Modern organized crime traces back to the 19th century, with one of the most infamous groups being the Italian-American syndicate Cosa Nostra, or the Sicilian Mafia. Originating in Sicily, the group spread to the United States as migrants established networks across the country. The Yakuza, often considered the oldest organized crime syndicate, dates to 17th-century Japan.
For decades, audiences have been captivated by the dark allure of organized crime on screen. Mafia films explore secret operations, strict codes of loyalty, and unforgettable betrayals, offering both gritty drama and surprising humor. These stories continue to fascinate because they reveal a world that is both hidden and deeply human.
To rank the 40 greatest Mafia films, 24/7 Tempo averaged ratings from IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes as of June 2023, giving equal weight to all scores. Only films centered on Mafia activities in Italy or America were included, though sometimes the organizations appear indirectly. Cast credits were drawn from IMDb.
Francis Ford Coppola’s legendary Godfather trilogy, often hailed as the finest Mafia saga ever filmed, naturally appears on the list. Yet the genre also delivers lighter takes, such as Michelle Pfeiffer’s sharp turn in Married to the Mob and the comic pairing of Billy Crystal and Robert De Niro in Analyze This.
Here are the best mafia movies in cinema history:
40. Find Me Guilty (2006)
- Starring: Vin Diesel, Peter Dinklage, Ron Silver
- IMDb user rating: 7.0/10 (34,988 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 63% (58,907 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 62% (106 reviews)
39. Married to the Mob (1988)
- Starring: Michelle Pfeiffer, Alec Baldwin, Paul Lazar
- IMDb user rating: 6.2/10 (16,951 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 48% (8,084 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 89% (47 reviews)
38. Analyze This (1999)
- Starring: Robert De Niro, Billy Crystal, Lisa Kudrow
- IMDb user rating: 6.7/10 (149,447 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 62% (224,645 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 69% (107 reviews)
37. The Mafia Kills Only in Summer (2013)
- Starring: Cristiana Capotondi, Pif, Alex Bisconti
- IMDb user rating: 7.1/10 (8,657 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 66% (100 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 60% (20 reviews)
36. Kill the Irishman (2011)
- Starring: Ray Stevenson, Christopher Walken, Vincent D’Onofrio
- IMDb user rating: 7.0/10 (49,217 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 67% (9,556 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 62% (53 reviews)
35. Rob the Mob (2014)
- Starring: Michael Pitt, Nina Arianda, Andy Garcia
- IMDb user rating: 6.3/10 (11,346 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 57% (2,858 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 81% (42 reviews)
34. Made (2001)
- Starring: Vince Vaughn, Jon Favreau, Joe Goossen
- IMDb user rating: 6.4/10 (18,085 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 66% (18,448 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 71% (107 reviews)
33. The Many Saints of Newark (2021)
- Starring: Alessandro Nivola, Leslie Odom Jr., Vera Farmiga
- IMDb user rating: 6.3/10 (58,000 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 69% (500 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 72% (223 reviews)
32. Desperately Seeking Susan (1985)
- Starring: Rosanna Arquette, Madonna, Aidan Quinn
- IMDb user rating: 6.0/10 (22,167 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 62% (30,792 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 84% (31 reviews)
31. Johnny Stecchino (1991)
- Starring: Roberto Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi, Paolo Bonacelli
- IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (11,200 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 85% (2,500 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 46% (13 reviews)
30. The Firm (1993)
- Starring: Tom Cruise, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Gene Hackman
- IMDb user rating: 6.8/10 (126,997 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 64% (68,018 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 75% (57 reviews)
29. The Godfather Part III (1990)
- Starring: Al Pacino, Diane Keaton, Andy Garcia
- IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (375,238 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 61% (261,514 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 68% (63 reviews)
28. F/X (1986)
- Starring: Bryan Brown, Brian Dennehy, Diane Venora
- IMDb user rating: 6.7/10 (18,820 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 53% (10,116 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 88% (26 reviews)
27. The Funeral (1996)
- Starring: Christopher Walken, Chris Penn, Annabella Sciorra
- IMDb user rating: 6.6/10 (8,598 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 68% (4,407 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 79% (34 reviews)
26. The Client (1994)
- Starring: Susan Sarandon, Tommy Lee Jones, Brad Renfro
- IMDb user rating: 6.7/10 (63,479 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 69% (55,767 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 78% (37 reviews)
25. Prizzi’s Honor (1985)
- Starring: Jack Nicholson, Kathleen Turner, Robert Loggia
- IMDb user rating: 6.7/10 (23,756 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 62% (7,930 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 86% (37 reviews)
24. The Freshman (1990)
- Starring: Marlon Brando, Matthew Broderick, Bruno Kirby
- IMDb user rating: 6.4/10 (18,961 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 61% (11,859 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 94% (50 reviews)
23. Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978)
- Starring: Peter Sellers, Herbert Lom, Burt Kwouk
- IMDb user rating: 6.7/10 (21,044 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 70% (34,665 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 83% (18 reviews)
22. Bugsy (1991)
- Starring: Warren Beatty, Annette Bening, Harvey Keitel
- IMDb user rating: 6.8/10 (29,713 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 69% (10,251 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 84% (61 reviews)
21. Black Souls (2014)
- Starring: Marco Leonardi, Peppino Mazzotta, Fabrizio Ferracane
- IMDb user rating: 6.8/10 (3,060 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 70% (500 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 91% (53 reviews)
20. Things Change (1988)
- Starring: Don Ameche, Joe Mantegna, Robert Prosky
- IMDb user rating: 7.0/10 (3,562 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 79% (733 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 83% (12 reviews)
19. Gomorrah (2008)
- Starring: Salvatore Abbruzzese, Simone Sacchettino, Salvatore Ruocco
- IMDb user rating: 7.0/10 (50,144 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 71% (25,000 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 91% (157 reviews)
18. Little Caesar (1931)
- Starring: Edward G. Robinson, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Glenda Farrell
- IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (12,828 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 75% (6,093 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 92% (24 reviews)
17. Suburra (2015)
- Starring: Pierfrancesco Favino, Elio Germano, Claudio Amendola
- IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (21,024 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 78% (250 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 91% (23 reviews)
16. Il Divo (2008)
- Starring: Toni Servillo, Anna Bonaiuto, Giulio Bosetti
- IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (18,558 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 80% (2,500 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 92% (51 reviews)
15. The Consequences of Love (2004)
- Starring: Toni Servillo, Olivia Magnani, Adriano Giannini
- IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (18,804 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 87% (2,500 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 83% (6 reviews)
14. Mean Streets (1973)
- Starring: Robert De Niro, Harvey Keitel, David Proval
- IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (104,686 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 84% (54,874 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 95% (65 reviews)
13. The Untouchables (1987)
- Starring: Kevin Costner, Sean Connery, Robert De Niro
- IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (313,255 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 89% (217,762 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 83% (63 reviews)
12. Mafioso (1962)
- Starring: Alberto Sordi, Norma Bengell, Gabriella Conti
- IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (2,845 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 80% (500 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 96% (50 reviews)
11. Donnie Brasco (1997)
- Starring: Al Pacino, Johnny Depp, Michael Madsen
- IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (311,956 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 89% (204,292 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 88% (56 reviews)
10. Casino (1995)
- Starring: Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, Joe Pesci
- IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (524,126 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 93% (285,398 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 79% (68 reviews)
9. Midnight Run (1988)
- Starring: Robert De Niro, Charles Grodin, Yaphet Kotto
- IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (81,968 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 87% (25,096 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 94% (54 reviews)
8. Miller’s Crossing (1990)
- Starring: Gabriel Byrne, Albert Finney, John Turturro
- IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (130,940 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 90% (50,596 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 92% (61 reviews)
7. The Irishman (2019)
- Starring: Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci
- IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (392,363 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 86% (1,057 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 95% (453 reviews)
6. Scarface (1932)
- Starring: Paul Muni, Ann Dvorak, Karen Morley
- IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (26,788 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 86% (25,976 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 98% (45 reviews)
5. Once Upon a Time in America (1984)
- Starring: Robert De Niro, James Woods, Elizabeth McGovern
- IMDb user rating: 8.4/10 (329,016 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 93% (75,039 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 87% (54 reviews)
4. A Bronx Tale (1993)
- Starring: Robert De Niro, Chazz Palminteri, Lillo Brancato
- IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (144,660 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience rating: 93% (66,875 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer rating: 97% (30 reviews)
3. Goodfellas (1990)
- Starring: Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci
- 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)
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)
- Starring: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan
- 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)
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