Crime thrillers are definitely a favorite genre for movie buffs, and the gang flick has been around for decades. With each passing year, new movies continue to add to his evolving subgenre, and fans continue to love each and every flick about crime families and mobs.
Of course, there are some movies that started it all and paved the way for the gang thriller genre to become one of the most entertaining and classic out there today. For huge movie lovers, it’s time to get binging the flicks that created the iconic gang thriller in order of their IMDb scores.
10 The Friends Of Eddie Coyle (1973) – 7.5
One of the first-ever Boston mob flicks, The Friends of Eddie Coyle is a 70s movie about a Boston gangster who is set to snitch on his pals in order to avoid a long prison sentence.
This gang flick brilliantly tackles America’s history with mobs, particularly the intertwinement of Irish, Italian, and African-Americans. Known as one of the most authentic of its genre, it definitely deserves some recognition.
9 The Public Enemy (1931) – 7.7
The oldest flick on the list, The Public Enemy paved the way for so many movies and revolutionized the mob flick by tackling the Chicago underworld. This movie is often known as the predecessor to Angels With Dirty Faces.
Of course, it also greatly reveals and condemns corruption and crime, and premiered in a significant time of change in America. It took on so much culture and time and created one of the best gang flicks ever.
8 Mafioso (1962) – 7.7
When it comes to mafia movies in Hollywood, movie buffs can thank this flick for jet-setting it into huge popularity. With a genius mix of crime and comedy, Mafioso follows a factory supervisor and his wife.
They return to Sicily, where he finds himself plagued by an old oath and new obligations. Rich with culture, tragedy, and brilliant dialogue, this mafia flick deserves a huge nod.
7 Miller’s Crossing (1990) – 7.7
The Coen brothers are another huge voice in this genre, and definitely deserve a flick on this list. Miller’s Crossing takes place during the Prohibition Era and follows a crime boss who tries to contain two warring mobs.
This movie tackles morals and humanity head-on, and also incorporates the popular theme of Irish and Italian gangs. This flick leaves every viewer changed.
6 The Untouchables (1987) – 7.9
It’s pretty difficult to discuss the gang thriller genre without including The Untouchables. Directed by Brian De Palma, this Oscar-winning movie stars Kevin Costner, Sean Connery, Robert De Niro, and more.
Taking place during the Prohibition Era, a federal agent is tasked with catching Al Capone and sets out with a team. This thriller is an absolute classic, and certainly even holds up today.
5 The Killing (1956) – 8.0
The Killing takes fans all the way back to 1956, where Stanley Kubrick created a masterful film about a crook, a racetrack robbery, and a team that plans to execute it. This movie undoubtedly paved the way for the gang film fans know and love today and was a huge flick that merged this theme with film noir.
4 Touch Of Evil (1958) – 8.0
Touch of Evil is a film-noir crime drama directed by the brilliant Orson Welles. With Charlton Heston, Orson Welles, and Janet Leigh, this flick tells of corruption involving the Mexican and United States border. With murder, kidnapping, and drug cartels, this flick stands out as one of the best gangster thrillers of all time, and it also tackled a prominent, genuine issue in ways that no other film has.
3 Scarface (1983) – 8.3
Brian De Palma definitely deserves to be on this list twice. Scarface stands out for its unique style and tells the story of an immigrant in 1980 Miami, who takes over a drug cartel.
With Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer, this crime drama is unlike any other on the list and is one of those movies that remains to be a fan favorite even decades later.
2 Goodfellas (1990) – 8.7
Martin Scorsese has definitely had a hand in creating this popular genre, but he probably deserves the biggest shoutout for Goodfellas. Telling the true-to-life story of Henry Hill and his time in the mob, this flick dives deep into an Italian-American crime syndicate.
With Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, and Joe Pesci, this hilarious, brutal, and action-packed flick might just be one of the most popular out there of the gang thriller genre. It never gets old, and this cast is beyond brilliant.
1 The Godfather (1972) – 9.2
It might be impossible to really understand the gang thriller genre, or the mob or crime families, without appreciating Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather. This Best Picture winner has been frozen in time as one of the best movies ever made.
With Marlon Brando and Al Pacino, this family of organized crime has revolutionized the genre in ways that arguably no other movie has or ever will.
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