Best Mafia Movies (Top Picks At A Glance)
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Mafia movies have been around since the early days of cinema. They tell the story of organized crime, usually set in large metropolitan areas like New York City or Chicago. They can be thrilling, exciting, and sometimes even funny.
If you’re looking for a good mafia film to watch, you’re in luck, we have gone and found all the best mafia movies that you won’t want to miss! Just keep scrolling and prepare yourself for a night full of suspenseful crime!
1. GoodFellas
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GoodFellas Movie Description
A man raised in the mob tries to work his way up the ranks, enjoying a life of money and luxury.
However, he’s unaware of the destruction and terror his lifestyle causes. Addiction and several mistakes lead to his downfall from power.
2. Casino
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Casino Movie Description
Sam “Ace” Rothstein, a low-level mobster in early-1970s Las Vegas, is promoted by his bosses to head the Tangiers Casino.
Initially, he excels in the position, but over time Nicky Santoro’s violence, Ginger’s con artist ex Lester Diamond and a handful of corrupt politicians increasingly threaten Sam.
3. The Godfather
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The Godfather Movie Description
The don’s youngest son, Michael (Al Pacino), joins the Mafia unwillingly and subsequently becomes embroiled in a cycle of violence and deceit.
Although he tries to keep things normal with his wife, Kay (Diane Keaton), work pulls him further away from her.
4. Scarface
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Scarface Movie Description
In exchange for assassinating a Cuban government official, Tony Montana (Al Pacino) gets a green card and then begins to take over the drug trade in Miami. His lack of mercy when it comes to anyone who stands in his way leads him to eventually become the biggest drug lord in Miami, having control over nearly all cocaine that comes into the city.
However, due to increased pressure from law enforcement as well as other drug cartels, Tony’s empire quickly crumbles leading to his downfall.
5. The Irishman
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The Irishman Movie Description
Frank Sheeran was just a truck driver from the 1950s, but he got mixed up with the mafia and became a hitman.
As he climbed the ranks, he also started working for Jimmy Hoffa, a powerful Teamster with ties to organized crime.
6. The Departed
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The Departed Movie Description
Two moles, one in the police department and one in a criminal organization, must discover each other’s identities to save their own lives.
7. Donnie Brasco
Donnie Brasco Movie Description
Joseph Pistone, an FBI agent, changes his name to Donnie Brasco and infiltrates one of the most significant New York Mafia families. While he befriends Benjamin “Lefty” Ruggiero, a mob hit man, in order to get more information about the family from him; however, he soon realizes that they have developed a real friendship.
As their relationship starts to unravel though, Pistone must choose whether completing his job which will end in Ruggiero’s murder is worth it.
8. American Gangster
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American Gangster Movie Description
1970s New York was a corrupt time, and Harlem drug dealer Frank Lucas rose to power quickly, becoming just as notorious if not more so than the Mafia families.
On the other side of the law, Richie Roberts is an honest cop who is determined to take down Lucas. Because he acts with impunity, Lucas smuggles heroin into the US in coffins of American soldiers killed in Vietnam.
9. The Untouchables
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Untouchables Movie Description
Al Capone (Robert De Niro), a legendary crime boss, rules Chicago via an iron fist after building an empire from bootleg alcohol. Prohibition agent Eliot Ness (Kevin Costner) attempts to take Capone down but even his best efforts fail due to widespread corruption within the police force of Windy City.
To ensure justice is served, Malone recruits lawmen who won’t be bribed or scared easily, including Irish-American cop Jimmy Malone (Sean Connery), and renews his determination to bring Capone down.
10. Legend
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Legend Movie Description
The Krays, Reggie and Ronnie, begin to make their mark on London’s underworld in the 1960s with violence, robberies, murders, protection rackets, and nightclubs.
Their quick rise to power gets them tabloid notoriety as police Detective Leonard “Nipper” Read tries unsuccessfully to catch them.
11. The Gentlemen
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The Gentlemen Movie Description
As an American expatriate, Mickey Pearson has made a fortune in the marijuana business. Now that he’s looking to sell, various criminals start plotting to take his domain by force.
Among these schemers are thugs who try to blackmail Pearson, as well as those who resort to bribery. In the end, however, only the shrewdest and most cunning will be successful in acquiring Pearson’s empire.
12. The Family
The Family Movie Description
After Giovanni Manzioni tells the authorities about his Mafia cohorts, he and his family enter the Witness Protection Program and relocate to a French town.
Although their handler is determined to make them change, Giovanni, his wife, and their children can’t help but go back to their old ways. However, this exposes them all to danger from vengeful mobsters.
13. Internal Affairs
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Internal Affairs Movie Description
When a series of witnesses are murdered, Sergeant Raymond Avila (Andy Garcia) realizes that his life is in danger, along with that of his wife. Avila and his partner are assigned to investigate the murders, and they soon realize that the perpetrator is Officer Dennis Peck (Richard Gere).
Peck is a divisive figure within the Los Angeles Police Department, beloved by some and looked on with suspicion by others. His disreputable behavior and dubious finances arouse the suspicion of Internal Affairs, and Avila and his partner must race against time to stop Peck before he kills again.
14. Once Upon a Time in America
Once Upon A Time In America Movie Description
David “Noodles” Aaronson (Robert De Niro), a once powerful gangster, reflects on his life in New York City during the 1920s and 1930s. He remembers his days as a kid in the slums, working with his best friend Max to make a living through various criminal activities.
Noodles quickly rises through the ranks, becoming one of the most powerful mobsters in the city. However, this life is not without its costs, as Noodles has had to commit many heinous crimes and has lost many friends along the way.
15. Pulp Fiction
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Pulp Fiction Movie Description
Vincent Vega (John Travolta) and Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson) are hitmen who also like to engage in philosophical discussions.
In this crime movie with several different, interwoven storylines, the viewer follows along with the lives of “Pumpkin” (Tim Roth) and “Honey Bunny” (Amanda Plummer), their boss Marsellus Wallace (Ving Rhames), his actress wife Mia (Uma Thurman), struggling boxer Butch Coolidge (Bruce Willis), and master fixer Winston Wolfe (Harvey Keitel).
16. Reservoir Dogs
Reservoir Dogs Movie Description
Six criminals, with false names and unknown to one another previously, are brought together by an unidentified person to commit a robbery.
During the heist, the police ambush them and they’re forced to shoot their way out. When meeting up afterward, the survivors understand they were betrayed and attempt to discover who among them is the culprit.
17. A Bronx Tale
The Bronx Tale Movie Description
Growing up in the Bronx in the 1960s was tough, but it was even tougher for Calogero (Lillo Brancato). When he met neighborhood mobster Sonny (Chazz Palminteri), Calogero’s life changed forever.
Sonny initiated him into the world of organized crime, which put him at odds with his straight-laced father (Robert De Niro). But when Calogero fell for his African-American classmate Jane (Taral Hicks), all hell broke loose.
18. American Hustle
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American Hustler Movie Description
Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale) is a man with many talents. He can forge documents, and he can loan money at high-interest rates.
However, when he falls for fellow grifter Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams), everything changes. FBI agent Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper) catches Irving and Sydney red-handed and forces them to work undercover in order to bring down a New Jersey mayor. Meanwhile, Irving’s wife may be the one to ruin everything.
19. Heat
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Heat Movie Description
Master criminal Neil McCauley is one step away from retirement, but first, he must tie up loose ends with his men and plan for one final, grandiose heist. Lieutenant Hanna, on the other hand, is set on finally catching McCauley as infidelity plagues his home life and mental health troubles arise with his stepdaughter.
Despite their differences and goals working against each other, they both strike a mutual respect between each other.
20. Miller's Crossing
Miller’s Crossing Movie Description
Leo O’Bannon (Albert Finney) is an Irish mob boss who refuses to allow the Italian Mafia to kill his crooked bookie brother-in-law. This decision sets in motion a series of events that leads to a gang war over liquor distribution.
Leo’s right-hand man, Tom Reagan (Gabriel Byrne), is caught seeing Verna Bernbaum (Marcia Gay Harden) on the sly. He’s then forced to switch sides and work for the Italian mob instead. As the war intensifies, more and more people are killed. In the end, only a few survive.
5 More Mafia Movies (Honorable Mentions)
Now that we’ve gone over all of our top picks for the best mafia movies, it’s time to dip into some honorable mentions. While these films may not have achieved the same level of popularity, they still contain elements that make them noteworthy.
From powerful kingpins to shrewd mobsters, these are the tales of families who live in a world full of conflict, turmoil, and sometimes even tragedy. So if you’re looking for an enthralling night in with friends or family members, and have already watched through our top picks, then make sure to add these to your watchlist next!
- The Informer (2019)
- Lansky (2021)
- Shot Caller (2017)
- Capone (2020)
- Road To Perdition (2002)