Crime moviesdelve intothe seedy cesspoolsof criminals, gangsters, and crooked elites. Subterfuge is another day in paradise for the protected mob boss. Money talks, and the corrupt walk free in the underworld. Crimes are covered up and framed on the innocent. Rules are broken like bones,threats are thrown like gunfire, and deals are struck like those who oppose their mobster leaders. In the world of crime, the word on the street is law, including these incriminating quotes from the genre.
10The Godfather (1972) - “I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse.” - Don Vito Corleone
The Godfatheris an epic crime trilogy based on the Mario Puzo novel of the same title. One of the most influential films about organized crime,The Godfatherfollows the dealings of the Corleone crime family. Don Vito Corleone is listening to requests, one of which comes from his godson, Johnny Fontane. He asks to land a movie role, but the studio president, Jack Woltz initially declines. The offer Vito makes to Waltz is a morning call in bed, where he wakes up to the severed head of his racing horse.
9The Untouchables (1987) - “I want his house burned to the ground! I wanna go out in the middle o’ the night and piss on his ashes!” - Al Capone
The Untouchablestakes place during the Prohibition era, when Al Capone reigned as crime boss of the Chicago Outfit. A team of special agents known as the Untouchables enforced heavy Prohibition laws to put an end to Capone’s crime ring and illegal activities. The strain causes Capone to lose a shipment of liquor andthe deaths of his gangsters. Capone threatens Eliot Ness, the leader of the Untouchables, with words that promise overkill.
8Scarface (1983) - “Say hello to my little friend.” - Tony Montana
Scarfaceis about Cuban refugee Tony Montana arriving in Miami with nothing to his name. There, he gets involved with drug lords, earning their trust until their underlings cross him. Tony saves his own skin and kills those above his rank to become the distributor of cocaine kingpin Alejandro Sosa. After some double-crossing and wavering loyalty, Tony takes his last stand with his little friend, an M16 rifle.
7On the Waterfront (1954) - “I coulda been a contender.” - Terry Malloy
On the Waterfrontis a true account of thecorruption and violenceamong union workers on the Hoboken, New Jersey waterfronts. Terry Malloy is one of many longshoremen working for the corrupt union boss, Johnny Friendly. They are silenced and keep their heads down should they be next to die at Friendly’s demand. The injustice caused Terry to lose his career as a prizefighter, but he does win a different prize in the end: integrity.
Related:16 Non-Mafia Organized Crime Movies
6Heat (1995) - “Don’t let yourself get attached to anything you are not willing to walk out on in 30 seconds flat if you feel the heat around the corner.” - Neil McCauley
Heatis a crime drama about the rival tensions and bonds between LAPD detective Lieutenant Vincent Hanna and thief Neil McCauley. Hanna does everything by the book with a marriage on the rocks. McCauley lives by a code: never let emotions keep you from moving forward. McCauley’s code is challenged when he begins a relationship of his own. Both men are dedicated in different ways as they feel the heat around the corner.
Related:Missing: The Lucie Blackman Case Review: A True Crime Saga Not for the Faint of Heart
5The Departed (2006) - “I don’t wanna be a product of my environment. I want my environment to be a product of me.” - Frank Costello
The Departedis an epic crime thriller set in Boston. The Irish Mob boss Frank Costello hires Colin Sullivan, a mole, to infiltrate the Massachusetts State Police and thwart their case against him. At the same time, the police send an undercover officer to spy on Costello’s crew. Before both parties can discover their informant’s identities, Costello shares a bid for power and control from a place of disenfranchisement.
4Reservoir Dogs (1992) - “Are you gonna bark all day, little doggy, or are you gonna bite?” - Mr. Blonde
Miramax Films
Reservoir Dogsis about eight gangsters hired to pull offa diamond heistfor crime boss Joe Cabot. They only know each other by their code names. When their plan goes awry, they begin to suspect the heist was a set-up. Mr. Blonde is nonchalant about Mr. White’s complaints, calling him a dog with all bark and no bite.
3The Big Lebowski (1998) - “You pull any of your crazy sht with us, you flash a piece out on the lanes, I’ll take it away from you and stick it up your as and pull the f*cking trigger till it goes click.” - Jesus Quintana
The Big Lebowskiis a crime comedy about a case of mistaken identity. Two men named Jeffrey Lebowski are entangled, one a slacker, known as “The Dude,” and the other a millionaire, “The Big.” The Big has The Dude deliver ransom money to have his kidnapped wife released. After the situation is settled, bowler Jesus Quintana threatens The Dude and his Vietnam veteran friend Walter Sobchak with violent sportsmanship.
2Taxi Driver (1976) - “Listen, you fckers, you screwheads. Here is a man who would not take it anymore. A man who stood up against the scum, the cnts, the dogs, the filth, the sh*t Here is a man who stood up.” - Travis Bickle
Taxi Driveris the harrowing story of restless Vietnam veteran-turned-taxi driver, Travis Bickle, who works the night shift. He journals about his time behind the wheel, his only outlet for sanity. Travis describes the low-life,crime-infested cityeating itself alive from the inside out. He also proclaims his outlier status and his mission to change the status quo.
1Training Day (2001) - “King Kong ain’t got sh*t on me!” - Alonzo Harris
Training Dayhighlights how corruption finds a way to live again. Crooked narcotics' officer Alonzo Harris trains newly promoted Jake Hoyt. His ties to the Russian mafia and local gangsters eventually do him in. Before his in extremis, Alonzo loses his bought power and brute force on the street after Jake saves a gang member’s relative from a foiled crime. The tables turn, but Alonzo tells the neighborhood gang, “you may shoot me, but you can’t kill me,” that his days of corruption might be over, but corruption will find a new host to take his place.
