Mafia films have a sense of dirty, exciting fun when done right. These gangster pictures have been a staple in all of Hollywood’s assemblage of films, from the classic Little Caesar and The Public Enemy from the ’30s to more recent movies like American Gangster. It’s hit-and-miss, and while movies like Gangster Squad and Live By Night haven’t really done anything to benefit the genre, others like Goodfellas, The Godfather, and The Untouchables have been essential viewing for the average filmgoer.

Updated October 2022: To keep the article fresh and relevant by adding more entries, this article has been updated by Stephen Rosenberg.

The latter movies are known to be a joy to watch and have stood the test of time, with people having cherished them for many decades. Despite what many think, gangster films are not just about gangs and rivals shooting and killing each other. They in fact weave a history of what a certain part of American culture was about.

Here are some of the best mafia and gangster movies that have ever dawned on the silver screen.

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10 The Departed (2006)

     Warner Bros.

This Best Picture winner is without a doubt a great flick to sink your teeth into if you want a gritty thriller that follows in the footsteps of other gangster flicks. The story sees William Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon) play as moles for opposing sides of the law. The Departed is an assessment of law and order, but flips the switch, with chaotic good and lawful evil, and uses its cast to the absolute fullest. Its harrowing themes of right and wrong are still potent and strong years after release. It remains a highlight of Martin Scorsese’s career and got him his first and only Oscar for Best Director that still seems well-deserved in the director’s long tenure as a filmmaker.

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9 The Irishman (2019)

     Netflix

Another of the best Scorsese films; one which proved to be somewhat overlong and the most expensive film of his career. The film revolves around World War II veteran Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro), who recalls becoming a hitman for the Mafia and eventually killing union leader Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino). With an ardent sense of Scorsese retracing his roots as a director and using his cinematic penchant to create a marvel of a film, it’s not hard to figure out why The Irishman was so highly acclaimed by critics. Its rawness and realistic charm coupled with impressive de-aging is what made this epic mafia film a winner.

8 Black Mass (2015)

After a string of less successful films, Johnny Depp’s career bounced back with this banger of a gangster film detailing the meteoric rise and fall of Whitey Bulger. Black Mass is a memoir of sorts of its character, an informant for FBI agent John Connelly (Joel Edgerton), while Bulger remains murdering and committing heinous acts. Many critics have considered Depp’s performance here to be one of his greatest in decades. This film added a sense of ‘Depp-th’ in the mafia pantheon that elevates itself into the perfect biographical portrayal of Bulger that could have never happened without his involvement.

7 Public Enemies

     Universal Pictures

Yet another Depp film that has made this list of gangster movies, and for good reason. Johnny Depp turns in a chilling performance yet again as notorious gangster John Dillinger. Audiences get the chance to witness Dillinger’s treachery and his ultimate downfall as a Robin Hood of the streets in Michael Mann’s slick flick Public Enemies. This epic neo-noir flick has often been underrated by critics and audiences, but its realism and daring thematic elements are what bring this dark thriller to life as a unique gangster film.

6 Casino (1995)

In Martin Scorsese’s Casino, Robert De Niro plays Ace Rothstein, a Chicago mafia associate sent to Vegas to run the Tangiers Casino with enforcer Nicky Santoro. There, the two deal with several obstacles, including dealings with the FBI. Though not as well-received as Goodfellas or The Irishman, Casino was an intense film with an all-star cast. Aside from De Niro, Casino starred Joe Pesci, James Woods, Kevin Pollack, and even garnered a Best Actress Academy Award nomination for Sharon Stone.

5 Goodfellas (1990)

Goodfellas introduced audiences to Henry Hill, who has always been attracted and drawn to the gangster lifestyle, one that ends up ruining his life rather than sustaining the thrill that he always desired. The film is largely considered to be the best movie of the director’s career, and has many staunch followers obsessed with its trivia. Its raunchy and bloody liveliness, as well as its ability to be funny and violent simultaneously, makes it a one-in-a-million gangster film for a generation.

4 White Heat (1949)

If there was one definitive James Cagney film that had the actor as a ruthless gangster in an equally ruthless movie, White Heat would be it. Cagney portrays Arthur “Cody” Jarrett, who proves himself to be a huge mama’s boy. The character, while nefarious in his nature, is still a mommy’s boy and does everything he can to please her. The film was an epic cinematic achievement in the genre of crime-thrillers and still stands as a harrowing film that has taken its rightful place on top of the world.

3 The Untouchables (1987)

     Paramount Pictures

Gangsters, cops, and killers are a mainstay in this magnificently detailed period gangster movie. The Untouchables is based upon the non-fiction book of the same name by Eliot Ness and Oscar Fraley. The story follows the 1930s Prohibition era where Al Capone (Robert De Niro) reigns supreme as the crime lord of Chicago. Eliot Ness forms a group of highly-trained, police-backed gunmen to bring down Capone’s terror in the city. The film’s crime-drenched art direction is what elevates this beauty of a gangster film to more than just the sum of its parts. Additionally, Sean Connery was awarded the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for playing Jim Malone, even if his accent was incredibly noticeable.

2 The Godfather Part II (1974)

The sequel to its supreme predecessor has been cited as one of the best sequels ever made in Hollywood. Fans see Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) take the mantle of the Godfather while the audience learns more about his father Vito, who rose to power as the original Godfather working his way through the streets of New York. The film was the winner of six Academy Awards and was a sight to behold, with some outlets hailing it as superior to its predecessor. The Godfather: Part II proved to be a staple in mafia movies and was a rousing sensation in cinema.

1 The Godfather (1972)

Speaking of The Godfather and Francis Ford Coppola, the original got there first and remains the quintessential gangster film and a defining chapter of the 1970s New Hollywood. It had heart, bloody violence, and a magical charm for gangster films. Audiences were first introduced to the Corleone family and The Godfather saga, with Michael being the reluctant member to want to join the crime-obsessed organization just coming back from the war.

The Godfather has been known as not only one of the greatest gangster films ever made, but one of the greatest films ever made. It has been in the top 10 on many movie polls and has endured longevity even after fifty years of its release.