This is the third in a series of articles where we’ll be covering the Top Films About Gangsters. The Gangster Films subgenre typically acts as an umbrella subgenre that also includes Films about Mobsters, The Mob, The Mafia, The Yakuza, The Triad and other forms of Organized Crime. Because organized crime covers such a wide area of criminal activity, the Gangster Films subgenre is often associated with other Crime subgenres including Films About Assassins & Hitmen, Films About Capers & Heists, Films About Cops & the FBI, Films About Narcos, Films About Gambling and Films About Undercover Agents. While some Films About Gangs or Films About Drug Trafficking will also often be included in this subgenre, we have unorganized, teen gangs and films that primarily deal with drug dealers in their own collections, dependent on the film’s overall theme.
Films About Gangsters have had a long and storied history in Cinema from Little Caesar (1931) and Angels with Dirty Faces (1938) to classic mafia films of the 70’s with The Godfather (1972) and The Godfather: Part II (1974). Other popular Gangster films over the past decades include On the Waterfront (1954), Bonnie and Clyde (1967), Scarface (1983), The Untouchables (1987), Goodfellas (1990), City of God (2002) and The Departed (2006).
This third article will cover the Top Films About Gangsters You Haven’t Seen from the 1990’s and you can check out additional articles by decade below. We are also going to include a Best Of subgenre article as a grand finale. There are so many great Gangster Films over the last 70 years that we felt it best to break down some of the subgenre’s forgotten and lesser-known gems by decade before we give you the Best Of list which will likely feature many films you’ve already heard of or have seen.
- Top Films About Gangsters You Haven’t Seen – 1970’s
- Top Films About Gangsters You Haven’t Seen – 1980’s
- Top Films About Gangsters You Haven’t Seen – 1990’s
- Top Films About Gangsters You Haven’t Seen – 2000’s
- Top Films About Gangsters You Haven’t Seen – 2010’s
- Best Recent Gangster Films
- Best Films About Gangsters
To say the 1990’s was the Golden Age of Ganster Films would be an understatement. Even though the 1930’s saw a similar volume of films and the 1970’s produced all-time classics of the subgenre, this decade saw an incredible number of award-winning films embracing gangster and mafia life both on the big screen and the small screen. The decade’s films would also be further influenced by the ‘Quentin Tarantino effect’ and see a new wave of gangster comedies released across a variety of comedic subgenres.
This decade produced a litany of classic mafia, mob and gangster films – many of which are considered the best subgenre films of all time. Though we’ll also provide a list below, the list of classic Gangster films from the 1990’s is staggering: King of New York (1990), The Freshman (1990), GoodFellas (1990), State of Grace (1990), Miller’s Crossing (1990), The Godfather: Part III (1990), New Jack City (1991), Bugsy (1991), Reservoir Dogs (1992), Hoffa (1992), True Romance (1993), A Bronx Tale (1993), Carlito’s Way (1993), Pulp Fiction (1994), The Usual Suspects (1995), Get Shorty (1995), Casino (1995), Donnie Brasco (1997), Jackie Brown (1997), L.A. Confidential (1997), Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998), The Boondock Saints (1999) and Analyze This (1999). That’s quite a list and likely will never be topped again within the subgenre.
The quality and popularity of these big screen films also had an outsized influence on the small screen with a number of TV movies and miniseries embracing tales of the mafia and gangsters. The Lost Capone (1990) would be a fictionalized account of Al Capone’s (Eric Roberts) brother, Richard Hart (Adrian Pasdar) who would embrace the law. A fictional ending to John Dillinger’s (Martin Sheen) demise would have him appear in the same timeline and working with F. Murray Abraham’s Al Capone in another TV Movie, Dillinger and Capone (1995). Gotti (1996) would feature the rise (and fall) of John Gotti (Armand Assante) within the Gambino mafia family. Danny Aiello would star as Don Domenico Clericuzio, head of the fictional Clericuzios mafia family, in a television adaptation of Mario Puzo’s The Last Don. Meyer Lansky would be portrayed by Richard Dreyfuss in a period retelling of the gangster’s life in Lansky (1999). And Bonanno: A Godfather’s Story (1999) would be an epic period piece, in the vein of The Godfather (1972), that follows a young Joseph Bonanno (Bruce Ramsay) as he rises to the top of the Bonnano crime family, one of the Five Families, with his older, reflective self, portrayed by Martin Landau. All of these gangster-infused small screen tales would directly lead to arguably the best television series about mafia life in The Sorpranos (1999).
As we outlined in our Top Heist Films You Haven’t Seen – 1990’s and Top Films About Fugitives You Haven’t Seen – 1990’s articles, Quentin Tarantino would have a significant impact on crime films throughout the decade. This “Tarantino Effect” of ultraviolence, quirky characters and witty dialogue would also extend to subgenre films featuring gangsters, the mob and the mafia. Subgenre films that were heavily influenced by True Romance (1993) and Pulp Fiction (1994) included Nobody Will Speak of Us When We’re Dead (1995), Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead (1995), Underworld (1996), The Last Days of Frankie the Fly (1996), Montana (1988), Suicide Kings (1998) and The Boondock Saints (1999). It’s difficult not to think of Tarantino’s influence on these films even if that wasn’t the intended purpose by their directors and writers.
And finally, as with the 1980’s, the growing popularity of Gangster films also brought a variety of comedy to the subgenre. The Freshman (1990) and Analyze This (1999) would be gangster comedy classics that were bookends to the decade. Gangster Parody Comedies included Mad Dog Time (1996) and Jane Austen’s Mafia! (1999). Oscar (1991) and Johnny Stecchino (1991) were gangster Slapstick & Screwball Comedies. Dark Comedy was prevalent throughout the narratives of Get Shorty (1995), The Last Days of Frankie the Fly (1996) and Suicide Kings (1998). My Blue Heaven (1990), starring Steve Martin, would become one of the best Fish Out of Water Comedies from any decade. And there was even an appearance of Horror Comedy within the subgenre with the John Landis-directed Innocent Blood (1992) which somehow brought vampires and gangsters together in hilarious, yet bloody, fashion.
Our complete list of Films About Gangsters, The Mafia and The Mob features over 378+ films from 1954 – 2024. This collection features almost every film featuring mobsters, gangsters, the yakuza and other forms of organized crime. If you don’t see a film in our collection, it is likely in other collections such as Films About Assassins & Hitmen, Films About Capers & Heists, Films About Cops & the FBI, Films About Narcos, Films About Gambling, Films About Gangs and Films About Drugs & Narcos. Also, as we’re always updating our collections and will be releasing additional articles of great Gangster Films, subscribe to our newsletter for our latest updates as we post them.
Classic Films About Gangsters from the 1990’s: King of New York (1990), The Freshman (1990), GoodFellas (1990), State of Grace (1990), Miller’s Crossing (1990), The Godfather: Part III (1990), New Jack City (1991), Bugsy (1991), Reservoir Dogs (1992), Hoffa (1992), True Romance (1993), A Bronx Tale (1993), Carlito’s Way (1993), Pulp Fiction (1994), The Usual Suspects (1995), Get Shorty (1995), Casino (1995), Donnie Brasco (1997), Jackie Brown (1997), L.A. Confidential (1997), Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998), The Boondock Saints (1999) and Analyze This (1999).
Films About Gangsters from the 1990’s that didn’t make our list: Catchfire (1990), The Krays (1990), Men of Respect (1990), The Lost Capone (1990), Boiling Point (1990), The Big Man (1990), A Rage in Harlem (1991), Mobsters (1991), Showdown in Little Tokyo (1991), Johnny Stecchino (1991), Mad Dog Coll (1992), Final Analysis (1992), The Moon Is… the Sun’s Dream (1992), Leather Jackets (1992), Equinox (1992), The Public Eye (1992), Trouble Bound (1993), Judgment Night (1993), The Client (1994), Bullets Over Broadway (1994), Dillinger and Capone (1995), Wild Side (1995), The Funeral (1995), The Juror (1996), Once Upon a Time in Triad Society (1996), Underworld (1996), Kansas City (1996), Gotti (1996), Mad Dog Time (1996), Made in Hong Kong (1997), Montana (1998), Gunshy (1998), The Wounds (1998), Black Angel (1998), Jane Austen’s Mafia! (1999), Money Play$ (1998), Gloria (1999), Lansky (1999) and Mickey Blue Eyes (1999).
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Here is our list of the Top Films About Gangsters You Haven’t Seen – 1990’s. Note: Due to the overwhelming number of Gangster Films this decade, we have included a Top 20 vs. our usual Top 10 list of films.
Rank #20 – 1:
#20 No Way Home (1997) Where to Stream / Buy: YouTube
#19 Naked Tango (1990) Where to Stream / Buy: YouTube
#18 Sugar Hill (1994) Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#17 The Young Americans (1993) Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#16 Gonin (1995) Where to Stream / Buy: Internet Archive
#15 Little Odessa (1994) Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#14 My Blue Heaven (1990) Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#13 Trial by Jury (1994) Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#12 Suicide Kings (1998) Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#11 Billy Bathgate (1991) Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#10
The Last Don
Plot: An aging crime boss tries to steer his family into legitimate enterprise after the death of his son, a decision that may cost as many lives as it saves.
KBZ’s Take: We generally don’t include TV mini-series on our lists but had to make an exception for this subgenre. The quality of some of the gangster-based TV movies and series were higher than normal we and wanted to make sure fans of the subgenre didn’t miss out.
Based on the Mario Puzo novel of the same name, The Last Don is an epic mob tale spanning generations. It has been likened to The Godfather series of films, but we would say it’s a step below that classic franchise both in plot and quality. As a limited TV series, the budget constraints show and despite some great performances from Danny Aiello and Joe Mantegna, some of the acting quality also suffers.
With that said, if you’re a fan of The Godfather films and lower your expectations for this series, you’ll likely be pleasantly surprised by The Last Don. It expands on typical gangster and mob tales as it shows the family’s criminal enterprise infiltration into both Las Vegas and Hollywood.
Note: The series is not available on the usual streaming services, so we have included a link to the DVD that includes both The Last Don and The Last Don II (1998) below. But you can watch either series here and here in lower quality if desired.
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Plot: Dreaming of ascending the underworld ladder and gaining revenge on his sadistic boss, Sal, a Mafia flunky, Frankie, tries to take a step in the right direction by saving an exploited, drug-addicted porn actress, Margaret.
KBZ’s Take: This is one of the obscure “Tarantino-lite” Gangster films that appeared during the decade. Despite an amazing cast of Dennis Hopper, Kiefer Sutherland, Daryl Hannah and Michael Madsen, it’s all but been forgotten over time.
The film features sordid elements involving junkies, porn shoots and mob enforcers that had it compared to Tarantino’s crime films, but it carves out its own unique niche in the subgenre mainly driven by Hopper’s great performance. He’s a man navigating this seedy world with higher career aspirations.
If you’re a fan of Tarantino or the subgenre in general, it’s a film you definitely should not miss.
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Plot: A beautiful vampire turns a crime lord into a creature of the night.
KBZ’s Take: As you navigate your way through this subgenre, you inevitably come across the same Gangster film plots, dialogue and tropes. That’s the main reason we’re listing Innocent Blood here as it’s one of the craziest, bloodiest and funniest Gangster films you’ll see.
This is John Landis’ spiritual successor to An American Werewolf in London (1981), where vampires have replaced werewolves and gangsters have replaced college students in a surreal gangster-based Horror Comedy. And the gangster portions are the best part of this film led by one of the best performances of Robert Loggia’s career as the mob boss turned undead with a thirst for blood (and world domination).
Some fans of the subgenre might find the film too outlandish, but it’s a surprisingly different film from the subgenre that delivers quite a fun ride.
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#7
Hoodlum
Plot: In 1934, the second most lucrative business in New York City was running the numbers. When Madam Queen – the powerful woman who runs the scam in Harlem – is arrested, Ellsworth Bumpy Johnson takes over the business and must resist an invasion from a merciless mobster.
KBZ’s Take: Hoodlum is not a film to watch for historical accuracy of the 1930’s gangster era. While the film does include historical figures of the era including Bumpy Johnson (Laurence Fishburne), Dutch Schultz (Tim Roth), Lucky Luciano (Andy Garcia) and Madame Queen St. Clair (Cicely Tyson), it’s a fictionalized account of the interactions and eventual gangland war between these players.
With that said, it’s still one film from the subgenre that has been lost to time but should be on every subgenre fan’s list of films to check out. There are some great moments in this film that alternate between drama and action, and the performances of Fishburne and Roth, in particular, make it a must-see Gangster film.
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Plot: The true-life story of mafia boss Joesph Bonanno. The story spans from Bonanno’s early beginnings in Italy, to his conquests in America.
KBZ’s Take: Like The Last Don (1997), the Bonanno limited TV series is one of the decade’s better gangster stories that shouldn’t be missed. And while the series has similar budgetary constraints as the Last Don, it’s epic narrative and focus on Bonanno’s early life in Sicily, will feel both fresh and nostalgic to fans of The Godfather (1972).
Though the Bonanno crime family has been overlooked in film and is one of the lesser known Five Families of organized crime compared to the Colombos or Gambinos, they were just as ruthless and dangerous. This series covers various stages of Joseph Bonnano’s life from his arrival in America (Bruce Ramsay), to his rise to power (Tony Nardi) and his eventual reflection on his past (Martin Landau).
Note: This is a four-part series and we have linked to the respective DVDs with the entire series below. Streaming sites only have Part 3 & 4 while Part 1 & 2 is also known as Youngest Godfather.
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon (Part 1 & 2), Amazon (Part 3 & 4)
Plot: Five criminals face imminent death after screwing up a job.
KBZ’s Take: “I am Godzilla, you are Japan!” is the phrase that will be etched into your mind after seeing this film. Of all the Tarantino-lite films that came out after Pulp Fiction (1994), this film is the best of the bunch.
Like Pulp Fiction, there are intertwining stories and oddball characters including Treat Williams as Critical Bill (who also utters the infamous Godzilla line) and Steve Buscemi as a feared hitman, Mr. Shhh. And, of course, there’s The Man With The Plan, a quadriplegic mob boss played by Christopher Walken in one of his best and weirdest performances of the decade.
For younger generations, we would advise watching this film to see the direct impact Tarantino had on various crime films and how so few could match his unique style of dialogue, violence and overall craziness.
Additional Lists: Top Assassins & Hitmen Films You Haven’t Seen #3
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Plot: Escaping gangsters trying to kill her because of being witness to a crime, Gloria (Victoria Abril), a young woman of lower class, comes back to Madrid, Spain and to her family. There she tries to find work and earn some money.
KBZ’s Take: In our article on The Top Heist Films You Haven’t Seen – 2005 – 2009, we had Walking Vengeance (2008) ranked #3. The film was written and directed by Agustín Díaz and his unique blend of characters, dialogue and violence has often been compared to Quentin Tarantino.
Also mentioned in our article is how this film is a prequel of sorts to Walking Vengeance. Both films star Victoria Abril as Gloria, a troubled woman on the wrong side of the mob with some unique heist plans. Nobody Will Speak is Díaz’s directorial debut and won multiple awards for Best Film and Best Actress in Spain’s Goya Awards.
Of all the films we have seen within the crime genre, we would say Díaz’s style comes the closest to Tarantino’s unique brand. There’s the sordid characters and sequences, mob elements and extremely violent confrontations that Díaz subtly differentiates for his own unique voice in the subgenre.
Nobody Will Speak is not as violent as Walking Vengeance and the former film is much more focused on Gloria’s run from the mob (versus a heist in the latter film), but both films make an excellent double feature for fans of the subgenre.
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Plot: Terry Noonan returns home to New York’s Hells Kitchen after a ten-year absence. He soon hooks up with childhood pal Jackie who is involved in the Irish mob run by his brother Frankie. Terry also rekindles an old flame with Jackie’s sister Kathleen. Soon, however, Terry is torn between his loyalty to his friends and his loyalties to others.
KBZ’s Take: Out of the entire decade, there was one year that produced more quality and classic Gangster films than any other – 1990. State of Grace is one of the best from this year (and decade) that has been forgotten over time. It’s also a film that helped propel Gary Oldman to stardom which is no small feat given the cast of this film which also includes Sean Penn, Ed Harris, John Turturro and Robin Wright.
Though the film’s foundation is based on a common “man comes home to a different world” subgenre trope, it’s a compelling film that delves into the strengths (and weaknesses) of friendship over time. It’s one of the lesser-known best films of the subgenre that deserves better recognition that no fan should miss.
Additional Lists: Top Gangster & Mob Films You Haven’t Seen #9
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#2
Revenge
Plot: Ex-navy officer visits Mexican businessman friend and falls for his much younger wife.
KBZ’s Take: If we could sum up Revenge in two words, it would be Anthony Quinn. This film is worth watching for Quinn’s performance alone. Though the film often times suffers from style over substance with the late Tony Scott’s direction, it’s an early Kevin Costner effort that’s still an engaging and thrilling film.
But what makes the film worth watching and so high on our list is Quinn’s mesmerizing performance as the jilted Mexican mob boss. His turn from friendly and likable to psychotic and vengeful is masterfully portrayed by the acting legend.
Though the film is eventually about revenge, it’s a film owned by Quinn as one of the most memorable and ruthless gangsters of the entire subgenre.
Additional Lists: Top Gangster & Mob Films You Haven’t Seen #6
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Plot: A former drug lord is released from prison and seeks to regain control of his territories.
KBZ’s Take: There was debate whether this film should even be included on a “Films You Haven’t Seen List” but after polling people from multiple generations, it was surprising how few people have actually seen this classic film. A member of the 1990 “Year of the Gangster Film”, it’s often overshadowed by Goodfellas (1990) and The Godfather: Part III (1990) and Narcos & Drugs subgenre films like New Jack City (1991).
Though slower than other subgenre films and more of a character study of Frank White (Christopher Walken), the film has a dark edge and gritty ruthlessness to it that isn’t found in comparable films. It’s also one of the few Gangster films where you’re actively rooting for the villain despite all the death and destruction left in his wake.
We’re going to assume older fans of the subgenre have already seen this film and rightfully consider it a classic. But for younger viewers, it’s essential viewing right up there with some of the best of the decade and entire subgenre.
Additional Lists: Top Gangster & Mob Films You Haven’t Seen #2
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
