Mobster films exude a certain degree of charm and panache. This may be due to the fact that these films are modeled after larger than life personalities, unafraid to be on the wrong side of the law. This real world association makes mobster films a more entertaining and relatable watch. Add to that general trivia and paraphernalia surrounding the life of crime, and you have an entertaining movie on your hands. It’s also understandable that these violent, foul-mouthed films might not be everybody’s cup of tea, but one thing is for sure, you may not like them, but you definitely can’t ignore them. Here’s a look at some of the most iconic moments in mobster movies, ranked.

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7 A Wire In The Shoe - Donnie Brasco (1997)

     TriStar Pictures

Donnie Brasco is the real life story of an undercover FBI agent who poses as a jewel thief to break into one of the five crime families of New York. Donnie Brasco (Johnny Depp) does this by befriending an aging wiseguy called Lefty (Al Pacino). In one scene in the film, Lefty and gang are at a Japanese restaurant and are requested to take off their shoes at the main door as the traditional custom in Japan dictates. Donnie Brasco, who’s hiding a wire in his shoe, refuses, spontaneously citing his hatred for the Japanese since his dad was killed off by them in Okinawa.

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6 The First Cut Is The Deepest - A Prophet (2009)

     UGC Distribution

A serious portrayal of the dark side of crime, A Prophet stars Tahar Rahim as Malik El Djebana, a small time criminal who’s imprisoned for petty crimes. As Djebana gets accustomed to the world inside the prison, he gets initiated into the Corsican mob that has a lot of influence within the prison. In this particular scene, Djebana is forced to kill a man by his boss, Luciani. Having no other option, Djebana agrees and aims to kill cleanly. Things don’t go according to plan and Djebana makes a total mess of the scene, before finally killing off the man.

5 Johnny Quid’s Monologue - RocknRolla (2008)

     Warner Bros

Johnny Quid’s monologue in RocknRolla is a love letter to the art of cigarette smoking. He starts off by softly playing the piano before going on a full scale moral lecture about the similarities of life and a cigarette box. Quid proceeds to highlight the fact that one aspect of our personalties is attracted to the charm of smoking, suggesting that cigarettes are our loyal and royal friends, before blatantly calling it to be a lie. He finally concludes in a poetic fashion “that which starts sweet ends bitter, and that which starts bitter ends sweet”.

4 Frank Lucas Shootout In The Street - American Gangster (2007)

     Universal Pictures

Like most businesses, a gangster’s worth is constantly kept in check by the way he or she is perceived. In American Gangster Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington), spots Tango (Idris Elba) and asks him about the money he owes him. Tango responds by insulting Frank to his face on his turf. Lucas pulls a gun to Tango’s head, but instead of apologizing, Tango acts cocky and questions Frank on whether he’d shoot him in the middle of the street. Frank Lucas pulls the trigger and down falls Tango in a pool full of blood.

3 As Far Back As I Can Remember, I Always Wanted To Be A Gangster - Goodfellas (1990)

     Warner Bros.

Martin Scorsese’s mobster epic starts off with Henry Hill’s (Ray Liotta) outlandish statement. What follows is one of the best montage sequences in mobster film history. With visuals of Hill’s aspiration to join the wise guys and be a part of the cool group of men who did what they wanted, without any fear.

2 Say Hello To My Little Friend - Scarface (1983)

Tony Montana’s “Say hello to my little friend” is a line that has universal appeal. Arguably one of the most remembered moments in mobster film history. The scene takes place when Tony is surrounded by Sosa’s men. Being overpowered and alone, Montana is backed away to a corner where he discovers his automatic grenade launching gun. As soon as he sees it, Montana starts firing round upon round on the incoming enemies, thereby giving birth to a scene that’s still fresh in our memories.

1 Bonasera Requesting Don Vito Corleone to Take Revenge for His Daughter’s Assault - The Godfather (1972)

     Paramount Pictures

The Godfather is the Godfather of mobster movies, and its intro sequence is potent and profound in equal measures. The scene starts off with dim moody lighting on a man’s close up as the camera slowly tracks back. The man speaks “I believe in America, America has made my fortune”… The man, Bonasera, is talking to Don Vito Corleone about his loss of faith in the judicial system as his daughter gets sexually assaulted by her boyfriend. As the camera keeps pulling back, we see the back of Don Vito Corleone, who patiently listens to the troubled man before whispering something to one of his aids. The Don dishes out a few truth bombs about life and respect before agreeing to Bonasera’s plea, stating “Some day and that day may never come, I’ll call upon you to do a service for me. But until that day, accept this justice as a gift on my daughter’s wedding day”.