The world of organized crime as we know it today has existed since the 19th century. One of the most notorious groups is the Italian-American organization known as Cosa Nostra, or the Sicilian Mafia. While Cosa Nostra traces its roots back to Sicily, the group expanded to the United States through immigrating members who maintained the criminal society here.
In fact, what may be the oldest crime syndicate is the Yakuza, which can be traced back to 17th century Japan. Yet Cosa Nostra has left a huge impact. When Sicilian members came to America, they kept the mob structure alive, making it a force across two continents.
Audiences have long been fascinated by the shadowy intrigue of organized crime. The intricate workings and strict codes of Mafia families hold particular allure. As a result, mobster movies that pull back the curtain on crime syndicates captivate viewers’ imaginations. These gripping films offer insider perspective into the enigmatic underworld dealings, morally ambiguous characters, and haunting betrayals hidden within criminal brotherhoods. (In real life, these are America’s most infamous criminal gangs.)
24/7 Tempo developed an index using average ratings on IMDb, an online movie database owned by Amazon, and a combination of audience scores and Tomatometer scores on Rotten Tomatoes, an online movie and TV review aggregator, as of June 2023, weighting all ratings equally to determine the 40 best Mafia movies. Only movies about the Mafia in Italy or America were considered, though in several cases the criminal organization is tangential to the plot or not named specifically. Cast credits are from IMDb.
It is no surprise that Francis Ford Coppola’s iconic Godfather trilogy, widely deemed the greatest mafia epics in cinematic history, all earn their place on this list. But the crime genre also houses more comedic efforts, which provide humor-tinged peeks into the underworld’s uncanny absurdities. For instance, Michelle Pfeiffer dazzles in offbeat mob wife comedy “Married to the Mob,” while Billy Crystal and Robert De Niro make an unlikely comedic pairing exploring a gangster’s psychoanalysis in the sharp-witted “Analyze This.”
Here are the 40 best mafia movies:
40. Find Me Guilty (2006)
- IMDb user rating: 7.0/10 (34,988 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 63% (58,907 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 62% (106 reviews)
- Starring: Vin Diesel, Peter Dinklage, Ron Silver
39. Married to the Mob (1988)
- IMDb user rating: 6.2/10 (16,951 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 48% (8,084 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 89% (47 reviews)
- Starring: Michelle Pfeiffer, Alec Baldwin, Paul Lazar
38. Analyze This (1999)
- IMDb user rating: 6.7/10 (149,447 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 62% (224,645 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 69% (107 reviews)
- Starring: Robert De Niro, Billy Crystal, Lisa Kudrow
37. The Mafia Kills Only in Summer (2013)
- IMDb user rating: 7.1/10 (8,657 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 66% (100 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 60% (20 reviews)
- Starring: Cristiana Capotondi, Pif, Alex Bisconti
36. Kill the Irishman (2011)
- IMDb user rating: 7.0/10 (49,217 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 67% (9,556 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 62% (53 reviews)
- Starring: Ray Stevenson, Christopher Walken, Vincent D’Onofrio
35. Rob the Mob (2014)
- IMDb user rating: 6.3/10 (11,346 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 57% (2,858 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 81% (42 reviews)
- Starring: Michael Pitt, Nina Arianda, Andy Garcia
34. Made (2001)
- IMDb user rating: 6.4/10 (18,085 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 66% (18,448 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 71% (107 reviews)
- Starring: Vince Vaughn, Jon Favreau, Joe Goossen
33. The Many Saints of Newark (2021)
- IMDb user rating: 6.3/10 (58,000 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 69% (500 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 72% (223 reviews)
- Starring: Alessandro Nivola, Leslie Odom Jr., Vera Farmiga
32. Desperately Seeking Susan (1985)
- IMDb user rating: 6.0/10 (22,167 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 62% (30,792 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 84% (31 reviews)
- Starring: Rosanna Arquette, Madonna, Aidan Quinn
31. Johnny Stecchino (1991)
- IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (11,200 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 85% (2,500 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 46% (13 reviews)
- Starring: Roberto Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi, Paolo Bonacelli
30. The Firm (1993)
- IMDb user rating: 6.8/10 (126,997 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 64% (68,018 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 75% (57 reviews)
- Starring: Tom Cruise, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Gene Hackman
29. The Godfather Part III (1990)
- IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (375,238 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 61% (261,514 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 68% (63 reviews)
- Starring: Al Pacino, Diane Keaton, Andy Garcia
28. F/X (1986)
- IMDb user rating: 6.7/10 (18,820 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 53% (10,116 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 88% (26 reviews)
- Starring: Bryan Brown, Brian Dennehy, Diane Venora
27. The Funeral (1996)
- IMDb user rating: 6.6/10 (8,598 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 68% (4,407 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 79% (34 reviews)
- Starring: Christopher Walken, Chris Penn, Annabella Sciorra
26. The Client (1994)
- IMDb user rating: 6.7/10 (63,479 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 69% (55,767 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 78% (37 reviews)
- Starring: Susan Sarandon, Tommy Lee Jones, Brad Renfro
25. Prizzi’s Honor (1985)
- IMDb user rating: 6.7/10 (23,756 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 62% (7,930 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 86% (37 reviews)
- Starring: Jack Nicholson, Kathleen Turner, Robert Loggia
24. The Freshman (1990)
- IMDb user rating: 6.4/10 (18,961 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 61% (11,859 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 94% (50 reviews)
- Starring: Marlon Brando, Matthew Broderick, Bruno Kirby
23. Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978)
- IMDb user rating: 6.7/10 (21,044 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 70% (34,665 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 83% (18 reviews)
- Starring: Peter Sellers, Herbert Lom, Burt Kwouk
22. Bugsy (1991)
- IMDb user rating: 6.8/10 (29,713 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 69% (10,251 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 84% (61 reviews)
- Starring: Warren Beatty, Annette Bening, Harvey Keitel
21. Black Souls (2014)
- IMDb user rating: 6.8/10 (3,060 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 70% (500 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 91% (53 reviews)
- Starring: Marco Leonardi, Peppino Mazzotta, Fabrizio Ferracane
20. Things Change (1988)
- IMDb user rating: 7.0/10 (3,562 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 79% (733 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 83% (12 reviews)
- Starring: Don Ameche, Joe Mantegna, Robert Prosky
19. Gomorrah (2008)
- IMDb user rating: 7.0/10 (50,144 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 71% (25,000 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 91% (157 reviews)
- Starring: Salvatore Abbruzzese, Simone Sacchettino, Salvatore Ruocco
18. Little Caesar (1931)
- IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (12,828 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 75% (6,093 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 92% (24 reviews)
- Starring: Edward G. Robinson, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Glenda Farrell
17. Suburra (2015)
- IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (21,024 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 78% (250 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 91% (23 reviews)
- Starring: Pierfrancesco Favino, Elio Germano, Claudio Amendola
16. Il Divo (2008)
- IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (18,558 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 80% (2,500 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 92% (51 reviews)
- Starring: Toni Servillo, Anna Bonaiuto, Giulio Bosetti
15. The Consequences of Love (2004)
- IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (18,804 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 87% (2,500 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 83% (6 reviews)
- Starring: Toni Servillo, Olivia Magnani, Adriano Giannini
14. Mean Streets (1973)
- IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (104,686 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 84% (54,874 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 95% (65 reviews)
- Starring: Robert De Niro, Harvey Keitel, David Proval
13. The Untouchables (1987)
- IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (313,255 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 89% (217,762 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 83% (63 reviews)
- Starring: Kevin Costner, Sean Connery, Robert De Niro
12. Mafioso (1962)
- IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (2,845 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 80% (500 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 96% (50 reviews)
- Starring: Alberto Sordi, Norma Bengell, Gabriella Conti
11. Donnie Brasco (1997)
- IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (311,956 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 89% (204,292 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 88% (56 reviews)
- Starring: Al Pacino, Johnny Depp, Michael Madsen
10. Casino (1995)
- IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (524,126 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 93% (285,398 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 79% (68 reviews)
- Starring: Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, Joe Pesci
9. Midnight Run (1988)
- IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (81,968 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 87% (25,096 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 94% (54 reviews)
- Starring: Robert De Niro, Charles Grodin, Yaphet Kotto
8. Miller’s Crossing (1990)
- IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (130,940 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 90% (50,596 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 92% (61 reviews)
- Starring: Gabriel Byrne, Albert Finney, John Turturro
7. The Irishman (2019)
- IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (392,363 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 86% (1,057 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 95% (453 reviews)
- Starring: Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci
6. Scarface (1932)
- IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (26,788 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 86% (25,976 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 98% (45 reviews)
- Starring: Paul Muni, Ann Dvorak, Karen Morley
5. Once Upon a Time in America (1984)
- IMDb user rating: 8.4/10 (329,016 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 93% (75,039 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 87% (54 reviews)
- Starring: Robert De Niro, James Woods, Elizabeth McGovern
4. A Bronx Tale (1993)
- IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (144,660 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 93% (66,875 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 97% (30 reviews)
- Starring: Robert De Niro, Chazz Palminteri, Lillo Brancato
3. Goodfellas (1990)
- IMDb user rating: 8.7/10 (1,165,874 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 97% (430,048 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 96% (103 reviews)
- Starring: Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci
2. The Godfather: Part II (1974)
- IMDb user rating: 9.0/10 (1,183,912 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 97% (411,793 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 96% (114 reviews)
- Starring: Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Robert Duvall
1. The Godfather (1972)
- IMDb user rating: 9.2/10 (1,704,373 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 98% (734,439 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 97% (133 reviews)
- Starring: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan