The world of organized crime, as we know it today, has been around since the 19th century, with the organization of Italian Americans known as the Cosa Nostra (although what may be the oldest crime syndicate, the Yakuza, can be traced back to Japan in the 17th century). The Cosa Nostra, also known as the Sicilian Mafia, got its start on the island of Sicily but when some of its members immigrated to the United States, they kept up this criminal society.
People have often been fascinated by the dark and intriguing world of organized crime. They enjoy movies that delve into the intricate workings of the Mafia. These films offer an immersive glimpse into the mysterious underworld of crime families. (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 may come as no surprise that the films widely considered to be the greatest Mafia movies of all time – the three installments of Francis Ford Coppola’s epic “The Godfather” – all appear on this list, with the original and its first sequel occupying the top two places. (Here’s a list of all Francis Ford Coppola movies ranked worst to best.) Noted director Martin Scorsese also makes an appearance on the list – for his Mafia-themed classics “Mean Streets,” “Goodfellas,” “Casino,” and “The Irishman.”
Mob movies are not always all about drama. With acclaimed performances and intriguing storylines, some films provide a captivating glimpse into the underworld of organized crime through a lens of humor. Michelle Pfeiffer shines in the mob comedy “Married to the Mob,” for instance, while Robert De Niro and Billy Crystal make people laugh in “Analyze This.”
Here are the 40 best mafia movies
40. Find Me Guilty (2006)
Source: Courtesy of Yari Film Group Releasing
Source: Courtesy of Yari Film Group Releasing
- 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)
Source: Courtesy of Orion Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Orion Pictures
- 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)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- 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)
Source: Courtesy of Distrib Films
Source: Courtesy of Distrib Films
- 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)
Source: Courtesy of Anchor Bay Films
Source: Courtesy of Anchor Bay Films
- 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)
Source: Neilson Barnard / Getty Images
Source: Neilson Barnard / Getty Images
- 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)
Source: Courtesy of Artisan Entertainment
Source: Courtesy of Artisan Entertainment
- 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)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- 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)
Source: Courtesy of Orion Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Orion Pictures
- 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)
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
- 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)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- 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)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- 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)
Source: Courtesy of Orion Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Orion Pictures
- 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)
Source: Courtesy of October Films
Source: Courtesy of October Films
- 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)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- 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)
Source: 20th Century Fox / Getty Images
Source: 20th Century Fox / Getty Images
- 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)
Source: Courtesy of TriStar Pictures
Source: Courtesy of TriStar Pictures
- 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)
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
- 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)
Source: Courtesy of TriStar Pictures
Source: Courtesy of TriStar Pictures
- 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)
Source: Ernesto S. Ruscio / Getty Images
Source: Ernesto S. Ruscio / Getty Images
- 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)
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
- 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)
Source: Courtesy of IFC Films
Source: Courtesy of IFC Films
- 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)
Source: Archive Photos / Getty Images
Source: Archive Photos / Getty Images
- 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)
Source: Courtesy of 01 Distribution
Source: Courtesy of 01 Distribution
- 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)
Source: Courtesy of MPI Home Video
Source: Courtesy of MPI Home Video
- 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)
Source: Courtesy of The Works
Source: Courtesy of The Works
- 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)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- 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)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- 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)
Source: Courtesy of Zenith International Films
Source: Courtesy of Zenith International Films
- 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)
Source: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Releasing
Source: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Releasing
- 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)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
- 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)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
- 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)
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
- 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)
Source: Courtesy of Netflix
Source: Courtesy of Netflix
- 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)
Source: Hulton Archive / Getty Images
Source: Hulton Archive / Getty Images
- 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)
Source: Courtesy of The Ladd Company
Source: Courtesy of The Ladd Company
- 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)
Source: Courtesy of Savoy Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Savoy Pictures
- 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)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- 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)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- 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)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- 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