian "Max" Bercovicz (James Woods) plot to take over New York City's organized crime during the 1920s and '30s, going from bootleggers to powerful Mafia members.

Told through flashbacks and memories of Noodles as he returns to Manhattan decades after his life-changing adventures, the riveting picture reveals how being a criminal shaped his existence and ultimately led to a self-imposed exile.

Friendship vs. Power

The film is based on the Harry Grey novel The Hoods and is partially inspired by his own upbringing, with De Niro portraying the character he loosely penned after himself while serving time in prison. Once Upon a Time in America details both the friendship and ongoing competition between Noodles and Max as they both attempt to capture the American dream but ultimately fall victim to greed and corruption in their valiant quests for power and prominence.

Leone's lauded picture chronicles the history and origins of immigrant crime and the rise of the Mafia in America, and Once Upon a Time in America also touches on themes like betrayal, lust, greed, and violence. The drama has gone on to be regarded as a gangster classic and an exceptional triumph in cinema, with Leone's raw and intimate story of two mismatched friends trying to make a name for themselves in the world resonating with audiences everywhere. Stream on Hulu

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The 10 best mafia movies of all time, according to imdb.

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“No Other Gangster Film Ever Did”: The Godfather Has 1 Surprising Secret To Success, Coppola Says

Invincible live-action movie development timeline gets clarifying update from robert kirkman, one george lucas retcon hints another jedi was on tatooine in the phantom menace.

With this year marking The Godfather 's 50th anniversary, there's no better time to brush up on some of the best mafia films to date. Specialized by directors like Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola, mob films have remained popular for their cutting-edge action, witty dialogue, and overall legendary filmmaking.

Mafia films are also important because they reflected a key time in American history. Most mob stories often follow the lives of immigrants, who as ordinary people were able to rise to the top ranks because of the mafia and ultimately became all-powerful forces. That power, however, inevitably leads to a great downfall, which is the mafia tale directors articulate with some of the most unforgettable film techniques.

Donnie Brasco (1997) - 7.7

Stream on netflix.

While most mafia films are inspired by the overall historic mobs centered in America, some are based on true stories directly. This is the case for Donnie Brasco, a film that illustrates the biography of Joesph D. Pistone, an undercover FBI agent who infiltrated a family mob under the alias Donnie Brasco. One of the greatest aspects of the movie is its plot, which explores the complex line Pistone must walk between his job and his newly formed relationships, especially his close bond with aging mobster Lefty (Al Pacino).

Related: 10 Best Documentaries About The American Mafia

Donnie Brasco also features some excellent acting, balancing the classic mobster acting style of Al Pacino and the proven versatility of Johnny Depp (Pistone). The two have excellent chemistry in the film, which makes the story's themes of honor and betrayal even more heartbreaking and impactful.

A Bronx Tale (1993) - 7.8

Rent on redbox, amazon, google play, & vudu.

A Bronx Tale has proved itself as an excellent mobster film because of its representation of the real-life struggles of Italian-Americans in the 1960s. The movie's plot centers around the conflict of the young Calogero, who is stuck between his honest, working-class family and the enticing life of the mob.

The movie A Bronx Tale contains a lot of serious subjects, such as the racial tensions between Italian-American and the black community at the time. However, its solemn themes coincide with vivid acting performances and comical, fast-paced dialogue. These juxtaposed tones overall blend together to create a rich experience that earns the film a title as one of the best gangster movies .

The Irishman (2019) - 7.8

A couple of years ago, The Irishman became an overnight hit on Netflix, and for good reason. Though most of the highest-rated mafia films have been released before the year 2000, Scorsese proved that classic mob films can still be made today with his three-and-a-half-hour epic tale.

The Irishman is great because it brings back the filmmaking techniques of old mafia hits, making it visually look more classic than other films produced today. It also stands it ground because of its acting performances from Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci. These actors have already solidified their names as mafia stars years ago, but their older age gives a unique perspective to the mob story through their lenses of maturity.

Casino (1995) - 8.2

Stream on peacock premium.

Director Martin Scorsese has earned a spot as one of the primary leaders in mobster films, and Casino is a great example of his filmmaking mastery of the genre. The story follows the complex relationship between old friends Ace and Nicky, who are deep and well-written characters encapsulated in the risky mob life.

Related: 10 Ways Casino Is Actually Better Than Goodfellas

Casino has unique, stunning visuals that work to articulate the lavish, gaudy lifestyle that makes the mafia so appealing. However, Scorsese skilfully balances this luxury with the dangers of wealth and power, all wrapped in an immersive story that is based on true events.

Once Upon A Time In America (1984) - 8.3

Once Upon a Time in America is a gangster masterpiece co-written and directed by Sergio Leone. The film has many great qualities, but one of the most notable is its plot, which follows best friends Noodles and Max, as they rise to become gangsters in the Jewish mob. The story is incredibly immersive and credible to the time period it is trying to convey, and its focal point around best friends makes its dark themes of greed and betrayal even more impacting.

Unfortunately, the U.S. release of the film was heavily cut and received terrible reception. It has since been restored in its over 3-hour long "European cut," which retains all the good pacing and construction of the original production.

Scarface (1983) - 8.3

Scarface is an 80s crime movie that follows Tony Montana's journey from his start as a Cuban refugee to an all-powerful drug lord. Some find the film excessively violent and crude, and it took a long time for it to be more widely accepted. However, as of the current day, it is regarded as one of the best mafia stories on screen.

Most of Scarface 's success is due to its lead star, Al Pacino, whose dedicated performance paints Montana as a unique, well-rounded character who is both fearless and brutal, yet able to be sympathized with. The movie's story is unforgettable because of Montana's epic rise and downfall. The film also avoids mobster clichés and creates something that can stand on its own.

The Departed (2006) - 8.5

Stream on hbo max & the roku channel.

The Departed is yet another Scorsese classic, though this film delves into the Irish mob instead of the Italian-American mafia and features two men attempting to infiltrate a gang led by Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson). The movie marked Scorsese's first and only Oscar for Best Director and is most highly revered for its riveting plot rooted in pure suspense.

Related: The 10 Best Gangster Movies Of The 2000s, Ranked According To IMDb

Though one of The Departed 's initial appeals is its all-star cast, what really drives the movie is its complex story. Under Scorsese's direction, the film is always moving forward, with excellent pacing and plenty of twists to maintain audience interest from the beginning to its end.

Goodfellas (1990) - 8.7

Stream on fubotv & hbo max.

Scorsese's Goodfellas is considered a classic mafia movie for good reason. From a filmmaking standpoint, the movie has been commended for its nonlinear storytelling techniques, which examine the lead character Henry Hill from different points in time, allowing the audience many perspectives on his downward journey.

Goodfellas is also considered one of the greats for its immersion into mafia life. The plot was derived from Nicholas Pileggi's book Wiseguys, which follows a true story. Since the movie is rooted in nonfiction , its story feels incredibly real and accurate, giving viewers a proper look into what life is like in the mob.

The Godfather: Part II (1974) - 9.0

Stream on fubotv & paramount+.

The Godfather: Part II is only bested by its predecessor. The film is still ranked one of the best movies of all time for many reasons, mostly its deep and complex story. While The Godfather sets up the dynamic of the Corleone family, Part II intensely examines the life of Micheal Corleone (Al Pacino), the family's youngest son.

Through Micheal, the audience can see the slow corruption the mafia takes on one of its leaders, even though he previously tried to remain uninvolved. It also uses flashback techniques to give a full picture of the Corleone dynasty and an interesting parallel between young Vito's rise to power and Micheal's story. The deep and serious themes of the film are encapsulated by Pacino's stellar acting, which artfully illustrates just how intense the mafia can take on one person.

The Godfather (1972) - 9.2

The Godfather holds the position as not only the greatest mafia movie but one of the best films of all time. Francis Ford Coppola's film contains undisputed mastery in all aspects of filmmaking and includes a poetic, epic storyline that perfectly outlines the power struggles and downfalls of being involved in the mob.

There's an endless list of film techniques that make The Godfather legendary. One is its unforgettable score, which perfectly articulates the film's somber and serious tones. Another is its award-winning screenplay, which was written by both Coppola and the original novel's author Mario Puzo. Also, Marlon Brando's versatile performance is a large part of the film's legendary success.

NEXT: 10 Great Italian-American Movies That Aren't About The Mafia

• The Godfather

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• Behind the Scenes of 'Goodfellas'
• Moments in Mob Movies That Were Real
• Weird Stories of Famous Gangsters
• More Than the Italian Mafia
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• Paramount Picture/The Godfather, Warner Bros./The Departed

The Best Mafia Movies Of All Time

Mafia movies captivate audiences with their complex characters, gripping storylines, and intricate worlds of organized crime. To determine which films truly stand out, this list of the best mafia movies of all time was crowdsourced and compiled based on votes from nearly 20,000 film buffs. These engaged fans poured over the nuances of depictions of mafia life, family loyalty, and the moral dilemmas faced by crime figures. The top picks emphasize films that not only entertain but also offer profound insights into the underworld, the mobster lifestyle, and Italian crime family culture. 

Praised for its raw and authentic portrayal, Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas takes audiences on an inside look at gangster Henry Hill's life. The Godfather Part II , another fan favorite, delves into the complicated dynamics of crime families while exploring the rise of Vito Corleone and the struggles of his son, Michael. The Godfather , often heralded as the classic epitome of mafia movies, weaves a complex narrative of power, betrayal, and family ties. Other notable mentions include Robert De Niro's A Bronx Tale , which showcases a coming-of-age story adapted from Chazz Palminteri's 1989 play, and Departed , a thrilling game of cat-and-mouse between an undercover cop and a mole. Other great mafia movies include Donnie Brasco , Scarface , The Irishman , and Once Upon a Time in America . From old films to new favorites, each movie brings something distinctive to the table, whether it's through deep character studies, historical settings, or twists that keep viewers on the edge their seats.

Now it’s your turn to weigh in on which mafia movies top the charts by diving into this curated list. Vote up the greatest films that masterfully depict organized crime and evoke the gritty yet captivating world of the mafia. Your votes will help create a definitive that celebrates the best mafia movies ever made.

This crime epic follows the rise and fall of gangster Henry Hill (Ray Liotta) over three decades, painting a vivid portrait of organized crime from within while showcasing Martin Scorsese's masterful direction. Alongside memorable performances by Joe Pesci, Robert De Niro, and Lorraine Bracco, Goodfellas offers an unflinching look at life in a New York mob family and leaves audiences with an unforgettable cinematic experience.

• Released : 1990
• Directed by : Martin Scorsese

The Godfather

Francis Ford Coppola's magnum opus changed cinema forever with its gripping portrayal of mafia life through the eyes of patriarch Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) and his son Michael (Al Pacino). This legendary film weaves a web of power struggles, betrayal, and familial loyalty that leaves viewers captivated until its final moments. A powerful study in human nature under extreme circumstances makes The Godfather an essential entry on any list about mafia films.

• Released : 1972
• Directed by : Francis Ford Coppola

The Godfather Part II

A masterpiece of storytelling, this sequel to the iconic The Godfather delves deeper into the life and psyche of Michael Corleone (Al Pacino), as he continues to expand and protect his family's empire. The film also explores the early life of Vito Corleone (Robert De Niro) in a series of compelling flashbacks, showcasing how he built his criminal empire from the ground up. With its layered narrative structure and stellar performances, this movie stands tall as one of the greatest mafia films ever made.

• Released : 1974

Martin Scorsese's sprawling epic focuses on mob-controlled Las Vegas during its heyday in the 1970s and '80s. With outstanding performances by Robert De Niro as casino operator Sam Rothstein and Joe Pesci as his volatile enforcer Nicky Santoro, this film unravels the complex relationships and power struggles within the mob. Sharon Stone's portrayal of Ginger, Sam's troubled wife, adds another layer to this intricate tale of greed, loyalty, betrayal, and violence.

• Released : 1995

The Departed

This intense crime thriller directed by Martin Scorsese revolves around a cat-and-mouse game between an undercover cop (Leonardo DiCaprio) infiltrating a Boston mob organization and a mob mole (Matt Damon) embedded in the police department. With a stellar supporting cast including Jack Nicholson as the ruthless gangster Frank Costello and Mark Wahlberg as an unrelenting detective, The Departed delivers twists and turns that keep audiences on the edge of their seats.

• Released : 2006

Donnie Brasco

Based on a true story, this gripping film follows FBI agent Joseph Pistone (Johnny Depp) as he infiltrates New York's Bonanno crime family under the alias "Donnie Brasco." As his relationship with aging hitman Lefty Ruggiero (Al Pacino) deepens, Pistone finds himself becoming more immersed in mob life than he ever intended. This complex character study showcases how blurred lines between good and evil can become when dealing with organized crime.

• Released : 1997
• Directed by : Mike Newell

The True Stories Behind 'The Godfather'

These are the real-life mobsters and events that inspired the books and movies.

Based on Mario Puzo's 1969 crime novel of the same name, Francis Ford Coppola's cinematic masterpiece The Godfather (1972) chronicles the fictional Corleone family and its rise to becoming one of the most powerful mafia families in America.

Starring Marlon Brando as Vito Corleone and Al Pacino as his son Michael, The Godfather was lauded by both critics and audiences alike and spawned a pair of sequels: The Godfather II (1974) and The Godfather III (1990).

The Godfather franchise is heavily influenced by many real-life mobsters and events. Here are some of the true stories behind the films:

Real-life mobsters and entertainers served as inspiration for the characters

Vito corleone was inspired by frank costello.

Portrayed by Brando, the character of Vito was actually a combination of a few mobsters . Like real-life mobster Joe Profaci, Vito had an olive oil business to serve as a front for his illegal activities and kept his circle small and intimate. Like Carlo Gambino, Vito had a reputation for being a modest, under-the-radar figure. However, the Godfather character is most similar to real-life mobster Frank Costello, who was strategic, reasonable and known as "The Prime Minister" of the mob because of his wise counsel. Like Costello, Vito used his diplomatic skills and his connections to influential businessmen and politicians to keep his power in place and also discouraged his underlings from getting involved in the narcotics business.

Johnny Fontane was inspired by Frank Sinatra

The similarities between the character of Johnny Fontane (played by Al Martino) and singer Frank Sinatra were so conspicuous that Sinatra was purportedly irked by it. In the film, Fontane reaches out to Vito to help him get out of a contract he was unhappy with. Likewise, in real life, Sinatra was able to wiggle out of his contract with the help of his mob connections. Desperate to rescue his fading career, Fontane decides to go into acting and gets cast in a big movie — a move that Sinatra made when he starred in From Here to Eternity , which subsequently reinvigorated his popularity. Interestingly, Coppola briefly mulled over the idea of casting Sinatra as Vito.

Moe Greene was inspired by Bugsy Siegel

"Do you know who I am? I'm Moe Greene!" exclaimed a defiant Moe Greene to Michael in The Godfather . Portrayed by Alex Rocco, Greene was a huge, brash personality who helped bring life to the Las Vegas scene. In real life, mobster Bugsy Siegel did just that. As a hitman for the East Coast organization Murder Inc., Siegel moved out West and helped build Vegas, operating the luxury casino the Flamingo. Siegel had no qualms about showing off and circulating in the celebrity crowd, and Greene expressed the same characteristics. Both of Jewish descent, Siegel and Greene also met similar fates when a fusillade of bullets was shot through their bodies, notably each man received a bullet in their eye sockets. However, Siegel was killed for stealing money from the mob, while Greene's disrespect for the Corleones hastened his end.

Michael Corleone was inspired by Salvatore “Bill” Bonanno

Mobster Joseph Bonanno didn't want his son, Bill, to get into the family business. Encouraging Bill to live on the straight-and-narrow, Joseph got his son to go to law school — just like Vito had his son Michael do.

Despite his father's wishes, Michael — like Bill — found his way into the mob life. However, that's where the common thread ends. In real life, Bill's personality was more like Michael's older brother, Fredo. He was ostentatious, attention-seeking, lived off of his family's wealth and never received the respect he so badly wanted from his father's men.

Salvatore Tessio was inspired by Gaspar DiGregorio

In The Godfather , the Corleones discovered one of their own was conspiring against Michael's ascent to power. At first, the suspicion is directed to a more brazen mobster, but the family soon finds out it is the quiet stalwart Salvatore Tessio (played by Abe Vigoda) who was behind the attempted assassination of Michael at a mob summit.

Real-life gangster Gaspar DiGregorio was the inspiration behind Tessio's character. When Joseph Bonanno tried to transfer his power over to his son, DiGregorio felt wronged and began a divisive campaign against the mob leader, which the newspapers dubbed, the Banana War. As Tessio did in the film, DiGregorio tried to pull a meeting together between the two factions, with the intention of assassinating the Bonnanos. Unlike DiGregorio's jealousy and lust for power, though, Tessio wanted Michael removed because he just didn't think the latter was the best man for the job. While DiGregorio failed to kill his rivals and died in obscurity, Tessio was "taken for a ride" and executed for his betrayal.

The Place and Circumstances

Michael's restaurant shooting was inspired by an encounter between lucky luciano and joe masseria.

In one of the most memorable scenes in The Godfather , Michael makes a pivotal shift from being innocent to turning into a full-fledged gangster. Inviting two of his father's enemies to a restaurant to settle their issues, Michael takes off to the bathroom, where he locates a gun planted for him. He returns to dinner and proceeds to shoot both men to death.

The film's restaurant shooting was inspired by one of the most notorious public executions in mob history. In 1931, famed mobster Lucky Luciano , who was bent on usurping power from his mentor and boss Giuseppe "Joe" Masseria, asked him out to lunch at a restaurant in Coney Island. When Luciano took off to the men's room, Masseria met his untimely end when he was gunned down by a group of hitmen.

Michael testifying during a Senate hearing was inspired by Frank Costello and Vito Genovese's court hearings

The Senate hearings in Godfather II , which forced Michael to testify about the mafia, were similar to the real-life Congressional hearings that occurred in the 1950s and 1960s that brought mobsters Costello and Vito Genovese before the public.

Most notably, mobster Joe Valachi offered testimony, but not as a devoted mobster but rather as a government witness. He was the first mafia member to appear in a public setting and acknowledge the organization's existence, which ultimately initiated its downfall.

Michael fleeing to Italy and falling in love was inspired by Genovese and Luciano

When Michael guns down his father's enemies, he takes off to Sicily, ends up falling in love and marries local village girl Apollonia Vitelli. The storyline was a page taken from the lives of mobster Genovese and Luciano. To avoid prosecution for a murder he committed, Genovese escaped to Italy and only returned when he was in the clear. In Luciano's case, he was deported to the homeland and ended up directing his illegal activities in the United States from there — never to return home again. And like Michael, Luciano fell in love with a young Italian woman, a ballerina named Igea Lissoni, whom he stayed with until her death.

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The 10 Best Gangster Movie Directors, Ranked

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The 10 Darkest Animated Movies, Ranked

13 cult classics from the '90s that aged poorly, the 10 best arthouse revenge movies, ranked.

Whether it's the lawless lifestyle or intimidating mobsters, audiences have been enamored by gangster films since the 1930s, which were initially popularized by classics like The Public Enemy , Little Cesar, and Scarface . During the New Hollywood Movement, the genre was revitalized by Francis Ford Coppola 's masterpiece, The Godfather , and paved the way for modern gangster movies including Goodfellas , Bugsy, and Boyz n the Hood .

Dozens of directors like Ridley Scott, Mike Newell and Guy Richie have taken on the gangster genre at some point in their careers, but there are only a few filmmakers who have truly mastered the genre. From award-winning director, Tony Scott to the legendary Francis Ford Coppola, these are 10 of the best gangster directors, ranked!

10 Tony Scott

English filmmaker, Tony Scott, was born into an artistic family and at the age of 16, he starred in his brother, Ridley's first film, Boy and Bicycle . He attended the Royal College of Art intending to become a painter, but his brother's production company drew his attention to film and started directing commercials and music videos. In 1985, Scott was approached to direct what would become one of the most iconic movies of the decade, Top Gun starring Tom Cruise.

RELATED: 10 Best Gangster Movie Characters, Ranked

Scott's career continued to thrive directing box office hits like Beverly Hills Cop II and Days of Thunder but the 1993 criminal drama, True Romance , solidified Scott as a solid director of the gangster genre. With a script by Quentin Tarantino , True Romance consists of an epic line-up of performances from Christian Slater , Patricia Arquette , Christopher Walken, and Gary Oldman . The movie features an unknown James Gandolfini whose minor (but stellar) performance led to Gandolfini landing the lead role as Tony Soprano in HBO's mafia drama, The Sopranos .

9 Michael Mann

When director, Michael Man n was in college, he saw Stanley Kubrick 's Dr. Strangelove and instantly fell in love with movies. Initially, he worked on several popular television shows including Miami Vice, and made his feature debut with the 1981 film, Thief , starring James Caan . In 1992, Mann gained worldwide recognition for his film adaption of James Fenimore Cooper 's novel, The Last of the Mohicans with Daniel Day-Lewis .

Mann is widely recognized for his stylized criminal dramas including Collateral and The Insider , but his gangster films such as Public Enemies and Heat starring Al Pacino and Robert De Niro go beyond the traditional mafia plot. Even though Heat didn't receive any Oscar nominations, the movie is credited today as one of the most influential films of its genre and has gone on to inspire other notable movies including Christopher Nolan 's thriller, The Dark Knight .

8 John Singleton

Writer and director, John Singleton , was born in Los Angeles, California, and attended the University of Southern California where he majored in computer science. After graduation, Singleton enrolled in the university's prominent film writing program and studied under longtime USC professor and founder of the program, Margaret Mehring . In 1991, Singleton made his directorial debut with the coming-of-age crime drama, Boyz n the Hood .

RELATED: 10 Best Gangster Movies of the Last 5 Years To Add to Your Watchlist

Set in a crime-ridden neighborhood of Inglewood, California, Boyz n the Hood depicts a different kind of organized crime and features several stars including Ice Cube , Regina King, and Cuba Gooding Jr . The movie was a breakout success that earned Singleton an Academy Award nomination for Best Director, making him the youngest recipient as well as the first Black filmmaker ever to be nominated for the award.

7 Quentin Tarantino

Director, Quentin Tarantino has had an undying passion for film since he was a kid and at the age of 14, he wrote his first screenplay. After working a series of odd jobs and minor acting gigs, Tarantino made his feature debut directing the 1992 heist film, Reservoir Dogs , starring Harvey Keitel , Steve Buscemi, and Michael Madsen . After the success of Reservoir Dogs , Tarantino reached a pinnacle point in his career with what many consider to be his magnum opus, Pulp Fiction .

Tarantino's True Romance , Pulp Fiction, and Jackie Brown expanded the gangster genre with intricately intertwined storylines and criminal underdogs who surprisingly come out on top in the end. While Tarantino is known for straying away from the basic formula, his out-of-the-box gangster movies kept the genre interesting and presented the mobster mentality on a smaller scale with plenty of dark humor which is a rare quality in other gangster films.

6 Barry Levinson

Baltimore-born filmmaker, Barry Levinson , started out writing for various variety and had some minor success as a screenwriter before taking on the director's chair. In 1982, Levinson wrote and directed the movie, Diner , which earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Screenplay. He went on to direct the Academy Award-winning film, Rain Main , as well as other classic dramas including The Natural and Good Morning, Vietnam .

While Levinson is best known for his dramas, his 1991 film about New York mobster, Benny "Bugsy" Siegel, Bugsy , is a notable gangster picture that earns him a spot on the list. Warren Beatty stars as the ambitious Siegel who was a pinnacle force behind the initial construction of the mob's future playground, the Las Vegas Strip. The movie earned 10 Oscar nominations including Best Picture, Actor, and Director, and won for Best Art Direction and Costume Design.

5 Sergio Leone

Italian director, Sergio Leone , was the son of filmmaker, Roberto Roberti , and silent film actress, Bice Valerian, and at 18 years old, he dropped out of school to start his film career. He assisted on major motion pictures including Ben-Hur and when director, Mario Bonnard became ill during the production of The Last Days of Pompeii , Leone stepped in to complete the film. In the 1960s, Leone gained international fame with his Spaghetti Westerns most notably the Dollars Trilogy starring Clint Eastwood as the Man With No Name.

While Leone is known as a pioneer of the Spaghetti Western, his film, Once Upon a Time in America is an essential gangster picture that earned a 20-minute standing ovation at the 1984 Cannes Film Festival. The movie is based on the 1952 novel, The Hoods by former mobster, Harry Grey , and follows two childhood friends, as they try to keep their friendship intact while climbing the ranks of a Jewish crime family.

4 Brian De Palma

Born in Newark, New Jersey, director, Brian De Palma enrolled at Columbia University as a physics major but after seeing Citizen Kane and Alfred Hitchcock 's Vertigo, he became infatuated with movies. In the 1960s, he started out directing documentaries and after gaining prominence in the New York City film scene, he moved out to Hollywood where he made several low-budget films. De Palma's first major break came after directing the film adaption of Stephen King 's novel, Carrie , which earned several Oscar nominations.

RELATED: The 10 Most Quotable Gangster Movies

In 1983, De Palma made his mark on the gangster genre with the modernized remake of Howard Hawk 's 1932 film, Scarface, starring Al Pacino. Due to the graphic content and racial stereotypes, the movie initially earned mixed reviews but through the years, it has become an iconic cult classic and is considered to be one of the greatest gangster movies of all time. De Palma went on to direct other notable films of the genre including Carlito's Way and The Untouchables starring Kevin Costner , Sean Connery, and Robert De Niro as Chicago's most notorious gangster, Al Capone.

3 William A. Wellman

Director, William A. Wellman was a decorated World War I pilot who initially started in the film industry as an actor but quickly realized that he preferred the director's chair. Wellman's early films focused on aviation and in 1927, his silent film, Wings , won the first Academy Award for Best Picture. He eventually moved away from his comfort zone and went on to direct Edward G. Robinson in the classic gangster picture, Little Cesar .

The movie was a massive success for Wellman who followed up with his now-iconic gangster film, The Public Enemy starring James Cagney . The gangster genre would be nothing without Wellman's Little Cesar and The Public Enemy, which essentially set the standards of the genre. Wellman also went on to direct another gangster classic, Angels With Dirty Faces starring Cagney, Humphrey Bogart, and Ann Sheridan .

2 Martin Scorsese

When director, Martin Scorsese was a kid, he had asthma that prevented him from playing sports like the other kids, and would spend his time going to the movies with his parents and older brother. He attended Tisch School of the Arts where he started producing short films and became friends with other future filmmakers including Brian De Palma, Francis Ford Coppola, George Lucas, and Steven Spielberg who became known as "movie brats" of the 1970s.

In 1973, Scorsese had his first big break directing the gangster film, Mean Streets , which was followed up by one of De Niro's signature films, Taxi Driver , which earned four Oscar nominations. Even though Scorsese is a well-rounded director, he's universally recognized for his gangster films like Goodfellas , Casino , Gangs of New York, and The Departed starring Jack Nicholson , Leonardo DiCaprio , and Matt Damon.

1 Francis Ford Coppola

Filmmaker, Francis Ford Coppola developed an interest in theater at the age of 15 after reading the novel, A Streetcar Named Desire and enrolled at Hofstra College as theater arts major. After graduation, he moved to Los Angeles where he attended UCLA Film School, and in 1963, he made his feature debut with the independent horror film, Dementia 13 . Coppola faced a series of rejections from production companies, but he finally got a break after directing the 1969 film, The Rain People starring James Caan and Robert Duvall .

Coppola was approached by Paramount to direct and co-write one of the most iconic gangster films, The Godfather , which cemented Coppola's reputation as a filmmaker. The movie earned 11 Oscar nominations - including Coppola's first for Best Director and went on to win three for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actor for Marlon Brando, and Best Picture. While Coppola hasn't made as many gangster films as Scorsese and others, The Godfather and The Godfather II were cinematic milestones that reformulated and revitalized the genre for a new generation of film fans, making him the best gangster director.

NEXT: The 10 Best Gangster Movies of All Time, According to the AFI

Italian town bans the sale of Mafia-themed souvenirs

• Agrigento has banned the sale of Mafia-themed souvenirs ahead of becoming the Capital of Culture.
• The mayor aims to improve the city's image and reject the Mafia's influence on tourism.
• Similar rules have been issued for gift stores in local airports and on ferries that dock around Sicily.

The Sicilian city of Agrigento has decided to ban Mafia-themed souvenirs ahead of becoming Italy's 2025 Capital of Culture.

The ban , issued by the town's mayor, Francesco Miccichè, aims to make clear that the criminal organization is not tolerated by local authorities.

Agrigento is a  UNESCO World Heritage site  with archaeological remains dating back to the sixth century B.C. but also continues to be associated with  the Mafia .

Characters from the movie " The Godfather " have been depicted in magnets and ceramics, Italian news channel Sky TG24 reported.

The mob, also known as Cosa Nostra, still operates on the island — and has since at least the 19th century.

The ban on souvenir stores is the latest in a series of moves to limit the destination's connection with the Mafia.

In 2023, the regional government ordered ferries that dock around Sicily to stop selling mafia-themed merchandise in their onboard gift stores.

Alessandro Aricò, the councilor in charge of transport and infrastructure, has also ordered the island's airports to stop stocking these souvenirs to tackle negative stereotypes, according to local newspaper La Sicilia .

Fines may be issued if items thought to glamorize the Mafia are found by local police.

Business Insider contacted Agrigento's mayor, Francesco Miccichè, and councilor Alessandro Aricò for comment but didn't immediately hear back.

Watch: Former Italian "Mafia Princess" on how the 'Ndrangheta actually works

• Main content

The Top 250 Greatest Organized Crime & Gangster Movies of All-Time

1. The Godfather

2. The Godfather Part II

3. Goodfellas

4. Scarface

5. Pulp Fiction

6. Breaking Bad

7. Once Upon a Time in America

8. The Irishman

9. The Sopranos

10. City of God

11. Infernal Affairs

12. The Departed

14. Reservoir Dogs

15. Sonatine

16. Boardwalk Empire

18. Carlito's Way

19. Election 2

21. Brother

22. The Wire

23. Battles Without Honor and Humanity

24. A Bronx Tale

25. Donnie Brasco

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