top 10 of all time

Cinema has established the mafia as one of the most fascinating themes in popular culture. Directors like Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese and Sergio Leone turned gangster stories into universal epics about power and morality. Over the decades, mafia films have marked the police genre and defined the imagery surrounding organized crime.

From classics like The Godfather e The Good Companions to more realistic portraits like Gomorraheach title reveals how violence mixes with family values, ambition and corruption. In this selection, we revisit ten films, all available on streaming platforms. These are works that spanned generations, won awards and became a reference in the representation of the mafia in cinema.

The list of the best mafia films is organized in chronological order.

Blood Fury (1949)

Directed by Raoul Walsh, the film stars James Cagney as Cody Jarrett, a psychopathic gang leader. The production is an intense portrait of organized crime, with robberies, escapes and betrayals, but what really stands out is the protagonist’s self-destruction. Cagney’s performance is remembered as one of the best of the genre. Well received by critics upon its release, the film became an unavoidable reference in mafia cinema over the years.
Where to watch: available to rent on Prime Video and Apple TV+.

The Godfather (1972)

The work adapts Mario Puzo’s novel and focuses on the Corleone family, led by Don Vito (Marlon Brando). After an assassination attempt, Michael (Al Pacino) takes his father’s place, going from reluctant son to ruthless leader. Vito symbolizes the old mafia world, its codes and traditions. Brando won the Oscar for Best Actor, and the film also won awards for Best Film and Best Adapted Screenplay. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, The Godfather is considered not only a landmark of the genre, but one of the greatest films in history.
Where to watch: available on Paramount+, Mercado Play, Telecine and for rental on Google Play and Apple TV+.

The Godfather II (1974)

In this second chapter, Coppola alternates between two stories. One is the youth of Vito Corleone (Robert De Niro) in immigration from Sicily to New York. The other is the reign of Michael (Al Pacino), now at the head of the family, surrounded by betrayals and power dilemmas. The contrast between generations highlights the ambition and moral cost of criminal succession. The film won six Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Supporting Actor for De Niro.
Where to watch: available on Paramount+, Mercado Play, Telecine and for rental on Google Play and Apple TV+.

Scarface (1983)

Directed by Brian De Palma, the production stars Al Pacino as Tony Montana, a Cuban immigrant who rises through the drug trade in Miami. Montana embodies excess, with grandiose speeches, violence and excessive ambition. De Palma inverts the myth of the “self made man”: the empire built with boldness and blood crumbles into paranoia and loneliness. Scarface It became a cult, constantly mentioned in pop culture.
Where to watch: available to rent on Prime Video and Apple TV+.

Once Upon a Time in America (1984)

The production directed by Sergio Leone is a nostalgic epic about Jewish gangsters in New York. The plot follows Noodles (Robert De Niro), from childhood to old age, revisiting friendships, betrayals and regrets. Famous for western films, Leone here brings his mark on a large scale, exploring memories and urban environments. The contrast between youthful innocence and adult brutality is the highlight. Poorly received at premiere, ended up being marked as one of the greatest mafia films in history.
Where to watch: available on Disney+, Telecine and Prime Video.

The Untouchables (1987)

Another film directed by Brian De Palma, The Untouchables offers a clear narrative about justice versus corruption during Prohibition, in Chicago in the 1930s. Kevin Costner plays Eliot Ness, a federal agent determined to dismantle the reign of gangster Al Capone (Robert De Niro). The plot follows Ness assembling an incorruptible team, while facing both the brute force of henchmen and institutional corruption. Another highlight of the film is Sean Connery’s performance as veteran police officer Jimmy Malone, a performance that earned the actor the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.
Where to watch: available on Mercado Play and for rent on Apple TV+, Prime Video and Google Play.

Final Adjustment (1990)

Set in the 1920s, in a small town in the USA, the Coen brothers’ film features mobsters, corrupt bosses and power intrigues. The highlight is the dialogues, subtle betrayals and trust games. Tom Reagan (Gabriel Byrne) is the cunning protagonist who moves between fragile loyalties. With dark humor and ambiguous morals, the Coens subvert the genre, creating one of the most respected mafia films.
Where to watch: available on Disney+.

Goodfellas (1990)

Martin Scorsese directs the story about the rise and fall of Henry Hill (Ray Liotta) in the Italian-American mafia. Based on real events, the film shows luxury, violence, paranoia and betrayal. The contrast between the initial seduction of criminal life and the moral ruin of the protagonist is striking. Despite being nominated for several awards, it only won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for Joe Pesci. Alongside the Corleone saga, The Good Companions appears among the best films of the genre ever produced.
Where to watch: available on HBO Max, Prime Video and for rental on YouTube, Apple TV+ and Google Play.

The Departed (2006)

Another Scorsese title, the film brings together Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon and Jack Nicholson. Set in Boston, the plot contrasts Billy Costigan (DiCaprio), a police officer infiltrated by the mafia, and Colin Sullivan (Damon), a criminal infiltrated by the police. Nicholson plays mobster Frank Costello, an unpredictable figure. The work explores the limits between loyalty, identity and corruption. The Departed It won the Oscars for Best Film, Director and Adapted Screenplay.
Where to watch: available on Prime Video and for rental on Apple TV+, YouTube and Google Play.

Gomorrah (2008)

Adapted from the book by Roberto Saviano, directed by Matteo Garrone, the film portrays the Camorra in Naples with rawness. Trafficking, money laundering and political infiltration are shown in parallel stories. The realism is impressive, reinforced by local actors and real locations. The production, awarded at Cannes, became one of the most compelling mafia films of recent times.
Where to watch: available on Prime Video.