Shubhabrata Dutta
The world of crime has often been a thing of fascination for the people who aren’t in it. We wonder about the gangsters, their lifestyle, how they get where they get, the power and danger that their position brings them, and how they’re able to sleep after having all the blood on their hands. These questions have led the filmmakers to make up stories, often deriving from the real ones, to shed some light on how the other side fares. In these stories, we meet with convoluted characters who are driven by all sorts of motivations.
Among other things, these films become a source for the study of human nature, serving the tales of power struggles and, in some cases, acting as a lesson because things don’t generally end on a high note for the protagonists of these stories. Preaching apart, the audience loves these stories. Thrill, mystery, anticipation, and characters that you can dote on, what more can we want from a tale? When in need of a good old story about the rise and fall of a man who changes the world of crime, Netflix is there to serve you with the best in the genre.
23. The Infiltrator (2016)
Directed by Brad Furman, ‘The Infiltrator’ shows how, in the 1980s, US Customs Special Agent Robert Mazur (Bryan Cranston) infiltrated drug kingpin Pablo Escobar’s cartel and helped bust it. Mazur put on the cloak of corrupt businessman Bob Musella and undertook the life-threatening task single-handedly. Based on Mazur’s eponymous autobiography, ‘The Infiltrator’ does a great job of taking us inside the world’s largest cartel and giving us a fact-based depiction of how the agent pulled it off. Thanks to Cranston’s powerful performance, the film is a treat to watch and can be streamed right here.
22. Shot Caller (2017)
Directed by Ric Roman Waugh, ‘Shot Caller’ is an intense crime thriller that stars Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jacob ‘Money’ Harlon. After pleading guilty to a DUI accident that led to his friend’s death, Jacob is sentenced to prison for 16 months. Being a nice guy to the core, the prison environment takes its toll on him big time as he is exposed to violence that is no less than a ritual for the incarcerated criminals. Rather than being able to get out in 16 months, his sentence is extended to seven years after he gets involved in a riot, which reveals his dark side. He is recruited by a gang and slowly makes his way up the chain, losing touch with his family on the way. His experiences as a gang member and his spiking conflict with his family life, one he thinks he has moved on from, and how the two get intertwined make ‘Shot Caller’ a gripping drama. Alongside Coster-Waldau, the cast includes Omari Hardwick, Lake Bell, Jon Bernthal, Emory Cohen, Benjamin Bratt, and Emory Cohen. You can watch the film here.
21. Buba (2022)
Directed by Arne Feldhusen, ‘Buba’ is a German comedy-drama about a con artist who wants to join the local mafia. How hard can that be? All he has to do is terrible things until he is noticed. But how easy is it to keep doing bad things? Well, for Jakob “Buba” Otto (Bjarne Mädel), who intends to keep his karma in balance, it is pretty easy, especially since bad karma is all about hurting the self, something he is adept at. However, it is nothing compared to organized crime, and thus he, along with his brother Dante (Georg Friedrich), gets involved in it. To find out how that turns out and how brutal Buba’s urge to balance his karma gets, you can watch this hilarious gangster flick right here.
20. Furioza (2021)
Directed by Cyprian T. Olencki, ‘Furioza’ is one of the best gangster action flicks on the platform. Starring Mateusz Damięcki, Mateusz Banasiuk, Mateusz Nedza, Paulina Gałązka, and Weronika Książkiewicz, the film follows Dawid, a doctor who is asked by his ex-lover, policewoman Dzika, to become an informant and infiltrate his brother Kashubian’s gang Furioza. If he disagrees, Kashubian will be sent to jail, and if he does, Kashubian will be safe. Provided Dawid had a past with the Furioza gang, he will have to face it head-on if he intends to go back. Moreover, there are people in the gang who don’t like him since he left his brothers to pursue his career, including the unhinged guy named Golden. However, Dawid agrees. What follows is a revelation of the past and how it collides with the present, which is underscored by the gang politics. You can watch this Polish film right here.
19. The Ruthless (2019)
‘The Ruthless‘ is an Italian crime film directed by Renato De Maria, delivering a riveting exploration of organized crime. The movie, known as ‘Lo Spietato’ in Italian, follows the ruthless rise of Santo Russo (Riccardo Scamarcio) in the tumultuous world of the Sicilian Mafia. With a gripping narrative and intense performances, the film captures the protagonist’s ascent from a young enforcer to a formidable crime lord. Filled with betrayals, power struggles, and gritty realism, ‘The Ruthless’ stands out as a compelling gangster movie, immersing viewers in the morally complex and dangerous underworld while offering a nuanced character study of a merciless protagonist. You can watch it here.
18. El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (2019)
‘El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie‘ is a gripping crime drama that seamlessly extends the narrative of the acclaimed TV series ‘Breaking Bad.’ Directed by Vince Gilligan, it follows Jesse Pinkman’s (Aaron Paul) post-Walter White journey as he seeks freedom and redemption. The film dives into the criminal underbelly, depicting Jesse’s struggles to escape the clutches of law enforcement and violent adversaries. Laden with suspense and featuring intense performances, ‘El Camino’ serves as a riveting extension of the Breaking Bad universe, maintaining the show’s legacy of intricate storytelling and offering fans a satisfying exploration of the consequences of a life steeped in crime. You can watch the movie here.
17. 365 Days (2020)
‘365 Days‘ is a controversial Polish erotic thriller that intricately weaves elements of romance, drama, and crime. While it has faced criticism for its explicit content, it undeniably stands out as a compelling gangster movie. The film follows the story of a young woman, Laura (Anna-Maria Sieklucka), kidnapped by a powerful Sicilian mob boss, Massimo (Michele Morrone). Amidst the sensual narrative, Massimo’s ruthless criminal world and his desire for dominance create a tense and suspenseful atmosphere. The film’s portrayal of organized crime, power struggles, and a tumultuous love affair contributes to its allure as a captivating gangster movie with a unique blend of passion and danger. You can watch it here.
16. Night in Paradise (2020)
A South Korean crime film, ‘Night in Paradise’ is directed by Park Hoon-jung. In the story, we come across a gangster, Tae-gu (Uhm Tae-goo), who loses his sister and niece at the hands of a rival gang. After killing the rival gang’s chairman, he flees to an island where he meets Jae-Yeon (Jeon Yeo-been), who is fighting her demons. As they sympathize, Tae-gu ignores the fact that the threats to his life are still there, and it is only a matter of time before his past catches up to him. To find out what eventually happens to him, you can stream the film here.
15. The Night Comes for Us (2018)
This Timo Tjahjanto directorial is an Indonesian action thriller starring Iko Uwais and Joe Taslim, both of whom are professional martial artists and common faces in Hollywood action movies that involve martial arts. The film revolves around the elite Six Seas squad of the Triads (a Chinese organized crime syndicate) and focuses on one of its members, Ito (Joe Taslim), who snaps after he is unable to kill a little girl named Reina while on a mission. He kills his co-members and brings Reina to his former teammates. Meanwhile, Triad chief Chien Wu gathers a group of killers to eliminate Ito and Reina. Ito’s former best friend, Arian (Iko Uwais), is also a part of the group. When the time comes, will Ito kill Arian? Or will it be the other way around? As we ponder upon these questions, we are bombarded with high-stakes action sequences that one expects from an Indonesian action flick that keeps us engaged from start to finish. You can watch it here.
14. Gatao: The Last Stray (2021)
The third installment of the ‘Gatao’ Taiwanese crime film franchise, ‘Gatao: The Last Stray’ is directed by Ray Jiang. The term ‘Gatao’ refers to organized crime gangs operating in Taiwan. The film centers on Qing (Cheng Jen-shuo), the lieutenant of North Fort gang leader Ren. When Qing falls for Chi (Nikki Hsieh), a photographer, he is faced with a difficult choice: Choose his brotherhood, which is on the verge of a war with the South Pit gang, or his love. With a gripping screenplay that balances romance and action, ‘Gatao: The Last Stray’ is an impressive gangster drama worthy of appreciation and viewing. You can do the latter right here and find out if the former is true.
13. Gangubai Kathiawadi (2022)
Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’ is an Indian Hindi-language biographical crime drama. Adapted from S. Hussain Zaidi’s ‘Mafia Queens of Mumbai,’ the film unfolds the compelling narrative of Gangubai Kothewali. Portrayed by Alia Bhatt, Gangubai rises from a coerced life in a brothel, defying destiny’s cruelties. Fearlessly reclaiming her agency, she ascends to power, leveraging underworld ties to command the very world that once victimized her. Bhansali skillfully captures the transformation of a simple Kathiawad girl into a formidable force, offering audiences a riveting portrayal of resilience and empowerment against the backdrop of the Mumbai underworld. You can watch it here.
12. Ferry (2021)
A prequel to the crime series ‘Ferry- The Series’ and ‘Undercover,’ in that order, ‘Ferry’ is a Dutch drama directed by Cecilia Verheyden. It centers on Ferry Bouman (Frank Lammers), who would go on to become one of the most notorious drug dealers in the Netherlands underworld. In this film, we get an intimate portrait of Ferry, who is sent by his boss, Ralph Brink, a drug lord, to track down the guys who shot Ralph’s son, who now lies in critical condition. As the attackers are found to be from an area he is familiar with, he decides to pay a visit to the place, meet his estranged sister and brother-in-law, and find a love interest. To get to know Ferry better before you start watching ‘Ferry- The Series,’ you may stream the film here.
11. All Day and a Night (2020)
Directed by Joe Robert Cole, ‘All Day and a Night’ stars Ashton Sanders, Jeffrey Wright, Isaiah John, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Kelly Jenrette. It revolves around Jahkor Lincoln (Ashton Sanders), an aspiring rapper who recounts and reflects on his life experiences while serving in prison for murder. We thus get to see how he got involved in petty crimes and developed a thug lifestyle at a young age, something that may have been an inadvertent influence of his father, JD, who is also a thug and is in the same prison. He then started working for a gangster named Big Stunna (Abdul-Mateen II) and killed the latter’s rival, Malcolm. During this time, he also fathered a son with the love of his life, Shantaye. His struggle to be a good husband and father while getting pulled into the world of crime time again, which eventually led him to prison, is what the film showcases in a powerful manner that is underscored by poignancy. You can stream ‘All Day and a Night’ here.
10. Don 2 (2011)
Directed by Farhan Akhtar, this Bollywood film is a sequel to ‘Don’ (2006). Both films star Shah Rukh Khan as the titular character, Don, a gangster. This film takes place five years after the events of the first part and begins with Don surrendering to the police. However, it is soon revealed that his surrender is a part of his plan to team up with his enemy Vardhaan (Boman Irani), also serving time in the same prison, escape, and pull off a heist at a bank in Berlin, Germany. As objective as it sounds, Don’s plan is full of twists, and so is the film.
There is the possibility of Don getting killed in prison, there is the possibility of the two guys never making it out of the prison, and there is a chance of Vardhaan double-crossing Don whenever the former feels like it. Not to mention, there is also the Interpol, and the Berlin will also be after them. How things work out, how they don’t, and how Don tries to figure out stuff to stay ahead of the game are what make this film a must-watch gangster action thriller. Besides Khan and Irani, the cast also includes Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Om Puri, Lara Dutta, and Kunal Kapoor. You can stream ‘Don 2’ here.
9. Gun City (2018)
If you are a fan of the British gangster-drama series, ‘Peaky Blinders,’ then this is the film that you just can’t miss. It is set around the same time as the series but in a different part of Europe. This Netflix original tells the story of a man who walks the fine line that separates criminals and cops and gets a peek into the best of both worlds or, rather, the worst of both. The year is 1921, and the city is Barcelona. The police are getting tense because some notorious forces are gaining power over the city and are planning something that can change the history of the country. They send one of their own to infiltrate the local mafia. The job of this double agent is to figure out who the mastermind behind the theft of military weapons is. If he doesn’t figure it out soon, the country could very well be thrown into a civil war. Full of action and intrigue and the dapper style of the 1920s, ‘Gun City’ will not let you down. It stars Luis Tosar, Ernesto Alterio, Paco Tous, Jaime Lorente, and Michelle Jenner. You can check out the film here.
8. AKA (2023)
A gripping crime drama that will not let you take your eyes off for even a second, ‘AKA’ centers on Adam Franco (Alban Lenoir), a French undercover agent who infiltrates a criminal gang led by Victor Pastore (Eric Cantona). Victor has connections with Sudanese warlord Moktar Al Tayeb, who was the mastermind behind a bombing in Paris. While everything seems to be going smoothly for Adam, he ends up becoming friends with Victor’s stepson, Jonathan. Will this be a compromise for him? To find out, you can stream the film here.
7. The Outsider (2018)
Directed by Martin Pieter Zandvliet, this is a gangster film disguised as an action thriller starring Jared Leto, Tadanobu Asano, Shioli Kutsuna, and Emile Hirsch. It revolves around Nick Lowell (Leto), a former US marine and the only non-Japanese guy doing time in an Osaka prison. When he saves an inmate of a yakuza clan (the Shiromatsu) from being hanged, he is offered a job by the Shiromatsu upon release. What follows is how he proves his worth to the clan and slowly and rightfully climbs the ladder to become the leader of the Shiromatsu. By incorporating various schemes and plot points underscored by Yakuza culture, ‘The Outsider’ certainly qualifies as a true gangster drama that you can stream right here.
6. How I Fell in Love with a Gangster (2022)
Directed by Maciej Kawulski, the story of the film is told from the POV of an unnamed woman who fell in love with Nikodem “Nikos” Skotarcza (1954-1998), one of the most notorious gangsters in Polish history. Through her, the audience gets to know the rise and fall of the gangster (played by Tomasz Wlosok) in a way that is intimate while having a clear picture of the time and how things were back then, both in general and in the Polish underworld. If you want to know about a gangster who made his presence felt big time, you may watch ‘How I Fell in Love with a Gangster’ right here.
5. How I Became a Gangster (2020)
This brilliant Polish crime drama has also been directed by Maciej Kawulski. Starring Rafal Biernacik, Marcin Ciolek, Adam Gudell, and Maciej Kawulski, it is based on a real-life interview that the screenwriter Krzysztof Gureczny had with a Polish gangster that he also made into a book. It shows how the protagonist gives shape to his dream of becoming a gangster and his life as one, spanning over four decades. How he worked his way up the ladder is portrayed very well employing the guy’s strategies. We also get to see the obstacles that he faces, not to mention the risks that he takes while being a part of Poland’s underworld. You can stream the film here.
4. The Gentlemen (2019)
Directed by Guy Ritchie, ‘The Gentlemen’ is a brilliant gangster action comedy steeped in sophistication. It focuses on cannabis magnate Mickey Pearson (Matthew McConaughey), who wants to sell the business to a billionaire named Matthew Berger (Jeremy Strong). However, Berger decides to lower the price Pearson proposes and conspires to steal some of the cannabis. This sets off a chain of events underscored by schemes, bribes, and blackmail, wherein people want to get their hands on Pearson’s empire without paying for it. It is up to Pearson’s right-hand man, Raymond (Charlie Hunnam), to find the culprits and take them out. ‘The Gentlemen’ co-stars Henry Golding, Michelle Dockery, Colin Farrell, Hugh Grant, and Eddie Marsan. The 2024 Netflix series of the same name is a spin-off of this film. You can watch ‘The Gentlemen’ here.
3. American Gangster (2007)
Starring Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington, ‘American Gangster’ is set in 1960s Harlem. It follows Newark Detective Richie Roberts (Crowe) investigating the case of druglord Frank Lucas (Washington), both characters inspired by real people of the same name. Lucas’ drug empire is rooted in the sacrifice of American soldiers whose coffins are used to transport heroin. Whether and how Roberts grabs the criminal is what we see in the film. The Oscar and BAFTA-nominated Ridley Scott directorial offers powerful performances by the two Academy-Award-winning actors and offers a gritty look at the underbelly of Harlem through the eyes of two people on either side of the law. You can watch ‘American Gangster’ here.
2. Black Mass (2015)
Based on Dick Lehr and Gerard O’Neill’s book ‘Black Mass: The True Story of an Unholy Alliance Between the FBI and the Irish Mob,’ the Scott Cooper directorial is based on the life of notorious American organized crime boss James “Whitey” Bulger. The film shows how Bulger (Johnny Depp) makes a deal with the FBI to help the latter bring down the Italian mob in 1970s Boston.
However, the deal allows Whitey to whitewash his crimes by taking advantage of his arrangement with FBI agent John Connolly (Joel Edgerton). Thus, while the Italian mob is compromised, Bulger’s own gang grows in power, much to the contempt of his brother, Massachusetts Senate president William “Billy” Bulger (Benedict Cumberbatch). A captivating crime drama powered by powerful performances, ‘Black Mass’ does a great job depicting real events and incorporating the tension in the air at the time. You can watch the film here.
1. The Irishman (2019)
From legendary director Martin Scorpreciselymes, this is a true-to-form gangster drama starring his go-to actors Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Harvey Keitel. The film is Scorsese’s first venture with Al Pacino, something we cannot question but only heave a sigh of relief for. It is based on the 2004 book ‘I Heard You Paint Houses by Charles Brandt.’ It showcases a historical episode in 1950s Pennsylvania from the POV of Frank “The Irishman” Sheeran (Robert De Niro) and his involvement with the Bufalino crime family and in the mysterious disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino), a labor union leader, in 1975 at the age of 62. The film received 10 Academy Award nominations and is a must-watch for all gangster film fanatics out there. You can stream it here.
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