77 Best Mafia Movies of All Time

Michael Corleone returns from WWII as a decorated war hero and is reluctant to enter the family business headed by his father Vito Corleone, a powerful New York mafia boss. However, after his aging father clashes with a treacherous rival for denying assistance regarding a drug deal, Michael is dragged into a mob war that tears his family apart.

Both a prequel and a sequel to the widely acclaimed crime film The Godfather, it continues the story of Michael Corleone as he survives several misfortunes while expanding the family business, and puts it in contrast to the early struggles of his father, Vito Corleone, recording his introduction into a life of crime.

This independent neo-noir crime film is widely considered the most influential American movie of the 1990s.  Peppered with pitch-black humor and strong violence, Pulp Fiction follows four interrelated stories—involving a boxer, a gangster and his wife—told out of chronological order.

A remake of the 1932 film of the same name, Scarface narrates the story of an exiled Cuban criminal, Tony Montana, who joins Miami drug lord Frank Lopez and desire to have it all – the empire as well as latter’s trophy wife. He rises to become powerful drug lord himself. However, enemies and his own paranoia eventually lead to his downfall

Through flashbacks, the film chronicles four decades of the life of David 'Noodles' Aaronson, who survived growing up in a rough Jewish neighborhood in New York with his partners Max, Cockeye and Patsy, became a feared mafia during the Prohibition era, and finally returned years later from self-imposed exile to learn a vital truth about his past.

Based on James Ellroy's 1990 bestselling novel, L.A. Confidential follows three LAPD officers—Bud White, Ed Exley and Jack Vincennes—as they go about investigating multiple murders at a downtown Los Angeles coffee shop, in the early 1950s, in their own individual way.

Based on Nicholas Pileggi’s book Casino: Love and Honor in Las Vegas, the movie follows the rise of mobster Sam “Ace” Rothstein after he takes charge of Las Vegas’ Tangiers Casino. Complicated personal relationships, corrupt politicians and the ever-changing Las Vegas eventually leads to his fall. 

Cody Jarrett is a gang leader who plans heists despite suffering from horrible headaches. When a train robbery goes wrong, he ends up shooting an investigator. He eventually ends up in prison, and authorities plant an undercover agent named Hank, in his cell, to find out more about Cody and his plans.  

The Prohibition era Chicago is replete with corruption and the gangland kingpin Al Capone has the city under his control. When Federal Agent Eliot Ness is assigned to put an end to Capone’s illegal activities, he forms a team of uncorrupted men and soon finds a way to bring the gangster down.

When incorruptible detective Sgt. Dave Bannion starts investigating the suspicious death of a fellow officer, he receives threatening calls and is pulled off the case. When his car is blown killing his wife, Bannion stands against influential mob-bosses who wield power over the town. Helped by Debby, the spurned mistress of the gangster, Bannion battles corruption, powerful adversaries, and violence, to bring the mob to justice. 

A fictionalized account of the criminal career of gangster Frank Lucas who was notorious for smuggling heroin, American Gangster is a crime film produced by Ridley Scott. A critical and commercial success, the film was nominated for 21 awards.

In The Bronx of 1960s, 9-year-old Calogero has a conflicted upbringing torn between his honest father, bus driver Lorenzo, and local mob boss Sonny, who he is fascinated with. Despite Sonny's warnings about the dangers of gangster life, Calogero grows up to be a part of an Italian-American boy-gang, but again becomes conflicted after falling for an African-American girl.

The Killer is an action crime drama film, which tells the story of Jeffrey, a hitman, who gets betrayed by his employer, when he decides to retire after one last job. Therefore, he joins forces with Inspector Lee to confront the gangsters who are out to eliminate him. 

Key Largo is an action crime drama film which tells the story of Army veteran, Frank McCloud, who arrives at the Hotel Largo in Key Largo, Florida, in order to visit his deceased war comrade’s family, who owns the hotel. He sees that a gangster has been running things, but soon, a hurricane approaches as well. 

The Irishman is a crime drama film which revolves around a truck driver named Frank Sheeran, who becomes part of the Bufalino crime family. Over time, he climbs the ranks to become a top hitman.

The film is based on the real story of FBI agent Joe Pistone who goes undercover as Donnie Brasco to spy on mob life in New York and befriends gangster Lefty Ruggiero. However, his prolonged absence breaks apart his marriage, the mafia begins to suspect a mole in the gang, and he becomes attached to his friend Lefty.

After killing Russian criminals in self-defense, Irish Catholic twin brothers, Connor and Murphy McManus, turn themselves in where they receive ‘message from God.’ With friend Rocco, they become ‘vigilantes’ to rid Boston of its underworld. FBI agent Paul Smecker, assigned to track their actions, is inclined to agree that the Boondock Saints are on the right path. 

Two rival mafia bosses are at loggerheads when Irish mobster Leo O'Bannon provides protection to bookie Bernie Bernbaum, brother of his girlfriend Verna, from Italian gangster Johnny Caspar. Leo expels his right-hand man, Tom Reagan, after learning about Verna's affair with him, following which Tom shifts allegiance to Johnny, but must now prove himself trustworthy by killing Bernie.

An ambitious but insane and violent gangster manages to climb the ladder of success in the mob, while also trying to protect his sister from his life of crime.

In the final film in The Godfather trilogy, Michael Corleone is almost successful in legitimizing his family business and is keen to leave the underworld. However, there are numerous issues that he has to deal with, starting from his own health to a feud between Vincent Mancini and Joey Zasa and a blooming romance between Vincent Mancini and Mary.

A crime boss is convinced that there is a traitor in his gang, and sets out to find and eliminate him in a ruthless manner.

The Public Enemy is a crime drama film which tells the story of a street criminal, who manages to make it big in the criminal underworld, and becomes a powerful gangster.

Set in the New York slums in 1863, the movie Gangs of New York explores a violent Catholic-Protestant feud and an Irish immigrant protest that take place simultaneously. It was nominated for ten Academy Awards.

Collateral is an action-thriller that revolves around a cab driver who picks up an assassin out to eliminate five targets in one night. Tom Cruise plays the part of the hitman hired by drug traffickers to eliminate key people involved in their trial, and Jamie Foxx is the cabbie who tries to save Cruise's final target, a lawyer, Jada Pinkett-Smith.

To make ends meet, a flight attendant working for a Mexican airline smuggles money into the United States for a weapons dealer and soon finds herself on the wrong side of the law. This crime film by Quentin Tarantino is adapted from the 1992 novel Rum Punch.

Legendary assassin John Wick's retirement plan is delayed again after he is forced to honor an unbreakable promise he had made to Italian crime lord Santino D'Antonio for a past favor. Embarking on a mission to assassinate D'Antonio's sister, a ruthless high-tier mafia, he finds himself surrounded by several assassins who are after a large bounty on his head.

Ghost Dog, a hitman who is a master in his trade, is employed by the American Mafia, but he adheres to an ancient samurai code. Things take a turn when he finds himself targeted by the mob.

When bounty hunter, Jack Walsh, is hired by bail bondsman Eddie to bring back mob accountant Jonathan "The Duke" Mardukas to Los Angeles, he is told that the job will be as easy as a midnight run. No doubt, he captures Duke in New York City; but by then both FBI and the mob are anxious to have him in their hand first. 

In 2044, 25-year-old Joe works as a Looper, contract killer who is hired by criminal syndicates from the future—2074. Whenever they want to kill anyone, they send the target into the past where a looper awaits to carry out the task. One day, as the syndicate expectedly decides to close the loop, Joe faces his own future self and is supposed to kill him.

The third installment of the adrenaline raising crime-thriller, the film continues with the story of John Wick, a retired assassin on a near unstoppable path of revenge. But this time he is on the run with a $14 million price tag on his head. Excommunicated by the High Table for killing one of its members, tired and injured, he must somehow reach the Elder, the only man who can save him.     

David Shayne is a young and idealistic playwright who moves to Broadway in 1928. A gangster agrees to fund his debut play on the condition that David casts his demanding and talentless girlfriend as the actress. David turns into a cheating writer by the time of the opening night.

Ruthless London gangster Jack Carter, who suspects that his brother’s death was not an accident, goes to his hometown, Newcastle, for the funeral. While investigating the Newcastle’s underworld, he receives a warning from local boss Kinnear to return to London, which makes him more resolute. As a porno film provides him with the required evidence, Carter sets out to take revenge, triggering a trail of violence. 

Frank is a highly skilled jewel thief who wants to leave his dangerous profession and start a new life with his girlfriend. However, he decides to perform one last heist for a powerful gangster named Leo. However, Leo is unwilling to let Frank leave his life of crime, and instead wants to keep him in his employ.

An intensely dark and thrilling film that follows the life of Christian Wolff, a certified public accountant who works with criminal and terrorist organizations, The Accountant is also known for its action sequences featuring Pencak silat, an Indonesian martial art.

Before XXXX, a cocaine distributor can retire. his boss Jimmy Price sets him two tasks. He must track down, Charlie, who turns out to be mob boss Eddie Temple’s daughter and he must buy one million ecstasy pills from gangster, the Duke. What follows is a story of multiple double-crosses leading XXXX to an uncertain fate. 

After being released from the police academy, Chan is sent undercover to infiltrate a notorious gang. However, things soon get complicated when it seems that there is a mole within law enforcement.

Point Blank is a crime thriller film which revolves around a gangster who is seeking revenge against the people who double-crossed him and left him to die.

Martin, a mobster returns home to the New York neighborhood, where he had grown up. However, his mother rejects him because of his gangster lifestyle. He soon finds out that his old girlfriend Francey is now working as a prostitute. He also meets his childhood friend who is struggling to become an architect.

FBI agent Richie DiMaso catches two con artists and lovers—Irving and Sydney—in a loan scam and compels them to set up detailed sting operations to nab corrupt politicians and mafia including the Mayor, Carmine Polito. Meanwhile Rosalyn, Irving’s unpredictable wife, has her own interests and can ruin the entire operation.

The dark comedy revolves around struggling writer Marty Faranan. Things take a violent turn when his two best friends Billy and Hans kidnap violent gangster Charlie Costello’s pet Shih Tzu. Marty’s experiences, following that not only provide him the plot for his screenplay Seven Psychopaths but leave him a changed man.  

Young Italian-American, Charlie Cappa, is torn between his devout Catholicism and his illegal work for his Mafioso uncle Giovanni, in Little Italy, New York. When his young friend, Johnny Boy, ends up in trouble with loan sharks, Charlie, Johnny, and Charlie’s girlfriend, Teresa, try to leave the town but Johnny’s enemies catch up with them. 

Caesar Enrico and his friend Joe Massara are two small-time criminals, who move to Chicago to seek a brighter future. While the former joins a gang, the later decides to pursue a career as a dancer.  

Gloria is a free-spirited older woman, who develops a liking to a former naval officer whom she meets in the clubs. Although she starts to rediscover the joys of romance, she begins to realize that her new lover is unable to leave his past behind.

After recovering from a gunshot, Porter sets out to find his wife, Lynn, and crime partner Val Resnick, both of who after a successful robbery, betrayed and left him for dead. He now wants his share of money and revenge, but the money is with a crime organization. Porter now has to deal with not just Resnick but also the syndicate bosses and corrupt cops

This biographical crime drama film tells the story of a tough Irish thug working for mobsters in Cleveland, during the 1970s.  

Frankie and Noll, the infamous bootleggers partway in order to escape being captured by the police. Unfortunately, police gets hold of Frankie who is put behind the bars, while Noll escapes the police and opens a posh nightclub in New York City. Years later, Frankie is released from the jail and visits Noll with the intention of claiming his share of the club's profits. However, Noll has other plans, surely not the one of dividing the profits.

After surviving being shot by cousin while at home on probation, Jackie DiNorscio later gets 30-years sentence in a drug case. Refusing to testify against his friends in Lucchesi mafia family, DiNorscio chooses to take Judge’s permission to defend himself. His knowledge of law takes everyone by surprise as the case becomes the longest federal trial in history.  

Drug-lord Frank White, who returns to New York after serving a long prison sentence, is determined to re-claim his position as mafia kingpin, and use his competitors’ money to build a hospital for the needy in his old neighborhood. Before that, he has to deal not only with his rivals but also a group of corrupt cops who are hunting for him. 

In order to curb the influence of Italian mafia in Boston, FBI agent John Connolly approaches state senator William Bulger to form an alliance with his brother, crime boss James "Whitey" Bulger. This biographical film depicts how the latter took advantage of this partnership to become one of the most notorious criminals in the history of America.

Based on the true story of twin British criminals Reggie and Ronnie Kray, the film traces their rise to power in the 1960s London. The two brothers resort to violence and intimidation to seize control of a local pub, and eventually most of the dark criminal underworld of London, with Detective Leonard 'Nipper' Read on their trail.

Chill Palmer, a loan-shark and movie-fan from Miami, is sent to Hollywood to collect a gambling debt from Harry Zimm, producer of tacky horror films. As Chill gets acquainted with the Hollywood bunch and toys with the idea of a film based on his life-story, he realizes that a mobster like him can easily fit in the role of a Hollywood producer. 

Suicide Kings is a crime drama mystery film which tells the story of four individuals who kidnap a respected Mafia boss Charlie in order to pay the ransom for another unrelated kidnapping. However, soon they begin to suspect that one among them may be involved in the first kidnapping.

Bobby Green is the manager of nightclub, El Caribe, which is frequented by drug lord Vadim Nezhinski. Bobby has distanced himself from his brother, NYPD Captain Joseph, and father, Deputy Chief Burt. But after an assassination attempt on his brother and his father being fatally shot, Bobby joins the NYPD to bring Vadim down.

The Client is a 1994 legal thriller film, which tells the story of a young boy who witnesses the suicide of a lawyer, and also has information regarding the disappearance of a politician. He hires a lawyer for protection when the District Attorney tries to use him to take down the mobsters. 

This biographical crime drama film revolves around Bugsy Siegel, a notorious gangster, who moves to Hollywood and gets involved with a film star. He soon starts gambling and comes up with the idea of developing a gambling haven in Las Vegas.   

In 1949, Mobster Mickey Cohen rules the California criminal underworld and has even police and politicians in his pocket. A secret police unit called the Gangster Squad, comprising of Sergeant John O’Mara, Sergeant Jerry Wooters, Lieutenant Coleman Harris, Conwell Keeler, Max Kennard, and Navidad Ramirez finally manages to bring him down. 

In this third film of the Lethal Weapon series, Sergeants Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh are after a ruthless ex-cop responsible for stealing the weapons from LAPD and selling them to the street gangs. As they collaborate with internal affairs Sergeant Lorna Cole, Riggs finds himself drawn to her, while Murtaugh faces personal problems due to unexpected family connection to the case.  

Ben Sobel is a psychiatrist about to get remarried whose wish to get a challenging patient is granted when mob boss Paul Vitti visits him after having frequent emotional breakdowns. Ben is soon contacted by the FBI and gets his wedding ceremony interrupted by his new patient, who needs to fix his problem within two weeks.

Small-time conman and magician Buddy "Aces" Israel seeks immunity deal with FBI in exchange for testifying against ailing mob boss Primo Sparazza, who in turn declares million dollar bounty on the snitch. "Aces" soon becomes the target of a number of dangerous assassins, including a hitman, two hitwomen, a torture expert, a neo-Nazi, and the mysterious The Swede.

When Jimmy ‘The Tulip’ Tudeski, a former mob contract killer turned police informant with a reward on his head, moves next door to a hapless Montreal dentist ‘Oz’ Oseransky, Oz’s wife goads him to go to Chicago to inform Tulip’s whereabouts to the mob boss, and claim the reward money. As Oz travels to Chicago, many crisscrossing occurrences complicate the whole matter.

A retired mafia leader, who is leaving a peaceful life with his family, is shot by some unidentified men, and left to die with twenty-two bullets in his body. After recovering, he decides to go on a revenge spree.

This black comedy romance film tells us the story of two assassins who are hired to kill each other.  However, things get complicated as they end up falling in love.

The Pope of Greenwich Village is a dark comedy crime film which tells the story of Charlie and his troublesome cousin Paulie, who steal a significant sum of money from the mob in order to back a racehorse. However, this leads them to serious trouble with the local mafia boss as well as the police.    

Based on real events, this crime drama film shows us the events that lead to an infamous shootout, between rival gangs that were led by Al Capone and George Moran.  In order to claim his status as the most powerful mobster of his time, Capone had ordered his men to disguise themselves as cops and murder all the important men in Moran’s gang, which eventually resulted in immense bloodshed.  

Haunted by his murderous past Irish mob enforcer Jimmy ‘The Gravedigger’ Conlon is estranged from his son Mike, who wants nothing to do with him. But when Mike becomes a witness to a murder and finds his life threatened by Jimmy’s former boss Shawn Maguire, Jimmy must do everything to save his son. 

Starting from a musician, and the gorgeous girlfriend of a well-known gangster, the lives of various characters intersect at Cotton Club.

Johnny Kelly is an honest newsboy in New York City. However, he is quite poor, and his mother needs an operation which his family can’t afford. Johnny’s life soon takes a turn when he gets into a street fight and attracts the attention of a local crime boss named Jocko Dundee, who offers him a job. Johnny agrees, as he sees no honest way to earn the money required for the operation.

Two close friends get involved in a money-laundering scheme and within some time, they both find themselves in the world of organized crime.

After making a deal under the FBI witness protection program to snitch on his old mafia associates, mobster Giovanni Manzoni is relocated to a quiet town of France with his wife Maggie, daughter Belle and son Warren. However, they do a poor job of masking their former "family" ways and draw the attention of vengeful mafia bosses.

A prequel to the well-known crime drama series The Sopranos, this film revolves around a violent gang war in the 1960s, which is shown from the perspectives of Dickie Moltisanti, as well as his teen nephew Tony Soprano.

This crime drama film takes us to the 1930s and revolves around two gangs who fight for control over various illegal businesses in Harlem. One is headed by Bumpy Johnson, an African American gangster, while the other one is run by Dutch Schultz, a Caucasian criminal.  

Brooklyn Rules is a crime drama film which revolves around three inseparable friends Mike, Bobby and Carmine, who struggle with their various problems in life, while living in Brooklyn.

Three petty thieves, during the American financial crisis, rob a mob protected card game. This hits the underworld economy badly. The Mob members hire hitman, Jackie Cogan, to find the culprits and punish them. Jackie enlists Mickey to help him, but Mickey is more interested in other things. Now Jackie, who likes his targets to be killed softly, has to carry out the job alone.

Angela de Marco is the wife of Frank de Marco, a mafia kingpin. After Frank is killed, she wishes to escape the life of living in the criminal underworld, along with her son. An undercover agent falls for her, but at the same time, she is being harassed by Tony, another mafia kingpin who wants her for himself.  

Matty is unable to find a job since his father is a mob boss, and employers fear him. He is not content doing menial jobs for his father, but he tries to convince his father that he is ready to be a reliable partner. Soon, an opportunity presents itself.

Vincent, a drug pusher determines to strike first and kill the other dealer who is out to kill him. However, he lands in soup when he along with his smart hand accidentally kill an employee of lord Nino. The notorious crime lord will surely take revenge but will Vincent escape death?

Fearful of the mental condition of the mobster Paul Vitti, incarcerated at Sing Song Prison, the authorities decide to release him in the custody of his psychiatrist Ben Sobel. Although initially reluctant to take up the responsibility, Sobel finally takes him home and on his advice Paul finds a series of regular jobs, none of which lasts long. His old gang is also after him.