25 Best Mobster Movies That Will Make You an Offer You Can't Refuse (2024)

Regarding entertainment, we as viewers have always been fascinated by bad guys. Whether it is a serial killer or a career criminal, the industry has discovered that telling the tale of villains is just more entertaining. The classic mobster movie fits nicely into this category, often depicting a rising member of a crime organization eliminating whoever they cross paths with to reach the top, or instead following someone who is already a Made Man and is trying to keep it that way. Often, these movies feature career-best performances from actors who refuse to break character.

Mob movies have existed for nearly as long as cinema has been around, and while they are typically grounded crime dramas, they have been known to drift over into other genres such as action and comedy. The best mob movies, though, focus on either one individual or one crime family, showcasing the events that ultimately lead to their downfall. Because in this world, no matter how good you are, it's only a matter of time before you get whacked.

25 'The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil' (2019)

Directed by Lee Won-tae

A renowned gangster (Ma Dong-seok) and a hardened cop (Kim Sung-kyu) struggle to team up and take down a serial killer that has intruded on both of their businesses. The movie twists and turns as a killer plays with the cop and the gangster's minds in different ways, using their feud against each other to narrowly escape capture.

The film was met with mostly positive reviews, with a high score of 97% on Rotten Tomatoes. It was announced in 2019 that Sylvester Stallone would be producing a remake of the film with Ma Dong-seok reprising his role as the gangster.

The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil

NR

Where to Watch

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Release Date

May 15, 2019

Director

Won-Tae Lee

Cast

Dong-seok Ma , Mu-Yeol Kim , Sung-kyu Kim

Runtime

107

Main Genre

Thriller

24 'Killing Them Softly' (2012)

Directed by Andrew Dominik

Jackie Cogan (Brad Pitt) is a lone-wolf hitman who is hired when a mafia poker game went sour and turned the mafia economy upside down. Cogan must devise a way to silently and quickly take care of the couple of low-level crooks who stole from the mafia.

The movie was met with positive reviews and was the runner-up for the Palm D'Ore, but lost. While the movie doesn't focus on any mob in particular it is mob adjascent, as Cogan interacts with different seedy figures in the Mafia.

Killing Them Softly

R

Crime

Thriller

Where to Watch

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Release Date

July 30, 2012

Director

Andrew Dominik

Cast

Brad Pitt , Scoot McNairy , Ben Mendelsohn , James Gandolfini , Richard Jenkins , Vincent Curatola

Runtime

100

23 'A History of Violence' (2005)

Directed by David Cronenberg

Tom Stall (Vigo Mortensen) is a restaurant owner in a quiet town in Indiana. When his restaurant is robbed, he is quick to act and easily kills the two robbers. This peaks the attention of a local mob boss who says he knows him from a past life and his real name is Joey Cusack. Stall's life is rattled when he must now confront his past and protect his family from the violent mafia.

Based on a graphic novel of the same name by John Wagner, A History of Violence takes a closer examination of the brutality of violence and its effect on the human psyche. The movie was given positive reviews and sits at 88% on Rotten Tomatoes.

A History of Violence

R

Crime

Drama

Thriller

Where to Watch

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Not available

Release Date

September 23, 2005

Director

David Cronenberg

Cast

Viggo Mortensen , Maria Bello , Ed Harris , William Hurt , Ashton Holmes , Peter MacNeill

Runtime

98 minutes

22 'The Drop' (2014)

Michaël R. Roskam

Starring Tom Hardy and James Gandolfini, The Drop is about a local Brooklyn bar that is used as a drop location for a mafia boss. After the bar gets robbed, it's up to Bob Saginowski (Hardy) to find out who did it and how to get the money back, or the mafia will kill him and his boss and cousin Marvin Stipler (Gandolfini).

The movie was praised for its dialogue, strong cast and ability to rise above similarly themed mafia movies. The movie has great pacing, and while not overly violent like most mafia movies, it is deliberate in its action and a great watch if you're interested in seeing Gandolfini in a more subdued role.

The Drop

R

Crime

Drama

Release Date

September 12, 2014

Director

Michael R. Roskam

Cast

Tom Hardy , Noomi Rapace , James Gandolfini , Matthias Schoenaerts , John Ortiz , Elizabeth Rodriguez

Runtime

106 minutes

Rent on Amazon

21 'Mean Streets' (1973)

Directed by Martin Scorsese

Haralded as one of Scorsese's best movies, Mean Streets follows Charlie Cappa (Harvey Keitel) as he is torn between his devout catholic upbringing and working for his mob boss uncle Giovanni (Cesare Danova). His best friend "Johnny Boy" Civello (Robert De Niro) is a wildcard and has no respect for Giovanni and causes more problems than he can handle. The two have to navigate the violent world of the mafia while also contemplating their own morality.

Mean Streets was Scorsese's first commercial success and also was the first of many collaborations with De Niro. Robert Ebert said that the film was "one of the source points of modern movies." While the premise is basic, the movie is used as inspiration for many modern mobster movies.

Mean Streets

R

Crime

Drama

Thriller

Where to Watch

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Not available

Release Date

October 14, 1973

Director

Martin Scorsese

Cast

Robert De Niro , Harvey Keitel , David Proval , David Carradine

Runtime

112 minutes

20 'Gomorrah' (2008)

Directed by Matteo Garrone

Set in Italy, Gomorrah revolves around the Camorra crime syndicate, a powerful empire that has its rotten fingers in all corners of the community. Rather than telling one story, Gomorrah tells five, showcasing how crime affects people from all walks of life, from business owners forced to pay protection to teens who glamorize the criminal lifestyle.

While many movies seek to glamorize crime, presenting it as a fun and profitable lifestyle, Gomorrah shows the true hellish nature of crime and the permanent effects it has on people and their communities. In this way, it feels less like a fictional narrative and more like a documentary about the crime-ridden streets it showcases.

gomorrah

NR

Crime

Documentary

Drama

Release Date

January 1, 2008

Director

Matteo Garrone

Cast

Toni Servillo , Gianfelice Imparato , Maria Nazionale , Salvatore Cantalupo , Gigio Morra , Salvatore Abruzzese

Runtime

137

Rent on Amazon

19 'Sexy Beast' (2000)

Directed by Jonathan Glazer

Gal (Ray Winstone) is an ex-gangster enjoying his retirement in Spain as he spends his days sunbathing with his beloved wife. Their peace is interrupted by the arrival of Don (Ben Kingsley), a sociopathic former associate of Gal. Don is trying to recruit Gal for a bank heist, and is not going to take no for an answer.

One of the best British gangster movies, Sexy Beast offers a captivating alternative to classic American mafia stories. The film is elevated by Kingsley's electrifying performance, whose terrifying turn as the violent Don earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

Sexy Beast (2001)

R

Comedy

Crime

Release Date

January 12, 2001

Director

Jonathan Glazer

Cast

Ray Winstone , Ben Kingsley , Ian McShane , Amanda Redman

Runtime

88 minutes

Watch on Paramount+

18 'The Long Good Friday' (1980)

Directed by John Mackenzi

Set in the late 1970s, The Long Good Friday stars Bob Hoskins as Harold Shand, a ruthless gangster who is trying to become a legitimate businessman. When his plans to strike a deal with visiting Americans are thwarted by a series of bombings on his properties, he is convinced there is a rat in his organization and plots to exterminate them.

Hoskins is electric as the co*ckney Shand, setting the template that many actors would follow when playing British gangsters. Helen Mirren also shines as Victoria, Shand's loyal girlfriend, and the duo offer star-making performances in what many consider to be one of the best British movies of all time.

The Long Good Friday

R

Mystery

Crime

Thriller

Drama

Release Date

February 26, 1981

Director

John Mackenzie

Cast

Bob Hoskins , Helen Mirren , Dave King , Bryan Marshall , Derek Thompson

Runtime

114 Minutes

Watch on Max

17 'Eastern Promises' (2007)

Directed by David Cronenberg

Swapping body horror for Russian mobsters, Eastern Promises is a bold stylistic change for David Cronenberg. Far removed from his most disturbing horror movies, the film follows Anna (Naomi Watts), a midwife who crosses paths with the Russian mafia after discovering her deceased patient was abused by them. Viggo Mortensen steals the show as mob enforcer Nikolai, whose work earned him an Oscar nomination.

Even though Eastern Promises is not a horror movie, that does not make it any less terrifying. The dangerous underworld of cruel gangsters is more horrific than anything from Cronenberg's other films.

Eastern Promises

R

Crime

Mystery

Thriller

Where to Watch

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Release Date

September 14, 2007

Director

David Cronenberg

Cast

Josef Altin , Mina E. Mina , Aleksander Mikic , Sarah-Jeanne Labrosse , Lalita Ahmed , Badi Uzzaman

Runtime

100

16 'The Public Enemy' (1931)

Directed by William A. Wellman

One of the original gangster movies, The Public Enemy follows Tom Powers (James Cagney), a young man who rises through the ranks of the criminal underworld in Prohibition-era America. As he gets closer to the lavish, criminal lifestyle that he craves, Tom discovers the countless dangers his chosen path brings.

Along with being one of the first mobster films, The Public Enemy is also one of the best mafia movies of all time as it paved the way for the classic crime flicks that came afterward. While its black-and-white presentation may put off some viewers, it is a classic tale that any mob fan should seek out.

The Public Enemy

NR

Crime

Release Date

April 23, 1931

Director

William A. Wellman

Cast

James Cagney , Jean Harlow , Joan Blondell

Runtime

83

Watch on Max

15 'Road to Perdition' (2002)

Directed by Sam Mendes

After his family is murdered, mob enforcer Michael Sullivan (Tom Hanks) goes on the run with his surviving son while plotting revenge against those responsible. What follows is a touching father-and-son story in the movie as Sullivan attempts to balance his own violent nature with his desire to ensure his son does not follow in his footsteps.

Based on the graphic novel of the same name, Road to Perdition tells its story not just through dialogue but also via its beautiful cinematography, with its environments becoming a character in itself. The film also offers a noticeably darker performance from Hanks, who is far removed from the wholesome image the actor keeps.

Road to Perdition

R

Crime

Drama

Thriller

Where to Watch

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Release Date

July 12, 2002

Director

Sam Mendes

Cast

Tom Hanks , Tyler Hoechlin , Rob Maxey , Paul Newman , Liam Aiken , Jude Law

Runtime

117 minutes

14 'Donnie Brasco' (1997)

Directed by Mike Newell

Donnie Brasco stars Johnny Depp as Joe Pistone, an FBI agent working undercover using the alias Donnie Brasco. Assigned to infiltrate a powerful crime family, Pistone quickly rises up the ranks while forming a close bond with aging hitman Lefty Ruggiero (Al Pacino), creating an inner struggle for Pistone as he is torn between his duty and his loyalty to Lefty.

The movie works so well due to the strong performances and chemistry of its two leads, with the friendship that forms between Depp and Pacino feeling genuine. Both men offer some of the best work of their careers in Donnie Brasco, and it is a tightly constructed, nuanced take on classic mafia movies.

Donnie Brasco

R

Biography

Crime

Drama

Where to Watch

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Not available

Release Date

February 28, 1997

Director

Mike Newell

Cast

Al Pacino , Johnny Depp , Michael Madsen , Bruno Kirby , James Russo , Anne Heche

Runtime

127 minutes

13 'Miller's Crossing' (1990)

Directed by Ethan and Joel Coen

Tom Reagan (Gabriel Byrne) is the right-hand man of Irish mobster Leo O'Bannon (Albert Finney) during Prohbition. When Tom is ordered to murder his lover's brother, he feels conflicted and finds himself caught in the middle of the battle between Leo and his powerful rival, eventually setting Tom down a dark and dangerous path.

Created by the Coen Brothers, Miller's Crossing is an early example of their master storytelling and unforgettable cinematography. It set the template they would follow in their later crime masterpieces Fargo and No Country for Old Men, and remains one of the talented filmmaking duo's finest achievements.

Miller's Crossing

R

Film Noir

Crime

Where to Watch

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Not available

Release Date

September 22, 1990

Director

Joel Coen

Cast

Gabriel Byrne , Albert Finney , John Turturro , Marcia Gay Harden , Jon Polito

Runtime

115 minutes

12 'A Prophet' (2009)

Directed by Jacques Audiard

When 19-year-old Malik (Tahar Rahim) is sentenced to six years imprisonment for assaulting police, he is taken under the wing of Corsican mobsters within the prison. As he performs tasks for them and proves himself worthy of trust, Malik finds himself rising within their ranks, earning more power along with more enemies.

A Prophet rests on the shoulders of Rahim, and the young actor delivers a star-making turn that allows the movie to be as good as it is. Set in France, A Prophet explores organized crime in a land that is far removed from the Prohibition-era gangsters that dominate the genre, and crafts a compelling character study that is worth serving time with.

a prophet

R

Crime

Release Date

May 16, 2009

Director

Jacques Audiard

Cast

Tahar Rahim , Niels Arestrup , Adel Bencherif

Runtime

155

Rent on Amazon

11 'A Bronx Tale' (1993)

Directed by Robert De Niro

Centered around the young Calogero, A Bronx Tale follows him from childhood into his teenage years as he finds a mentor in local crime boss Sonny (Chazz Palminteri) despite his father Lorenzo's (Robert De Niro) protests. As Calogero grows closer to Sonny, he finds his life growing increasingly dangerous.

A Bronx Tale delivers a more heartfelt mob story through Calogero's relationships with his two father figures. The film is notable for offering a different side to De Niro, with the actor playing a hard-working bus driver that is far removed from De Niro's legendary mafia characters. The movie also marked his directorial debut.

A Bronx Tale

R

Drama

Crime

Release Date

September 29, 1993

Director

Robert De Niro

Cast

Robert De Niro , Chazz Palminteri , Lillo Brancato Jr

Runtime

120

Watch on Apple TV

10 'The Untouchables' (1987)

Directed by Brian De Palma

Al Capone is one of the most notorious gangsters in history, and The Untouchables is a fictional take on a team of police officers tasked with bringing Capone (Robert De Niro) to justice. The task force is led by Eliot Ness (Kevin Costner), and he is joined by veteran Jim Malone (Sean Connery) and rookie George Stone (Andy Garcia).

The Untouchables is a rare gangster movie where the primary focus is on the police, watching as they attempt to bring down the city's big bad. The cast all bring their A-game to the production and deliver a set of characters who remain some of the best in the genre, with Connery's Malone, in particular, a standout.

The Untouchables

R

Crime

Drama

Historical

Release Date

June 3, 1987

Director

Brian De Palma

Cast

Kevin Costner , Sean Connery , Charles Martin Smith , Andy Garcia , Robert De Niro , Richard Bradford

Runtime

119 minutes

Watch on Paramount+

9 'The Irishman' (2019)

Directed by Martin Scorsese

Beginning in the 1950s, The Irishman follows the life of Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro), a truck driver who becomes a hitman for the mob. As he rises up the ranks throughout the years, the film centers around the relationships he builds with the surrounding criminals, particularly union boss Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino).

A passion project for Martin Scorsese and one of the most watched Netflix movies ever, The Irishman is a throwback to the epic mobster movies that made him famous. Reuniting with De Niro and Joe Pesci, Scorsese once again gets terrific performances out of the pair, along with Pacino, who adds another fine performance to his legendary career.

The Irishman

R

Crime

Drama

Where to Watch

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Not available

Not available

Release Date

November 27, 2019

Director

Martin Scorsese

Cast

Jesse Plemons , Robert De Niro , Anna Paquin , Al Pacino , Joe Pesci , Harvey Keitel

Runtime

209 minutes

8 'American Gangster' (2007)

Directed by Ridley Scott

Based on the life of real criminal Frank Lucas, American Gangster tells the tale of Lucas' (Denzel Washington) rise from right-hand man to mob boss. As Lucas becomes a ruthless drug lord, he is pursued by Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe), a detective in charge of a task force created to target drug suppliers.

What sets American Gangster apart from other movies in the genre is it's based on a true story, even if the film is mostly fictional according to the real-life participants. With two powerhouse performers in the lead roles, the movie works by letting both actors command an equal share of the screen time, creating two equally compelling leads.

American Gangster

R

Biography

Crime

Drama

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

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Release Date

November 2, 2007

Director

Ridley Scott

Cast

Denzel Washington , Russell Crowe , Chiwetel Ejiofor , Josh Brolin , Lymari Nadal , Ted Levine

Runtime

157 minutes

7 'Casino' (1995)

Directed by Martin Scorsese

Collaborating with Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci once again, Martin Scorsese's Casino is centered around the mob's ties to gambling. When Ace (De Niro), a mafia associate, is asked to oversee the operation of the mob's casinos in Las Vegas, he immediately triples their income. This success comes at a price, however, as dangerous forces threaten to remove Ace from his top position.

While Casino shares similar thematic ties to GoodFellas, its focus on the money-making schemes of the mob sets it apart from that film's focus on rising up the mafia ranks.

Casino

R

Biography

Crime

Drama

Where to Watch

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Release Date

November 22, 1995

Director

Martin Scorsese

Cast

Robert De Niro , Sharon Stone , Joe Pesci , James Woods , Frank Vincent , Pasquale Cajano

Runtime

178 minutes

6 'Once Upon a Time in America' (1984)

Directed by Sergio Leone

Once Upon a Time in America is an epic crime saga centered around Noodles (Robert De Niro), a Jewish gangster during New York's Prohibition era. Told in non-chronological order, the movie follows Noodles rise from street punk to professional criminal, as well as the relationships with his close friends and lovers.

Directed by Sergio Leone, Once Upon a Time in America is a far cry from the iconic Spaghetti Westerns the legendary director was known for. His final film before his death, Leone proves he is the master of his craft regardless of genre, creating one of the greatest crime movies of all time.

Once Upon a Time in America

R

Crime

Where to Watch

*Availability in US

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Release Date

May 23, 1984

Director

Sergio Leone

Cast

Robert De Niro , James Woods , Elizabeth McGovern , Joe Pesci , Burt Young , Tuesday Weld , Treat Williams

Runtime

139