Top 5 Mafia Movies of All Time
91
I was absolutely obsessed with the mafia when I was a kid. Obsessed. Did I mention I was obsessed? Looking back on it now, I'm not really sure why. I suppose it was the mystery and all the alleged excitement. That, and I loved Italian men. Actually, I loved Puerto Rican, Irish and Jewish men, too - so don't get the idea I was hanging out at the pizzeria all the time! Still, there was something sleek and sexy about the Italians. I was particularly enamored with the Sicilians, and my neighborhood was full of them.
As my obsession grew, I became an avid watcher of mafia flicks. I fell in love with Pacino when I was about 13. DeNiro ran a close second. (I actually prefer them the other way around these days!) I must have seen The Godfather twenty times that summer. I loved it. Loved it! Today I'm not really all that interested in the mafia. I will, however, make a point of watching any of these movies if they happen to be on. If you haven't seen any of them, you don't know what you're missing.
|
The Godfather (Widescreen Edition)
Price: $7.90
List Price: $14.98 |
The Godfather (1972)
Originally a book by Mario Puzo, the film stars Al Pacino, Marlon Brando, James Caan, Diane Keaton and more. This is the movie that made Pacino famous, he was an unknown before.
Some stars who auditioned for his part were Jack Nicholson, Dustin Hoffman and Warren Beatty - can you imagine Nicholson as Michael Corleone? Me, neither! Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, won 3 Oscars. If you only see one more movie in your lifetime, make it this one.
|
The Godfather, Part II (Two-Disc Widescreen Edition)
Price: $6.49
List Price: $14.98 |
The Godfather II (1974)
Another screenplay by Puzo, directed by and starring the same people. Robert DeNiro also has a small part in this, playing a young Vito Corleone in flashback. Nominated for 11 Oscars, taking home 6.
This is basically a "coming into his own" movie for Michael Corleone. He's filling out his father's shoes and expanding the family business. Unfortunately, he has loads of problems to deal with along the way - the least of which is not his rapidly darkening personality. Best sequel ever filmed!
|
GoodFellas
Price: $2.73
List Price: $14.98 |
Goodfellas (1990)
The true story of Mafia informant Henry Hill. Directed by Scorcese and starring Robert DeNiro, Joe Pesci and Ray Liotta. Liotta plays Hill, a ½ Italian, ½ Irish man who has an obsession with the mafia from childhood.
He wants to be a part of it, but knows he can never get made, because he's not 100% Italian. So he spends a great deal of time trying to prove his worth to keep him valuable. His colleagues are hardcore and get him involved in a number of situation he would have been better off avoiding. Won 1 Oscar.
|
Casino
Price: $6.18
List Price: $12.98 |
Casino (1995)
This was an epic undertaking. Based on a true story, this was first a book before Scorcese turned it into a film. Starring Robert DeNiro, Joe Pesci and Sharon Stone, nominated for an Oscar. DeNiro plays the Jewish manager hired by the mafia to run a Vegas hotel. Things go well until Sharon Stone's character enters. (Not really surprising, eh?) She had a child with and marries DeNiro - and then goes mad when her ex-boyfriend shows up. The woman she becomes is more than a little disturbed, and the scenes that follow are similarly so. At the time of it's release this film used the F word more than any other in history - 398 times!
|
Scarface (Full Screen Anniversary Edition)
Price: $9.99
List Price: $19.98 |
Scarface (1983)
This one isn't your typical Mafioso film, but it's so similar in nature, and so famous, I'm including it. Written by Oliver Stone, Al Pacino stars as Tony Montana, a Cuban refugee who winds up in Miami. He kills a man for a greencard and it's all downhill from there. Well, actually, it's uphill, first. Way, uphill, via his new job involving coke distribution. Honestly, Pacino gets so into character in this film, you really feel as though you are watching the live mental deterioration of someone who came from nothing, acquired it all, and then lost everything. Very violent, very bloody - not for young kids.
PrintShare it! — Rate it: up down flag this hub
Comments
That's awesome, I am actually watching The Godfather <I>right now</i>.
Waynet - Yes, that scene is classic!
BIL - LOL, that's cool! I wish I were! ;)
I Love Casino! Much as I love Goodfellas for Liotta, Casino just feels so much .... more to me.
You did it again, Isa, that would be my list for sure, but I would probably put Casino ahead of Godfather II.
Seeley - Yeah, that's why I called it epic.. it was somehow more emotionally involving to me, for some reason.
Fretbuzz - Oh, I don't think I was putting them in order. Hmm. Maybe I was, I dunno!
Oh. I thought I left that jump to conclusions mat at home today . . . sorry.
LOL. ;)
i think you're missing Donnie Brasco which should go right after Goodfellas.
Ahh... but that has Johnny Depp in it... and I can't stand Johnny Depp... ;-)
I love all the movies listed her very rock'n'roll
have you ever seen the movie called "7 Women" ? It's a good french film modern and it has English sub titles , check it out!
I saw all of them and they are all good but i think that the top mafia movie ever is the GODFATHER TRILOGY
Thanks to Mario Puzzo and Francis Ford Coppola for making the godfather......
P.S. I think Al Pacino is the best movie star ever. He's the best, especially in Scarface and Devil's advocate.
Nicholas - Thanks!
Krista - Haven't seen it, but thanks for the recommendation!
Joseph - I wasn't a big fan of the 3rd Godfather movie.. I do love Pacino though and he's certainly one of the best. :)
KL post- ive watched half of them- havent seen the godfather trilogy yet- i see you havent put godfather 3 up there- is that really carp or something?lol
hey. very nice list. if you like mafia films i'd also recommend "Once upon a time in America", "A Bronx Tale" and "The Untouchables". great movies :)
hey isabella, like you used to be, im 15 and actually obsessed with mafia films, and the mafia in general!! i nearly agree with your list but i prefer goodfellas to the Godfather:)
de niro makes these films and you can see thisin the godfather2 which was the best of the 3 and my fav goodfellas he is just as brillant thi list of films are not just the best mafia films but the best films ever
guys! scarface and Donnie Brasco are Superb!!!!!!!!!
GREAT FILM
finally a top 5 0r even ten that includes Casino... after all Casino if the only one on the list that is almost all true with diffent names.
Godfather II is the greatest mafia movie,though Goodfellas comes pretty close.
C'mon,dont even mention Untouchables.Its its crap except for de Niro.
I agree with this list but let me just put a mention out to one of the latest film "American Gangster". I really like this one due to being based on actual events. but none the less godfather is still my number one, but this does go close.
Isabella,
I give you credit on your mafia/gangster movie selections. It is very difficult to choose only five movis of any category let alone my favorite of all mafia films. I would have to differ with you though on Casino being in the top five of all time. This film was a quality film by the master Martin Scorcese, but there is one other film I feel warrants a top 5 slot more so than Casino. This film in my opinion would be the classic Sergio Leone film Once Upon a Time in America the directors cut (The real cut). This is more than a film it is an epic. Once Upon Time in America has such great acting, parallel storylines similiar to Godfather II and unbelievable directing by the late great Sergio Leone. If you have never seen it please check it out and I promise you will not be disappointed. Overall though your selections are well picked.
Godfather is incomparable...
It's the best film.
hey yuo didn't put untuchables
that is a cool mafia movie
but the worst of all is
amerikan gangster, it is a joke for mafia movies
you all need to see witness the the mob. story of sammy the bull and how he betrayed john gotti
al pacino is awesome
one of my favorite is "once upon a time in america" by Sergio leone
I love your picks -- and I admire your self control by not including Godfather III. It was still a good movie, just not when held up next to I and II. Thanks for you list.
All are fantastic films, I can watch Good Fellas time after time and still be enthralled. Nice Hub.
hands down the godfather the best ever the anti hero movie , they time will tell the godfather never gets old i did. just gotten back from vietnam drove 35 miles to see the movie and at 19 it lit me up loved it and still do, good fellas is good casino good scarface is wild , but bottom line its the godfather hands down thank you
Guys..Guys..Guys.....
The Order is as follow:
1. The Godfather I
2. GoodFellas
3. Donnie Brasco....(Forget about it..;-)
4. The Untouchables
5. Godfather PI & PII
Enough said............
i agree with paul pretorius
Great post! These are really the classics of all classics. I believe these few movies will be watched even by our grandchildren.
these movies are things i do in reality..
gotta hustle for ya paper
Goodfellas hands down. Deniro greatest actor thus far!!!!!!!! but thats just my opinion and yes all these movies are more than great
anybody liked Gotti or witness to the mob?
An underrated movie is State of Grace with Sean Pean, Gary Oldman and Ed Harris about the Irish mob in New York.
okayy Robert DeNiro is my fav actor of all time, hands down, al pacino is my 2nd choice , them 2 have all ways been compared together, and Marlon Brando was wonderful and he also is one of the greatest of all time, if you go online like google and search up best actors of all time , you will get de niro al pacino , ect. but i'm only 16 and i have wacthed godfather about 9999999times i no the lines by heart and i think al pacino has a killer face! lol ;P but yes ....godfather is 1&2 is #1 then goodfellas #2 scarface #3 Casino #4
Scarface is my favourite movie followed by casino. Robert de niro & Al pacino are my favourite actors.
1. scarface
2. casino
3. the godfather-2
4. goodfellas
goodfellas withhhhhhhh deniroooooooooooooooo! kuz i love him and the movie and godfather follwing al pacino in scarface
i just watched casino for the 1000th time,btw it never gets old,,,that Ginger is a total bitch,,,,
Scare Face is great 'say hello to my little friend' brilliant!! lol
as for the Godfather well for real i used to think it was over rated.But now i love it, 1 and 2,,,,not so sure about number 3 i think they lost grip on the trilogy there
i think the top 5 are
1: Godfather
2:Goodfellas
3:Godfather 2
4;untouchables
5; public enemy
hehehe
scarface kicked so much ass.... and yeah 'specially that scene at the end.
i'm doing a paper on the mafia and i havent even seen all the movies! how horrible! i've only seen scarface..... ;~; MUST WATCH ALL OF THESE!
The godfather is one of my favourite movies of all times,and i like to say that no one can ever come near to the character that was played by Al Pacino,hats off also to Marlon Brando and Robert De Niro.
Of course, The Godfather I, II, III. Of course, Casino...Of course Goodfellas, and Scarface not a mafia movie but a great gangster flick, nonetheless...I totally agree with the list...I saw your hub listed along the related topics of my latest hub. Nice one, there.
great hub if fiery likes it it must be good, he knows everything about films
Ganster/godfather films are my fav... I must say Casino was my favorite (unlike most people.)
Sopranos defintiely takes the cake as best Mafia show (but then again it has nothing to compare with)...I just read that Vincent Pastore just filmed a new mafia movie called Alienated. Cant wait to see it
Great Movies. Have you watched Hoodlum?
Any of you ever seen 'I Cento Passi'? It's, according to me, the best mafia-movie ever made. It's a Sicilian movie from 2000. Google it. Just don't try to find the DVD, 'cos it's almost impossible to find.
Donnie Brasco is also superb. But my fav is still GFII. I like that one better than part I because it's much more psychological, much more complex.
I've lost count of the number of times I have watched The Godfather Movies and also Goodfellas. I doubt a month goes past when I don't watch at least one of them.
To add to your list I would have to say "Once Upon a Time in America" ranks up highly for me and also "Gotti".
If your a fan of mafia you may enjoy...
1. Hit the Dutchman- Dutch Shultz story
2. American Me- Mexican Mafia
3. Once opon a time in America- Classic Deniro
My favorite is Casino for its brutality. I play alot of Poker and Sportsbet too so the vegas scenery had me glued.
hi evrey one :> am realy mad about mafia movies...
If ya'll haven't seen it...see The Last Don. It was a tv miniseries but its so damn good. Its from Mario Puzo who wrote The Godfather and was a hit back in the late 90's. There was even a spin off called Bella Mafia featuring women. Kinda like Sex and the City meets Godfather...lol.
My favorite here is Casino. Seen them all and this is my second favorite movie of all time (my favorite Hollywood produced movie.) Love Mafia movies and would also recommend A Bronx Tale.
untouchables isnt real
though its a true story
godfather is the ever green mafia movie i love alpacino
The movie Public Enemies that came out this year with Johnny Depp was one of the best gangster/mafia movies I've seen in a while. The Departed with Leonardo DiCaprio and Jack Nicholson was also an outstanding flick that was more fast paced than your usual mob flick.
I think True Romance counts as a mafia movie -- and a great one.
i like them but dont seem to get them
why dont yourl watch american gangster
Hey Guys, I don't think you can call scarface really a mafia movie, if that so I prefer Blow in instead of scarface. Also Carlyto's way is really good.
I also agree with TexasMenace, witness to the mob is really good, one of my favorite.
btw, if you want to see a dutch mafia movie, inspired on a true story about the Godfather of the Softdrugs in Holland.
He was a major druglord in The Netherlands. For more information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klaas_Bruinsma_(drug_
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Preacher_(film)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0370477/
De dominee, international title is The Preacher.
waynet says:
2 years ago
Scarface is one of my all time favourites especially the gun fight at the end were pacino is getting shot up and he's still shouting like a mad man!!
Such a classic!!