By BrainFall Staff - Updated: May 12, 2021
Al Capone was the most feared member of the American mafia, and he turned organized crime into a very lucrative business. Coming from the mean streets of Brooklyn, he came to power during the prohibition era. His story was the basis for several gangster films, some of which are among the best movies of all time.
Speaking of the best movies of all time, if we were to name all the gangster movies ever made, you would be shocked to realize just how many of them you love. The Godfather, The Godfather Part II, Goodfellas, Scarface, Eastern Promises, The Untouchables, and Donnie Brasco are just some of the many crime movies about gangsters that remain among the best ever. They also starred some of the best actors of all time, like Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, and Marlon Brando. These gangster movies are all varied and timeless.
But how much can you remember from all these incredible films? Take the quiz and let’s find out.
mafia movies
Mafia movies, also known as gangster movies, fit into a specific subgenre of crime films that focus on organized crime stories. These are usually based on a true story. There are some actors, like Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci, that were born to play a criminal and have been in some of the best gangster movies of all time. But they would be nothing if not for directors like Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese, Howard Hawks, and Brian de Palma. These directors love directing real-life crime stories about the American mafia.
When done correctly, a gangster movie or crime movie can turn a real-life bad guy into a hero and also bring in a big box office take. Everyone loves watching a story that humanizes the American mafia. Gangster films dig deep into the story of the mob and turn these villains into celebrities. Henry Hill was never considered a good guy until Goodfellas was able to show his life story. The movie showed how some people don't choose the mafia. Instead, a life of crime finds them and pulls them in.