10 Best Gangster Films Of The Past 15 Years

Gangster films have always been popular. From 1931’s Little Ceasar and 1932’s Scarface through the Cagney and Bogart films of the 40s, the exploitation action films of the 50s and 60s, and throughout today, The Gangster film always makes involving cinematic subject matter.

In 1972, Francis Ford Coppola proved you could make great Art out of the genre with his adaptation of Mario Puzo’s The Godfather and its 1972 sequel, The Godfather Part II. Whether action, comedy, or high drama,  gangster films never lose their bite and are still strong today. Here are the 10 best gangster films of the past 15 years.

10 American Gangster- Directed By Ridley Scott (2007)

The Oscar-nominated American Gangster was a critical and financial success for director Ridley Scott. Denzel Washington starred as real-life New York gangster Frank Lucas, who would run the Harlem drug rackets in the 1970s and would later turn state’s evidence and befriend the cop who brought him down, plated by Russell Crowe.

Scott paired down his visual style to give a properly gritty 70’s atmosphere and brought life to Frank Lucas’ crime-filled world. Critics agreed that Washington and Crowe gave two of their best performances while Ruby Dee received her one and only Oscar nomination for Supporting Actress.

9 Gomorrah- Directed By Matteo Garrone (2008)

Based on a book from journalist Roberto Saviano, Gomorrah is a powerful examination of the Naples, Italy crime syndicate and its far-reaching involvement in drugs, weapons, fashion, and violence. It was sadi to be a brave film to make, as Saviano needed police protection after his book was published.

Garrone’s documentary approach adds to the film’s potency and immediacy. The director expressed his desire to wipe away any cliche’s about gangsters and show them as they really are. The result was praised by critics and exists as a powerful and bone-chilling expose of gangsters as they actually exist and operate.

8 In Bruges- Directed By Martin McDonagh (2008)

There have been many gangster films that displayed a darkly comedic edge throughout the years, Martin McDonagh’s In Bruges fully embraced its dark comedy and added a bit of soulfulness to its two main characters, hitmen played by Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson who are lost (both emotionally and professionally) in a city they don’t know.

The dialogue was witty and David Mamet-sharp. A respected playwright, writer/director McDonagh crafted an entertaining gangster film that was haunting, ferocious, literate, and completely entertaining.

7 RocknRolla- Directed By Guy Ritchie (2008)

Guy Ritchie was known and respected for his exciting British gangster films Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch. Both films were international hits and brought a fresh and witty voice to the gangster film. His 2008 film RocknRolla wasn’t a big success in America but many critics found it to be his best film yet.  

The powerhouse title made good on its promise of a crackling and exciting film full of tough talk and sudden violence. Ritchie further proved his ability to deliver kick-ass, tough-talking, and funny characters in a rich and aesthetically rewarding film that did big business in his home country of The U.K. and found critical praise worldwide.

6 Killing Them Softly- Directed By Andrew Dominik (2012)

While not a financial success, 2012’s Killing Them Softly is a critically lauded film about a hitman who has to clean up a mess caused by two wannabe crooks who rob a mob-financed card game. That robbery causes a near financial collapse of a local criminal enterprise run by Ray Liotta.

Dominik’s film was a metaphor for the current political and financial states of the country circa 2008 and skewered the American corporate structure. As Cogan, the hitman, Brad Pitt received some of the best reviews of his career and the film has found a cult following.

5 Eastern Promises- Directed By David Cronenberg (2007)

David Cronenberg is a legend in genre filmmaking. As of the 2000s, the director branched out and made films of different types. In 2007, the director threw his hat into the gangster film ring with Eastern Promises, a harsh and violent tale of a woman (Naomi Watts) who finds herself involved with the Russian Mob.

Viggo Mortensen received an Oscar nom for Best Actor for his intense portrayal of a killer for Russian mobsters. The film was praised for Cronenberg’s refusal to play by the rules, as his film subverted gangster film tropes with every scene.

4 Outrage Trilogy (Outrage, Beyond Outrage, Outrage Coda)- Directed by Takeshi Kitano (2010, 2012, 2017)

Takeshi “Beat” Kitano is no stranger gangsters. The films that make up his Outrage trilogy are some of his most respected works.

Kitano always found poetry in the worlds of violence he portrayed on screen and this unique trilogy is no exception. With a precise and almost clinical style and fractured narrative, the Outrage films are unique interpretations of the Japanese gangster life filled with deceptions and violence.

3 The Departed- Directed By Martin Scorsese (2006)

Scorsese won his long-overdue Oscar for Best Director for his wildly entertaining remake of 2002’s Infernal Affairs. The director brought his masterful cinematic style to breathe new life into the gangster genre in a tale of cops infiltrating the mob and vice-versa.

Scorsese kept the film moving and audiences on the edge of their seat with its thrilling plot devices, interesting characters, and sudden bursts of violence. With a cast that screamed big box-office (DiCaprio, Damon, Nicholson), The Departed made many “10 Best” lists and won 4 Oscars including Best Picture.

2 Election & Triad Election- Directed By Johnnie To (2006)

Johnnie To is a respected International filmmaker who specializes in the crime genre. Election and its sequel Triad Election are regarded as masterclasses of allegory and action.

Set in the Hong Kong Triad world, To created a labyrinthine tale of inner intrigue and violent power-plays. With intricate and involving screenplays and a stylish overtone, these two films are considered benchmarks of modern Hong Kong Crime Film Cinema.

1 The Irishman- Directed By Martin Scorsese (2019)

Considered by many to be his late-career masterpiece, Martin Scorsese (along with Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Al Pacino, and Harvey Keitel) returned to the world of gangsters with 2019’s The Irishman. The film told the real-life story of Frank Sheeran, the man who claimed to have killed Jimmy Hoffa.

Critics were united in their praise of this intimate epic with many calling it a masterpiece. The film received 10 Oscar nominations and turned big profits in its limited theatrical release and his considered by many to be the director’s finest work since the 70s.