The Films About Gangs subgenre lives in the Action, Crime, Drama and Thriller genres and usually features other subgenres such as Films About Vigilantes, Films About Gangsters & The Mob, Films About Drugs & Narcos, Films About Teens & Young Adults and Action Thriller Films. Due to the number of Films About Gangs (and the majority of Gang Films released in the 1980’s and 1990’s), we will create two lists for this subgenre. This Part 1 list will cover Films About Gangs from 1970 – 2000 and Part 2 will cover 2000 – 2022.
The 1970’s saw the subgenre grow in popularity starting with the Martin Scorsese classic Mean Streets (1973). This film was followed by two other classic films of the subgenre. John Carpenter’s Assault on Precinct 13 (1976) would feature a gang-related assault on a precinct station. And The Warriors (1979) by Walter Hill would be a film that would define the subgenre for over two decades. The Warriors blended elements of the Action Chase, Action Thriller and Dystopian Future subgenres for a classic film that would endure through the ages and eventually become a video game. Other notable subgenre films of the decade included The Lords of Flatbush (1974), Death Weekend (1976), The Wanderers (1979) and Over the Edge (1979).
The First Golden Age of crime films featuring Gangs would start in the 1980’s as the subgenre incorporated different themes into their films. Teen & Young Adult Dramas focused on the effect of youths in gangs with Bad Boys (1983), The Outsiders (1983), Rumble Fish (1983), Tuff Turf (1985), The New Kids (1985), 3:15: The Moment of Truth (1986), The Principal (1987) and Lean on Me (1989). A Dystopian Future where gangs run rampant in society and schools was a theme found in Class of 1984 (1982) and Streets of Fire (1984). Other classic and notable films of the subgenre from this decade included Savage Dawn (1985), Year of the Dragon (1985), Nomads (1986), The Brotherhood of Justice (1986), China Girl (1987), Colors (1988) and Black Rain (1989).
The 1990’s would see The Hood Film microgenre emerge within the Films About Gangs subgenre. The Hood Film microgenre typically featured films about African Americans or Hispanic Americans with themes including organized crime, drug trafficking and coming of age in poverty-stricken or gang-infused neighborhoods. Standout films of The Hood microgenre from the 1990’s include New Jack City (1991), Boyz n the Hood (1991), Deep Cover (1992), Juice (1992), American Me (1992), South Central (1992), Trespass (1992), Menace II Society (1993), Bound by Honor (1993), Sugar Hill (1994), Fresh (1994), Friday (1995), Dead Presidents (1995), Clockers (1995), Dangerous Minds (1995), The Substitute (1996) and One Eight Seven (1997). Other classic and notable subgenre films of the 1990’s included Class of 1999 (1990), Romper Stomper (1992), A Bronx Tale (1993), American History X (1998) and The Corruptor (1999).
Our list of Films About Gangs includes over 130+ films from 1973 – 2021. As mentioned earlier, our list of Films About Gangs You Haven’t Seen Part 1 will include films from 1970 – 2000. For our list of The Top Films About Gangs You Haven’t Seen (Part 1) list, we had to leave the following films off the list: Mean Streets (1973), Assault on Precinct 13 (1976), Fighting Back (1982), Bad Boys (1983), Streets of Fire (1984), Savage Dawn (1985), Tuff Turf (1985), Final Jeopardy (1985) and Romper Stomper (1992). One additional note: Our list below will be light on The Hood microgenre films as we will have an entirely separate list for those films that emerged within the subgenre in the 1990’s and early 2000’s.
Note: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Here is our list of the Top Films About Gangs You Haven’t Seen (Part 1):
#10
Enemy Territory
Plot: An insurance salesman gets trapped in an apartment building and is pursued by a gang called The Vampires.
KBZ’s Take: We would forgive you if you thought a movie that had Ray Parker Jr. (of Ghostbusters theme song fame) as a star in this film would be C or D list movie materially. However, this is a surprisingly good action film with many suspenseful moments and thrilling sequences. Plus, the film also has Jan Michael Vincent as a wheelchair-bound, crazy Vietnam Vet so how could you go wrong? Seriously though, this is an above average film and recommended for fans of the subgenre.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://youtu.be/0JlEbtcmjUA
Plot: High schooler and his friends start a vigilante gang to rid their community of lowlifes.
KBZ’s Take: One of the forgotten films of the 80’s that starred Keanu Reeves and Keifer Sutherland. While the film’s premise is a bit outlandish (a high school principal supports a student vigilante group?), the film is held together by quality acting. Reeves and Sutherland are the leads but also starring are Billy Zane, Lori Loughlin and Joe Spano. The only thing we kept thinking while watching the film is if it would have been more effective with Reeves and Sutherland switching roles. Either way, it’s a decent film in the subgenre and recommended for fans and completists.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3RlmpqE
Plot: New principal and the school’s head of security end up in a violent confrontation with the school’s gang.
KBZ’s Take: We struggled with this spot and initially had Tuff Turf (1985) here. Tuff Turf is one of the forgotten films of the 80’s that combined high school drama and gangs. And it was an early James Spader and Robert Downey Jr. pairing (who would go on both star in a better film – Less Than Zero (1987)). However, we wanted to reserve one spot on this list for a theme of the subgenre that appeared in the late 80’s and 90’s – the new schoolteacher in town to clean up the school and enlighten minds. On one end of this theme’s spectrum, you had the new teacher using questionable methods to teach underprivileged kids (Lean on Me (1989) & Dangerous Minds (1995) while on the other end of the spectrum, you had the more violent confrontations with teachers and gangs (The Substitute (1996) and One Eight Seven (1997)). The Principal (1987) falls somewhere in the middle of the theme balancing lighthearted moments with James Belushi and his students with much darker and violent confrontations with the resident gang member terrorizing the school. With some great performances from Belushi, Lou Gossett, Jr., Rae Dawn Chong and Michael Wright, it’s a film that shouldn’t be missed by fans of the subgenre.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3wEGFKu
#7
China Girl
Plot: Teen lovers tip the balance of power in New York’s Little Italy and Chinatown.
KBZ’s Take: We have an entire list of Films Based on Shakespeare, and this film is on the list. Modernizing the tale of Romeo and Juliet, China Girl shows an interracial relationship between the Chinese Tye and Italian Tony. While it’s not a great film, it’s still one of the better adaptations of Romeo and Juliet that modern (i.e. younger) audiences will likely sit through. It also highlights the rivalry and racial conflict between the Italian and Chinese gangs in a grittier (and more violent) manner. It’s an Abel Ferrara film with a stellar cast in James Russo, Richard Panebianco, Sari Chang, David Caruso and Russell Wong.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3Js9cuf
#6
The Firm
Plot: A middle class real estate agent leads a double life as the head of a vicious gang of football hooligans.
KBZ’s Take: There are some other great films about Football Hooligans, but this film is all about the viciousness of Gary Oldman’s character. It’s only an hour-length film, but in that time, you see how the draw of Hooliganism overtakes both the man and his family life. It also has one of the most disturbing moments you’ll witness on film. While talking to an adversary on the phone, Oldman’s character isn’t paying attention to his baby son. We’ll leave it there and recommend you watch this great film of the subgenre.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3WU2EHY
#5
American Me
Plot: After spending most of his life in prison, Montoya Santana is released and tries to lead a family-centered lifestyle.
KBZ’s Take: This is a very depressing film focusing on the ‘normalization’ of prison life on a man. Santana (Edward James Olmos) works his way to the top of the drug trade in prison but struggles to adjust to a normal life outside of it. With an epic narrative, the entire story of Santana, his parents and eventually his community are intertwined with gangs and drugs. Highly recommended film of the subgenre.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3wKP2nX
#4
Colors
Plot: Veteran cop shows a young cop the ropes in the dangerous, gang-controlled barrios of Los Angeles.
KBZ’s Take: This was a popular film in the late 1980’s with star power including Robert Duvall, Sean Penn, Maria Conchita Alonso, Don Cheadle and a host of familiar faces from the 80’s. However, it’s been lost to time a bit, so we wanted to highlight the film here. It’s one of the best films showing the futility of law enforcement and their efforts to control the growing gang problems within communities. It’s one of the best films of the entire subgenre and shouldn’t be missed by any fans.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3DradPw
#3
Trespass
Plot: Two Arkansas firemen find a map the leads to stolen gold in an abandoned East St. Louis factory. However, the factory is in the turf of a local gang.
KBZ’s Take: This is one of our favorite films with one of the best casts you’ll see in any films in this subgenre. Ice-T, Ice Cube, the late Bill Paxton, and William Sadler star in this film that is part Gang film, part Caper & Heist and part Action Thriller. Written by Bob Zemeckis & Bob Gale (Back to the Future (1984)) and directed by Walter Hill (The Warriors (1979)), the story highlights the time-honored theme of the evil that men do in pursuit of gold. Highly recommended film of the subgenre.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3RhNon8
Plot: New teacher at an inner-city high school clashes with the school’s tough kid and his gang.
KBZ’s Take: Featuring a Dystopian Future with schools, Class of 1984 was ahead of its time in 1982 showing the eventual decay and growing violence in inner-city schools. At the time, metal detectors in school and students with weapons was unheard of, but the film was prescient in this regard. The film is ultimately about the confrontation between Perry King’s teacher and Timothy Van Patten’s gang leader. Where the film excels is with showing the gang leader’s privileged background, yet he still chooses life as a thug. It’s a very violent film with Sci-Fi undertones that is one of the best films of the subgenre and shouldn’t be missed.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3RhNsTU
Plot: Prison, drugs and gang war touch three young men in East Los Angeles from the 1970’s to the 1990’s.
KBZ’s Take: Also known as Blood In, Blood Out, this film has a love it or hate it reputation with haters questioning some of the acting and character development. While there is room to argue about the acting with certain individuals in the film, the character development is some of the best you’ll find in the subgenre. As you can probably already tell, we’re in the camp that loves this film and think it’s one of the best films of the subgenre. It’s an epic film covering the lives of three brothers and how gangs and drugs have touched and changed their lives. It’s an almost 3-hour long film that balances the stories of the three brothers quite well and spends equal time in the prison environment and outside of it. Damian Chapa, Jesse Borrego, Benjamin Bratt, Delroy Lindo, Enrique Castillo and others highlight an amazing cast and are perfectly cast in their roles. Even Billy Bob Thornton has a small role as a member of the White Supremacist prison gang. If you still haven’t seen this film, we highly recommend you move it to the top of your streaming queue. It’s one of the best films of the subgenre and shouldn’t be missed by any fans or completists of the subgenre.
Where to Stream / Buy: https://amzn.to/3YcBldg
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