10 Gangster Movies That Are Bangers From Start to Finish

Over the years, gangster movies have become a prominent pastime in American cinema and a beloved film genre known for iconic titles such as The Godfather, Goodfellas, and A Bronx Tale. The gangster genre originally made its way to the silver screen during the 1930s, popularized by classic movies including The Public Enemy, Little Caesar, and Angels With Dirty Faces, and continued to evolve during Hollywood’s Golden Age.

By the 1970s, the gangster genre had been redefined and revitalized by notable filmmakers such as Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese, and Brian De Palma, who essentially ushered in a new generation of gangster film fans. Since then, there has been an abundance of epic gangster movies that qualify for a spot on this list, but memorable movies like Miller’s Crossing, The Departed, and American Gangster are considered to be bangers from start to finish.

10

‘Casino’ (1995)

Directed by Martin Scorsese

Robert De Niro stars in Martin Scorsese‘s Casino as Sam “Ace” Rothstein (Robert De Niro), who is sent by the Chicago outfit to run the Tangiers Casino in Las Vegas. When Rothstein builds the casino into one of the most profitable and popular spots on the strip, his employers send his friend and hot-tempered enforcer, Nicky Santoro (Joe Pesci), to help protect their assets. Unfortunately, Santoro’s arrival causes more problems than expected and when Rothstein falls under the spell of a fatally beautiful con-artist (Sharon Stone), trouble begins to brew in Sin City.

Casino is based on Nicholas Pileggi‘s book, Casino: Love and Honor in Las Vegas, which tells the story of real-life mob associate, Lefty Rosenthal, who operated several of the hottest casinos in Vegas. Scorsese delivers an authentic love letter to Vegas during the 1970s by brilliantly capturing the adrenaline and excitement of the city and immersing audiences into the film with behind-the-scenes shots that give them the impression of being flies on the wall silently observing. Casino is an ingenious testament to Scorsese’s understanding of the mafia and its crucial role in the rise and fall of Vegas, and with show-stopping performances by an all-star cast, Casino is undeniably a banger gangster movie from start to finish.

9

‘Eastern Promises’ (2007)

Directed by David Cronenberg

Eastern Promises is an intense gangster movie that, for some reason, doesn’t get as much credit as it genuinely deserves. The British-Canadian film stars Naomi Watts as a mid-wife, Anna, who works at a local hospital in London where she helps deliver the baby of a Ukrainian teenager who dies from childbirth. In an effort to find any relatives to care for the child, Anna has the young mother’s diary translated and discovers a dangerous secret that puts her in the crossfire of a Russian gangster (Viggo Mortensen).

Compared to other crime thrillers, Eastern Promises stands out for its intriguing blend of psychological drama and excessive violence, delivering an authentically brutal depiction of organized crime. While Watts is sensational, Mortensen is the real star of the show, giving a gritty and ruthless performance that effortlessly showcases the actor’s prowess in full range. Eastern Promises was met with generally positive reviews from both audiences and critics, including Roger Ebert, who gave the movie four out of four stars.

8

‘A Bronx Tale’ (1993)

Directed by Robert De Niro

Robert De Niro directs and stars in the coming-of-age gangster movie, A Bronx Tale, as a bus driver and family man, Lorenzo, who becomes concerned when his son, Calogero (Francis Capra/ Lillo Brancato, Jr.) or “C”, is taken under the wing of a local mobster, Sonny (Chazz Palminteri). While Lorenzo believes that Sonny is preparing his son for a life with the mafia, he’s unaware that Sonny is trying to keep C from following in his footsteps.

A Bronx Tale is an essential gangster movie based on Palminteri’s hit one-man show of the same name and brilliantly conveys two opposing worlds of honest living and organized crime with sheer authenticity. De Niro proves his worth behind the camera and handles every scene with care, gracefully moving between humor and drama with notable perfection. Both De Niro and Palminteri deliver outstanding performances that are among the actors’ most profound, effortlessly portraying the old-school mafioso and the working man without coming off as forced or cliché.

7

‘The Departed’ (2006)

Directed by Martin Scorsese

Set in the city of Boston, a state police officer, Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio), goes undercover as a recently paroled criminal to infiltrate the city’s Irish mob. As Costigan tries to gain the trust of the mob boss, Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson), he and the rest of the state police department are unaware that one of their own, Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon), has been a spy for Costello all along.

Scorsese delivers a criminal masterpiece with The Departed, far exceeding audiences’ expectations and features overall excellent performances by a star-studded cast. The movie follows a tedious game of cat and mouse, woven into Scorsese’s signature elements of compromising morality and organized crime while adding a gritty backdrop of deep-seated corruption. The Departed was a monumental success, earning five Academy Award nominations, and went on to win four of its nominations, including Best Film Editing, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Picture, and Best Director, marking Scorsese’s first Oscar win in the category.

6

‘Scarface’ (1983)

Directed by Brian De Palma

Al Pacino stars in Brian De Palma’s remake of the 1932 classic gangster movie of the same name, Scarface, as a Cuban refugee, Tony Montana, who arrives in Miami, Florida, where he infiltrates the drug business and begins working for a local drug dealer. As Montana works his way through the ranks, he eventually becomes one of the biggest drug lords on the East coast, but his ambition and insatiable desire for wealth and power inevitably lead to his unfortunate demise.

Scarface is a modernized retelling of Howard Hawks’ classic written by Oliver Stone, who stays true to the film’s original story and essentially delivers a fitting tribute to one of the most influential gangster movies of all time. Pacino gives one of his finest performances as the smart-mouthed, no-nonsense Montana, who is as animated as he is ruthless, making him a fascinating character who keeps audiences on edge. The movie was initially met with some controversial reviews due to its excessive violence and gore, but through the years, it has been reevaluated and is considered to be a cult classic of the gangster genre.

5

‘Miller’s Crossing’ (1990)

Directed by Joel Coen and Ethan Coen

The Coen Brothers‘ 1990 movie, Miller’s Crossing, is perhaps one of the most underrated gangster movies of all time and deserves far more recognition than it generally receives. The plot centers around an intense power struggle between a local Irish mob boss, Leo O’Bannon (Albert Finney), and a rival Italian gangster, Johnny Caspar (Jon Polito), who is denied permission to clip a bookie who is under O’Bannon’s protection.

Miller’s Crossing is a unique neo-noir gangster movie that was heavily influenced by classic gangster movies, notably The Godfather, and crime novels by Dashiell Hammett such as The Glass Key and Red Harvest. In true Coen Brothers’ fashion, Miller’s Crossing has an unexpected twist within an intricately laid plot and bold emotional depth that maintains a level of unpredictability throughout the entire film. This marginalized banger of a gangster film is an absolute must-see and features an epic cast including Gabriel Byrne, Steve Buscemi, and John Turturro, who delivers a powerhouse performance.

4

‘American Gangster’ (2007)

Directed by Ridley Scott

Academy Award-winner, Denzel Washington, stars in Ridley Scott‘s American Gangster as the notorious gangster, Frank Lucas, who, after the death of his boss, Ellsworth “Bumpy” Johnson, enters the drug trade and builds one of the biggest heroin operations in the Tri-State Area. As Lucas’ criminal notoriety rises, he catches the attention of a Newark detective, Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe), who is determined to put Lucas behind bars.

American Gangster is a throwback to the classic gangster movie and is loosely based on the life and career of real-life gangster, Frank Lucas, who was Bumpy Johnson’s right-hand-man and one of the most prolific gangsters during the 1970s. Washington and Crowe are a profound on-screen duo who both deliver larger-than-life performances that are the main allure to this modern gangster classic. American Gangster follows an engrossing gangster tale that highlights the traditional good guy versus bad guy dynamic but focuses heavily on the gray area that blurs the line between crime and justice.

3

‘Goodfellas’ (1990)

Directed by Martin Scorsese

Ray Liotta stars in Scorsese’s iconic gangster classic, Goodfellas, as a mob associate turned FBI informant, Henry Hill, who, as a teenager, started working for a capo in his Brooklyn neighborhood, Paulie Cicero (Paul Sorvino), and eventually works his way up to achieving a life of wealth and status within the Italian Mafia. While Hill basks in his success and notoriety, trouble soon ensues in all avenues, and his seemingly perfect existence slowly begins to unravel.

Goodfellas is regarded as one of the greatest movies of all time and is based on Nicholas Pileggi’s book, Wiseguy, which tells the true story of Henry Hill, who was an associate of the Lucchese crime family for almost three decades. While Liotta and the overall cast give first-rate performances, Joe Pesci steals the show with his performance as the hot-headed Tommy DeVito, which earned him the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor and is one of the best gangster performances of all time. Goodfellas is the epitome of a modern gangster classic and, between the memorable performances and Scorsese’s mastery of the gangster genre, there’s no question that it deserves a spot on this definitive list.

2

‘The Godfather: Part II’ (1974)

Directed by Francis Ford Coppola

Al Pacino reprises his role as the head of the Corleone family, Michael Corleone, who has moved with his family to Lake Tahoe and continues to work towards his father’s dream of legitimizing the Corleone family. While Michael ventures into a business deal with one of his father’s oldest associates, Hyman Roth (Lee Strasberg), audiences get a glimpse into the origins of Vito Corleone (Robert De Niro) and his rise to becoming one of the most powerful mob bosses in the country.

It’s not very common for a sequel to outshine the original film, but The Godfather: Part II is a rare exception that some even believe surpasses the first film. The Godfather: Part II refrains from the traditional formula of a sequel and instead follows a non-linear structure, which essentially correlates Michael’s rise as the head of the family with his father’s, depicting a fascinating comparison between the father and son. While the story adds a uniqueness to the movie, The Godfather: Part II features compelling performances, notably by De Niro, who gives an uncanny performance as a young Vito, mastering Marlon Brando‘s character down to the finest details.

1

‘The Godfather’ (1972)

Directed by Francis Ford Coppola

No list of gangster movies is complete without Francis Ford Coppola‘s Oscar-winning masterpiece, The Godfather, which is based on Mario Puzo‘s best-selling novel of the same name. The movie focuses on one of the most powerful mob bosses, Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando), who finds himself in a civil war with the other families after refusing a business proposition from a rising narcotics man. When an attempt is made on Vito’s life, his youngest son, Michael (Al Pacino), steps up to protect and fight for his family, ultimately leading him to become his father’s predecessor as head of the Corleone family.

The Godfather ultimately revitalized and redefined the traditional gangster movie with its prominent themes of family, honor, and loyalty, and is carried by an outstanding cast including James Caan, John Cazale, Robert Duvall, and Diane Keaton, who all equally deliver their performances with utter precision and passion. Coppola’s ingenious ability to intertwine Puzo’s story with the basic tropes of an old-school gangster movie cultivates the perfect balance of drama and brutality that not only sets The Godfather in its own category of cinematic brilliance but also deems it to be one of the greatest gangster movies that is a banger from start to finish.

NEXT: 10 Classic Movies That Are Bangers From Start to Finish