14 Mobster Movies (and One Series) to Watch on Netflix Ahead of The Irishman's Streaming Debut
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It's been a minute since we had some fresh Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci material to use as inspiration for our mobster imitations. But thanks to Martin Scorsese's latest crime drama, The Irishman, we are in luck. The new film is based on Charles Brandt's true-crime book I Heard You Paint Houses, which digs deep into the story of Jimmy Hoffa's murder. In short, it's a true-crime saga, and we are excited to sink into the three-and-a-half-hour film. While it's currently in theaters, it's set to hit Netflix on Nov. 27, so set your reminders now, people. In the meantime, we'll be getting our mobster-movie fill with Netflix's current lineup. Take a dive into the seedy underworld of organized crime with these gritty must-see films.
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A Most Violent Year
We've got a star-studded cast for you with A Most Violent Year thanks to Oscar Isaac, Jessica Chastain, David Oyelowo, Albert Brooks, and Alessandro Nivola. It's a stark look at New York City in 1981, which was (you guessed it) one of the most violent years in the city's history.
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Arsenal
This is worth the watch just to see Nicolas Cage sporting an eye-catching haircut/mustache combo. The film tells the story of an American gang and the trials and tribulations of dealing drugs. It also stars Adrian Grenier, John Cusack, and Johnathon Schaech.
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Brooklyn's Finest
Three cops set out to take down Brooklyn's most dangerous drug dealer, but navigating Brooklyn's complex crime scene proves to be no easy task. Richard Gere, Don Cheadle, Ethan Hawke, Wesley Snipes, Will Patton, and Lili Taylor make up the film's stellar cast.
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Gangs of New York
Scorsese, DiCaprio, Day-Lewis, Diaz — need we say more? If you haven't witnessed the excellence that is Gangs of New York, we urge you to cancel your weekend plans and watch this period drama.
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In Bruges
Take a virtual trip to the beautiful town of Bruges, Belgium, in this film about two hitmen. It stars Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Ralph Fiennes, and Clémence Poésy, and it is powerful and moving in the grittiest ways.
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Killer Elite
Dreams do come true with the partnership of the century. In this film, we have Jason Statham, Robert De Niro, and Clive Owen teaming up and making our hearts stop. Owen plays the leader of a secret military society, and De Niro and Statham are the guys sent to stop him.
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Kill the Irishman
There are definitely some parallels between this film and Martin Scorsese's latest film. For starters, both are based on a true-crime book. Then, of course, there are the names. But this film stars Ray Stevenson, Vincent D'Onofrio, Christopher Walken, and Val Kilmer, and it zeroes in on the gritty realities of Cleveland crime.
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Layer Cake
It's news to us that there's an English Mafia, but this film, starring Daniel Craig, takes audiences deep into its mystifying crime ring. Did we mention it also stars Sienna Miller?
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Mean Streets
We know, there's a lot of Martin Scorsese films on this list, but the man is essentially the godfather of the mobster movie (see what we did there?). This 1973 film stars Harvey Keitel and Robert De Niro as two New Yorkers caught up in the crossfire of a gangster.
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Pulp Fiction
Quentin Tarantino made the modern crime film what it is today with Pulp Fiction. If you haven't had the pleasure of watching the jam-packed, violence-laden masterpiece, we highly suggest you see what all the fuss is about.
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Snatch
We can get down with a Guy Ritchie-directed crime film any day of the week, and thankfully, this film starring Jason Statham, Brad Pitt, Benicio Del Toro, and Dennis Farina is on Netflix. Come for the British accents, stay for the intense British crime world.
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The Departed
If there's one lesson to be learned from The Departed, it's don't mess with Jack Nicholson. But if there are two lessons to be learned, it's that the Boston organized crime world is no joke.
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The Outsider
We bet you didn't know this Netflix film existed, but we can promise you you're in for an entertaining Friday night in. The 2018 film is a Japanese-American mob film starring Jared Leto as a prisoner in Japan who gets released and subsequently embroiled in a Japanese crime ring.
Our Godfather
This film is actually a documentary, but it will still make the hair on your neck stand up. The 2019 movie focuses on Tommaso Buscetta, a major Italian Mafia boss who turned against Cosa Nostra.
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Peaky Blinders
Yes, we know this is not a movie, but Peaky Blinders is too good to leave off this mobster monster list. Cillian Murphy's acting knows no bounds in this riveting look at the Shelby crime family. Plus, series creator Stephen Knight said there might be a movie in the future, so we're just going to take a leap of faith here.