From the silver screen's earliest days, movies have glamorized the lives of gunslingers, bank robbers, and wise guys, fueling our fascination with those who live outside the law. Crime stories have captivated audiences long before cinema existed, and when films emerged, they quickly became a staple genre. If you're eager to dive into a world where steely characters forge their own paths and live by their own codes, we've curated a list of the top mafia movies of all time.
The rise of organized crime in the 20th century naturally drew filmmakers to explore this dark and compelling subject. Directors like Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Scorsese have become synonymous with the genre, crafting legendary narratives that delve deep into the world of mob syndicates. Meanwhile, other acclaimed filmmakers have ventured into mafia storytelling, producing remarkable films that stand out in their own right.
Our list encompasses a range of films, from those depicting real-life mobsters and the law enforcement agents pursuing them to fictional tales designed to entertain and enthrall. Here are our selections of the 15 best mafia movies ever, presented in no particular order:
The 15 Best Mafia Movies
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Best Spy MoviesBest Thriller MoviesBest Netflix MoviesGoodfellas (1990)
Image credit: Warner Bros.Director: Martin Scorsese | Writer: Martin Scorsese, Nicholas Pileggi | Stars: Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci | Release Date: September 19, 1990 | Review: IGN's Goodfellas review | Where to Watch: Included with HBO Max subscription, rent from Amazon, Apple TV, and most platforms
Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas stands as a towering achievement in the mafia genre, often hailed as the best mob movie outside of the Godfather series. This gripping tale follows the rise and fall of mob associate Henry Hill, portrayed by Ray Liotta, across several decades. Based on the biography Wise Guy by Nicholas Pileggi, Goodfellas showcases stellar performances from Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci, who won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. Scorsese and De Niro's iconic collaboration elevates the film, making stars out of Liotta and Pesci.
Donnie Brasco (1997)
Image credit: Sony PicturesDirector: Mike Newell | Writer: Paul Attanasio | Stars: Al Pacino, Johnny Depp, Michael Madsen | Release Date: February 28, 1997 | Review: IGN's Donny Brasco review | Where to watch: Rent from Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, and more
Donnie Brasco, directed by Mike Newell, offers a compelling look into the life of an FBI agent, Joe Pistone, played by Johnny Depp, who goes deep undercover within the Bonanno crime family. Al Pacino delivers a nuanced performance as Lefty, an aging enforcer who unwittingly mentors Pistone, known in the underworld as Donnie Brasco. Adapted from Pistone's autobiography, this film stands out with its cool, tense atmosphere, differentiating itself from typical mob movies.
A Most Violent Year (2014)
Image credit: A24Director: J. C. Chandor | Writer: J. C. Chandor | Stars: Oscar Isaac, Jessica Chastain, David Oyelowo | Release Date: December 31, 2014 | Where to watch: Rent from Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, FlixFling, and more
A Most Violent Year is a more recent and somewhat under-the-radar addition to the mafia genre, featuring Oscar Isaac as Abel Morales, a trucking company owner navigating the corrupt landscape of New York City during its most crime-ridden year, 1981. Alongside Jessica Chastain and David Oyelowo, the film explores Morales' struggle to maintain his morality in a cutthroat business environment, offering a thought-provoking thriller that captures the era's chaos vividly.
Miller's Crossing (1990)
Image credit: 20th Century FoxDirector: Joel Coen | Writer: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen | Stars: Gabriel Byrne, Marcia Gay Harden, John Turturro | Release Date: September 22, 1990 | Where to watch: Rent from Amazon, Apple TV, and more
In the same year as Goodfellas, the Coen brothers delivered Miller's Crossing, a unique take on organized crime set during Prohibition. This film noir-inspired story focuses on Tom, an Irish mob lieutenant played by Gabriel Byrne, who navigates a mafia war while playing both sides. With its stylized dialogue and compelling performances, Miller's Crossing helped launch Byrne's career in the U.S. and featured a cast including Albert Finney and Marcia Gay Harden.
Casino (1995)
Image credit: Universal PicturesDirector: Martin Scorsese | Writer: Martin Scorsese, Nicholas Pileggi | Stars: Robert DeNiro, Sharon Stone, Joe Pesci | Release Date: November 22, 1995 | Review: IGN's Casino review | Where to watch: Stream with AMC Plus, rent from Amazon, Apple TV, and more
Another Scorsese classic, Casino reunites Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci, this time exploring the world of Las Vegas casinos. Based on Nicholas Pileggi's book Casino: Love and Honor in Las Vegas, the film follows De Niro's character, Ace, inspired by real-life casino owner Lefty Rosenthal, and Pesci's Nicky, based on enforcer Tony Spilotro. Their journey from partnership to rivalry is epic, with Sharon Stone's performance as a former dancer earning an Oscar nomination. Casino holds its own as a compelling follow-up to Goodfellas, showcasing the best of Scorsese's storytelling.
City of God (2002)
Image credit: MiramaxDirector: Fernando Meirelles, Kátia Lund | Writer: Bráulio Mantovani | Stars: Alexandre Rodrigues, Leandro Firmino Da Hora, Jonathan Haagensen | Release Date: August 30, 2002 (Brazil) | Review: IGN's City of God review | Where to watch: Rent on Amazon, Apple TV, and more
City of God takes us beyond American cinema to Brazil, where this powerful crime drama unfolds over decades in the Cidade De Deus suburb of Rio de Janeiro. Loosely based on real events, the film vividly portrays the rise of organized crime from the 1960s to the 1980s. Directed by Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund, it features a mostly non-professional cast from Rio's low-income neighborhoods, lending an authentic edge to its depiction of violence and societal struggles. City of God also inspired a spin-off TV series and film, City of Men.
The Untouchables (1987)
Image credit: Paramount PicturesDirector: Brian De Palma | Writer: David Mamet | Stars: Kevin Costner, Charles Martin Smith, Andy Garcia | Release Date: June 3, 1987 | Review: IGN's The Untouchables review | Where to watch: Paramount+, Hoopla, or rentable on most platforms
Brian De Palma's The Untouchables brings us to 1930s Chicago, where Eliot Ness, played by Kevin Costner, leads a crusade against notorious gangster Al Capone, portrayed by Robert De Niro. This action-packed film, with its slightly comic-book style, follows Ness as he assembles his team of incorruptible lawmen, known as the "untouchables," to bring down Capone. Sean Connery's performance as a veteran cop won him an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, adding depth to this thrilling tale.
The Departed (2006)
Image credit: Warner Bros. PicturesDirector: Martin Scorsese | Writer: William Monahan | Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson | Release Date: October 6, 2006 | Review: IGN's The Departed review | Where to watch: Rent on Amazon and most platforms
The Departed, a remake of the Hong Kong thriller Infernal Affairs, is set in Boston and follows the parallel lives of two undercover operatives: one a cop infiltrating the mob (Leonardo DiCaprio), and the other a mobster infiltrating the police force (Matt Damon). Directed by Martin Scorsese, the film features Jack Nicholson as the crime boss based on Whitey Bulger. This intense and engaging ensemble piece also stars Vera Farmiga, Mark Wahlberg, and Alec Baldwin, weaving a complex web of loyalty and betrayal.
Eastern Promises (2007)
Image credit: Focus FeaturesDirector: David Cronenberg | Writer: Steven Knight | Stars: Viggo Mortensen, Naomi Watts, Vincent Cassel | Release Date: September 14, 2007 | Review: IGN's Eastern Promises review | Where to watch: Paramount+, rentable on most platforms
Viggo Mortensen stars in David Cronenberg's Eastern Promises, playing a Russian mob enforcer in London caught between his boss, the boss's volatile son, and a midwife trying to protect a baby. This gripping film, which could easily be paired with Cronenberg's A History of Violence, is notable for its intense and memorable bathhouse fight scene. Mortensen's performance, alongside Naomi Watts and Vincent Cassel, makes Eastern Promises a standout entry in the genre.
The Godfather (1972)
Image credit: Paramount PicturesDirector: Francis Ford Coppola | Writer: Francis Ford Coppola, Mario Puzo | Stars: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan | Release Date: March 24, 1972 | Review: IGN's The Godfather review | Where to watch: Stream on Paramount+, or rent on Amazon and most platforms.
The Godfather, directed by Francis Ford Coppola and based on Mario Puzo's novel, is often considered the pinnacle of mafia movies. This groundbreaking film, starring Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, and James Caan, shattered box office records and became the biggest film of 1972. It follows the Corleone family under the leadership of Vito Corleone and the transformation of his son Michael into a ruthless mob boss, cementing its place as a cinematic masterpiece.
The Godfather Part 2 (1974)
Image credit: Paramount PicturesDirector: Francis Ford Coppola | Writer: Francis Ford Coppola, Mario Puzo | Stars: Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton | Release Date: December 20, 1974 | Review: IGN's The Godfather Part 2 review | Where to watch: Stream on Paramount+ and FuboTV, or rent on Amazon and most platforms.
The Godfather Part 2 continues the saga, intertwining the story of Michael Corleone, now the Don, with the early life of his father, Vito, portrayed by Robert De Niro. This sequel/prequel delves into Michael's struggles with betrayal and Vito's journey from Sicily to America, establishing his criminal empire. With an equally stellar cast including Robert Duvall and Diane Keaton, The Godfather Part 2 is often debated as the best film in the series.
Road to Perdition (2002)
Image credit: DreamWorks PicturesDirector: Sam Mendes | Writer: David Self | Stars: Tom Hanks, Paul Newman, Jude Law | Release Date: July 12, 2002 | Review: IGN's Road to Perdition review | Where to watch: Paramount+, or rentable on most platforms
Road to Perdition, directed by Sam Mendes, is based on a graphic novel and stars Tom Hanks as Michael Sullivan, an Irish mob enforcer on the run with his son after a tragic betrayal. With Paul Newman, Jude Law, and Daniel Craig in supporting roles, the film blends elements of a revenge story with a poignant father-son road trip, delivering a visually stunning and emotionally charged narrative.
Scarface (1932)
Image credit: United ArtistsDirector: Howard Hawks | Writer: W.R. Burnett, John Lee Mahin, Seton I. Miller, Ben Hecht | Stars: Paul Muni, Ann Dvorak, Osgood Perkins | Release Date: April 9, 1932 | Where to watch: Rent on Amazon and most platforms
Scarface, directed by Howard Hawks, is a landmark film inspired by the rise of Al Capone. This pre-Hays Code classic features Paul Muni as Tony Camonte, a gangster climbing the ranks of the Chicago mob. Its stylish visuals and gripping violence have ensured its enduring appeal, making it a significant entry in early cinema and the mafia genre. Even Capone himself reportedly enjoyed the film.
The Irishman (2019)
Image credit: NetflixDirector: Martin Scorsese | Writer: Steven Zaillian | Stars: Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci | Release Date: November 1, 2019 | Review: IGN's The Irishman review | Where to watch: Netflix
The Irishman, another Scorsese masterpiece, reunites Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci for an epic tale of a truck driver turned hitman and his involvement with the mob and Jimmy Hoffa. Based on the book I Heard You Paint Houses, the film explores the darker, less glorified aspects of mafia life, focusing on themes of regret and isolation. With its reflective tone and strong performances, The Irishman offers a unique perspective on the genre.
American Gangster (2007)
Image credit: Universal PicturesDirector: Ridley Scott | Writer: Steven Zaillian | Stars: Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Josh Brolin | Release Date: November 2, 2007 | Review: IGN's American Gangster review | Where to watch: Starz Apple TV Channel, rentable on most platforms.
Ridley Scott's American Gangster tells the story of Harlem drug lord Frank Lucas, played by Denzel Washington, and the detective, Richie Roberts, portrayed by Russell Crowe, determined to bring him down. Set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War, the film explores Lucas's innovative smuggling methods and the intense cat-and-mouse game with Roberts. With a strong supporting cast including Josh Brolin and Chiwetel Ejiofor, American Gangster delivers a compelling and intelligent crime drama.
AnswerSee ResultsThose are our picks of the best mafia movies ever – in no particular order. Did your favorite make the cut? If not, rather than leaving a horse head in our bed, let us know your top picks in the comments.
