Crime thrillers based on gangsters and mafias have always been a popular genre in the cinema. Everybody loves to experience fast pace heists and chases.
The Hollywood narration of gangs and mobs of different times makes you want to root for the bad guys once in a while.
From cult classics like “Scarface” to high-adrenaline thrillers like “The Equalizer,” Netflix has a vast collection of gang-related films.
With unexpected plot twists, deceits, and non-stop actions, you will always have to keep your eyes peeled for something surprising.
Here are some of the best movies on gangsters available on Netflix for streaming. Whatever mood you be in, every movie will make you want more.
The Irishman
If you have ever wondered what the Post World War II Mob Era in the Americas looked like, this movie should be a must-watch.
The Irishman is a Martin Scorsese film that takes place in 50s America revolving around the essential and famous Mob circles and personalities of that time.
This crime film is based on a 2004 novel by Charles Brandt, “I hear you paint houses.” The movie was released on Netflix on 27th November 2019. It was also nominated for numerous awards in the 92nd Academy Awards.
The film revolves around a World War II veteran, Frank Sheehan, who works as a truck driver in the meat supply business.
Soon he crosses paths with Russell Buffalino, an influential Mobster who helps him meet new allies in other crime families, where he rises as a hitman for the Mob.
The movie stars famous actors like Roberto De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Al Pacino. Along with co-stars like Ray Romano, Anna Paquin, Jesse Plemons, etc.
Scarface
Scarface is considered one of the best crime dramas of its time. This Brian De Palma film is based on the events taking place after the Mariel Boatlift amid the tensions between the United States of America and the Cuban Government. This film is considered to be a cult classic that shaped most crime dramas in modern times.
This 1983 film was a remake of the 1932 film of the same name, which was adapted from a novel written by Armitage Trail. Scarface was one of the highest-grossing films in the United States in the 80s.
Tony Montana, a Cuban refugee, arrives in Miami due to the Mariel Boatlift from Cuba. He is sent to a refugee camp because of his past criminal record.
From there, Tony and his friend Manny work up to get into the Cocaine business in Miami and remove everyone in their way until Tony becomes the Drug lord Kingpin of Miami.
Al Pacino gave a fantastic performance playing Tony Montana in the movie, which people still applaud as one of the best performances in the cinemas. Steven Bauer, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Robert Loggia are some of the co-stars in the film.
American Gangster
Based on the criminal life of Frank Lucas, American Gangster is a biographical film directed by Ridley Scott.
The film is adapted from the Mark Jacobson book “The Return of the Superfly,” which goes through the rise and fall of the gangster Frank Lucas. This 2007 film was nominated for two Oscars and other prestigious accolades.
Frank Lucas began as a drug trafficker for the Harlem Mob circles in the 70s. Soon he finds his way of making his name on the Heroin market in the United States.
Using the Vietnam War and its chaos to his advantage, he used American planes issued for war to carry heroin for supply in and out of the US.
Denzel Washington portrays the life of Frank Lucas with an outstanding performance, along with Russell Crowe as Richie Roberts, who brought down Lucas’s drug empire in real life. Josh Brolin, Norman Reedus, Ted Levine, and many others were the co-stars of this film.
The Departed
The Departed might be a perfect choice for people who love high-adrenaline thrillers with lots of action. This 2006 Martin Scorsese film is based on many real-life entities while also being a remake of a movie, Internal Affairs.
This film was based on a gang known as the Boston winter hill gang; Colin Sullivan, the character, is based on an ex-corrupted FBI agent John Connolly, and the character of Frank Costello is based on the real-life gangster, Whitey Bulger.
The Departed was a considerable success, winning multiple awards like The Oscars, The Golden Globes, British Film Academy Awards, etc.
The film shows the Irish mafia based in Boston, whose boss, Frank Costello, puts a spy, Colin Sullivan, in the State Police. On the other hand, the Police plant Billy Costigan, an undercover agent in the Irish Mob.
Both try to be ahead of one another until they find out the truth and attempt to expose each other before the other finds out.
Leonardo DiCaprio was nominated for various awards for the role of Billy Costigan in the movie. His co-stars were Matt Damon, Mark Wahlberg, Jack Nicholson, and others.
The Equalizer
Everybody loves a cool vigilante hero movie. The Equalizer is the perfect choice for that. Antoine Fuqua directed this 2014 film and was a commercial success.
The film shows an ex-U.S. Marine, Robert McCall, who lives an ordinary and quiet life. He has trouble sleeping because of the mental trauma he got from his past life, so he spends his nights in a nearby café.
He meets a girl there who the Russian Mob is trafficking; Robert is forced to return to his former self in order to save this girl.
Denzel Washington acts as Robert McCall in the lead role, along with David Harbour, Chloe Grace Moretz, and Bill Pullman in the supporting roles.
Jack Reacher
If you haven’t seen Tom Cruise’s Jack Reacher, you have missed a great film. This movie is a must-watch for people who love thrillers and gang-related stories.
This 2012 film was adapted from a well-known novel called One Shot by Lee Child. The audience received the movie well, and it was later made into a franchise.
James Barr, an ex-U.S. military sniper, is accused of a mass killing by the Pittsburgh Police.
When the case reaches the hands of a former murder investigator, Jack Reacher, he realizes something is off about the case and takes it upon himself to find out the truth about it.
Tom Cruise played the protagonist Jack Reacher along with Werner Herzog, Lee Child, Rosamund Pike, Joseph Sikora, and others in supporting roles.
The Highwaymen
You surely have heard about the famous criminals Bonnie and Clyde. This movie is based on the guys who try to catch this couple and their notorious group.
The Highwaymen was released on Netflix on 29th March 2019. John Lee Hancock directed this film.
The film takes place in the Americas in the 1930s. During the Great Depression, a criminal couple, Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, ran rampant in parts of the States, looting banks and settlements.
Two Ex-Texas Rangers, Maney Gault and Frank Hamer take on the case and try to track and catch this group of criminals.
Woody Harrelson and Kevin Costner played the part of the Rangers along with Kathy Bates, Kim Dickens, William Saddler, and John Carroll Lynch as their co-stars.
Lucy
Lucy is indeed a film from the science fiction genre, but due to its ties with the gangster and drug activities, it has to make a list.
This 2014 film was written and directed by Luc Besson. Lucy had a massive box office which huge appreciation from the audience.
The protagonist Lucy lives in Taiwan to study. But she gets into a deceit planned by her boyfriend, which makes her work for the Korean drug lords and mob circles as a drug courier.
During a chaotic exchange, she consumes nootropics into her bloodstream, which gives her psychokinetic powers, which she uses to exact revenge on the drug empire for doing this to her.
Scarlett Johansson portrays Lucy, which the audience and her fans applauded immensely. It also stars Morgan Freeman, Amr Waked, and other co-stars.
The Outsider
The Outsider is a Martin Zandvliet film released on 9th March 2018 on Netflix. The movie deals with the yakuza period in Japan after the post-World War II era.
The movie shows a post-World War II era, nine years after the Pacific War; Nick Lowell, a former American POW, is the only inmate in the Osaka prison who is not Japanese. Most of the inmates belong to the Yakuza.
Nick saves an inmate of his from hanging, who repays the debt by making his release. Upon release, he works his way up to join and risk in the ranks of the Yakuza.
The film stars Tadanobu Asano, Jared Leto, Shioli Kutsuna, etc.
Looper
Ever wondered what the futuristic mafia would look like? What will the fights look like? How will the schemes take place? This Rian Johnson-directed fiction film gives you an idea of it all.
This 2012 film got huge appreciation from the audience because of its futuristic vibes and visuals and the idea of gangs and mobs in the near future.
The film deals with exotic, futuristic things like space and time travel. In a world where time travel is listed off on black markets, anybody can exploit it for their own needs.
Joe is a Crime Syndicate hitman who goes into the past to kill his targets sent from the future. Things get tense between him and the higher-ups when his future self is sent to him.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt stars in the major role of Joe in the film, with Emily Blunt, Bruce Willis, and Piper Perabo as the co-cast.
Rush Hour 3
We have seen enough grit and gore in our list up until now. Now let us see some films with gangsters and mobsters in them but in a goofy and fun way.
Rush Hour 3 is a Brett Ratner film, the third sequel of the Rush Hour franchise. The film was considered a huge success and had a massive box office.
When Solon Han, a Chinese Ambassador, speaks against the Triads, a major crime syndicate based in China, and starts to expose them, he falls victim to an assassination.
Lee and Carter are summoned to try and take down the Triads and protect a French Lady with major information on the Triad’s secret leaders.
Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan play the role of Carter and Lee in the movie, with their co-cast, Noemie Lenoir, Hiroyuki Sanada, Zhang Jingchu, and others.
Snatch
Snatch is the perfect movie for people who loves action and comedy all in one. This Guy Ritchie-directed film was a box office success and was appreciated by the audience due to its highly defined humor.
The film has two different plots intertwined; in one, a small boxing promoter is oppressed by his local gangster and forced to do his deeds, whereas, in the other plot, the story follows a criminal group pursuing a precious diamond that was stolen.
Snatch is considered an ensemble comedy film, meaning it has many principal characters playing a major part in the story. The cast stars Brad Pitt, Jason Statham, Vinnie Jones, and other co-stars.
Featured Image Source: IMDb