For fans of the action/adventure genre, gangster movies are a must-see. They often transport us to a different era, where everything may look different, but human behavior is the same. Whether the story is about the Italian Mafia, Al Capone, Frank Lucas, or the lawmen trying to stop them, gangster movies are some of the more genuine movies. What you see is truly what you get.
You know it will be fast-paced, intense, dramatic, and often full of heart. Just as fun as watching the movie itself, is the discussion that follows as to who you were rooting for in the film. Which side are you on? Without further ado, here are the top ten gangster movies.
White Heat (1949)
James Cagney was the epitome of a classic movie gangster. His frenzied rage matches the profile of a man dealing with the stress of being on the run from the law. In the 1949 noir thriller, White Heat, Cagney plays Cody Jarrett, the leader of a gang who is known as a vicious bank robber.
Fueled by his mother's love, Jarrett tries to stay out of the grasp of federal authorities and plans heists between migraines in order to stay afloat. He is eventually apprehended, but when he learns of his mother's passing, he breaks out of jail and plans one final heist.
Road to Perdition (2002)
Tom Hanks rarely, if ever plays characters who is morally compromised. In Road to Perdition, Hanks plays Mike Sullivan, the enforcer for a powerful mob boss (Paul Newman). A young, pre-Bond, Daniel Craig plays Newman's jealous son, Connor Rooney.
Enraged by the relationship and the influence Sullivan has with his father, Connor murders Sullivan's wife and youngest son. As the story unfolds, Sullivan, along with his oldest son seeks revenge for the crimes committed against their family.
American Gangster (2007)
This biographical film directed by Ridley Scott tells the story of a "new school" gangster. While the Mafia families dominated much of the 1900s, in the 70s, Frank Lucas rose to prominence. Denzel Washington plays the drug dealer from Harlem who rose to power in a broken New York City.
His adversary is Richie Roberts, played by Russell Crowe, an honest and unpopular who believes whole-heartedly in seeing justice served. It becomes Roberts' mission to see Lucas and his drugs off the streets. The film also features Idris Elba and was nominated for two Oscars.
Casino (1995)
The Godfather and Goodfellas gat all the love, but Casino is also a noteworthy film. Scorsese, De Niro and Pesci team up to bring yet another classic gangster film. This one takes place in Las Vegas in the 1970s. De Niro plays Sam "Ace" Rothstein, who is a mobster trying to grind his way through life and stay under the radar. His fortunes change when he gets the nod from above to run a casino.
At the beginning of his tenure, everything goes well, but soon it all begins to unravel. He is soon placed in increasing danger by the volatility of those he has surrounded himself with. Joe Pesci and Sharon Stone play the supporting roles of those who are a thorn in the side of Rothstein.
Donnie Brasco (1997)
This film intersects a young actor on his rise to stardom and an aging one who still has good performances in him. Johnny Depp plays an undercover FBI agent going by the name Donnie Brasco, who infiltrates a New York Mafia family. While on the job, Brasco befriends a mob hitman Benny Ruggiero, played by the great Al Pacino.
What starts off as part of his job, turns into something genuine. Brasco and Benny become good friends who care about each other, which weighs significantly on Brasco. The young agent must decide whether to be loyal to his job, or his new friend.
The Untouchables (1987)
There have been many movies made about or inspired by Al Capone, one of the most notorious gangsters of all time. The Untouchables refers to the squad who eventually brought him down. In this film, Eliot Ness, played by Kevin Costner assembles a team to go after Capone (Robert De Niro), who was the king of prohibition-era Chicago.
Ness' second in command is an old Irish beat cop who is played by Sean Connery. Connery is the hear and soul of the film and the role earned him an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.
The Departed (2006)
Scorsese was once again at the helm of a highly praised gangster movie. The Departed was nominated for five Oscars, and won four, among them Best Directing and Best Picture. This film stars Matt Damon and Leonard DiCaprio, who play two sides of the same coin. Damon plays a detective for the state police who is secretly working for the mobster Frank Costello, played by Jack Nicholson.
Leo plays an undercover cop who infiltrates Costello's gang. The two know each other exist, and the film is a race to discover each other's identity. The outstanding supporting cast includes Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, Vera Farmiga, and Alec Baldwin.
The Godfather (1972)
The one that started it all. Based on Mario Puzo's novel of the same name, this is widely considered one of the greatest films ever made. Francis Ford Coppola's film tells the story of the Italian-American crime family that has Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) at its head.
When an assassination attempt is made on the life for Vito, his sons assume the responsibility of running and protecting the family. His youngest son, Michael (Al Pacino) bears the brunt of the burden as his family is on the brink of defeat. The film was nominated for eleven Oscars and won three, including Best Picture.
The Godfather Part II (1974)
It is rare that a sequel is considered better than the original. In this installment of the trilogy, Michael Corleone has assumed total control of the family "business," and has settled the score with their rivals.
As Michael looks to expand West, director Francis Ford Coppola simultaneously tells the origin story of Vito Corleone. Young Vito is played by Robert De Niro, who won Best Supporting Actor for the role. All in all, this film doubled up the first one in Oscar wins, with six.
Goodfellas (1990)
As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster. This is the end-all, be-all of gangster movies. From the Copacabana tracking shot to the "funny how?" question, it offers not only iconic gangster movie moments but iconic film moments.
Martin Scorsese took the non-fiction book Wiseguy and turned it into a masterpiece of epic proportions. It stars Ray Liotta, Robert De Nito, Joe Pesci, and was nominated for six Oscars, but outrageously only won one (Pesci, Supporting Actor).