18 Gangster Movies That Are Almost Perfect

It’s no secret that the gangster genre of film has become largely prolific and notable for having a high number of high-quality films that have helped redefine and shape cinema as a whole. There are a high number of exceptional gangster masterpieces over the years, ranging from generation-defining experiences like The Godfather duology and Goodfellas to international fan favorites like City of God. However, arguably even more interesting than the gangster movies that have no flaws are the ones that come just short of perfection.

Whether it be a relic of the era that was released, a strange choice when it came to performance or soundtrack, or even something as notable as a film’s pacing or ending, there are many ways that a film can end up tripping at the finish line to masterpiece status. It’s not to say that these films are bad; quite the opposite, being close to perfection means they are still all-time greats, well worthy of being someone’s favorite film. Still, it’s interesting to consider the singular facets that keep these films from being the paragons they were so close to becoming.

18 ‘Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai’ (1999)

Directed by Jim Jarmusch

While its title and style wouldn’t have one assume that it’s a gangster film, Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai combines the worlds of mafia violence with ancient Japanese samurai to make for a brilliant and distinct cinematic achievement. The film follows the story of Ghost Dog, an African American hitman for his local mafia who models his lifestyle and technique off of the samurai of ancient Japan. However, he will have to put his abilities to the test when he himself has been targeted for death by the mob.

The strange, otherworldly aura that Ghost Dog provides is something that no other gangster film has come close to replicating, distinctly feeling human in its vision and beautiful in its execution. The film has an effective throughline about the importance of a code of honor, finding the rare commonality between two of the most beloved and respected subgenres in cinema. Its only true flaw is that it doesn’t greatly excel in the action that has made samurai and gangster films so effectively, largely following in the same mellow, chill vibes of Jim Jaramusch’s other films.

17 ‘Sexy Beast’ (2000)

Directed by Jonathan Glazer

Jonathan Glazer‘s feature directorial debut gave us one of Sir Ben Kingsley’s best performances. Ray Winstone stars as Gary “Gal” Dove, a retired criminal trying to let go of his vicious past, whose tranquility is upended by the arrival of the infamous Don Logan (Kingsley), a psychopath demanding he take part in an upcoming London bank robbery.

Sexy Beast is a unique gangster movie that will not be for everyone. Glazer’s eclectic approach, coupled with a series of truly chaotic performances, makes for a one-of-a-kind experience that might not necessarily be what fans of the genre expect. Still, Kingsley’s wildly electrifying, profane portrayal is enough to warrant a viewing. This movie is audacious yet confounding, a must-seen-to-be-believed kind of movie that the gangster genre could use more of.

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16 ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ (1967)

Directed by Arthur Penn

The signature gangster biopic about one of the most legendary crime duos of all time, Bonnie and Clyde does justice to the tragedy and chaos of real-life figures while breaking new ground for counterculture filmmaking. The film sees bored waitress Bonnie Parker (Faye Dunaway) falling in love with ex-con Clyde Barrow (Warren Beatty), with the duo riding off and beginning a violent crime spree across the countryside. They end up stealing countless cars and robbing countless banks on their journey across the country, eventually meeting their inevitable demise at the hands of the police.

Bonnie and Clyde as historical figures can easily be considered some of the first true legendary low-level gangsters in American mythos, not defined by their power and stature but instead by their seemingly limitless love and passion that fueled their crime spree. The film itself fully taps into the excitement and fervor surrounding these figures, brilliantly amplified by a duo of exceptional performances by Dunaway and Beatty. The only real issue is that after 50 years of gangster storytelling, the actual story of Bonnie and Clyde has been parodied and told to death, diminishing its impact on a modern audience.

15 ‘Once Upon a Time in America’ (1984)

Directed by Sergio Leone

When one thinks of epic movies in cinema, Sergio Leone‘s 4+ hour saga of crime and ambition surely comes to mind. Once Upon a Time in America stars Robert De Niro and James Woods and follows two best friends who climb the ladder of Jewish organized crime in New York City during the mid-20s and early ’30s.

As demanding as it is rewarding, Once Upon a Time in America is a true work of art from one of cinema’s greatest filmmakers. The film is nothing short of daunting, asking much of its audience but delivering just as much in terms of engaging and thought-provoking narrative. It’s also far less straightforward than other gangster movies, opting for visual symbolism rather than the outright, heightened drama of, say, the Corleone family. However, those with enough patience and the willingness to take in the movie’s daring nature will surely appreciate every aspect, no matter how vague.

14 ‘Assault on Precinct 13’ (1976)

Directed by John Carpenter

One of John Carpenter‘s most underrated yet widely entertaining works made well before all of his other masterpieces, Assault on Precinct 13 is still oozing with the director’s signature flair and style. The film follows the lone inhabitants of a local police station finding themselves under attack by a seemingly never-ending number of members of a dangerous street gang hell-bent on taking over the station.

Assault on Precinct 13 has top-notch gangster action from beginning to end, whether it’s the powerful and shocking moments that show how vile the gang can get or the tense, high-octane action in the station itself. There is a heightened sense of scale and terror within the film that almost makes it feel like a horror film, even though it’s squarely in the action thriller/gangster genre. The only notable issue is that the film takes a while before truly entering its impactful second half, yet the filmmaking mastery on display, even during its slow parts, makes it a film that’s impossible not to fall in love with.

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13 ‘White Heat’ (1949)

Directed by Raoul Walsh

Raoul Walsh‘s near-masterpiece White Heat stars one of the genre’s biggest performers, the legendary Oscar winner James Cagney. The plot centers on Cody Jarrett, a man who escapes prison after learning of his beloved mother’s passing. Planning the most daring heist of his career, Jarrett recruits a gang, including his former cellmate, an undercover cop working to bring him down.

White Heat is a seminal entry in the gangster genre that profoundly shaped and influenced it. Cagney delivers one of his all-time greatest performances, playing Jarred’s unhinged nature with astounding empathy and capturing his slow descent into mental turmoil and chaos better than anyone could’ve. A product of its time, White Heat occasionally succumbs to melodrama so heightened that it often clashes with its more somber themes. Still, the film remains as close to perfection as anything the gangster genre has ever produced.

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12 ‘Snatch’ (2000)

Directed by Guy Ritchie

One of the initial films that helped put director Guy Ritchie on the map, Snatch is a flashy and chaotic crime comedy that follows two separate stories and how they unexpectedly overlap with one another. In one story, a group of diamond thieves find themselves in a pickle when the diamond they stole goes missing, while in the other, a notorious boxing promoter finds himself wrapped up in the world of crime and match-fixing from a psychotic gangster.

Ritchie has continued to develop his style and vision for filmmaking in the decades since Snatch‘s release, and its requisite view of comedy and style helped elevate it into one of his best works. However, the one thing holding it back and creating a major disconnect is that, for all of its extravagant execution and wild, lovable characters, there isn’t very much to chew on in terms of depth or layers. It’s a very simplistic plot, acting to give more emphasis on the film’s exceptional visual style and editing, but it can make the actual story and stakes fall flat at times.

11 ’25th Hour’ (2002)

Directed by Spike Lee

Acting as both an effective gangster film as well as director Spike Lee’s portrayal of the then still recent September 11 attacks, 25th Hour is a powerful story of self-reflection and acceptance. The film follows Monty Brogan (Edward Norton), a convicted drug dealer about to begin a seven-year prison sentence for his crimes, with only a single day left of freedom. He decides to spend his final hours hanging out with his closest friends and mentally preparing his girlfriend for their years-long separation.

25th Hour certainly plays into the archetypes of gangster films and the criminal world, but it is much more focused on the humanity and character of it all instead of any specific crimes being shown off on-screen. It’s a near-masterclass when it comes to emotional drama and maturity, yet the aspect of the film that holds it back from perfection is its visual choices, which are often more confusing and distracting than required for a somber piece on humanity like this.

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10 ‘Scarface’ (1932)

Directed by Howard Hawks

Not to be confused with the Al Pacino film that actually is among the few perfect gangster movies, the 1930s Scarface is the golden era original. The film follows a loosely similar plot to the popular remake, seeing notorious gangster Tony Camonte (Paul Muni) fighting and killing his way to the top of the ranks of the mobster world. At the same time, Tony is doing all that he can to protect his innocent sister from the criminal life that he has dedicated himself to, to the detriment of his life and safety.

It’s difficult to undermine the legacy and influence that this classic had on gangster films as a whole as a quintessential example of a mob film that inspired a number of the greats in the genre. However, just like any other film that is closing in on being 100 years old, age comes with as many difficulties as it does pleasures, and comparing this film to a masterpiece remake doesn’t make things better. Especially when other gangster films excel at telling stories of fragmented heroes and looking into their psyche, the original Scarface is too simplistic and doesn’t go far enough with its concept.

9 ‘Donnie Brasco’ (1997)

Directed by Mike Newell

A high-stakes gangster drama based on an unbelievable true story, Donnie Brasco is one of the premiere gangster films of the 90s, showing painful inner turmoil as they delve deeper and deeper into hard crime. The film follows the story of Joseph Pistone (Johnny Depp), an undercover FBI agent who finds himself infiltrating the Bonanno crime family during the 1970s, under the alias of Donnie Brasco. Donnie ends up forming a genuine bond with older mafia hitman Lefty Ruggiero (Al Pacino), yet as Donnie ends up moving deeper and deeper into the mafia, he begins to realize that he is crossing the line between federal agent and criminal.

Donnie Brasco is often in conversation as a career-best film for many of the people involved, telling a unique and powerful gangster story from the perspective of a mole who comes to get too invested in the life of the mafia. The dynamic between Depp and Pacino is what elevates the film above many other gangster films of the era, as they seamlessly work off of one another and become a legendary gangster duo in the process. The one thing holding the film back from being widely considered one of the greatest gangster films of all time is that it can be overwhelming how much it relies on cliches and overplayed conventions of the gangster genre.

8 ‘Road to Perdition’ (2002)

Directed by Sam Mendes

An effective crime thriller that cuts to the heart of the mental toll and pain that the life of a gangster can inflict upon someone, Road to Perdition is a near-perfect examination of the cycle and consequences of violence. The film takes place during the 1931 Great Depression and follows mobster hitman Mike Sullivan (Tom Hanks) after he finds himself on the run when his innocent son witnesses a killing. While attempting to save his son from a grizzly fate, Mike also takes the time to look for revenge on those who wronged him and got him into this situation in the first place.

The underrated Road to Perdition is one of the most effective and unexpected takes on a classic mobster story, relaying its father-and-son dynamic into a brilliant look of self-reflection that fits the genre perfectly. The one thing that truly holds this back from being a masterclass of the genre is some of the uncomfortably over-the-top performances that end up only distracting from the masterful story being told.

7 ‘Eastern Promises’ (2007)

Directed by David Cronenberg

While director David Cronenberg is most commonly known for his work in the world of experimental body horror, the acclaimed visionary proved his range in the gangster genre with Eastern Promises. The film follows a Russian teenager who, while living in London, dies during childbirth, leaving clues that could help tie this newly born child to a rape involving a violent Russian mob family. As a midwife named Anna (Naomi Watts) attempts to connect the pieces and take these powerful men down, she faces insurmountable odds and deadly threats from the mob.

The way that Eastern Promises sets up its story and world is unlike any other gangster film, unchallenged in scope and immediately getting an audience hooked into its highly engaging drama. The film’s first two-thirds fully deliver on the premise and concepts laid out, with deeply engaging performances, top-notch tension building, and setting up the pieces for its central mystery. Sadly, the film’s one flaw is its final third, where it simply wasn’t able to stick the landing of its masterful first half and crumbles under the weight of its previous quality.

6 ‘L.A. Confidential’ (1997)

Directed by Curtis Hanson

A striking, neo-noir look at the criminal underbelly of Los Angeles, L.A. Confidential is one of the defining crime thrillers of the 90s and has left a massive impact on the gangster genre as a whole. The film follows a trio of detectives working in the corrupt and brutal world of the Los Angeles police force, each using varying methods as they attempt to uncover a conspiracy theory revolving around the murder of a group of patrons at an all-night diner.

L.A. Confidential is widely regarded as the police procedural to end all police procedurals, seamlessly setting its tone and style while providing an alluring mystery to the chaos and murder at hand. It’s a film that constantly has audiences second guessing everything that they’ve been told, in a brilliant portrayal of corruption and mistrust that still holds up wonders in the modern era of filmmaking. The only issue is one that similarly plagues a number of other chaotic, twist-based films, in that watching events unfold can seem to not make any sense and be wildly confusing until everything is put into place in the final reveal.

5 ‘On the Waterfront’ (1954)

Directed by Elia Kazan

Before Marlon Brando would provide one of the greatest gangster film performances of all time as Don Vito Corleone in The Godfather, he would find himself leading another Best Picture-winning gangster film, On the Waterfront. Brando plays Terry Malloy, a young man who has dreams of being a prizefighter and tending to pigeons but is relegated to his life of running errands for the corrupt boss of the docks. After witnessing a murder by two of the boss’s thugs, Terry begins to feel responsible. Befriending the dead man’s sister, Terry considers providing information that could forever destroy the racketeering at the docks.

Brando continues to prove his mastery over the art of acting in On the Waterfront, giving a masterful performance filled with layers and depths to his fragmented and broken character looking for refuge in the world. Combined with the effective storytelling and directing of Elia Kazan, it’s no wonder that the film became a massive critical success, winning 8 Academy Awards and becoming a defining film of American culture. Brando’s now-legendary performance has overshadowed the film’s other achievements in the 70 years since its release, but On the Waterfront remains a trailblazer in the crime genre.

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4 ‘Chinatown’ (1974)

Directed by Roman Polanski

One of the most acclaimed and beloved noir films of all time, Chinatown follows private eye Jake Gittes (Jack Nicholson), hired by a beautiful socialite to investigate her husband’s affair. What starts as a seemingly ordinary case quickly sends Jake down a rabbit hole of double deals, deadly lies, and a seemingly never-ending web of personal and political scandals that converge and crash upon one another.

Chinatown is often in the conversation of being one of the greatest noir films and most effective mysteries put to film, with its brilliant screenplay doing the heavy lifting in creating a cinematic opus for the ages. However, one can argue that Chinatown works better as a noir mystery than a gangster movie, placing more emphasis on the atmosphere and setting than on the morality of its harrowing case. Still, the film remains a masterpiece of American cinema, often imitated but never replicated.

3 ‘The Usual Suspects’ (1995)

Directed by Bryan Singer

An icon of gangster filmmaking in the 90s and featuring one of the most legendary and infamous twist endings in film history, The Usual Suspects is often in conversation as one of the all-time greats of the era. It is a retelling of events by Verbal Kint (Kevin Spacey), as he attempts to convince the federal agents around him that the heist that he and a group of other criminals performed was forced upon them by mythical crime lord legend Keyser Söze. As Kint’s story unfolds, it becomes increasingly apparent that Söze is highly dangerous, not to be trifled with, and could be any of them.

The Usual Suspects and its influence on mystery films and crime procedurals cannot be understated, as it helped redefine the effectiveness and pacing that twist-centric films would undergo in the decades since its release. However, with all the focus on the central twist and the core players and red herrings, not all the titular “Usual Suspects” get their fair share in the spotlight. Especially when only two of the five suspects receive major focus, it becomes difficult to see the central mystery going in any direction, keyholing audiences into a select few options.

2 ‘La Haine’ (1995)

Directed by Mathieu Kassovitz

While the vast majority of the most acclaimed and popular gangster films are made by and for American audiences, La Haine is a quintessential example of how international gangster films can be equally compelling and near-masterpieces. Coming from France, La Haine follows a trio of delinquent youth who, after a night of chaos rioting in the Paris suburbs, find themselves waiting with impatience as to the health status of their mutual friend who was injured in a confrontation with the police. However, their attempts to kill time take a turn after one of them gets their hands on an unlicensed firearm.

La Haine is a striking and powerful work of art that feels as relevant in today’s world as it did nearly 30 years ago, with mesmerizing black-and-white visuals and a trio of compassionate and compelling lead characters. While it is often in conversations as one of the best of all time and even ranked highly on Empire‘s The 100 Best Films of World Cinema, other groups have found difficulties in connecting with it thanks to its slow and methodical first act. The film takes a considerable time before it gets going, but once all the pieces are in place and the story is underway, it’s hard to deny the artistry on display.

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1 ‘The Irishman’ (2019)

Directed by Martin Scorsese

Martin Scorsese is considered one of the undeniable masters of the gangster genre, lending his hand in countless masterpieces over the years, including Goodfellas and Casino. The Irishman acted as his glorious return and swan song for the genre, a self-reflective triumph that brings together a multitude of all-time greats for the story of Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro), a notorious mobster hitman. Frank soon faces his most painful and notorious job yet as he creates a friendship with powerful union leader Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino).

In terms of scope, story, and execution, The Irishman is a glorious return to the golden era of gangster films from Scorsese, rivaling the poignancy and messages of his all-time classics. However, the film features a singular, undeniable flaw that, while effective and even considered positive in some respects, holds it back from being an undeniable masterpiece. Because of the old age of the actors involved, despite the decades-spanning story, the film employs high-end de-aging technology that is highly situational and works on a scene-by-scene basis. Sometimes, it is seamless in its transformation of these actors, while other times, it looks like a garbled mess of pixels that isn’t convincing anyone.

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