YOU CAN’T be a crook, but it sure is a fun time watching someone else be one.
Fictional (or fictionalized) tales of swaggy, swaggering, surly bad guys have always made for captivating cinema. From charismatic thugs to fast-talking grifters to the imperious crime lord, the stock characters of gangster movies are always riveting, and their rise (and eventual fall) is always a good yarn.
Obviously, there are a lot of very good gangster movies out there. But with Netflix’s constantly shifting roster of movies (benching some key players now and again, like a wily coach), it’s easy enough to narrow a list of must-watch flicks.
Here are eleven you must watch right now, as of August 8. The list is arranged alphabetically.
Casino (1995)
You’ll find a lot of Martin Scorsese on this list, for obvious reasons. The acclaimed director has spent a career mining the gangster trade for cinematic gems. Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Sharon Stone, James Woods — it’s a take-no-prisoners cast in a tale about how the Mob infiltrated Las Vegas.
Infernal Affairs (2002)
Scorsese later remade this Hong Kong film into The Departed. There’s a lot of debate about whether Infernal Affairs or The Departed is better than the other, but the original is definitely a subtler, more methodical movie. Two traitors — one on the side of the cops, the other on the side of the Triad — must hunt down and confront each other.
The Irishman (2019)
If you’ve got three and a half hours, watch this Netflix exclusive. Scorsese’s most recent work attempts to sum up three decades of what he’s been saying about American crime into one massive work. Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Al Pacino reunite with the director for this sweeping epic that covers decades in a tragic life of a crime.
Gangs of New York (2002)
The fourth time in the row we’ll be mentioning Scorsese. Scorsese takes his favorite genre and transplants it into 19th century America. The gangsters are wearing top hats, the automatics have been replaced by axes, and Daniel Day-Lewis absolutely steals whatever scene he’s in. Seriously, he's one of the scariest crime lords in the business.
The Godfather (1972) and The Godfather Part II (1974)
The OG, in all sense of the word. Two movies in one entry, because both Godfather 1 and Godfather 2 are just flat-out excellent movies. They’re so good, in fact, that you’ll even forget that they made a third.
Public Enemies (2010)
Michael Mann directed the tense heist movie Heat, and he brings that same ruthless energy to this ‘30s gangster flick. Based on real life events, Johnny Depp plays the Robin Hood-like John Dillinger. Christian Bale is his nemesis, government agent Melvin Purvis. Actors like Marion Cotillard, Billy Crudup, Channing Tatum, and Giovanni Ribisi also round out the lineup.
Scarface (1983)
Al Pacino at his most iconic. Say hello to his little friend in this classic movie. It’s endlessly quotable, downright riveting, and an enduring crime movie classic.
The Town (2010)
Ben Affleck has never shown more promise than in this crime thriller, in which he both starred and directed. Boston has always been a great setting for crime movies (see The Departed), and in this movie, a gang of small-time bank robbers find law and fate closing in on them after a career of steady scores. Jon Hamm and Jeremy Renner round out the solid cast.
Uncut Gems (2019)
The newest movie on this list deserves a place in your Netflix watchlist. You may know Adam Sandler for his comedies, but here he has a truly unnerving performance as a jewelry dealer on the run from local gangsters. Kevin Garnett plays himself, and it’s no mere walk-on appearance — he actually plays a significant role.
The Untouchables (1987)
Just for a change, here’s a gangster movie firmly taking place on the side of the good guys. Kevin Costner is Eliot Ness, a do-gooder in a morass of corrupt cops, who vows to take down Robert De Niro’s Al Capone. Sean Connery is Kevin Costner’s resbak, a grizzed, wily police veteran who isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty in the war against crime.
Notable mentions that are currently out of Netflix's rotation: Goodfellas, The Departed, Heat, Mean Streets, Reservoir Dogs
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