Gangster thrillers are always a good choice, be it for beer nights with boys or having some mafia moments with the girls, this genre of movies is usually the OG pick. Over the years there has been a rise in this genre and, rightly so. It is so well loved and appreciated that there is no other way to go about it. A good day can become better and, a mundane, boring day becomes exciting as soon as you watch the mob take over your screen to do something suspenseful and, usually, sinister.
However, with the wide array of films at our disposal, it is often to difficult choose. What am I in the mood for- a drug lord falling in love with an unsuspecting girl next door or, a rogue mafia member being hunted down to the edges of the globe? Well, we are here to sort it all out for you with a list that offers you the best gangster thrillers out there. So, are you ready to enrich your watchlist with us?
Check Out the Best Gangster Thrillers That’ll Make You Want For More
The Godfather Franchise
A trilogy that has changed the meaning of gangster films and set a bar that maybe no other film or franchise can reach- The Godfather is not only the best on this list but, is one film franchise that everyone should watch at least once in their lifetime. From the casting that features actors like Marlon Brando, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Tom Hagen, John Marley, Al Lettieri and more to the critical screenplay that makes it the best book-to-screen adaptation ever, this one tops our recommendations!
With three movies in the franchise, the basic premise is the story of a Mafia family head passing on his crown to his youngest son ruffles many feathers in ways that harm him and his loved ones. You can stream the films on Netflix.
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The Departed
Martin Scorsese is the name and, he makes cinema for the change! The Departed is everything you would expect a gangster thriller to be and more. There is action as there is love and power and, the need to want out and in. Ah! This is just that film that you’ll have to watch to know how good it is. The fun part is the cast includes Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, Ray Winstone, Vera Farmiga, Alec Baldwin, Anthony Anderson and James Badge Dale!
The Departed tells the tale of an undercover agent and a spy who constantly try to counter-attack each other as they infiltrate an Irish gang. You can watch this on Amazon Prime Video.
Pulp Fiction
A Tarantino classic that will do well without much introduction because it is that famous and that good. Set in the underworld of gloom, gritty and gravitas, we see a series of incidents flow that intertwine the lives of two LA mobsters along with a gangster’s wife, a boxer and two small-time criminals. Sounds confusing and interesting? Well, with John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Willis, Tim Roth, Ving Rhames and Uma Thurman in the film, we assure you a fun watch! Stream it now on Amazon Prime Video.
Eastern Promises
David Cronenberg is not a director one should recommend loosely, especially to people who cannot do horror. So, this is a tricky pick. Although Eastern Promises is very much a gangster thriller, it has elements of horror that will psychologically disturb you. Yes, the story is that heartbreaking and the way it is put on screen only makes you tear your heart apart.
Starring Viggo Mortensen, Naomi Watts, Vincent Cassel and Armin Mueller-Stahl in major roles, the movie is about a midwife discovering the horrors faced by a Russian teenager, who passed away during childbirth in her hands.
John Wick Franchise
There might be a lot of noise surrounding this addition because, honestly this is a neo-noir thriller. So, why is it on this list you ask? You will have to watch the film to find out, besties. There are four in the franchise for you to catch up on with the last one being a 2023 release!
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The basic premise of the Joh Wick franchise is the titular character who belonged to the crime syndicate once upon a time is dealing with the death of his wife. However, some tragic turn of events lands him at odds with the underworld, so he sorts to finish everyone who has done him harm. Created by Derek Kolstad, Keanu Reeves leads this franchise. You can watch the films on Amazon Prime Video.
Public Enemies
Biographical crime dramas are always interesting but, often misrepresented which is why this listicle isn’t overflowing with them. However, Public Enemies is something really grave and beautiful in this genre. It might not be the best film on the list or out there but, it is an important film that teaches you a lot about the underworld and its people.
Based on the book of the same name, the film is about John Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson and Pretty Boy Floyd. The cast of the film features Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Marion Cotillard, Billy Crudup, Stephen Dorff, Stephen Lang and others. It is streaming now on Netflix.
Sicario
Sicario is filled with action and thrill as we embark on a journey to see an FBI agent exposed to the harsh realities of the field when she goes on a dangerous mission to stop the operation of a drug cartel. With every human touch that Denis Villeneuve is capable of, the director makes Sicario a gangster thriller for all ages, imparting a meaningful story. We have Emily Blunt, Benicio del Toro, Josh Brolin and others in the cast. It is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Let us know some gangster thrillers you love in the comments down below.
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