The 20 Best Mafia Movies of All Time

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Ignacio Weil

Entertainment - April 1st 2025, 15:00 GMT+2

Cropped A Most Violent Year — 20. A Most Violent Year (2014)

You’ve got to love a movie where Oscar Isaac rocks a camel-colored coat and somehow channels the intensity of *The Godfather* while running a heating oil business. *A Most Violent Year* may not scream “mob movie” in neon lights, but its cold, calculated slow burn is soaked in crime world tension. Set in New York during the crime-ridden winter of 1981, this one’s less about shootouts and more about slippery deals and moral decay. Jessica Chastain holds her own as a mob daughter with a killer manicure and zero patience for playing nice. It’s the rare gangster-adjacent flick where ambition is more terrifying than bullets. Quiet, stylish, and smart — think *Michael Corleone goes corporate*. | © A24

Cropped Road to Perdition — 19. Road to Perdition (2002)

Tom Hanks as a hitman? Yes, really. And somehow, it works. In *Road to Perdition*, he trades in his usual affable charm for a trench coat, fedora, and a thirst for vengeance. Directed with painterly precision by Sam Mendes, this 1930s-set tale is about a father and son on the run from the mob — and yes, there’s rain, lots of rain. Paul Newman gives one of his final (and best) performances as the conflicted mob boss, while Jude Law pops up looking ghostly and greasy as a hitman/photographer (because of course he is). It’s more Shakespearean tragedy than shoot-‘em-up, but it hits hard and looks stunning doing it. Also: that Thomas Newman score? Chef’s kiss. | © DreamWorks Pictures

Cropped A Bronx Tale — 18. A Bronx Tale (1993)

Before he was mentoring Peter Parker, Robert De Niro made his directorial debut with *A Bronx Tale* — and honestly, what a flex. The film tells the story of a young boy torn between his honest, hardworking dad (played by De Niro) and the local mob boss, Sonny, played with smooth menace by Chazz Palminteri (who also wrote the original one-man play). It’s a coming-of-age tale that doubles as a love letter to the neighborhood — one filled with muscle cars, street corner philosophy, and the occasional mob beating. Oh, and if you’re looking for wise guy one-liners, this one delivers. “The saddest thing in life is wasted talent” hits hard every time. | © Savoy Pictures

Cropped American Gangster — 17. American Gangster (2007)

Denzel Washington walks into a crowded street, shoots a man point blank, and calmly sits back down to finish his breakfast. That’s *American Gangster* in a nutshell — ice-cold swagger. Based on the true story of Harlem drug kingpin Frank Lucas, this Ridley Scott crime epic gives Denzel the perfect stage to blend charm with menace. Russell Crowe plays the dogged detective on his trail, complete with a messy divorce and questionable wardrobe choices. The 1970s setting is rich with grit, soul, and corruption, and the soundtrack doesn’t miss. It’s like if *Goodfellas* and *Training Day* had a very stylish, morally conflicted baby. | © Universal Pictures

Cropped Sexy Beast — 16. Sexy Beast (2000)

Imagine retiring from a life of crime, soaking in the Spanish sun, and enjoying your golden years by the pool — only to have Ben Kingsley burst through the door like a human Molotov cocktail. *Sexy Beast* flips the gangster movie on its head with a wild blend of dry British wit and unrelenting tension. Ray Winstone plays the reluctant ex-gangster, while Kingsley’s performance as Don Logan is a masterclass in "utterly unhinged." He's terrifying, he's hilarious, and he doesn’t take no for an answer — literally. It’s lean, loud, and totally unpredictable, like if *The Sopranos* had a fever dream in Marbella. | © Fox Searchlight Pictures

Cropped Eastern Promises — 15. Eastern Promises (2007)

Ever wanted to watch Viggo Mortensen fight a guy in his birthday suit in a steamy bathhouse while covered in Russian mob tattoos? Of course you have — and *Eastern Promises* delivers that and more. Directed by David Cronenberg, this chilly, brutal thriller pulls you deep into the world of the Russian mafia in London, where every handshake might hide a knife. Naomi Watts gets wrapped up in a world way darker than her midwife job signed her up for, while Vincent Cassel lurks in the background being the worst kind of entitled mob heir. Mortensen is terrifyingly calm, all quiet stares and sudden violence — like if Aragorn had a side gig with the Bratva. | © Focus Features

Cropped Scarface — 14. Scarface (1983)

Say hello to his little friend — and by “little,” we mean a grenade-launching machine gun. *Scarface* is excess in cinematic form: cocaine, neon lights, chainsaws, and more F-bombs than you can count. Al Pacino goes full tilt as Tony Montana, a Cuban immigrant who rises to power in Miami’s drug empire with a mix of ambition, rage, and questionable fashion choices. Michelle Pfeiffer slinks through the film as the emotionally frozen Elvira, while director Brian De Palma just leans into the chaos. It’s loud, violent, and completely unhinged — and that’s exactly why it’s iconic. Subtlety? Never met her. | © Universal Pictures

Cropped Once Upon a Time in America — 13. Once Upon a Time in America (1984)

This one’s not a movie — it’s a whole mood. Sergio Leone’s epic saga of friendship, betrayal, and the American dream is nearly four hours long, and every minute feels soaked in melancholy. *Once Upon a Time in America* follows a group of Jewish gangsters over several decades, with Robert De Niro leading the pack as Noodles, a man haunted by regret (and probably chronic cigarette inhalation). James Woods gives one of his best performances, and the whole film moves like a memory — hazy, beautiful, and just a little heartbreaking. Ennio Morricone’s score? Devastating. This one’s for those who like their gangster flicks with a side of existential dread. | © The Ladd Company

Cropped The Departed — 12. The Departed (2006)

Okay, so technically it's a remake of *Infernal Affairs*, but when you throw Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, AND Mark Wahlberg into a Boston crime blender, the result is pure gold. *The Departed* is loud, twisted, and constantly teetering on the edge of implosion. DiCaprio plays the world’s most stressed-out undercover cop, while Damon’s playing both sides with the smarm of a guy who definitely calls it “smaht.” Jack Nicholson is off the leash as mob boss Frank Costello — unhinged, magnetic, and maybe a little too into rats. It’s a cat-and-mouse game where everyone’s cheating, and no one gets out clean. | © Warner Bros. Pictures

Cropped Sonatine — 11. Sonatine (1993)

Takeshi Kitano doesn’t just star in *Sonatine* — he practically meditates through it, even when bullets are flying. This is a Yakuza movie that feels like a tone poem. A weary gangster is sent to Okinawa to mediate a turf war, but things go sideways (don’t they always?), and soon he’s building sandcastles on the beach while waiting for the next shootout. Kitano brings his signature deadpan calm to the role, and the result is equal parts serene and shocking. One minute it’s quiet reflection, the next someone’s getting gunned down. It’s like *Goodfellas* went on a beach retreat and got existential. | © Shochiku

Cropped Snatch — 10. Snatch (2000)

Imagine a mafia movie directed by someone who’s had too much Red Bull, and you’ve got *Snatch*. Guy Ritchie’s madcap crime comedy is a chaotic cocktail of bare-knuckle boxing, stolen diamonds, and a cast of characters with names like Bullet-Tooth Tony and Brick Top. Jason Statham leads the ensemble, but let’s be honest — it’s Brad Pitt who steals the show as a fast-talking, shirtless Irish gypsy with a punch that could stop time. The plot zigs and zags like it’s being chased, and the editing has more cuts than a Guy Ritchie fight scene (which, well, it is). It’s not traditional mafia, but there’s enough organized crime, thick accents, and shady deals to earn it a seat at the table. | © Columbia Pictures

Cropped Gomorrah — 9. Gomorrah (2008)

*Gomorrah* is the anti-glamour mafia movie. No suits, no cigars — just raw, unflinching realism straight out of Naples. Based on the best-selling exposé by Roberto Saviano, this film drops you right into the heart of the Camorra’s grip on everyday life. It’s bleak, gritty, and deeply human — a world where kids with guns outnumber adult role models. The film doesn’t care about heroes, only consequences. With a cast of mostly non-professional actors and a documentary-style lens, *Gomorrah* feels less like a movie and more like a warning. It's the kind of mafia story where no one walks away clean — or cool. | © IFC Films

Cropped Millers Crossing — 8. Miller’s Crossing (1990)

Leave it to the Coen Brothers to give us a mob movie wrapped in a trench coat and soaked in whiskey-soaked dialogue. *Miller’s Crossing* is a Prohibition-era gangster tale filtered through literary cool — think Dashiell Hammett meets blood-splattered poetry. Gabriel Byrne plays Tom Reagan, a brooding consigliere caught in the middle of a mob war where double-crosses are a daily routine and hats are basically sacred artifacts. John Turturro begs for his life in one of the tensest forest scenes ever filmed, while Albert Finney lights up gangsters with a Tommy gun and a smile. It’s stylized, smart, and just the right kind of strange. | © 20th Century Fox

Cropped Donnie Brasco — 7. Donnie Brasco (1997)

When Johnny Depp goes undercover and starts saying “fuhgeddaboudit,” you know you're in for something special. *Donnie Brasco* is based on the real-life infiltration of the mob by FBI agent Joe Pistone, and the film walks a perfect tightrope between friendship and betrayal. Al Pacino gives one of his most understated performances as Lefty, a down-on-his-luck wise guy who just wants a little respect — and maybe a boat. The chemistry between Depp and Pacino is magnetic, slowly evolving from mentorship to tragedy as the lines between cop and criminal blur. It's a mob movie with heart, a little mustache wax, and a gut-punch ending. | © TriStar Pictures

Cropped the untouchables — 6. The Untouchables (1987)

You want drama? You want slow-motion baby carriages during shootouts? Welcome to *The Untouchables*. Brian De Palma’s operatic take on Eliot Ness vs. Al Capone is less a history lesson and more a stylish morality play with fedoras. Kevin Costner is the straight-laced Fed trying to clean up Chicago, but it’s Sean Connery who walks away with the movie — complete with an Irish accent that’s... well, unmistakably Sean Connery. And then there’s Robert De Niro as Capone, chewing scenery and swinging baseball bats with equal flair. It’s bold, brash, and completely un-subtle — but in the best way. | © Paramount Pictures

Cropped The Irishman — 5. The Irishman (2019)

Martin Scorsese looked at the gangster genre he helped define and said, “What if we made it... sadder?” *The Irishman* isn’t your typical mob flick — it’s quieter, more meditative, and three and a half hours long (yes, you’ll need snacks). Robert De Niro plays Frank Sheeran, a truck driver turned hitman who narrates his life of betrayal and regret like a man trying to make sense of it all. Al Pacino roars as Jimmy Hoffa, chewing scenery like it's a union steak dinner, while Joe Pesci — shockingly restrained — reminds everyone he's not to be messed with, even when whispering. De-aging technology aside, it’s an elegy for a life of crime... and for the men who lived it. | © Netflix

Cropped City of God — 4. City of God (2002)

You think American mobsters are hardcore? Wait until you visit the favelas of Rio. *City of God* is a kinetic, brutal, jaw-dropping masterpiece that follows the rise of crime in Brazil through the eyes of Rocket, a kid who just wants to be a photographer — not a gangster. Spoiler: that’s not easy when warlords like Lil Zé run the streets with Uzis. Directed with relentless energy by Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund, this film pulls no punches, both literally and emotionally. The cast? Mostly unknowns at the time, but their performances feel lived-in and raw. It’s violent, tragic, and weirdly beautiful — kind of like if Tarantino directed a National Geographic doc. | © Miramax Films

Cropped Casino — 3. Casino (1995)

*Casino* is basically *Goodfellas* in Vegas, with more sequins, more betrayal, and more shots of Robert De Niro in jewel-toned suits. Directed by Martin Scorsese (again — the man basically owns this genre), this story of mobbed-up casinos, skimmed profits, and broken friendships is loud, lavish, and violent in the most fabulous way. Joe Pesci is back, more unhinged than ever as Nicky Santoro, a man with the subtlety of a jackhammer. Sharon Stone, in the performance of her career, plays Ginger — all glam, grit, and chaos. It’s about love, greed, and the kind of mob business where you end up in a cornfield if you talk too much. | © Universal Pictures

Cropped Goodfellas — 2. Goodfellas (1990)

“As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster.” And with that line, Scorsese’s *Goodfellas* basically reinvented the genre. Ray Liotta’s wide-eyed Henry Hill walks us through a world of fast money, meatballs, and moral decay, while Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci (as the hilariously terrifying Tommy) round out a trio that’s as magnetic as it is volatile. The camera work dances, the soundtrack slaps, and that Copacabana tracking shot? Legendary. It’s funny, brutal, stylish, and — let’s be honest — way too quotable. If *The Godfather* is the Shakespeare of mob movies, *Goodfellas* is the punk rock anthem. | © Warner Bros. Pictures

Cropped The Godfather — 1. The Godfather (1972) & The Godfather Part II (1974)

You knew it would be here. *The Godfather* films are the holy scripture of mafia cinema. Francis Ford Coppola didn’t just direct a movie — he created a myth. In the first installment, Marlon Brando mumbles his way into immortality as Don Vito Corleone, while Al Pacino evolves from baby-faced war hero to dead-eyed mafia don in a performance that defines “slow burn.” Then comes *Part II*, a sequel that dares to be even better, weaving Vito’s early days (shoutout to young De Niro!) with Michael’s descent into icy isolation. Family, loyalty, betrayal — it’s all here, wrapped in Nino Rota’s haunting score and shadowy cinematography. It’s not just the best mafia movie — it’s cinema royalty. | © Paramount Pictures

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From the smoky backrooms of New York to the sun-soaked streets of Naples, mafia movies have captivated audiences for decades with their blend of power, loyalty, betrayal, and violence. Whether it's a cold-blooded crime saga or a slow-burning character study, the best mafia films immerse viewers in the dangerous underworld of organized crime.

In this definitive list, we rank the 20 best mafia movies of all time – essential viewing for fans of gritty storytelling, unforgettable performances, and iconic filmmaking. From timeless classics like The Godfather to modern masterpieces like The Irishman, these films have left an indelible mark on cinema and continue to shape the crime genre.