For many film fans, there’s nothing better than watching a gangster movie or crime epic. What drives us to love movies about bad folks doing bad things to other bad people? Is it the feeling of watching unspeakable acts that we could never do ourselves? Or are these bad guys and gals just such fantastic characters that we can’t take our eyes off of them? Whatever it is, many of us are enthralled with the decades of the past when gangsters ran the world. That’s why we know that this list of the best gangster movies is sure to include your go-to flick.
Ask a fan of the genre what their favorite gangster movie is, and they’ll be hard-pressed to give you an answer. For many, it’s a movie like “The Untouchables,” about real-life gangsters Elliott Ness and Al Capone. There are also movie fans who will opt to follow a specific director. Martin Scorsese often comes to mind since he has directed “Goodfellas,” “Casino,” and more. Quentin Tarantino is another favorite with “Reservoir Dogs” and “Pulp Fiction.” Then, there are audiences that enjoy a gangster movie that brings a different flair to the genre, like “On the Waterfront” or “City of God.”
Whichever direction you go, you’ll find one of your favorites below. Just remember that these are movies you’re supposed to enjoy, not mimic in the real world. If you like gangster films, you’ll likely also enjoy the other lists we’ve created, including the most legendary wise guys and tough guys in movies and the greatest R-rated movies that were embraced by audiences but scored by critics.
To determine the best gangster movies, 24/7 Tempo developed an index of movies 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 March 2024, weighting all ratings equally. We considered only movies with at least 2,500 audience votes on either IMDb or Rotten Tomatoes. Documentaries were not considered. Directorial credits are from IMDb.
50. Layer Cake (2005)
Source: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics
- IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (189,536 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (84 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 80% (142 reviews)
- Directed by: Matthew Vaughn
49. A History of Violence (2005)
Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema
- IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (230,130 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 76% (76 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 87% (217 reviews)
- Directed by: David Cronenberg
48. The Getaway (1972)
Source: Courtesy of National General Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (30,721 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 81% (81 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 86% (21 reviews)
- Directed by: Sam Peckinpah
47. Juice (1992)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.1/10 (25,540 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (90 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 81% (26 reviews)
- Directed by: Ernest R. Dickerson
46. Suburra (2015)
Source: Courtesy of 01 Distribution
- IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (21,024 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 78% (78 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (23 reviews)
- Directed by: Stefano Sollima
45. Il Divo (2008)
Source: Courtesy of MPI Home Video
- IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (18,558 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 80% (80 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (51 reviews)
- Directed by: Paolo Sorrentino
44. Sexy Beast (2001)
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
- IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (64,333 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (85 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 86% (138 reviews)
- Directed by: Jonathan Glazer
43. Road to Perdition (2002)
Source: Courtesy of DreamWorks Distribution
- IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (257,017 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (86 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 81% (214 reviews)
- Directed by: Sam Mendes
42. Collateral (2004)
Source: Courtesy of DreamWorks Distribution
- IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (379,479 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (84 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 86% (237 reviews)
- Directed by: Michael Mann
41. American Gangster (2007)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (430,167 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (87 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 81% (216 reviews)
- Directed by: Ridley Scott
40. Eastern Promises (2007)
Source: Courtesy of Focus Features
- IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (234,599 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 83% (83 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (201 reviews)
- Directed by: David Cronenberg
39. Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)
Source: Courtesy of Miramax
- IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (1,046,208 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 81% (81 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 85% (238 reviews)
- Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
38. Mean Streets (1973)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (104,686 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (84 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (65 reviews)
- Directed by: Martin Scorsese
37. Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1999)
Source: Courtesy of Gramercy Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (599,885 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (93 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 75% (67 reviews)
- Directed by: Guy Ritchie
36. The Untouchables (1987)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (313,255 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (89 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 83% (63 reviews)
- Directed by: Brian De Palma
35. Drive (2011)
Source: Courtesy of FilmDistrict
N/A
- IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (595,195 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 79% (79 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (268 reviews)
- Directed by: Nicolas Winding Refn
34. Menace II Society (1993)
Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema
- IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (55,052 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (93 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 83% (42 reviews)
- Directed by: Albert & Allen Hughes
33. Sin Nombre (2009)
Source: Courtesy of Focus Features
- IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (33,615 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (89 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (120 reviews)
- Directed by: Cary Joji Fukunaga
32. The Town (2010)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
N/A
- IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (367,843 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (85 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (235 reviews)
- Directed by: Ben Affleck
31. Snatch (2000)
Source: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Releasing
- IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (811,774 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (93 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 74% (142 reviews)
- Directed by: Guy Ritchie
30. Carlito’s Way (1993)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (208,314 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (91 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 82% (49 reviews)
- Directed by: Brian De Palma
29. Sicario (2015)
Source: Courtesy of Lionsgate Films
- IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (394,471 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (85 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (279 reviews)
- Directed by: Denis Villeneuve
28. Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros./Seven Arts
- IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (114,618 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (88 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (64 reviews)
- Directed by: Arthur Penn
27. Gran Torino (2008)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (742,002 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (90 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 81% (238 reviews)
- Directed by: Clint Eastwood
26. Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)
Source: Courtesy of Miramax
- IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (713,748 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (89 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 84% (244 reviews)
- Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
25. Donnie Brasco (1997)
Source: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Releasing
- IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (311,956 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (89 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (56 reviews)
- Directed by: Mike Newell
24. Tell No One (2006)
Source: Courtesy of Music Box Films
N/A
- IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (56,672 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (87 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (120 reviews)
- Directed by: Guillaume Canet
23. Casino (1995)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (524,126 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (93 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 79% (68 reviews)
- Directed by: Martin Scorsese
22. Leon: The Professional (1994)
Source: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
- IMDb user rating: 8.5/10 (1,081,769 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (95 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 74% (65 reviews)
- Directed by: Luc Besson
21. Mystic River (2003)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (436,927 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (89 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (206 reviews)
- Directed by: Clint Eastwood
20. Miller’s Crossing (1990)
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
- IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (130,940 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (90 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (61 reviews)
- Directed by: Joel & Ethan Coen
19. The Irishman (2019)
Source: Courtesy of Netflix
- IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (392,363 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (86 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (453 reviews)
- Directed by: Martin Scorsese
18. Scarface (1983)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (778,547 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (93 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 82% (71 reviews)
- Directed by: Brian De Palma
17. The French Connection (1971)
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
- IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (124,768 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (87 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 98% (83 reviews)
- Directed by: William Friedkin
16. A Prophet (2010)
Source: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics
N/A
- IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (100,629 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (89 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (165 reviews)
- Directed by: Jacques Audiard
15. Heat (1995)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (606,225 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (94 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 87% (84 reviews)
- Directed by: Michael Mann
14. True Romance (1993)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
N/A
- IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (216,812 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (93 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (54 reviews)
- Directed by: Tony Scott
13. Once Upon a Time in America (1984)
Source: Courtesy of The Ladd Company
- IMDb user rating: 8.4/10 (329,016 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (93 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 87% (54 reviews)
- Directed by: Sergio Leone
12. A Bronx Tale (1993)
Source: Courtesy of Savoy Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (144,660 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (93 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (30 reviews)
- Directed by: Robert De Niro
11. Reservoir Dogs (1992)
Source: Courtesy of Miramax
- IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (958,136 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (94 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (71 reviews)
- Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
10. The Usual Suspects (1995)
Source: Courtesy of Gramercy Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 8.5/10 (1,028,997 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 96% (96 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 88% (77 reviews)
- Directed by: Bryan Singer
9. The Departed (2006)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- IMDb user rating: 8.5/10 (1,241,061 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (94 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (283 reviews)
- Directed by: Martin Scorsese
8. White Heat (1949)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (31,467 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (93 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (35 reviews)
- Directed by: Raoul Walsh
7. Chinatown (1974)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (309,557 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (93 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 99% (76 reviews)
- Directed by: Roman Polanski
6. On the Waterfront (1954)
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (148,492 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (95 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 99% (105 reviews)
- Directed by: Elia Kazan
5. City of God (2002)
Source: Courtesy of Miramax
N/A
- IMDb user rating: 8.6/10 (777,999 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 97% (97 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (165 reviews)
- Directed by: Fernando Meirelles
4. Pulp Fiction (1994)
Source: Courtesy of Miramax
- IMDb user rating: 8.9/10 (1,909,111 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 96% (96 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (108 reviews)
- Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
3. Goodfellas (1990)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- IMDb user rating: 8.7/10 (1,165,874 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 97% (97 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (103 reviews)
- Directed by: Martin Scorsese
2. The Godfather: Part II (1974)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 9.0/10 (1,183,912 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 97% (97 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (114 reviews)
- Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola
1. The Godfather (1972)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 9.2/10 (1,704,373 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 98% (98 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (133 reviews)
- Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola