Though there are more examples of the gangster genre, there are a few films that every newcomer should see first. The gangster genre puts its focus squarely on organized crime, telling tales of mobsters and crooks, and usually capturing their dramatic rise and fall. Like other classic genres, gangster movies are known for their exaggerated storytelling.
The history of the gangster film is somewhat complex, and movies glorifying crime were largely put on ice by the establishment of the Hays Code in the 1930s. Strict censorship abruptly ended the first golden age of gangster movies, but they would resurface decades later thanks to filmmakers like Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Scorsese.
Many of the gangster genre’s best movies are quite similar, but they are also subject to the creative whims of whatever filmmaker is in charge. As such, some are more accessible than others, and mark an excellent starting point for film fans who are interested in exploring gangster cinema.
White Heat (1949)
White Heat is one of the few great gangster films released in the low period after the Hays Code, and the James Cagney classic checks a lot of boxes. Cagney plays a hardened mobster who inadvertently allows a mole into his organization. Cagney’s performance is bleak and harrowing, and White Heat is shocking for its time period.
The film is a must-watch for newbies because it represents a major shift in gangster filmmaking. Earlier Cagney films were important for their time, but White Heat set a standard that most later examples followed. It’s violent and cynical, and deconstructs the idea of a career criminal. Other gangster movies incorporated its existential approach.
Donnie Brasco (1997)
The 1990s was a new golden era for gangster movies, and Donnie Brasco is a shining example. Johnny Depp plays an FBI Agent who goes undercover to nab a mafia hitman, only to find he’s developed a real connection with him. At a brisk two hours, Donnie Brasco is the antithesis of the epic gangster films of the ’90s.
It’s pacing and brevity make it suitable for those dabbling in gangster cinema, and Depp’s work alongside Al Pacino is some of the best acting the genre’s ever seen. It’s not a rise and fall story, so Donnie Brasco has an emotional core that goes above and beyond the clichés of gangster movies. It’s exaggerated, but it also feels real.
The Departed (2006)
Martin Scorsese’s gangster movies are some of the best in the genre’s history, and The Departed continued the director’s love affair with organized crime. At the same time that a cop infiltrates the mob, a career criminal embeds himself with the police. With a huge cast and twisting storylines, The Departed is a lesson in cinematic tension.
The Departed is a remake of the Hong Kong film, Infernal Affairs.
Despite being massive in scope, The Departed never feels overstuffed or difficult to follow. Martin Scorsese’s movies are a great spot for new gangster fans to hop on, and his 2006 gem ranks highly among them. It offers enough twists on classic tropes to feel fresh, without losing the gritty sensibility that makes the genre so great.
American Gangster (2007)
Though there is a lot of diversity in the larger crime genre, gangster films aren’t known for a lot of representation. However, American Gangster offers a counterpoint when it tells the story of New York drug kingpin, Frank Lucas and his quest for one big score. Denzel Washington gives a career performance in the lead, and the epic feels grand.
Ridley Scott was the perfect choice to direct, and American Gangster has the tone of a blockbuster. Recognizable stars like Washington and Russell Crowe make the story easy to relate to, and it delivers the hard-nosed violence of gangster movies along with a heaping helping of Hollywood gloss. American Gangster is the textbook definition of a mainstream mob movie.
The Public Enemy (1931)
The best place to start with any film genre is at the very beginning, and The Public Enemy jump-started gangster movies. The James Cagney classic concerns two men who escape poverty through crime, only for their empires to crumble. The pre-code gem is bitter and violent, but it also makes the characters’ eventual collapse sympathetic.
The brutality of the film is surprising for a film so old, and it shows how censorship stripped storytellers of a lot of their best tools for decades. The Public Enemy doesn’t glorify crime, but it does show how external factors lead people to make violent choices. Modern viewers won’t be bored, and its shocking prescience is still applicable today.
Once Upon A Time In America (1984)
The third film in Sergio Leone’s Once Upon a Time… trilogy, Once Upon a Time in America is the Italian director’s bombastic approach to the gangster genre. The huge spectacle film concerns an aged former mobster who recounts his life from the beginning. At nearly four hours in length, no stone is left unturned when exploring the main character’s story.
Though the staggering running time might be daunting for first-time gangster movie viewers, Once Upon a Time in America is an excellent primer for the genre. It touches all the basics of gangster movies, and is like the greatest hits compilation for the entire genre. On top of that, Leone’s stylized approach is a nice change from American filmmakers.
Scarface (1983)
Brian De Palma has made a few crime movies in his career, but Scarface is his great contribution to the gangster genre. Reimagining the 1932 original, the remake stars Al Pacino as Cuban refugee, Tony Montana, who builds a criminal empire in Miami. Though problematic for its depiction of Cuban immigrants, the film’s importance is undeniable.
The hyperstylized approach to storytelling is classic De Palma, and the movie is drenched in classic 1980s cheese. Newcomers to gangster films will like what makes the movie so different from its contemporaries, though Scarface‘s overt violence is shocking at times. While not the most successful, Scarface has had an oversized impact on pop culture.
The Godfather Part II (1974)
Making a sequel to one of the greatest films ever was tricky, but The Godfather Part II pulled it off. Part sequel and part prequel, the movie parallels the early life of young Vito Corleone with that of his son, Michael, as he assumes control of the family empire. The intensely personal story puts its emphasis on the characters.
Though lacking the big moments of the first, Part II is arguably better in other aspects of its storytelling. The flashback device is effective, and the addition of Robert De Niro is the cherry on top of an already excellent film. Newcomers shouldn’t start with the sequel, but they should watch it as soon as they finish the first.
Goodfellas (1990)
After years without a clear vision for gangster movies, Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas was the revival the genre needed. The film chronicles the rise and fall of mobster, Henry Hill, and how his dedication to a life of crime undercut other aspects of his life. It’s the perfect rise and fall story, which is the heart of the gangster genre.
Scorsese is able to establish dynamics that grow across the movie’s epic running time, and some moments are etched in history. The trio of Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Ray Liotta is genius, and the film flows with an effortlessness not found in other gangster movies. Goodfellas is such a perfect film that newbies won’t be able to resist.
The Godfather (1972)
Few films can be called perfect, but it’s no exaggeration to say that The Godfather is a flawless piece of cinema. The machinations of the Corleone family brought gangsters back with a bang, and Michael’s emotional struggle is still one of cinema’s best dramas. The multi-award-winner is the highlight of gangster films and movies in general.
Newcomers have no better place to start than Francis Ford Coppola’s opus, and The Godfather isn’t just a great gangster flick. Every performance is top-notch, and it weaves its narrative through the subtle use of every aspect of the art of film. It’s safe to say that The Godfather is the perfect starting point for any film journey.