31 Best Gangster Movies Of All Time Ranked

Gangster movies have been around for at least nine decades, hooking fans with the tried-and-true formula of street-smart criminals rising through the ranks of organized crime (or, in some cases, escaping it). Viewers can't get enough of these seedy stories, for a wide variety of reasons. Escapism, revenge plots that end in bloody shoot-outs, family dramas that span multiple generations, underdog tales, and plain old violence all play a part in the genre's success.

The criminal protagonists of these movies aren't superheroes duking it out for a noble cause, nor are they the idealized cowboys from heroic Westerns — and that's exactly why we love them. They're morally gray, and often looking out for their own best interests, eternally fighting an uphill battle rich with betrayal and bloodshed. Some win, some lose, and a whole lot end up dead. But no matter where they go, their stories are unforgettable. These 31 gangster movies are the all-time best of the genre.

Updated on May 9, 2022: New gangster movies debut every year. Every time a fresh classic makes its way to the silver screen, we'll add it to this list of all-time greats. Be sure to check back often to keep up on the greatest gangland flicks ever made.

"Kids Return" follows two friends, Shinji and Masaru, as they drop out of high school and go their separate ways. Shinji embarks upon a quest to become a professional boxer, while Masaru joins a yakuza gang. Along the way, both characters realize that their trials and tribulations have led to serious choices that will forever change the outcome of their lives. This coming-of-age tale offers uniquely potent emotional investment: Forced to grow up quickly, both Shinji and Masaru have to come to terms with the fact that life isn't always fair. What results is a sucker-punch that somehow still feels like a warm, comforting hug.

• Starring: Ken Kaneko, Masanobu Ando, Leo Morimoto
• Director: Takeshi Kitano
• Year: 1996
• Runtime: 107 minutes
• Rating: NR
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%

This Japanese thriller is so harrowing, it'll make even hardened gangster fans uncomfortable. Kakihara is a violent yakuza enforcer on the hunt for his missing boss. Along the way, he crosses paths with Ichi, a twisted killer who only grows more violent when provoked. Director Takashi Miike is known for gratuitous brutality, and "Ichi the Killer" is no exception. One of the most warped entries on any list, this gore-fest was actually banned in multiple countries after its release. This one is worth checking out if you can handle absolute carnage, though, as Miike's unflinching approach to violence is innovative and impressive.

• Starring: Tadanobu Asano, Nao Omori, Shinya Tsukamoto
• Director: Takashi Miike
• Year: 2001
• Runtime: 129 minutes
• Rating: R
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 64%

"Infernal Affairs" follows the lives of two men: Chan Wing-yan, a police officer going undercover to infiltrate a local gang, and Lau Kin-ming, a mafia member who becomes a mole within the police force. Years later, the men are still in their respective roles — yet both of their covers are beginning to unravel. "Infernal Affairs" really drives home the inner struggles of these two men as they slowly find themselves trapped in their new lives. This makes it a surprisingly sentimental film, and a thought-provoking experience.

• Starring: Andy Lau, Tony Leung, Anthony Wong
• Directors: Andrew Lau, Alan Mak
• Year: 2002
• Runtime: 101 minutes
• Rating: R
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%

The first entry in the "Battles Without Honor and Humanity" series hooks viewers instantly with a jarring opening shot of a mushroom cloud, followed by a look at the nuclear ruin of Hiroshima. What follows is a non-stop massacre, which we see through the eyes of lead hoodlum Shozo Hirono and his friends as they fight for dominance in the black market. Traditional moral codes are foregone, in favor of utter brutality. It's bleak and bloody, and Fukasaku's handheld camerawork keeps audiences on their toes.

• Starring: Bunta Sugawara, Hiroki Matsukata, Kunie Tanaka
• Director: Kinji Fukasaku
• Year: 1973
• Runtime: 99 minutes
• Rating: NR
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90% (Audience Score)

Ghost Dog, an elusive hitman, finds himself at war with a local mafia group after a routine job. He's an interesting lead who lives according to an ancient samurai code, even wielding his gun like a sword. It's hard not to root for a man so calm, collected, graceful, and deadly. This film is often funny, and doesn't take its gangsters too seriously — their love of cartoons is a sight to behold. But the prevailing theme is loneliness: Ghost Dog lives a solitary life, communicating to his boss via carrier pigeon while spending his days talking to a man who doesn't understand a lick of English. Simply put, this is an undoubtedly cool and modern take on samurai classics.

• Starring: Forest Whitaker, John Tormey, Cliff Gorman
• Director: Jim Jarmusch
• Year: 1999
• Runtime: 116 minutes
• Rating: R
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 83%

Sun-woo, a gangster, is ordered to spy on his boss' mistress, Hee-soo. What should be a simple task is turned upside down as our lead makes the decision to protect Hee-soo — an interesting choice, considering Sun-woo's fierce loyalty to his kingpin. Lee Byung-hun shines as Sun-woo, elevating the gangster revenge genre with incredible character development that takes our lead from pompous hitman to true hero. You can't help but root for him as he realizes the depth of his own betrayal and what he'll have to do to survive. Director Kim Jee-woon serves this up alongside a platter of gratuitous violence, with fight sequences so aesthetically pleasing, it's practically impossible to look away. Effortlessly slick and engaging, this one is a must-see.

• Starring: Lee Byung-hun, Shin Min-ah, Kim Yeong-cheol
• Director: Kim Jee-woon
• Year: 2005
• Runtime: 120 minutes
• Rating: NR
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%

Frank Sheeran, an Irish-American truck driver and war veteran, gets involved with mobster Russell Bufalino and his crime family. Through Bufalino, he crosses paths with union leader Jimmy Hoffa, who also has ties to organized crime. Thus begins a working friendship that spans almost two decades. While the stars of "The Irishman" might be an older bunch, they bring a maturity and elegance to the gangster genre that is unmatched. Where Scorsese's 1990 classic "Goodfellas" has a much lighter tone, "The Irishman" is quiet and emotional — an epic that reflects its director's storied career.

• Starring: Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci
• Director: Martin Scorsese
• Year: 2019
• Runtime: 209 minutes
• Rating: R
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 95%

As you watch "City on Fire," you may wonder why it bears a striking resemblance to 1992's "Reservoir Dogs." In fact, Quentin Tarantino borrowed heavily from the Ringo Lam-directed thriller, making this one required viewing for any of his devotees. Ko Chow is an undercover cop tasked with infiltrating a gang of jewel thieves while other members of the police force are hot on his tail, unaware of his true allegiances. While the plot may be similar to Tarantino's classic, the films vary when it comes to content. "Reservoir Dogs" focuses on dialogue and is primarily shot in a warehouse, but Lam's film drags you through the streets of Hong Kong as it explores various moral dilemmas.

• Starring: Chow Yun-fat, Danny Lee Sau-yin, Sun Yueh
• Director: Ringo Lam
• Year: 1987
• Runtime: 105 minutes
• Rating: R
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 92%

Johnny Clay, an experienced gangster, is planning one final robbery of a racetrack before he gets married. He decides to recruit fellow criminals to help him out, including a crooked cop and the racetrack bartender, George. However, when George spills details of the operation to his wife, she comes up with her own scheme that spells trouble for Clay and his crew. "The Killing" has gained a cult following due to its slick noir dialogue, non-linear storytelling, and gliding tracking shots that range from the long and indulgent to the totally nerve-wracking. Kubrick is meticulous — a quality he became synonymous with in the years following this film.

• Starring: Sterling Hayden, Coleen Gray, Vince Edwards
• Director: Stanley Kubrick
• Year: 1956
• Runtime: 85 minutes
• Rating: NR
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 95%

"Once Upon a Time in America" follows Noodles Aaronson, once a Prohibition-era gangster, across three periods of his life. We flashback to the beginning of his life of crime in 1918, explore his reign in the '30s, and join him 30 years later as he returns to his old stomping grounds. The result is a jaw-dropping epic. The almost four-hour run time never feels dull, thanks to Leone's impeccable cinematography and technical expertise, as well as Robert De Niro's unmatched performance. Themes of betrayal, nostalgia, and temptation reign supreme, bolstered by Leone's frequent collaborator Ennio Morricone, whose score is utterly mesmerizing.

• Starring: Robert De Niro, James Woods, Elizabeth McGovern
• Director: Sergio Leone
• Year: 1984
• Runtime: 229 minutes
• Rating: R
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 87%

After British-Russian midwife Anna delivers a sex worker's baby, the new mother tragically dies, leaving our lead with her journal. Anna is determined to find out who is responsible for the girl's death, which leads her down a dangerous path involving the Russian mob. Along the way, she crosses paths with Nikolai, apparently the criminal family's chauffeur, who warns her to stay away. While director David Cronenberg is usually known for his body horror and sci-fi, he offers a brutally accurate depiction of organized crime in this flick. Make sure to keep your eyes peeled for the nail-biting bathhouse scene — it'll stay with you long after the credits roll.

• Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Naomi Watts, Vincent Cassel
• Director: David Cronenberg
• Year: 2007
• Runtime: 100 minutes
• Rating: R
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89%

Bull Weed is a confident gangster who cares for his lady, Feathers. Weed decides to help Rolls Royce Wensel, a former lawyer who's down on his luck, but after Wensel and Feathers strike up a flirtation, our lead is stuck in a complicated situation. All the while, he's trying to keep the peace with rival gangsters slowly closing in on his turf. "Underworld" genuinely holds up to this day without any dialogue: Director Josef von Sternberg manages to convey deep emotion through hand gestures, camerawork, and title cards. Even the opening text sets the tone for other "underworlds" we've grown to love in the gangster genre, making this one essential viewing.

• Starring: George Bancroft, Evelyn Brent, Clive Brook
• Director: Josef von Sternberg
• Year: 1927
• Runtime: 80 minutes
• Rating: NR
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89%

Al Pacino's performance as a Cuban immigrant who rises and falls as a drug-dealing kingpin is the stuff of cinematic legend. Tony Montana has one end goal in sight: achieving the American dream. He'll stop at nothing to have it in his grasp, even as everything crumbles around him. Under Brian De Palma's direction, this 1983 remake is a high-octane visual feast featuring a pounding score by Giorgio Moroder. Over the course of almost three hours, the film only builds in opulence. The result is mesmerizing.

• Starring: Al Pacino, Steven Bauer, Michelle Pfeiffer
• Director: Brian De Palma
• Year: 1983
• Runtime: 170 minutes
• Rating: R
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 81%

"Goodfellas" chronicles the life of Henry Hill as he rises through the ranks of a powerful mob family. While the story itself appears to be a simple one, tremendous acting elevates "Goodfellas" from a typical gangster flick to a bonafide masterpiece. These characters are ruthless and flawed, yet you can't help but adore them. "Goodfellas" oozes inimitable swagger, coupled with a sexy soundtrack that features favorite Italian-American crooners such as Dean Martin, Tony Bennett, and Vito and the Salutations. If "Goodfellas" doesn't secretly make you wish you were a New York-based gangster, we don't know what will.

• Starring: Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci
• Director: Martin Scorsese
• Year: 1990
• Runtime: 145 minutes
• Rating: R
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%

Serving as both a sequel and prequel, "The Godfather Part II” gives us Vito Corleone's backstory. An Italian immigrant, he arrives in New York in 1901 and slowly builds his mob kingdom. The movie cuts back and forth between Vito's life and that of his son, Michael, who, at this point, has become a ruthless Don. The empire his father established expands swiftly outside of New York.

"The Godfather Part II" does an excellent job of showcasing the significant differences that fuel these two men. Vito is as moral as a gangster can be, murdering his victims as punishment for their crimes. On the other hand, Michael slowly turns into a cold-blooded shell of who he once was.

• Starring: Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton
• Director: Francis Ford Coppola
• Year: 1974
• Runtime: 202 minutes
• Rating: R
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%