1. The Godfather (1972)

The Godfather irrevocably altered the landscape of Italian mobster movies by reframing the mafia as a complex social structure governed by honor. The narrative follows Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) as he transfers control to his reluctant son, Michael.

The “Baptism of Fire” sequence remains the ultimate “must-watch” moment, intercutting a holy ceremony with the systematic assassination of Michael’s rivals.

2. Goodfellas (1990)

Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas is a kinetic, blood-soaked look at the life of Henry Hill. Scorsese uses a fast-moving camera and a legendary rock soundtrack to capture the seductive high of the criminal lifestyle.

The film is celebrated for the three-minute Copacabana tracking shot, demonstrating the “insider” status and perks of the mafia world. Joe Pesci’s Oscar-winning performance as the volatile Tommy DeVito adds a layer of nerve-wracking intensity.

3. Scarface (1983)

Brian De Palma’s Scarface turned Tony Montana into a global cultural icon. Al Pacino’s performance as the Cuban refugee seizing Miami’s cocaine trade is an exercise in “vulgarity and excess”.

The “mansion shootout” is the most famous action sequence in mafia cinema, culminating in the legendary line, “Say hello to my little friend!”.

4. The Departed (2006)

A remake of Infernal Affairs, this film shifts the action to South Boston. The narrative is a high-stakes “double-mole” game between a mobster (Matt Damon) and an undercover cop (Leonardo DiCaprio). Jack Nicholson provides a terrifying performance as the theatrical crime boss Frank Costello.

5. Casino (1995)

Casino explores the mob’s control over 1970s Las Vegas. Robert De Niro plays “Ace” Rothstein, a professional gambler running the Tangiers Casino, while Joe Pesci plays his violent enforcer. Sharon Stone’s career-best performance as Ginger McKenna depicts the tragic human cost of the mob’s greed.

6. The Irishman (2019)

This “riveting epic” follows Frank Sheeran (De Niro), a hitman for the Bufalino family. The film uses de-aging technology to span a 50-year timeline, exploring the isolation and regret that comes at the end of a life of violence.

7. Once Upon a Time in America (1984)

Sergio Leone’s nearly four-hour masterpiece follows Jewish friends from their childhood in the 1910s New York slums to their reckoning in the 1960s. Ennio Morricone’s score creates a mystical, hazy quality that defines this tale of betrayal and time.

8. City of God (2002)

Set in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro, City of God is a visceral masterpiece depicting the rise and fall of criminal empires through poetic brutality. It utilizes a frantic editing style to capture a world where children command entire gangs.

9. A Prophet (2009)

Jacques Audiard’s French masterpiece reframes the gangster epic within a high-security prison. It follows Malik, a young man who transforms into a “visionary criminal” by navigating the racial and religious tensions of the modern underworld.

10. Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man (2026)

The definitive cinematic event of 2026, The Immortal Man brings Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) back to 1940s Birmingham during the Blitz. Directed by Tom Harper, it is a “muscular picture swamped in mud and blood” that provides final closure for the Shelby saga.