This is the fifth 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 fifth article will cover the Top Films About Gangsters You Haven’t Seen from the 2010’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
The 2010’s continued a downward trend in classic and quality films of the subgenre though the quantity of films increased. British Gangster Films continued to be released en masse though they couldn’t quite compare to the classic films of the prior decade. However, Asian Gangster Films would take over during this decade and produce some of the classic Gangster films of the decade. And continuing previous trends, Historical Biopics and Historical Event Films involving organized crime, mobsters and gangsters remained popular despite varying quality.
The British Gangster Film was a microcosm of the entire subgenre this decade – quantity over quality. Due to the previous decade’s popularity, driven mainly by Guy Ritchie and Matthew Vaughn, there was a continued influx of British crime films in the 2010’s with many of these films failing to reach the impact or popularity of previous efforts. In fact, the only film of this group during the decade we would note as a classic of the subgenre is Legend (2015). Other notable British Gangster Films of the 2010’s included The Kid (2010), Bonded by Blood (2010), Welcome to the Punch (2013), Top Dog (2014), We Still Kill the Old Way (2014), Rise of the Footsoldier II (2015), Bonded by Blood 2 (2016), We Still Steal the Old Way (2017), London Heist (2017), Rise of the Footsoldier III (2017) and Rise of the Footsoldier 4: Marbella (2019).
While the British Gangster Film continued its downward trend, there was noticeable rise in another theme of the subgenre – the Asian Gangster Film. Though Asian Gangster Films had always been present in the subgenre from Sonny Chiba’s gangster films of the 1970’s in Yakuza Wolf (1972) and Bodyguard Kiba 2 (1973) to other classic Asian subgenre films including Infernal Affairs (2002) and Election (2005), it wasn’t until this decade that there was an enduring string of great Gangster films out of Asia. Notable Asian Gangster Films from the 2010’s included Outrage (2001), Nameless Gangster (2012), Beyond Outrage (2014), The Outlaws (2017), Believer (2018), Ash is Purest White (2018), Cities of Last Things (2018), The Drug King (2018), The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil (2019) and The Wild Goose Lake (2019).
Historical Biopics continued as a predominant theme of the subgenre in the 2010’s covering some lesser-known real life mobsters and gangsters. 22 Bullets (2010) starring Jean Reno would highlight the later life of French gangster Jacky Imbert. The life story of Kevin Lewis and his involvement with organized crime would be detailed in The Kid (2010). Bonded by Blood (2010) would profile the drug dealers and gangster ultimately involved in the Rettendon murders in England. Italian Gangster and bank robber Renato Vallanzasca would be the subject of Angel of Evil (2010). One of the best underrated films of the subgenre, Kill the Irishman (2011), would set its focus on Cleveland mobster Danny Greene. Both Rob the Mob (2014) and The Wannabe (2015) would chronicle Thomas and Rosemarie Uva’s incredulous and moronic plan to rob the New York City mob. Infamous American crime boss Whitey Bulger would be portrayed by Johhny Depp in Black Mass (2015). Legend (2015) would be another biographical film covering London’s infamous gangsters, The Krays. The notorious South Korean drug dealer and crime lord of 1970’s Busan, Lee Doo-sam, would be profiled in South Korea’s The Drug King (2018). The Traitor (2019) would detail Sicilian mobster Tommaso Buscetta’s role as an informant in the largest anti-Mafia trial in Italian history. And both Jimmy Hoffa and his main enforcer, Frank Sheeran, would be the subjects of The Irishman (2019).
On the Historical Event Films side of the subgenre, there were also both famous and lesser-known events involving organized crime covered throughout the decade. Nameless Gangster (2012) would be set against the government’s crackdown on organized crime and corruption in 1980’s South Korea. LAPD’s Gangster Squad formation in the 1940’s would serve as the basis for Gangster Squad (2013). American Hustle (2013) would detail some of the players involved in the FBI’s ABSCAM operation targeting corrupt members of Congress. Organized crime’s use of the French Connection was covered by the French film, The Connection (2014). The Mafia Capitale in Rome and its various activities would be central to the plot of Suburra (2015). Carbone (2017) would follow organized crime’s eventual involvement in the Carbon Connection Scandal of the late 2000’s. And the murders of South Korea’s serial killer, Yoo Young-chul, heavily inspired the film The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil (2019).
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 2010’s: 22 Bullets (2010), Kill the Irishman (2011), Outrage (2001), American Hustle (2013), Black Mass (2015), Legend (2015), Suburra (2015), The Outlaws (2017), Carbone (2017), Believer (2018), The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil (2019) and The Irishman (2019).
Films About Gangsters from the 2010’s that didn’t make our list: The Bannen Way (2010), Bonded by Blood (2010), Angel of Evil (2010), Boca (2010), London Boulevard (2010), Mob Rules (2011), Nameless Gangster (2012), For the Love the Money (2013), Stand Up Guys (2012), Gangster Squad (2013), Dead Man Down (2013), Welcome to the Punch (2013), Blood Ties (2013), Beyond Outrage (2014), Wicked Blood (2014), Tommy (2014), Top Dog (2014), Bad Turn Worse (2014), Falcon Rising (2014), Bad Country (2014), By the Gun (2014), The Connection (2014), We Still Kill the Old Way (2014), The Wannabe (2015), Rise of the Footsoldier II (2015), Term Life (2016), Bonded by Blood 2 (2016), Live by Night (2016), We Still Steal the Old Way (2017), The Lost Brother (2017), London Heist (2017), The Beautiful Ones (2017), Racer and the Jailbird (2017), The Outsider (2018), Forgive Us Our Debts (2018), Dogman (2018), Boys Cry (2018), Crossroads: One Two Jaga (2018), Ash is Purest White (2018), Cities of Last Things (2018), The Drug King (2018), El Chicano (2019), We Die Young (2019), The Whistlers (2019), Vault (2019) and The Kitchen (2019).
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Here is our list of the Top Films About Gangsters You Haven’t Seen – 2010’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 Criminal Activities (2015) Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#19 Blue Ruin (2013) Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#18 The Family (2013) Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#17 Easy Money (2010) Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#16 Run All Night (2015) Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#15 The Traitor (2019) Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#14 The Kid (2010) Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#13 The Wild Goose Lake (2019) Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#12 22 Bullets (2010) Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#11 Wild Card (2015) Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Plot: A director and producer, who are struggling to become successful, grab an opportunity when a mob leader takes interest in their work.
KBZ’s Take: On our lists, we always like to provide one very obscure film of a subgenre and The Gangs, the Oscars, and the Walking Dead is our pick for this list. This is a hard film to explain as it’s a Gangster Film, Raunchy Comedy and a Film About the Film Industry. There are many nods to filmmaking and all the things that can (and will) go wrong on a production taken to a surreal and hilarious level in this film.
The closest film we can liken this to is One Cut of the Dead (2017) but filled with Gangsters and Zombies. It was a surprisingly good film and one that fans of the subgenre should enjoy.
Note: This film isn’t available on most streaming sites or on DVD but might be available on Disney+ if you have it. Link here.
Where to Stream / Buy: N/A
#9
The Outlaws
Plot: In Chinatown, law and order is turned upside down when a trio of feral Chinese gangsters arrive, start terrorizing civilians, and usurping territory. The beleaguered local gangsters team up with the police, led by the badass loose cannon Ma Seok-do, to bring them down. Based on a true story.
KBZ’s Take: We mentioned earlier that Asian Gangster Films were the major trend of the subgenre in the 2010’s and The Outlaws is one of the best of the bunch. It has the gangster element and tons of action layered over a self-referential sense of humor.
We would liken the film’s action, thrills, violence and comedy to Lethal Weapon (1987) but with more of a focus on the various gangsters going to war against each other. Highly recommended film and one of our recent favorites of the subgenre.
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#8
Believer
Plot: A low-level drug dealer works with an ambitious police officer to take down a psychotic and dangerous cartel kingpin.
KBZ’s Take: Another Asian Gangster Film on our list but unlike our previous pick, Believer is much more serious, dark and violent. Though it’s a remake of Drug War (2012), we felt it was different from the source material and much better in certain aspects.
This is one of the better Gangster films that effectively blends action, suspense, mystery and even horror elements together for one of the darkest and unpredictable films of the subgenre.
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#7
Legend
Plot: The story of the infamous British gangsters, The Kray Brothers.
KBZ’s Take: The Kray brothers have been featured before in another good film, The Krays (1990), but Legend is a more powerful film based on the performance of Tom Hardy. The film must be seen to be believed that Tom Hardy actually plays twin brothers with completely separate mannerisms and temperaments.
It’s a career defining performance from Hardy and elevates the film into one of the better Gangster films that’s a must-see for fans of the subgenre.
Additional Lists: Top Gangster & Mob Films You Haven’t Seen #7
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#6
Rob the Mob
Plot: The true-life story of a crazy-in-love Queens couple who robbed a series of mafia social clubs and got away with it – for a while – until they stumble upon a score bigger than they ever planned and become targets of both the mob and the FBI.
KBZ’s Take: The popular saying, “Not the sharpest tools in the shed”, would apply to the two main characters in this film – Tommy Ulva (Michael Pitt) and Rosie Ulva (Nina Arianda). As they initially develop their plan to rob the mafia, you can only shake your head at the inevitable outcome.
The film is a true story about Thomas and Rosmaire Uva and works primarily because of Pitt and Arianda’s performances in the film that help give more insight into the couple and why they continued with their dangerous string of heists. There are also some good supporting performances from Andy Garcia, Ray Romano, Frank Whaley and Griffin Dune that make this one of the best subgenre films from the first half of this decade.
Additional Lists: Top Heist Films You Haven’t Seen 2010 – 2014 #3
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#5
Outrage
Plot: When a tough yakuza gangster is betrayed by his bosses, it means all-out war. Bodies pile up as he takes out everyone in his way to the top in a brutal quest for revenge.
KBZ’s Take: Outrage is one of those films that starts a bit slow while it slowly examines the inner workings of the Yakuza. It also examines the generational gap in organized crime with the different mentalities and customs of old school vs. new school gangsters.
However, around the second act, the film takes a turn into one of the most violent films on our list. This is where Otomo (Takeshi Kitano) learns that he’s been betrayed and embarks on his quest for revenge.
This is one film we would implore subgenre fans to check out if they haven’t seen it yet, if only for the amazing performance by Kitano.
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
#4
Carbone
Plot: In danger of losing his business, Anthony Roca, an ordinary man, develops a scam that will become the heist of the century. Overtaken by the crime, he will have to deal with betrayal and murder.
KBZ’s Take: The foundation of Carbone is more akin to a Financial Fraud film and Heist Film making it a candidate for inclusion on various crime film subgenre lists. But there’s also the matter of the gangsters that Roca (Benoît Magimel) and his crew get involved with to disastrous effect. The gangster’s involvement with Roca’s plan is a theme not typically covered in the subgenre and one we found refreshing.
The film is based on the The French Carbon Connection scandal where Roca devises a plan to manipulate the VAT on carbon tax credits. The film follows typical heist narratives showing the men pulling off the heist, getting rich off of it and their eventual downfall.
If there’s one criticism of the film, it’s the opening scene which gives away how the film will end. We won’t go into that here for people who have not seen the film yet, but we do strongly recommend the film for fans of the subgenre.
Additional Lists: Top Heist Films You Haven’t Seen 2015 – 2019 #9
Where to Stream / Buy: Netflix
#3
Suburra
Plot: A gangster known as Samurai wants to turn the waterfront of Rome into a new Las Vegas. All the local mob bosses have agreed to work for this common goal. But peace is not to last long.
KBZ’s Take: Italian subgenre films began as exploitation films in the 1970’s and eventually evolved to explore more serious topics as the effect of the Camorra mafia and its effect on various levels of society in Gomorrah (2008) to Sicilian mobster Tommaso Buscetta’s role as an informant in the largest anti-Mafia trial in Italian history in The Traitor (2019).
We would liken Suburra as a spiritual successor to Gomorrah that explores themes of mafia corruption tied to everything from politicians to the Vatican. It’s also based on the real Mafia Capitale scandal in Rome that gives the film a docudrama-type feel.
This is a very depressing film and one with little gangster action typically found within the subgenre. But, as a film that explores the deeper tentacles of organized crime in everyday life, it’s one of the best.
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Plot: After barely surviving a violent attack by an elusive serial killer, crime boss Jang Dong-su finds himself forming an unlikely partnership with local detective Jung Tae-seok to catch the sadistic killer simply known as K.
KBZ’s Take: We’ll be first to admit it’s very hard to classify this film. It’s part Serial Killer crime film, part Cops & FBI investigation film and part Gangster film. But the sum of all these parts makes it one of the best films of the subgenre of the decade.
The serial killer portions of the film are partially based on real-life South Korean serial killer, Yoo Young-chul. However, the better portion of the film involves the investigative aspects of the crime and pairing of gangster don Jang Dong-soo (Ma Dong-seok) and cop Jung Tae-suk (Kim Mu-yeol) as the team utilizing both legal and illegal methods to capture the killer.
There’s also quite a bit of gangster violence in the film as Jang Dong-soo’s enemies sense weakness after he is attacked. From that point forward, the film is filled with blood and violence all overlayed on a suspenseful and intriguing narrative.
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
Plot: Over the summer of 1976, thirty-six bombs detonate in the heart of Cleveland while a turf war raged between Irish mobster Danny Greene and the Italian mafia. Based on a true story, Kill the Irishman chronicles Greene’s heroic rise from a tough Cleveland neighborhood to become an enforcer in the local mob.
KBZ’s Take: Based on the true story of Cleveland mobster Danny Greene, Kill the Irishman is a film that bombed upon its release and was panned by critics as a poor knockoff of Goodfellas (1990). While Goodfellas is one of our favorite films of all-time and of this subgenre, we couldn’t disagree more with the comparison. We thought the film was a refreshing take within the subgenre as it focused on the grittier, blue-collar aspects of organized crime and had a better sympathetic anti-hero in Greene (Ray Stevenson).
It’s also a film where the late (and extremely underrated) Stevenson shines as the likable, yet very violent, criminal. He stands out in the film surrounded by the likes of other cast members including Vincent D’Onofrio, Val Kilmer, Christopher Walken and Linda Cardellini.
While the film does suffer from a low budget, its story and performances hit above its weight compared to larger subgenre offerings of the decade. It’s a film no fan of the subgenre should miss, and even if you’ve seen the film, watch it again. You’ll be surprised how well the film has aged to become one of the unheralded classic films of the subgenre.
Additional Lists: Top Gangster & Mob Films You Haven’t Seen #5
Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon
