10 Greatest 20th Century Gangster Movies of All Time, Ranked

Hollywood has always had a love for gangster movies. When a movie fan lists his favorite classics, it is hard not to name any gangster epics. From the legendary Martin Scorsese to the iconic Coen Brothers, many filmmakers have made some great flicks in this genre. While the 21st century definitely has some greats like City of God and The Departed, the defining movies in this genre came out in the 20th century.

We have dug through Hollywood’s history to bring you the greatest 20th-century gangster movies. We went back in time as far as 1931 to pick James Cagney’s pre-Code gangster movie. And there is a genre-defining Italian flick from the ’60s. Here are all the great gangster dramas from the last century, ranked based on how influential they were on modern cinema.

10 The Untouchables (1987)

Brian De Palma’s gangster movie is a star-studded affair. He brought together Kevin Costner, Sean Connery, and Robert De Niro for a great crime movie, set in the Prohibition era. The Untouchables is also a great police procedural, as Costner’s Eliot Ness brings together a police team to bring down the infamous crime lord, Al Capone, played by De Niro.

The movie is a fictionalized version of real events, based on the real life Ness’s 1957 book of the same name. While Costner and De Niro gave incredible performances, it was Connery, with his standout role as Irish American officer James Malone, who surprised us. He won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for the movie.

9 Scarface (1983)

Scarface, released in 1983, explores the story of Tony Montana, played by Al Pacino, who rises from a penniless nobody in Miami to become a drug mafia kingpin. Not many people are aware that the movie directed by Brian De Palma was inspired by a 1932 movie of the same name, which, in turn, was adapted from a novel based on the real-life drug lord Al Capone. It is considered to be one of the greatest movies ever.

While many initially dismissed the movie due to its extreme violence, it gained more appreciation in later years. The biggest praise went to Pacino’s performance as the Cuban gangster. Many realized that Scarface was more of a character study of Tony Montana rather than a bunch of crime-movie clichés woven together.

8 Donnie Brasco (1997)

This Al Pacino and Johnny Depp-led crime movie was based on the true story of undercover FBI agent Joseph Pistone, who infiltrated the Bonanno crime family in the ’70s. He used the alias Donnie Brasco, which gives the movie its name. In the movie, Depp’s character becomes friends with Al Pacino’s Benjamin “Lefty” Ruggiero, who is a hitman for the mob. While it was centered on Depp’s character, it was Pacino who stole the show with his performance.

Mike Newell’s movie tells an emotionally gripping tale, balancing both crime and drama. While you will be on the edge of your seat, fearing for the undercover agent’s safety, you will still be involved in Depp and Pacino’s brilliant chemistry. The story is written so well that it received an Oscar nod for Best Adapted Screenplay for Paul Attanasio. It was a critical and commercial success, and showed Depp in a different role from his usual quirky characters.

7 Mafioso (1962)

This classic Italian movie is as much a gangster movie as it is a black comedy film. Alberto Sordi plays a factory manager who has to become a hitman for the Mafia in his hometown of Sicily. It played a crucial role in influencing the American obsession with Mafia movies. The movie portrays Sordi’s character as a cog in the machine for the Mafia, while balancing his tragic circumstances with some light comedy.

The movie not only shows a man haunted by his life of crime, but it also paints the difference in culture in the country at the time. The initial scenes portray how different a gang-inflicted Sicily is from a more developed Milan. The story and themes of the movie are elevated by sharp dialogue and stylish costumes.

6 Miller’s Crossing (1990)

The 1990 movie was a box office failure when it was first released. But this gangster drama has quietly earned a cult following over the years and has become many people’s favorite movie in the genre. Starring Gabriel Byrne and John Turturro in the lead roles, Miller’s Crossing has a quirky style to its prohibition-era crime story. In the movie, Byrne’s Tom Reagan is caught between the mob war between the Irish and Italian mobs, which is further complicated by his involvement with his mob boss’s girlfriend.

The Coen Brothers movie has sharp dialogue and impressive cinematography backing its distinctive style, but the story didn’t impress many critics. The movie also falls under the neo-noir gangster subgenre, which brings some darkly comedic elements to the movie. The lead actors deliver powerful performances that make this film a gangster classic.

5 The Godfather Part II (1974)

While the audience let down this Godfather sequel at the time of its release, it is still considered the greatest movie sequel. Francis Ford Coppola brought the same intensity to this second movie, but upped his game with the Vito Corleone flashback that was portrayed in parallel to the present storyline. Robert De Niro nailed the younger version of Marlon Brando’s Oscar-winning role, earning an Oscar himself for Best Supporting Actor.

Al Pacino’s Michael goes down a darker path, especially after a failed assassination attempt on him made him realize that there was a traitor in the Corleone crime family. For some movie lovers, both the young Vito flashback and Michael’s monstrous turn make The Godfather Part II a superior movie experience to Coppola’s first film.

4 The Public Enemy (1931)

This pre-Code era gangster movie is one of the first greats in this genre. Led by James Cagney, the movie narrates a young man’s story as he rises through the ranks in the criminal underworld during the Prohibition era. The movie is based on an unpublished novel, Beer and Blood, by John Bright and Kubec Glasmon, who had witnessed Al Capone’s crimes in Chicago firsthand.

While critics had divided opinions on the movie, many agree that the film had some of the best action scenes and stunts of the time. The supporting actors in the movie, including Jean Harlow, Edward Woods, Beryl Mercer, and Donald Cook, delivered some great performances.

3 Pulp Fiction (1994)

Fans were mindblown when Quentin Tarantino redefined cinema with an indie crime film that tells four intertwining tales in a non-linear fashion. Pulp Fiction remains Tarantino’s coolest work to date, with fans appreciating the sleek action sequences, great aesthetics, and unique narrative style. The movie was packed with talented actors, and even resurrected John Travolta’s career.

The movie features many memorable lines that continue to be quoted in pop culture and internet memes. While Tarantino was widely praised for creating a landmark movie, Pulp Fiction was sadly snubbed for the Oscars in favor of Forrest Gump 32 years ago. It remains one of the most fun gangster movies, with its unique Tarantino touch.

2 Goodfellas (1990)

Goodfellas is Martin Scorsese‘s seminal work and is considered one of the greatest gangster films ever made. Film critic Roger Ebert once said about the film, “No finer film has ever been made about organized crime—not even The Godfather” (via The Independent). The film narrates the rise and fall of mob associate Henry Hill, played by Ray Liotta.

Hill’s story was covered in the book Wiseguy, written by crime reporter Nicholas Pileggi. The author co-wrote the script with Scorsese. The director had no plans to make any more Mafia films until he came across a review of Pileggi’s book. The original story pales in comparison to the film, which saw some incredible performances from Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Liotta. This gangster epic lost the Best Picture Oscar to Kevin Costner’s Dances with Wolves.

1 The Godfather (1972)

One of the most influential films in cinema history, The Godfather, featured some of the greatest acting talents. Over the course of three movies, the franchise managed to lay the foundation for crime dramas in cinema. Francis Ford Coppola‘s movie turned out to be a renaissance for Paramount Pictures and American cinema. It revived Marlon Brando’s career, provided the breakout roles for Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, and kick-started Diane Keaton’s impressive career.

The first movie garnered somewhere between $250 and $291 million at the box office (due to later market re-releases and numbers from the secondary market) and remained the highest-grossing film in Hollywood for a long time. Viewers instantly hailed it as a masterpiece, and the film became one of the most revered classics in cinematic history. Coppola was a genius as he knew what to cut from the film and what to emphasize. Focusing on the family dynamic within the Corleone crime family greatly worked in the film’s favor.

Which of these movies will you pick up for a rewatch? Do you have any picks from here that you are excited to watch for the first time? Let us know in the comments below!