15 Most Underrated Gangster Movies, Ranked

Ever since James Cagney graced the silver screen in The Public Enemy, the gangster genre has become a critical cornerstone of cinema and holds a sacred place in the hearts of film fanatics. Titles such as Francis Ford Coppola‘s classic The Godfather and Martin Scorsese‘s Goodfellas are just a few of the greatest gangster movies of all time. Still, for every acclaimed gangster movie, there are two that fly under the radar.

Plenty of entries into the genre, such as Kill the Irishman and King of New York, are unfairly overlooked and deserve more recognition. An epic gangster film requires more than just violence and corruption; some fail to find that perfect combination, but many succeed, like Point Blank and The Drop, yet still end up slipping through the cracks. From Danny DeVito‘s 1992 film, Hoffa to The Coen Brothers‘ star-studded Miller’s Crossing, these are the 15 most underrated gangster movies, ranked.

15 ‘Hoffa’ (1992)

Directed by Danny DeVito

Jack Nicholson stars as the infamous Teamster leader, Jimmy Hoffa, who rises through the ranks of the labor union, organizing strikes and eventually crossing into organized crime activities, making him one of the most powerful men in the Midwest. As Hoffa flourishes in his high-ranking position, he soon clashes with the local mafia and vanishes without a trace, becoming one of the baffling missing persons cases in American history.

Hoffa is a fictionalized account of Hoffa’s life and mysterious disappearance that many believe was orchestrated by the mafia. While the film’s ending is simply one of many theories as to what happened to Hoffa, Jack Nicholson is absolutely sublime as the prominent union leader and supported by an all-star cast, which includes Danny DeVito, Armand Assante, and John C. Reilly. The movie earned mixed reviews, notably from critics who were critical of the film’s plot, but at the end of the day, Hoffa features outstanding performances and sheds light on one of America’s most notorious cold cases, deeming it to be one of the most underrated gangster movies.

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14 ‘The General’ (1998)

Directed by John Boorman

As legendary Irish mobster, Martin Cahill (Brendan Gleeson), is on his deathbed, he reflects on his early days growing up in Dublin, Ireland and learning to steal at a young age and eventually rising from a small-time criminal to one of Ireland’s most powerful mobsters. While Cahill executes dozens of prolific armed robberies and indulges in his success, a determined police officer, Ned Kenny (Jon Voight), pursues him and will stop at nothing to bring the gangster down.

The crime thriller, The General, is based on the life of Irish mobster, Martin Cahill, who, during the 1980s, was responsible for a string of robberies and was shot and died from his injuries in August 1994. The movie was a success, earning critics’ positive reviews, praising Gleeson’s phenomenal performance, and becoming Ireland’s second-highest-grossing film of the year. Through the years, the film has become a cult classic in the gangster genre, and, with the compelling, lesser-known story of Cahill, The General is easily one of the most underrated gangster movies.

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13 ‘The Friends of Eddie Coyle’ (1973)

Directed by Peter Yates

When an aging gunrunner in Boston, Eddie Coyle (Robert Mitchum) is looking at a long-term sentence for a hold-up, he reluctantly agrees to provide information to the authorities. Eddie ends up buying guns from another runner (Steven Kates), he keeps his word and relays the information to Agent Dave Foley (Richard Jordan), who isn’t satisfied with Coyle’s findings. With no other option, Coyle decides to give up his gang of buyers, but when he discovers Foley has set him up, Coyle’s associates think he ratted them out.

Classic cinema icon, Robert Mitchum, stars in the criminal film noir, The Friends of Eddie Coyle, which is an adaptation of the 1970 novel by the same name written by George V. Higgins. Even though the movie wasn’t a major hit with filmgoers, critics praised the film, particularly Mitchum’s epic performance, including film critic Roger Ebert, who gave the movie four out of four stars. Despite not being a major box office hit, The Friends of Eddie Coyle is a solid crime-riddled film full of plenty of action and is appreciated as one of Mitchum’s final epic performances, deeming it to be one of the most underrated gangster movies.

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12 ‘Killing Them Softly’ (2012)

Directed by Andrew Dominik

When a local criminal, Johnny Amato (Vincent Curatola), decides to rob a card game run by a rival gangster’s associate, Markie (Ray Liotta), he hires a small-time crook, Frankie (Scoot McNairy) to do the job. With the help of his buddy, Russell (Ben Mendelsohn), they manage to pull off the job and get away with the money and their lives, but when word gets back to Markie’s boss about the robbery, he sends an enforcer, Jackie Cogan (Brad Pitt) to find his money and take care of those who are responsible for stealing it.

Killing Them Softly is a highly marginalized crime thriller based on George V. Higgin’s 1974 novel, Cogan’s Trade, and features a star-studded cast including James Gandolfini, Richard Jenkins, and Max Casella. Initially, the movie earned mixed reviews from critics. Some critics and outlets, such as Roger Ebert, claimed Killing Them Softly was simply a series of painful, graphic murders, while The Guardian called it a “compelling comment on economic bloodletting in the real world.” Whatever the consensus may be, Killing Them Softly is an entertaining take on modern organized crime carried by a superb cast of stars, which is what makes it one of the most underrated gangster movies of all time.

11 ‘State of Grace’ (1990)

Directed by Phil Joanou and Michael Lee Baron

After spending a decade behind bars, Terry Noonan (Sean Penn) returns to his Irish neighborhood in New York City and is welcomed back with open arms. Once a tough guy, Noonan is now secretly working as an undercover officer who is targeting local crime boss, Frankie Flannery (Ed Harris). In an attempt to infiltrate Flannery’s inner circle, Noonan reconnects with his former friend and Flannery’s younger brother, Jackie (Gary Oldman) but his feelings and his past life soon make his assignment difficult to complete.

State of Grace is a neo-noir criminal drama inspired by the real-life gangsters of Hell’s Kitchen, the Westies, and also stars Robin Wright, John Turturro, and Rocky star, Burgess Meredith. Unfortunately, State of Grace was released around the same time as Martin Scorsese’s classic gangster film, Goodfellas, causing the movie to be overshadowed by the bigger release, but overall, State of Grace earned positive reviews from audiences and critics. Even though the entire cast delivers great performances, Oldman and Penn are the perfect duo who play off one another beautifully, keeping the energy of the film at a consistent, suspenseful level the entire time. While State of Grace may contain familiar elements of the traditional organized crime story, it still brings something new to the table accompanied by thrilling performances that make it one of the most underrated gangster movies.

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10 ‘Lansky’ (2021)

Directed by Eytan Rockaway

Harvey Keitel stars as notorious underworld mobster Myer Lansky in the crime biopic Lansky. The film sees him recount his life story to author David Stone (Sam Worthington) while being investigated by the F.B.I., who believe he has hidden millions of dollars over the last several decades. While federal agents search for Lansky’s secret loot, the aging gangster spills a dazzling tale about his life as boss of the National crime syndicate Murder, Inc.

Keitel gives a stellar showstopping performance in Lansky, which also stars Minka Kelly, Jackie Cruz, and John Magaro. Even though the movie features information about Lanksy that has already been covered in other gangster films, Keitel’s portrayal is the only reason film lovers need to see this modern crime saga, which provides a worthy account of one of the greatest mafiosos in American history.

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9 ‘Hoodlum’ (1997)

Directed by Bill Duke

Gangster Bumpy Johnson has been portrayed by several stars in film and television, including Forrest Whitaker in the popular series The Godfather of Harlem and Clarence Williams III in American Gangster. However, before them came Laurence Fishburne in the 1997 film Hoodlum. The fictionalized film takes place after Johnson is released from prison in 1934 and returns to his stomping grounds and criminal ways in Harlem.

While the movie isn’t an exact account of Johnson’s life, Fishburne’s uncanny performance plus an all-star cast, including Cicely Tyson, Andy Garcia, and Reservoir Dog‘s star, Tim Roth, make Hoodlum one of the most underrated gangster films of the 1990s. Film critic Roger Ebert gave Hoodlum three out of four stars, noting that even though the film is a violent thriller and features several historical inaccuracies, the characters still reflect an accurate time of despair and struggle in Harlem that is rarely seen on the big screen.

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8 ‘The Pope of Greenwich Village’ (1984)

Directed by Stuart Rosenberg

After cousins Paulie (Eric Roberts) and Charlie (Mickey Rourke) are fired from their restaurant jobs, they plan to rob the place to help support Charlie’s pregnant girlfriend (Daryl Hannah) and open a place of their own. During the heist, they accidentally kill a police officer, which leads to them being questioned by local authorities. On top of the mounting pressure from the police, they learn they robbed a local mobster who becomes hell-bent on tracking them down.

Roberts and Rourke are an excellent duo of comedic criminals in the black comedy crime film The Pope of Greenwich Village, which also stars Burt Young, M. Emmett Walsh, and classic movie star Geraldine Page. Film critic and historian Leonard Maltin gave the movie three out of four stars in his 2008 book, Leonard Maltin’s Movie Guide, calling it a “richly textured and sharp, observant film.” He also praised Page’s performance, which earned her a richly deserved Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

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7 ‘King of New York’ (1990)

Directed by Abel Ferrara

Christopher Walken stars in King of New York as drug kingpin Frank White, who plans to rebuild his criminal enterprise while also trying to go legitimate after his release from prison. As he takes out rival gangs and tries to funnel his dirty money through legal businesses, his illegal actions soon attract the attention of the NYPD, leading to a string of violence and bloodshed.

Ever the reliable presence, Walken delivers a sinister, polished performance in the lesser-known 90s gangster film King of New York. It’s one of his most chilling portrayals, and Walken is more than up for the challenge. The film also features an epic supporting cast, including Steve Buscemi, Wesley Snipes, and NYPD Blue star David Caruso. Initially, the film earned mixed reviews, but over recent years, King of New York has gained more support and is considered to be an essential cult classic of the gangster genre.

6 ‘The Big Combo’ (1955)

Directed by Joseph H. Lewis

When a police lieutenant, Leonard Diamond (Cornel Wilde), begins investigating a powerful crime boss, Mr. Brown (Richard Conte), he’s pressured by his gang of vicious criminals to quit poking around. Unable to turn a blind eye, Diamond soon receives help from Brown’s wife, Susan (Jean Wallace), who provides insider information to gather evidence against Brown to put him behind bars.

The Big Combo follows a twisted plot of lies, greed, and deception portrayed by an underrated cast of stars, including Richard Conte, who played one of the best characters from The Godfather trilogy, Emilio Barzini. Initially, the film earned mixed reviews due to its basic dialogue and slightly rambling storyline. Like many other cult classics, The Big Combo has been reexamined and even been compared to the greatness of Fritz Lang‘s detective film noir, The Big Heat.

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5 ‘Eastern Promises’ (2007)

Directed by David Cronenberg

In London, a midwife, Anna (Naomi Watts), helps a teenage girl give birth; unfortunately, only the baby survives. Before the young mother’s body is taken away, Anna discovers a diary that, unbeknownst to her, includes incriminating evidence against one of the most powerful Russian crime families. When the family catches word of the diary, they send in the family’s “cleaner,” Nikolai Luzhin (Viggo Mortensen), to take care of Anna and destroy any evidence.

Eastern Promises is among David Cronenberg‘s most underrated movies, an intense gangster thriller known for its graphic, gruesome violence and authentic Russian mafia characters with tattoos of their crimes and criminal status. Despite not being a major box office hit, it earned praise from critics and several awards, as well as an Oscar nomination for Mortensen’s epic performance without ever reaching the peak of the gangster genre. Now, Eastern Promises is widely regarded among the best modern crime sagas, a must-watch for any die-hard fan of the gangster genre.

4 ‘The Drop’ (2014)

Directed by Michaël R. Roskam

Set in Brooklyn, Bob (Tom Hardy) is the bartender at a pub owned by his cousin, Marvin (James Gandolfini), who turns the other way and allows local mobsters to use the place as their temporary bank. When Bob discovers a battered puppy, he and his neighbor, Nadia (Noomi Rapace), help nurse the poor animal back to health, and sparks begin to fly between them. Unfortunately, their bliss is soon shattered when Nadia’s abusive ex returns and Marvin’s pub is robbed, forcing Bob to reexamine those around him as well as himself.

Hardy stars in the criminally overlooked gangster film The Drop, written by Dennis Lehane and based on his 2009 short story, Animal Rescue. Despite not being a major moneymaker, The Drop still landed at number six at the box office. It received positive reviews from critics, who praised Lehane’s well-written script and the riveting performances by Hardy and the late great James Gandolfini who is a staple of the gangster genre thanks to his work in the game-changing HBO drama The Sopranos.

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3 ‘Kill the Irishman’ (2011)

Directed by Jonathan Hensleigh

During the 1960s, Danny Greene (Ray Stevenson) works at the Cleveland docks as a longshoreman and eventually becomes the president of his union. His corruption and backdoor deals quickly gain the attention of the local mafia as well as local authorities. When Greene is faced with serious prison time, he pleads to a lesser charge and becomes an FBI informant, igniting a turf war in the 1970s that leads to the downfall of organized crime.

Kill the Irishman is based on Rick Porrello‘s 1998 novel, To Kill the Irishman: The War that Crippled the Mafia, and follows the rise and fall of Irish-American gangster Danny Greene. This isn’t a typical gangster movie that depicts a hoodlum climbing through the ranks of the mob and losing his soul in the end. Instead, Kill the Irishman centers around an everyday working man who tries to lead a double life as a criminal and family man only to be responsible for his inevitable demise. It’s an interesting take on the gangster genre that shows another side to the criminal lifestyle not often shown in other similar films.

2 ‘Point Blank’ (1967)

Directed by John Boorman

Academy Award winner Lee Marvin stars as a ruthless criminal, Walker, who is betrayed by his friend, Mal Reese (John Vernon), and left for dead on Alcatraz Island. Years later, he returns to get his revenge and learns that Reese is now part of a major criminal organization and married to his wife’s sister, Chris (Angie Dickinson). After contacting Chris, Walker learns that she despises her husband and agrees to help Walker get justice against him.

The criminal melodrama Point Blank features one of Marvin’s greatest lead performances. Released shortly after the end of the golden age of film noir, the film also stars Keenan Wynn, James B. Sikking, and All in the Family star Carroll O’Conner. As far as suspense-filled thrillers go, this underappreciated gem checks a majority of the boxes. Point Blank delivers a perfect blend of romance and organized crime with a touch of intensity, making it one of the most underrated gangster movies.

1 ‘Miller’s Crossing’ (1990)

Directed by Ethan and Joel Coen

The Italian mafia wants the head of a bookie (John Turturro), who is protected by Irish mob boss Leo Bannon (Albert Finney). However, Bannon refuses to give him up as he is dating the bookie’s sister, Verna (Marcia Gay Harden). Leo’s right-hand man, Tom Reagan (Gabriel Byrne) advises Leo to give the bookie up while also secretly seeing Verna. Once he’s found out, he switches sides and joins the Italians, resulting in a massive gang war over turf and liquor distribution.

The neo-noir gangster film Miller’s Crossing is an exceptional and highly underrated film by Joel and Ethan Coen, which includes a meticulously criss-crossed plot of violence and deceit that requires audiences’ undivided attention. With an out-of-left-field ending, expertly placed humor, and a solid but quirky cast of characters, Miller’s Crossing has all the makings of a timeless mobster film. The movie earned three out of four stars from Roger Ebert, who stated that “it is likely to be most appreciated by movie lovers who will enjoy its resonance with films of the past.”

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