Gangster Movies by MARTIN SCORSESE
September 2, 2023
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MARTIN SCORSESE has made 25 narrative feature films, and only eight of them have been about people who live a criminal lifestyle. Yet when we think about his work, we think about the gangsters, the wise guys in slick suits who break the law, look good doing it, and always end up dead, miserable or both.

That’s probably because Scorsese, who grew up in New York City and knows the culture intimately, brings a specificity to his crime movies that matches his well-known virtuosity behind a camera. He may have made more films about other subjects than he has about criminals, but he helped define the way we look at criminality on screen. And he keeps coming back to the subject, again and again, to refine his techniques and to approach similar topics from all-new angles.

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1 GOODFELLAS

Henry Hill (Ray Liotta), a young Brooklyn kid, is drawn into the allure of the mafia, mentored by charismatic mobster Jimmy Conway (Robert De Niro). Rising through the ranks with his friend Tommy DeVito (Joe Pesci), Henry revels in the fast life of crime, money, and power.

Married to Karen (Lorraine Bracco), he juggles family and the mob’s violent demands. As paranoia, betrayal, and drug addiction unravel their world, Henry’s loyalty is tested. Facing prison and betrayal, he turns informant to survive. Directed by Martin Scorsese, the film is a gripping tale of crime and consequence.

2 CASINO

Sam "Ace" Rothstein (Robert De Niro), a skilled gambler, is tapped by the Chicago mob to run the Tangiers Casino in Las Vegas. With enforcer Nicky Santoro (Joe Pesci) by his side, Ace builds a gambling empire, but tensions rise as Nicky’s reckless violence spirals.

Ace’s marriage to hustler Ginger (Sharon Stone) crumbles amid infidelity and addiction, complicating his control. As greed, betrayal, and FBI scrutiny intensify, the mob’s grip unravels. Ace survives a car bomb, but the empire collapses, leaving him exiled. Directed by Martin Scorsese, it’s a raw tale of ambition and ruin.

3 GANGS OF NEW YORK

Set in 1860's New York, young Amsterdam Vallon (Leonardo DiCaprio) returns to the Five Points to avenge his father’s murder by ruthless gang leader Bill “The Butcher” Cutting (Daniel Day-Lewis). Infiltrating Bill’s inner circle, Amsterdam hides his identity while romancing pickpocket Jenny (Cameron Diaz).

As tensions between nativist gangs and Irish immigrants escalate, Amsterdam’s quest for revenge collides with the violent Draft Riots. Loyalties shift, and betrayal looms as he challenges Bill’s reign. Directed by Martin Scorsese, the film is a gritty epic of vengeance, loyalty, and the brutal birth of a city.

4 THE DEPARTED

Boston mob boss Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson) plants Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon) as a mole in the state police. Meanwhile, undercover cop Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) infiltrates Costello’s crew. As both men navigate their double lives, they race to uncover each other’s identities.

Tensions rise as Sullivan’s loyalty to Costello and his romance with psychiatrist Madolyn (Vera Farmiga) complicate his role, while Billy grapples with the psychological toll of his deception. Betrayals and paranoia escalate, leading to a bloody showdown where truths unravel. Directed by Martin Scorsese, it’s a tense tale of deception and survival.

5 THE IRISHMAN

Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro), a WWII veteran and truck driver, becomes a hitman for the Bufalino crime family under Russell Bufalino (Joe Pesci). Forming a close bond with union leader Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino), Frank navigates the dangerous intersection of organized crime and labor politics.

As Hoffa’s conflicts with the mob intensify, Frank faces divided loyalties. Spanning decades, the story unfolds through Frank’s reflections as an aging man, haunted by his role in Hoffa’s disappearance. Directed by Martin Scorsese, the film is a sprawling epic of loyalty, betrayal, and the cost of a criminal life.

6 RED SEA DIVING RESORT

Holiday Village seemed like an idyllic vacation destination. In the early 1980s, hundreds of tourists flocked to its sandy white beaches and explored its underwater worlds with beautiful coral reefs. And while its location on the coast of Sudan may not have been an obvious choice for sun-seekers, given the country’s history of conflict and drought.

Brochures distributed across European travel agencies emphasized the regular flight routes from London, Paris and Rome to Khartoum, as well as the warm temperatures and pleasant sea breezes. But there was much more than met the eye at the popular beach resort.

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