For decades, gangster films have captivated the masses with their complex characters, gripping storylines, and exhilarating action sequences, with revered directors like Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Scorsese emerging as powerful voices in the thrillingcrimegenre. Scorsese’s Italian-American background and New York City upbringing had a profound effect on his filmmaking, as did his enduring personal and professional friendship with go-toleading man Robert De Niro, who starred in countless pictures crafted by the Oscar-winning director since 1973’sMean Streets.
When it comes to the cinema, Hollywood has no problem amping up the violence, drama, and theatrics to create an electrifying finished product, with studios and producers often choosing style over substance.
However, there have been many critically acclaimed films focusing on the Mafia that are deeply rooted in fact and realism, withScorsese’s masterpieceGoodfellasand Mike Newell’sDonnie Brascobeing just a few that went to painstaking lengths to remain authentic in their storytelling. Here are 10 of the most accurate depictions of the Mafia in movies.
10Casino (1995)
In the eighth collaboration between Hollywood dream teamMartin Scorsese and Robert De Niro, 1995’sCasinotakes place in 1973 Las Vegas and centers on Mafia associate and gambling expert Sam “Ace” Rothstein, who is tasked by the Chicago Outlet to oversee the Tangiers Casino, doing so with the help of his childhood friend and fiery mob enforcer Nicky Santoro (Joe Pesci).
The critically-acclaimed picture chronicles Sam’s many struggles as he attempts to keep the casino thriving amid an ever-changing Sin City, all the while dealing with the Mafia’s constant involvement in its day-to-day operations and the volatile Santoro.
Exposing Las Vegas' Seedy Underbelly
Based on reporter Nicholas Pileggi’s true crime non-fiction novel, which detailed the relationship between Jewish Mafia associate Lefty Rosenthal and mob enforcer Tony Spilotro, Scorsese went to great lengths to ensureCasinoaccurately depictedhow the Mafia controlled Vegasand many of its casinos.
Sam and Nicky are based on Rosenthal and Spilotro, and many elements depicted in the drama reflect the Mafia’s violent tactics employed to stay in power, such as the cheating gambler having his hands brutally smashed by the casino’s secruity guard and Nicky gruesomely crushing a rival’s head in a vise.
Casinodetails “made man” Nicky’s spectacular fall from grace and the Mafia’s subsequent handling of one of their own who ran afoul, with the events featured being confirmed by the real-life Rosenthal during production. Though the film takes some creative license, it nonetheless showcased the tight grip the Mafia had on Las Vegas and how they controlled the casinos and its many colorful patrons, while also exposing the lucrative skimming operations that took place.
9Donnie Brasco (1997)
Donnie Brasco
Al Pacino and Johnny Depp brilliantly portrayed two men on opposite sides of the law when the talented actors headlined the 1997 crime dramaDonnie Brasco, focusing on aging Bonanno crime family enforcer Lefty Ruggiero as he takes jewel thief Donnie Brasco under his wing and teaches him the rules of the Mafia, not realizing that Brasco is actually an undercover FBI agent named Joseph D. Pistone.
Donnie finds himself conflicted with where his loyalties truly lie as he develops a profound friendship with the mob hitman while working the case, coming to the chilling realization that fulfilling his job will likely lead to Ruggiero’s demise.
Intimate Look at the Life of an Undercover Agent
Pistone served as a consultant for both Pacino and Depp, helping them flesh out their characters and correctly understand the essence and motivations of their on-screen counterparts.Donnie Brascochronicles the young undercover agent as he rises in the ranks within the Mafia and slowly morphs into the monsters he’s trying to hunt down, though his dangerous operation ultimately led to 200 indictments and 100 convictions.
Pistone’s admirable work helped convince the FBI that employing undercover agents was crucial to taking down the mob, as opposed to simply relying on informants, andDonnie Brascodemonstrated the emotional and mental toll working undercover had on agents and the turmoil it caused their loved ones.
Depp masterfully capturedthe inner anguish Pistone experienced while on the job and its impact on his personal life, as he was forced to prove his loyalties to the crime family in an effort to become a made man.
8Goodfellas (1990)
Goodfellas
Widely regarded to be one of the greatest films ever made and a true trailblazer in the gangster genre, Martin Scorsese’s masterpieceGoodfellasdepicts the dramatic rise and fall of Lucchese crime family associate and mobster Henry Hill from the 1950s to 1980, and touts a phenomenal ensemble cast led by Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci, and Paul Sorvino.
Liotta skyrocketed to superstardom when he appeared as Hill, who infamously went on to become an FBI informant and later testified against his former associates, ultimately leading to the conviction of 50 convictions.
Scorsese’s Revealing Gangster Masterpiece
An adaptation of Nicholas Pileggi’sWiseguy, Scorsese calledGoodfellas"a mob home movie" and felt that the subject source was the most honest and realisticrepresentation of gangstersthat he had ever read: “The book [Wiseguy] gives you a sense of the day-to-day life, the tedium, how they work, how they take over certain nightclubs, and for what reasons. It shows how it’s done.”
Both critics and fans all across the world agreed thatGoodfellascaptured the horrorsof living a life in organized crime, while also detailing the undeniable allure that comes with the power and respect the Mafia affords a person.
The real Henry Hill was paid $480,000 to provide guidance for the cast and crew, with De Niro contacting the former mobster multiple times a day to figure out his character James “Jimmy” Conway’s (based on gangster Jimmy Burke) mannerisms and how he walked, talked, and even held a cigarette.
Joe Pesci’s Oscar-winning portrayal of Tommy DeVito has been singled out by many as one of the most accurate depictions of a Mafia member, and in his rave review ofGoodfellas,Roger Ebert boldly declared:“No finer film has ever been made about organized crime – not evenThe Godfather.”
7The Irishman (2019)
The Irishman
Robert De Niro once again tackled the gangster genre when he appeared as truck driver-turned-Bufalino crime family enforcer Frank Sheeran in Martin Scorsese’s captivating epicThe Irishman, sharing the screen with Hollywood heavy hitters like Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, and Harvey Keitel in the Oscar-nominated picture.
Chronicling Sheeran’s journey from a union delivery truck driver to one of Russell Bufalino’s most feared hit men, the film details the mobster’s climb in the ranks as one of the family’s most trusted men, while also examining how Sheeran became involved with prominent Teamsters leader Jimmy Hoffa (Pacino).
The Dangerous Corruption of Jimmy Hoffa
As with most of his cinematic wonders, Scorsese basedThe Irishmanon former homicide prosecutor Charles Brandt’s nonfiction memoirI Heard You Paint Houses, which he wrote on behalf of Sheeran and his personal recollections as an associate to the Bufalino crime family.
Though Sheeran’s alleged involvement in the disappearance and likely death of Hoffa has been disputed, his ties to the Mafia and the drama’s depictions of Hoffa’s relationship with organized crime as the president of Teamsters remains unquestioned; Hoffa was heavily investigated by Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy for corruption and connection to the mobsters.
The great Joe Pescicame out of retirement to portray crime boss Russell Bufalino, ruling the crime family from 1959 to 1994 and playing a significant role in Hoffa’s disappearance in 1982.
The Irishmandepicts the profound regret Sheeran experienced as a result of his ties to the Bufalino crime family, withCollider including iton their list of “25 Best Epic Movies of All Time” and writing, “Throughout the film,The Irishmanreveals itself to be about the unstoppable nature of death, and the guilt that one can feel as it approaches and one realizes how a life was perhaps misspent.”
6Gomorrah (2008)
Gomorrah (2008)
Focusing on the Casalesi clan, one of the most powerful crime syndicates within the Camorra in Italy, Matteo Garrone’s 2008 filmGomorrahdepicts the unfathomable reach the Mafia has and how the Naples mob had their hand in countless industries that only grew their influence and reign.
In the Grand Prix-winning picture, five intertwined stories chronicle how organized crime impacts the lives of people directly exposed to the violence, from two wannabe gangsters hoping to challenge the Casalesi to a 13-year-old boy undergoing an initiation to join the Camorra.
The Many Atrocities the Mafia Commits
Gomorrahfearlessly delves into the ruthless underworld of Naples and its brutal influence on the masses, with Garrone even casting real-life mobsters to add to its overall authenticity and realism.
The poignant film does not glamorize the crime world and instead unabashedly depicts the hellish realities of the Mafia, withThe New York Times notingthat “part of what’s bracing aboutGomorrah, and makes it feel different from so many American crime movies, is both its deadly serious take on violence and its global understanding of how far and wide the mob’s tentacles reach, from high fashion to the very dirt.”
Upon the film’s worldwide release, rumors even swirled that Garrone conspired with the Camorra to get the drama made and that they paid protection money during its production process out of fear of their safety. Italian journalist Roberto Saviano wrote the bookGomorrahis based on, and hespent eight years under police protectionafter he received multiple death threats for exposing sordid Mafia secrets in the novel.
The film adaptation brought these unthinkable horrors to the big screen, doing so in a non-glorifying and gripping manner.Stream on Prime Video
5A Bronx Tale (1993)
Robert De Niroshowed off his skillsboth in front of and behind the camera when he made his directorial debut with 1993’sA Bronx Tale, sharing the screen with Chazz Palminteri in an adaptation of the former star’s autobiographical one-man show.
The coming-of-age crime drama tells the story of 9-year-old Italian-American Calogero, who is growing up in the Bronx in the 1960s with his hard-working MTA bus driver father Lorenzo (De Niro) and becomes enamored by the Mafia and the presence of local crime boss Sonny (Palminteri), feeling torn between what path to pursue in life in a racially divided New York.
Palminteri’s Deeply Personal Project
Palminteri based the original play on his own upbringing and personal experiences with the Mafia during his childhood, with the shooting Calogero witnessed as a boy mirroring the actor’s own as well as his subsequent silence to the police after the murder.
A Bronx Talerefreshingly follows Calogero as he grows up in a neighborhood heavily influenced by the mob and delves into the inner conflicts the young child faces as he attempts to establish his own identity while being guided by two vastly different mentors: his honest father Lorenzo and the dangerous-yet-charismatic Sonny.
A Bronx Taleis a straightforward yet moving film that chronicles a father’s efforts to protect his son from the Mafia’s crushing influence, doing so from the perspective of an everyman, mobster, and innocent child. The underrated yet acclaimed drama not only features a compelling story about the impact of organized crime, but it also accurately depicts the racial tensions of the time period and clashing of the Mafia and rival New York gangs.Rent/Buy on Apple TV+
4The Godfather (1972)
The Godfather
Universally regarded as one of the finest andmost influential films of all time, Francis Ford Coppola’s sweeping gangster epicThe Godfatherfamously featured the talents of Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, and James Caan and followed the powerful Corleone family as it is led by respected patriarch Vito Corleone, an orphaned immigrant from Sicily who painstakingly built the Mafia empire from the ground up upon his arrival in the United States.
When Vito decides to step down and hand over the dynasty to his youngest son Michael (Pacino), who has spent the majority of his life shunning the dangerous lifestyle, a violent and deadly series of events ensues that rocks both the family and empire.
Related:15 Best Mafia and Gangster Movies Ever Made
A Cinema Offer Audiences Can’t Refuse
There is a reason thatThe Godfatheris considered a cinematic masterpiece and a groundbreaking example of the gangster genre, as Coppola made sure thatItalian immigrant culturewas represented in every scene and character, while also depicting the psychological and emotional complexity mobsters possessed that was not previously explored in film.
Many critics have expressed howThe Godfatherrepresented the dual identities many immigrantswrestled with upon locating to the country, as Vito’s traditional values clashed with the modern methods of America and those of his son Michael.
The shocking brutality, personal struggles, and ever-escalating violence enchanted moviegoers all across the world, as did the raw and unparalleled performances of both Brando and Pacino.
Upon its premiere, real-life gangsters were reportedly thrilled by the story and picture and its unapologetic authenticity, with former Gambino crime family underbossSalvatore “Sammy the Bull” Gravanosaying of the Oscar-winning epic: “I left the movie stunned … I mean I floated out of the theater. Maybe it was fiction, but for me, then, that was our life. It was incredible. I remember talking to a multitude of guys, made guys, who felt exactly the same way.”
3The Many Saints of Newark (2021)
The Many Saints of Newark
A prequel to HBO’s crime drama juggernautThe Sopranos, 2021’sThe Many Saints of Newarkdives into the origin story of thenotorious Tony Sopranoand takes place during the ’60s and ’70s as racial tensions build and gang wars breakout, as rival gangsters challenge the DiMeo crime family and a teenage Tony’s beloved uncle and mentor Dickie Moltisanti.
The gripping film highlights the city’s 1967 riots and the aftermath of the deadly event, while depicting the changing Mafia landscape of the race-torn Newark and Tony’s introduction to the family business, with the late James Gandolfini’s real son Michael taking on his father’s iconic role.
Racial Tensions & Clashing Gangs
Fans of the acclaimed series were excited to see Tony’s childhood play out on screen, andThe Sopranoscreator David Chase wanted to explore the mounting tensions between the Italian-American and African-American communities during the tumultuous time period and the Mafia’s involvement in the conflict.
The Many Saints of Newarkalso shined a light on how life in organized crime is often generational, with Tony being exposed to the violent lifestyle at a young age and effectively being molded into becoming one of the most iconic gangsters of all time.
Related:Coolest Gangsters of All Time in Movies and TV, Ranked
Tony watched as Dickie struggled to remain in control of both is personal and professional life, while also dealing with outside threats who wanted to challenge his empire and legacy. The prequel expertly conveys the uncertainty, bloodshed, and brutality that ravaged the city during the ’60s and how the Mafia attempted to capitalize on the civil unrest, and the film provides viewers with a fascinating look at the legendary Tony Soprano’s early years.
2Mean Streets (1973)
The first big screen collaboration between Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro, 1973’sMean Streetsis set in Little Italy and focuses on friends and small-time hoods Charlie Cappa (Harvey Keitel) and John “Johnny Boy” Civello (De Niro) as they both attempt to hustle and climb the ranks within the mob despite their vastly different temperaments and motivations.
Charlie must ultimately choose between his devotion to his Catholic faith and impressing his powerful Mafioso uncle Giovanni (Cesare Danova), all the while dealing with his volatile and unhinged close pal Johnny.
A Mafioso in the Making
As withThe Godfather, Mean Streetschronicled the struggles many Italian-Americans experienced upon relocating to the country and attempting to survive, and how they often turned to hustling the streets as a way to make ends meet.
Both Charlie and Johnny grew up in the gangster environment and understood what was expected of them when it came to carrying on with the family business. While Johnny dove head-first into the criminal life, Charlie was more conflicted and experienced a profound moral journey on his quest to become a Mafioso.
Though perhaps not as iconic asRaging BullandTaxi Driver,the sensational crime drama nonetheless packed a powerful emotional punch and was based on many of Scorsese’s own childhood experiences growing up in Little Italy and his exposure to the Mafia during his early years.
Means Streetsfeatures realistic action/conflict and gritty dramatic sequences that fully utilize Keitel and De Niro, and Scorsese analyzing the life of a gangster and their connection with their faith and religion made it even more impactful and memorable for audiences.Rent/Buy on Apple TV+
1Once Upon a Time in America (1984)
Revered Italianfilmmaker Sergio Leonedirected the riveting 1984 epicOnce Upon a Time in America, enlisting the talented Robert De Niro to portray Jewish Mafia member David “Noodles” Aaronson as he and his close friend Maximilian “Max” Bercovicz (James Woods) plot to take over New York City’s organized crime during the 1920s and ’30s, going from bootleggers to powerful Mafia members.
Told through flashbacks and memories of Noodles as he returns to Manhattan decades after his life-changing adventures, the riveting picture reveals how being a criminal shaped his existence and ultimately led to a self-imposed exile.
Friendship vs. Power
The film is based on the Harry Grey novelThe Hoodsand is partially inspired by his own upbringing, with De Niro portraying the character he loosely penned after himself while serving time in prison.Once Upon a Time in Americadetails both the friendship and ongoing competition between Noodles and Max as they both attempt to capture the American dream but ultimately fall victim to greed and corruption in their valiant quests for power and prominence.
Leone’s lauded picture chronicles the history and origins of immigrant crime and the rise of the Mafia in America, andOnce Upon a Time in Americaalso touches on themes like betrayal, lust, greed, and violence. The drama has gone on to be regarded as a gangster classic and an exceptional triumph in cinema, with Leone’s raw and intimate story of two mismatched friends trying to make a name for themselves in the world resonating with audiences everywhere.Stream on Hulu
