Gangster movies are usually associated with American produced masterpieces like The Godfather, Goodfellas, The Untouchables, and Casino. Emerged during the 1930s with masterpieces like Scarface and The Public Enemy, gangster movies brought on screen anti-heroes, climaxing violence, and a dark depiction of society. As the genre evolved, so did the focus of the filmmaker and the themes depicted.
This list presents you the greatest gangster movies made outside the US, in order to showcase the fortune and diversity of the ever-expanding genre. From classics like La Haine and A Better Tomorrow to less known gems like Election and Suburra, these movies brings you on the gloomy and dirty streets of Paris, Rome or Hong Kong, and show you that no matter where you are, there will always be a gang or a loner criminal living outside the boundaries of law.
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10 Suburra
Cattleya
Directed by Stefano Sollima and based on the homonymous novel by Carlo Bonini and Giancarlo De Cataldo, Suburra brings you in the murky waters of Italian politics. Filippo Malgradi (Pierfranceso Favino) is a corrupted MP connected to a Roman crime boss nicknamed Samurai (Claudio Amendola), who was a neo-fascist militant in the 1970s. Malgradi has to help passing a construction bill that favors Samurai, but troubles and violence will soon complicate the plan.
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Loosely inspired by real events, Suburra is a gangster movie that features neo-noir’s elements. This Italian movie is characterized by Sollima’s stylish and robust directing, perfect in the tense moment as well as in the burst of action that sometimes invades the screen. The cast is tremendous in delivering the different characters and their social belonging, while the soundtrack and the cinematography bring it all together perfectly. A must-see.
9 Sonatine
Bandai Visual Company
Written, edited, and directed by Takeshi Kitano, Sonatine sees Kitano portraying an aging yakuza named Murakawa who wants to leave the gangster life. He is sent to Okinawa by his superior to end a dispute between allied gangs, but while he’s staying on the island, his gang is ambushed and his headquarters bombed. Sonatine amazingly mixes peaceful and calm moments with explosive violent sequences.
Sonatine is of the peaks of Kitano’s filmography and a unique yakuza movie. The ultra-violent esthetic of the Japanese director is matched with a dream-like scenario and hints of comedy, which balances perfectly the nihilistic nature of Murakawa. At the same time, Kitano shows his strength behind the camera delivering a movie that makes every frame appear like a painting. Sonatine leaves aside the bombastic and actiony evolution of the gangster genre and decompress it with a poetic touch.
8 Milano Calibro 9
Cineproduzione Daunia 70
Written and directed by Fernando Di Leo, Milano Calibro 9 is the quintessential poliziottesco movie, an Italian crime subgenre that features mobsters, gritty violence, and a window into the turbulent 1970s. After being released from prison, the petty gangster Ugo Piazza (Gastone Moschin) is stalked by his former accomplices, who suppose that Piazza has stolen a large amount of money before his arrest. No one believes him, including the police and his girlfriend Nelly Bordon (Barbara Bouchet).
Di Leo is by far the greatest exponent of the poliziottesco genre and an impressive director. His trademark slow-paced rhythm fully matches the suspenseful plot and helps the audience’s immersion into the dirty streets of Milan; at the same time, the progressive and funky soundtrack performed by the Italian cult band Osanna is flawless. The cherry on top is the performance of Moschin, impeccable in his portrayal of the loner gangster.
7 Le Cercle Rouge
Comacico
Written and directed by Jean-Pierre Melville, Le Cercle Rouge stars Alain Delon as Corey, a gangster who is released early from prison. Before coming back to freedom, a prison guard tips Corey off about a possible hit at a Parisian jewelry shop he could perform. Together with escaped murdered Vogel (Gian Maria Volonté) and heavy drinker ex-cop Jansen (Yves Montand), Corey plans the hit.
Jean-Pierre Melville is noir’s undisputed master and an amazing narrator of gangster stories. Le Cercle Rouge is an astonishing movie characterized by the trademark style of the French director: slick and stylish cinematography, costume design full of waterproof mackintoshes and classy suits, and an atmosphere that lures you in. Delon and Volontè shines as always and the same can be said for Montand. Le Cercle Rouge is one of the best introduction in the cinematic universe of Jean-Pierre Melville and a gangster masterpiece.
6 Infernal Affairs
Media Asia Films
Directed by Andrew Lau and Alan Mak, Infernal Affairs is a tense and visually stunning movie that tells the story of Lau Kin-ming (Andy Lau) a gangster who is sent by his boss to the Hong Kong police academy, in order to infiltrate the force. On the other hand, the police superintendent Wong Chi-shing (Anthony Wong) secretly chooses Chan Wing-yan (Tony Leung) to be an undercover cop in Lau Kin-ming’s gang. In 2006, four years after its release, Scorsese remade it as The Departed.
Infernal Affairs may not be as famous as The Departed, but it is superior. The cinematography is flashy, captivating and extremely expressive, especially in the night scenes; furthermore, words cannot do justice to the Lau-Mak duo’s directing. At the same time, Andy Lau and Tony Leung do not miss a bit and perfectly convey the tense and emotional screenplay. Pure cinema.
5 A Prophet
Why Not Productions
Co-written and directed by Jacques Audiard, A Prophet stars Tahar Rahim as Malik El-Djebena, a young man who is sentenced to prison for attacking police officers. Inside, he is taken under the wing of the Corsican mafia led by César Luciani (Niels Arestrup), who enforces his power with utmost violence. At first mistreated by the mobsters, he will progressively win their confidence. Gritty and ultra-detailed in its depiction of the criminal life, A Prophet is one of the best modern gangster movies to date.
The movie shines for its realistic portrayal of the prison life and for the sapient directing of Audiard, fundamental in keeping the audience glued to the screen despite the long running time. At the same, Tahar Rahim is impressive in his portrayal of Malik and in conveying the character’s emotional depth. A Prophet gets better and better with time and will be regarded as a masterpiece.
4 A Better Tomorrow
Cinema City Enterprises
Co-written and directed by John Woo, A Better Tomorrow is a cult gangster movie that stars Ti Lung as a well known senior triad member called Sung Tse-Ho. He is usually accompanied by his bodyguard Mark Lee (Chow Yun-fat). Tse-Ho’s younger brother is following a different path and training to become a policeman. Sung Tse-Ho wants to leave behind his criminal past and reconcile with his brother, but his decision is easier said than done.
A Better Tomorrow is a milestone in Hong Kong cinema and one of the best John Woo’s movies. All the ingredients are there: technical and solid action sequences, a screenplay that revolves around themes like friendship and honor, and great performances by the cast. A lesson about action sequences and the use of slow motion, A Better Tomorrow is as relevant as it was when released in 1986.
3 City of God
O2 Filmes
Co-directed by Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund, City of God is based on the homonymous novel by Paulo Lins. The movie is set in the Ciudade de Deus neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, and it spans between the 1960s and the 1980s, depicting the local organized crime. The story follows the life of Rocket, an aspiring photographer and the vicissitudes of local gangster Zé Pequeno. City of God was nominated for four Academy Awards and has since become a cult classic.
City of God is more that a mere gangster movie. Despite the action sequences and the bloody atmosphere, this Brazilian movie carries with it a political undertone that is difficult to forget: the depiction of the favelas, the racist police, and the desperation with which the characters have to live daily are the real message of the movie. City of God cannot be disputed.
2 Election
Milkyway Image
Co-written and directed by Johnnie To, Election stars Simon Yam and Tony Leung Ka-fai respectively in the roles of Lok and Big D, two Wo Ling Shing members who aspire to become the sole leader of their triad, after the previous chairman’s mandate is expiring. Featuring an ensemble cast, Election is a showcase of the cinematic vision of Johnnie To and an amazing Hong Kong gangster movie.
Election is difficult to describe in words. From the classy and minimal opening credit on, the movie doesn’t stop to fascinate and mesmerize the audience, with its sharp cinematography and directorial composition. At the same time, the screenplay is stupendously written with its continuous intrigues and machinations. The prolific Hongkonger director never misses a bit and Election is a timeless milestone in the gangster genre, violent and witty at the same time. Do not miss it.
1 La Haine
Les Productions Lazennec
Written and directed by Mathieu Kassovitz, who also has a cameo in the movie as a neo-nazi, La Haine tells the story of three young man from a Parisian banlieue: Vinz (Vincent Cassel), Hubert (Hubert Koundé), and Saïd (Saïd Taghmaoui). Featuring unforgettable dialogue and a political red thread, La Haine is considered a 1990s cult and features an amazing soundtrack by French conscious rap group Assassin.
Shot with impressive black-and-white visuals, La Haine surprises you with a heartfelt and rebellious portrayal of social inequality and racism in France. At the same time, Kassovitz is amazing behind the camera, gifting us unforgettable cinematic moments. The three main protagonists are one better than the other in helping us descend into their daily lives. La Haine is protest cinema with the capital c and an audacious example of the possibility of merging crime movies with a conscious mind. Mandatory.
