The 31 best gangster movies of all time, ranked

Jason GuerrasioSep 24, 2020, 21:47 IST

"Goodfellas."Warner Bros.

The gangster genre has delivered some of the most powerful stories ever made.
We rank the 31 best gangster movies of all time.
Find out where movies like "Scarface," "Goodfellas," "New Jack City," and "The Godfather" rank on the list.

The gangster movie. It's the genre that made actors like Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci into household names, and directors like Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, and Brian De Palma into iconic figures in Hollywood.

A fascination of audiences since the 1930s, the movies have focused on the shady and dangerous figures who are involved in everything from Prohibition, the mafia, and drugs. They have become fertile ground for filmmakers to create stories that have become classics, and given actors the ability to make characters that are timeless.

Here are the 31 best gangster movies of all time, ranked in ascending order.

30. "Sugar Hill" (1993)

(L-R) Michael Wright and Wesley Snipes in "Sugar Hill." Fox

29. "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" (1998)

Vinnie Jones in "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels." Gramercy Pictures

28. "Belly" (1998)

Hype Williams' "Belly." Artisan Entertainment

27. "The Departed" (2006)

Leonardo DiCaprio in "The Departed." Warner Bros.

26. "A Bronx Tale" (1993)

Robert De Niro's "A Bronx Tale." Focus Features

25. "Menace II Society" (1993)

(L-R) Tyrin Turner and Larenz Tate in "Menace II Society." New Line Cinema

24. "Infernal Affairs" (2002)

Andrew Lau and Alan Mak's "Infernal Affairs." Media Asia Distribution

23. "Sexy Beast" (2000)

Ben Kingsley in "Sexy Beast." Fox Searchlight

22. "American Gangster" (2007)

Ridley Scott's "American Gangster." Universal Pictures

21. "Layer Cake" (2004)

Daniel Craig (center) in "Layer Cake." Sony Pictures Classics

20. "Scarface" (1932)

Paul Muni (center) in "Scarface." United Artists

19. "Mean Streets" (1973)

Harvey Keitel in "Mean Streets." Warner Bros.

18. "Little Caesar" (1931)

Edward G. Robinson in "Little Caesar." Warner Bros.

17. "New Jack City" (1991)

(L-R) Mario Van Peebles, Judd Nelson, and Ice-T in "New Jack City." Warner Bros.

16. "Casino" (1995)

Robert De Niro in "Casino." "Casino"

15. "Reservoir Dogs" (1992)

(L-R) Steve Buscemi and Harvey Keitel in "Reservoir Dogs." Miramax

14. "Miller's Crossing" (1990)

The Coen brothers' "Miller's Crossing." Fox

13. "Gomorrah" (2008)

Matteo Garrone's "Gomorrah." 01 Distribution

12. "Bonnie and Clyde" (1967)

Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty in "Bonnie and Clyde." Warner Bros.-Seven Arts

11. "Donnie Brasco" (1997)

(L-R) Al Pacino and Johnny Depp in "Donnie Brasco." TriStar Pictures

10. "Mafioso" (1962)

Alberto Lattuada's "Mafioso." Rialto Pictures

9. "King of New York" (1990)

Christopher Walken in "King of New York." New Line Cinema

8. "Carlito's Way" (1993)

Al Pacino in "Carlito's Way." Universal

7. "White Heat" (1949)

James Cagney in "White Heat." Warner Bros.

6. "Once Upon a Time in America" (1984)

(L-R) James Woods and Robert De Niro in "Once Upon a Time in America." Warner Bros.

5. "The Untouchables" (1987)

Brian De Palma's "The Untouchables." Paramount

4. "City of God" (2002)

Fernando Meirelles' "City of God." Miramax

3. "Goodfellas" (1990)

Martin Scorsese's "Goodfellas." Warner Bros.

2. "Scarface" (1983)

Al Pacino in "Scarface." Universal

1. "The Godfather" (1972) / The Godfather Part II" (1974)

(L-R) Marlon Brando in "The Godfather" and Robert De Niro in "The Godfather Part II." Paramount Pictures

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