Organized Crime Movies: Fifteen of the Best

When it comes to organized crime movies, there are just some movies that take are culture by storm. Certain lines become household quotes, like, "say hello to my little friend" – Scarface, or "it's not personal, it's strictly business" – The Godfather. Some of these movies not only make it big at the box office, but they also stick around and become part of are prized movie collections. Here are 15 of some of the most influential organized crime movies of all time.

 

The Godfather

(1972) - A tale of a powerful untitled family funded by organized crime. Probably one of the public's first real looks inside of how mafia families really operated and stayed in-line.

 

 

 

Casino

(1995) - A movie based off a true story of a professional gamble sent by the mob to run a casino in Las Vegas, and his once best friend, a short fused mobster was sent to watch after him. What started out as a perfect set-up for money making turned into a disaster. Basically the mafia was eventually kicked out of Las Vegas for all of their illegal doings. If you were involved and weren't arrested by the FBI, you might have been one of the many causalities of Mafia's justice.

The Godfather II

(1975) - The follow up to the original, "The God Father II" was another instant classic with a deeper look into how the mafia secured their funds, conducted business, took care of family problems and fights against the FBI. And also the movie goes back in time to show how the Corleone Family made it to America.

The Goodfellas

(1990) - A great movie that spans 3 decades of a young boy growing up with one ambition, to be a gangster. A true story of the rise and fall of a small crew in the Lucchese crime family.

Untouchables

(1987) - A great movie about a team of special agents designed to take down the Chicogo mob including high Ranking Gangster like Frank Nitti "The Enforcer" and the boss Al "Scareface" Capone. 

Donnie Brasco

(1997) - Based on a true story of a undercover agent who infiltrated the mafia. Detective Joe Pistone was the first to ever get so deep into the mafia as an undercover agent he almost got made. 

Blow 

(2001) -  A great true story movie about one mans ambition to live life free. His choices lead him to the most powerful and notorious Drug Kingpin in the World. Poblo Escobar. After many years of making more money then he could imagine; his retirement was not as pleasant as when he was in his prime.

The Godfather III

(1990) -  A lot people may not agree with me on this one, but then again a lot people don't know how to think for themselves. Without "The Godfather III" there would be no trilogy. We would not see what seemed to be a wealthy, powerful, almost untouchable Don, die in the end alone with a whole in is heart due to the murder of his little girl; all brought on by the life he lead. 

The Departed

(2006) - A movie that was based off of an Irish mobster "Whitey Bulger". With a cast full of acting all-stars and a great story line of a mole in the FBI working for the same crew that the FBI has a mole in. The Twist and the turns keeps you watching and wanting more.  

A Bronx Tail

(1993) - A wired twist in the mafia movie genre, Robert DeNiro plays a good guy. He struggles with the neighborhood crime boss to keep his soon out of the world of criminals and promotes doing things legit. Throughout the struggle, life long lessons were learned the hard way and made the young man look a little bit differently at his friend/boss of the neighborhood. 

Once Upon A Time in America

(1984) - A former Prohibition-era Jewish gangster returns to the Lower East Side of Manhattan over thirty years later, where he once again must confront the ghosts and regrets of his old life.

American Gangster

(2007) - Base off a true story, a movie about a drug smuggling gangster and how he found a clever way to smuggle his drugs into the country. But as big and clever as he was he still eventually was caught and brought to justice. 

Analyze This

(1998) - A very clever twist on mafia movies. Robert DeNiro plays a notorious crime boss who is suffering from mental break downs and instead of being tough he feels more like a little girl. This mafia movie falls in the unlikely category of comedy and if you like other mafia movies this is a good change of pass, but don't worry most of all the mafia all-star actors are still involved. 

Sopranos

(2000-2007) - Although not a movie, the series is worth being noted on the organized crime list. Funny and deceiving. After seven years it was hard to say goodbye to the controversial family that almost made you feel like there was nothing wrong with the mafia, in-fact, it felt like it was a normal way of living.

Scarface

(1983) - The movie about the once Cuba resident who managed to get his green card by doing a favor of murder; takes his new opportunity to huge wealth by wedging his way into the cocaine business. But unfortunately he finds some of his drug crazed decisions proved to be very costly.