When it comes to iconic gangster films, few can match the raw intensity and epic scope of Brian De Palma’s 1983 classic Scarface. Starring Al Pacino as Cuban refugee turned Miami drug kingpin Tony Montana, Scarface is a gritty, stylized look at the rise and fall of a gangster and the dark underbelly of the American Dream.
If you’re a fan of Scarface’s unflinching portrayal of ambition, excess, and the high price of success in the criminal underworld, then you’ll definitely want to check out these 15 other gangster movie epics that explore similar themes and territory. From Prohibition-era bootleggers to inner city crime bosses, these films paint a vivid picture of life in the mob. They are the best of the best when it comes to cinematic depictions of organized crime.
1. Goodfellas (1990)
Directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro, and Joe Pesci, Goodfellas is the gold standard of gangster films. Based on the true story of former mobster turned FBI informant Henry Hill, the movie chronicles Hill’s life in the mafia – from his early days as a petty criminal in Brooklyn to his rise through the ranks of the Lucchese crime family.
Like Scarface, Goodfellas is a stylish, hard-hitting film with incredible performances across the board. Liotta is electric as the fast-talking, drug-addicted Hill, while De Niro and Pesci turn in iconic performances as Hill’s psychotic mentor Jimmy Conway and his loose cannon buddy Tommy DeVito. The film’s dizzying cinematography, killer soundtrack, and endlessly quotable dialogue make it an all-time great.
“As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster.” – Henry Hill
2. The Godfather (1972)
Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather isn’t just one of the greatest gangster movies ever made – it’s one of the greatest films, period. Based on Mario Puzo’s bestselling novel, the sweeping saga chronicles the rise of the Corleone crime family under the leadership of patriarch Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) and his son Michael (Al Pacino).
A meditation on family, power, violence, and the immigrant experience in America, The Godfather is a staggering work of art. From the shadowy cinematography to Nino Rota’s unforgettable score, every element works together in perfect harmony. And the performances are legendary, with Brando and Pacino supported by an incredible cast that includes James Caan, Robert Duvall, and Diane Keaton.
“I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse.” – Vito Corleone
3. Casino (1995)
Scorsese and De Niro reunited for this epic tale of mob-controlled casinos in 1970s Las Vegas. De Niro stars as Sam “Ace” Rothstein, a gambling handicapper sent by the Chicago Outfit to oversee the Tangiers casino. The movie follows Ace as he rules Vegas alongside his violent enforcer Nicky Santoro (Joe Pesci) and his hustler wife Ginger (Sharon Stone).
Casino shares a lot of DNA with Goodfellas, from the dizzying camerawork to the incredible ’70s fashions and music. But it’s a brilliant film in its own right, capturing the glamour and grit of mob-controlled Vegas in all its glory. Stone is a revelation as the street-smart Ginger, while Pesci is terrifying as the psychotic Nicky.
“In the casino, the cardinal rule is to keep them playing and to keep them coming back. The longer they play, the more they lose, and in the end, we get it all.” – Sam Rothstein
4. Carlito’s Way (1993)
Another De Palma gangster epic, Carlito’s Way stars Pacino as Carlito Brigante, a Puerto Rican criminal who is released from prison and vows to go straight. But despite his best intentions, Carlito finds himself drawn back into the underworld by his lawyer and best friend, Dave Kleinfeld (Sean Penn).
Carlito’s Way is a spiritual sequel of sorts to Scarface, with Pacino once again playing a gangster trying to escape his past. But while Tony Montana was all unbridled ambition and hubris, Carlito is a more tragic figure – a man desperately trying to change his ways, even as the world conspires to drag him back down. Penn is fantastic as the sleazy, coked-up Kleinfeld, and Penelope Ann Miller turns in a heartbreaking performance as Carlito’s dancer girlfriend Gail.
“Favor gonna kill you faster than a bullet.” – Carlito Brigante
5. Once Upon a Time in America (1984)
Sergio Leone’s final film is a sprawling, decades-spanning epic about a group of Jewish friends who rise from poverty to become powerful gangsters in New York City. Robert De Niro stars as David “Noodles” Aaronson, a small-time hood who returns to his old neighborhood after 35 years in hiding.
Once Upon a Time in America is a masterful film that combines elements of crime drama, political thriller, and tragic romance. The movie’s non-linear structure and nearly four-hour runtime can be challenging, but it’s a richly rewarding experience for those willing to invest the time. The cast is incredible, with De Niro supported by James Woods, Elizabeth McGovern, Joe Pesci, Burt Young, and Tuesday Weld.
“I’m not mad, I’m proud of you. You took your first pinch like a man and you learn two great things in your life. Look at me, never rat on your friends and always keep your mouth shut.” – Max
6. Donnie Brasco (1997)
Based on a true story, Donnie Brasco stars Johnny Depp as Joseph D. Pistone, an FBI agent who goes undercover in the New York mafia as jewel thief Donnie Brasco. Brasco befriends Lefty Ruggiero (Al Pacino), a low-level hit man who vouches for him. But as Brasco rises through the ranks of the Bonanno crime family, he starts to lose himself in his undercover identity.
Donnie Brasco is a tense, gripping thriller that explores the psychological toll of deep undercover work. Depp is fantastic as the increasingly conflicted Brasco, while Pacino turns in one of his most understated and heartbreaking performances as the tragic Lefty. The film is a fascinating look at the day-to-day realities of life in the mafia, from the mundane to the brutal.
“When they send for you, you go in alive, you come out dead, and it’s your best friend that does it.” – Lefty
7. The Untouchables (1987)
Brian De Palma puts his stylish spin on the gangster genre with The Untouchables, which follows Eliot Ness (Kevin Costner) as he forms an elite team of law enforcement agents to take down Al Capone (Robert De Niro) during Prohibition. Sean Connery won an Oscar for his performance as Jim Malone, the veteran Irish-American cop who mentors Ness.
The Untouchables is a slick, suspenseful thriller with some of De Palma’s most memorable set pieces, including the famous Union Station shootout. Costner is solid as the straight-arrow Ness, but it’s Connery and De Niro who steal the show as the wily old cop and the ruthless gangster. Ennio Morricone’s score is one of his best.
“You wanna know how to get Capone? They pull a knife, you pull a gun. He sends one of yours to the hospital, you send one of his to the morgue. That’s the Chicago way.” – Jim Malone
8. Miller’s Crossing (1990)
The Coen Brothers put their unique spin on the gangster genre with Miller’s Crossing, a Prohibition-era thriller about a mob boss’s right-hand man who tries to keep the peace between warring gangs. Gabriel Byrne stars as Tom Reagan, an Irish-American enforcer caught between his boss Leo (Albert Finney) and his ambitious rival Johnny Caspar (Jon Polito).
Miller’s Crossing is a twisty, darkly comic thriller with the Coens’ trademark wit and visual flair. The film is full of memorable characters and quotable dialogue, and the cast is uniformly excellent. Byrne is a revelation as the complex, conflicted Tom, and John Turturro turns in a scene-stealing performance as the bookie Bernie Bernbaum.
“Nobody knows anybody. Not that well.” – Tom Reagan
9. A Bronx Tale (1993)
Robert De Niro made his directorial debut with A Bronx Tale, a coming-of-age story set in the 1960s. The film follows a young Italian-American boy named Calogero who is torn between the influence of his hard-working father (De Niro) and a charismatic local gangster named Sonny (Chazz Palminteri).
A Bronx Tale is a poignant, personal film that explores themes of family, loyalty, and the allure of the gangster lifestyle. De Niro is excellent both in front of and behind the camera, capturing the look and feel of the era with authenticity. Palminteri, who also wrote the screenplay based on his own one-man show, is magnetic as Sonny, and the relationship between him and Calogero is the heart of the film.
“The saddest thing in life is wasted talent.” – Lorenzo
10. Pulp Fiction (1994)
Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction isn’t a gangster movie in the traditional sense, but it shares many of the same themes and motifs as films like Scarface and Goodfellas. The movie tells a series of interconnected stories about various criminals and lowlifes in Los Angeles, including two hitmen (John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson), a gangster’s wife (Uma Thurman), and a washed-up boxer (Bruce Willis).
Pulp Fiction is a wildly entertaining, endlessly quotable film that helped define the ’90s indie film movement. Tarantino’s pop culture-infused dialogue and non-linear storytelling were revolutionary at the time, and the movie’s influence can still be felt today. The cast is incredible, with career-reviving turns from Travolta and Willis and a star-making performance from Jackson.
“The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men.” – Jules Winnfield
11. American Gangster (2007)
Denzel Washington stars as real-life Harlem drug kingpin Frank Lucas in Ridley Scott’s American Gangster. The film follows Lucas’s rise to power in the 1970s, as he builds a heroin empire by importing the drug directly from Southeast Asia. Russell Crowe co-stars as Richie Roberts, the honest cop tasked with bringing Lucas down.
American Gangster is a slick, stylish crime drama that explores the parallels between the cops and the criminals they pursue. Washington is magnetic as the ambitious, ruthless Lucas, while Crowe brings depth and nuance to the role of Roberts. The film’s period detail is impeccable, and the supporting cast, which includes Chiwetel Ejiofor, Josh Brolin, and Ruby Dee, is excellent.
“The loudest one in the room is the weakest one in the room.” – Frank Lucas
12. Reservoir Dogs (1992)
Tarantino’s debut feature Reservoir Dogs is a lean, mean crime thriller about a group of thieves whose diamond heist goes horribly wrong. The movie follows the aftermath of the heist, as the surviving thieves try to figure out who among them is an undercover cop.
Reservoir Dogs is a masterclass in tension and suspense, with Tarantino’s signature dialogue and pop culture references on full display. The cast, which includes Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, and Steve Buscemi, is uniformly excellent, and the movie’s non-linear structure keeps the audience guessing until the very end.
“Are you gonna bark all day, little doggie, or are you gonna bite?” – Mr. Blonde
13. Eastern Promises (2007)
David Cronenberg’s Eastern Promises is a gritty, intense thriller about the Russian mob in London. Viggo Mortensen stars as Nikolai, a driver for the Vory V Zakone crime family who becomes entangled with a midwife (Naomi Watts) investigating the death of a young prostitute.
Eastern Promises is a brutal, uncompromising film that explores the dark underbelly of the immigrant experience. Mortensen is incredible as Nikolai, a man torn between his loyalty to the mob and his own moral code. The film’s violence is unflinching, but it serves a purpose, and Cronenberg’s direction is masterful.
“I am driver. I go left, I go right, I go straight. That’s it.” – Nikolai
14. Scarface (1932)
The original Scarface, directed by Howard Hawks and produced by Howard Hughes, is a Pre-Code gangster classic that tells the story of Tony Camonte (Paul Muni), a violent Chicago mobster who rises to power during Prohibition.
While the 1983 remake is more well-known today, the original Scarface is a groundbreaking film that helped establish many of the tropes and conventions of the gangster genre. Muni is electric as the ruthless, ambitious Tony, and the film’s violence and sexual content were shocking for its time. The movie’s influence can still be felt in gangster films today.
“Do it first, do it yourself, and keep on doin’ it.” – Tony Camonte
15. Gangs of New York (2002)
Martin Scorsese’s historical epic Gangs of New York explores the early days of organized crime in 1860s New York City. Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Amsterdam Vallon, a young Irish-American who seeks revenge against Bill “The Butcher” Cutting (Daniel Day-Lewis), the ruthless nativist gang leader who killed his father.
Gangs of New York is a sprawling, ambitious film that brings to life the squalor and violence of 19th century New York. Day-Lewis is mesmerizing as the larger-than-life Bill the Butcher, and the film’s attention to historical detail is impressive. While not strictly a gangster movie, Gangs of New York explores many of the same themes of power, loyalty, and revenge.
“I’m forty-seven. Forty-seven years old. You know how I stayed alive this long? All these years? Fear. The spectacle of fearsome acts.” – Bill “The Butcher” Cutting
So there you have it – 15 great movies like Scarface that fans of the Al Pacino classic should definitely check out. From other iconic crime sagas like The Godfather and Goodfellas to gritty thrillers like Reservoir Dogs and Donnie Brasco, these films all capture the style, themes, and thrills of Brian De Palma’s unforgettable tale of criminal excess in their own distinct ways.
