Gangster movies show why we should keep a safe distance from the world of crime. Yet, we cannot resist watching ruthless mafia bosses, guns, violence, and thrilling heists. Maybe it is the adrenaline rush that keeps us intrigued with gangster projects. And legendary filmmakers like Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, Quentin Tarantino, and many more have made this genre more thrilling and captivating.
Netflix’s arsenal treasures plenty of mean, gritty, and goofy gangster flicks. We have selected the best ones for you. So, grab some popcorn and dive deep into the mafia world.
This Mike Newell directional is based on Joseph D. Pistone’s 1988 autobiography. Johnny Depp plays Pistone, a former FBI agent who primarily infiltrated the Bonanno crime family under the alias Donnie Brasco. Legendary Al Pacino portrays Lefty Ruggiero, an ageing mafia hitman. Brasco wins Ruggiero’s confidence and rises in the Mafia. But this comes with a price as he starts forgetting the line between a gangster and an FBI agent. Also, his closeness with Lefty puts him in a dangerous position.
Scorsese teamed up with Robert De Niro after a long gap of two decades for The Irishman. This Netflix original movie is the longest and most expensive film in the director’s career. It’s well over three hours long. Still, it never lets you suffer from boredom. The film revolves around Frank Sheeran (De Niro), a truck driver who later becomes a hitman and establishes strong ties with gangster Russell Bufalino (Joe Pesci) and his crime family. Also, he worked with Jimmy Hoffa (Pacino) for a brief period.
Brian De Palma’s Scarface is over-the-top for some people and a breathtaking masterpiece for rest. Pacino’s performance as Tony Montana and his dialogue “Say hello to my little friend!” has been parodied countless times. But the film never disappoints and always delivers a strong dose of entertainment to viewers. It takes its inspiration from Armitage Trail’s 1930 novel of the same name.
Every cinephile knows that Scorsese’s The Departed is the official remake of Infernal Affairs. In a way, this Cantonese gangster thriller paved the way for Scorsese and won him his first and only Academy Award for Best Director. Also, it gave birth to two sequels: Infernal Affairs II and Infernal Affairs III. The film focuses on an undercover Hong Kong police officer who joins a Triad (A Chinese organised crime syndicate). On the other hand, there is another officer who secretly works for the Triad.
No other director has understood the gangster genre the way Martin Scorsese has. His iconic filmography proves it. And The Departed is one of the greatest movies ever made, period. Yes, it’s a remake. But it treasures all the elements of a Scorsese gangster classic. Plus, the sensational cast of Jack Nicholson, Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, Alec Baldwin, Vera Farmiga, and Ray Winstone makes the film a memorable watch.
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