Summary
The height of audience interest in mafia and gangster movies and TV shows peaked whenThe Sopranosaired in the late 1990s and early 2000s. However, in the wake ofThe Sopranos' series finale in 2007, many new and exciting shows have filled the niche left in the iconic show’s wake and transformed the genre.These newer series distinguish themselves fromThe Sopranoswith unique settings and charactersthat haven’t always been touched upon by narratives about organized crime. This has allowed the shows to stand apart from the legacy ofThe Sopranos.
Morally ambiguous antiheroes and well-choreographed fight scenes are must-haves for any up-and-coming mafia series.
However, there are still similar story structures and tropes that can be found in many of these types of series.Overlap in actors and storylines in the gangster genre has been a recurring themefor many years. All theSopranosactors who were also inGoodfellasshow the connections of the gangster and mafia genres in film and television. Across the many shows that have come to define the genre in recent years, a few elements remain consistent from their predecessors. Morally ambiguous antiheroes and well-choreographed fight scenes are must-haves for any up-and-coming mafia series.
10 Best Gangster Actors In Movies, Ranked
Crime films have been a staple of Hollywood, with many great movie stars known for playing roles as ruthless gangster characters. But who did it best?
Tulsa King
Cast
Tulsa King follows New York mafia capo Dwight “The General” Manfredi, who, after 25 years in prison, is exiled to Tulsa, Oklahoma, by his boss. Faced with the possibility of betrayal, he assembles a crew of unlikely characters to establish a criminal empire in unfamiliar territory.
The series kicks off with Dwight being released from prison and sent to Tulsa to head up that branch of his New York crime family’s operation.
Sylvester Stallone takes on a new type of character inTulsa King, which has him playing against the heroic type that he embodied in the characters of his youth.Created by Taylor Sheridan, the mind behind the hit seriesYellowstone,Tulsa Kingfeatures some of thebest villains in Taylor Sheridan TV showsalongside Stallone’s morally ambiguous Dwight. The series kicks off with Dwight being released from prison and sent to Tulsa to head up that branch of his New York crime family’s operation.
ThoughTulsa Kinghasn’t yet hit the major popularity ofYellowstone, it’s still a hit for Sheridan and exercises Stallone’s talents in a role that doesn’t require him to play the action hero.Tulsa Kingalso stands apart because of its unexpected setting of Tulsa, Oklahoma,which isn’t an American city that most audiences associate with a criminal underground. However, Dwight finds plenty of action to keep him and his side of the business busy, along with new emotional connections that give the show some heart.
Animal Kingdom
Animal Kingdom follows 17-year-old Joshua “J” Cody as he joins his criminal relatives in a Southern California beach town after his mother’s death. Led by matriarch Janine “Smurf” Cody, the family’s intense dynamics unfold with members Baz, Pope, Craig, and Deran navigating their illegal enterprises.
Animal Kingdomdraws inspiration from the 2010 movie of the same name but expanded far beyond the initial story during its six-season run. Unlike the typical mafia series where there is a man at the head of the family calling the shots,Animal Kingdomfeatures the matriarch, Janine, leading her sons,grandsons, and other members of her family in their criminal empire. Many of the most action-packed parts of the series comprise the characters robbing banks and in-fighting for control over the family.
Janine is surrounded by the violent and aggressive men she’s raised, but more often than not, she’s in complete control of every volatile impulse they express.The series also features flashbacks to Janine’s past as a young woman in a different ring of criminals,rising through the ranks and honing her skills for the future.Animal Kingdomfocuses on the inter-family politics of deciding on a score and following through on a hit amid a manipulative and co-dependent dynamic.
Gangs of London
Gangs of London is a crime drama series that centers on Sean Wallace, who must navigate a volatile criminal underworld in London after the assassination of his father, Finn Wallace. His quest to restore control threatens the fragile peace between the city’s rival gangs.
Gangs of Londonintroduces its core characters to crime bosses from around the world, making the series feel far-reaching and rooted in reality.
Instead of looking at one family in particular,Gangs of Londonexplores the interweaving loyalties and connections of the rival organizations in the famed U.K. city.Loosely based on the video game from 2006, the series begins with the city on the brink of collapse after the most powerful boss in London is found dead with no indication of how it happened. From there, his son must rise to the top and attempt to replace his father while other gangs and law enforcement try to bring him down from both inside and outside the organization.
Gangs of Londontakes advantage of the truly international aspects of the city,allowing the series to expand upon the insular nature of organized crime. In shows likeThe Sopranos, the story focuses on only one type of family with little crossover between leaders from different countries or with separate backgrounds.Gangs of Londonintroduces its core characters to crime bosses from around the world, making the series feel far-reaching and rooted in reality.
Gomorrah
Gomorrah is a crime drama television series that explores the inner workings of the Neapolitan Camorra, a powerful and ruthless organized crime syndicate in Naples, Italy. The show delves into the intricate web of relationships within the organization, as well as the devastating impact it has on the local community.
While crime TV shows that take place in the U.S., likeThe Sopranos, will center on the stories of Italian-American mafia families, rarely do these shows actually make it to Italy. However,Gomorrahtakes place in Naples and reflects the international perception of the Italian mafia genreback on its viewers. The perceptions, stereotypes, and ideas that worldwide audiences have about mafia families within Italy are colored by a litany of films and TV shows that have popularized them.Gomorrahbecame so influential because it broke this mold.
Much of the conflict inGomorrahboils down to the rising tensions between the old and new generationsand the struggle for power that unfolds between them. This is a classic plot device that can be seen in many TV shows regardless of the genre, but it works brilliantly in crime shows because the stakes are so high, with money, power, and potential incarceration on the line. Somehow even more gritty and unflinching thanThe Sopranos,Gomorrahpulls no punches when it comes to the harsh realities of its world.
The Gentlemen
Based on the film of the same name, the Gentlemen is a crime drama series created for Netflix by Guy Ritchie. The series follows Eddie Horniman, who inherits his father’s estate, only to discover he has inherited a vast cannabis empire - and all of the rivals that come with it.
Known for his action-packed and comedic takes on the crime and thriller genres, Ritchie exceeded expectations with the new iteration ofThe Gentlemen.
The original movie of the same name from 2019 serves as a jumping-off point for the 2024 seriesThe Gentlemen, as they were both created by Guy Ritchie. Known for his action-packed and comedic takes on the crime and thriller genres, Ritchie exceeded expectations with the new iteration ofThe Gentlemen. It expands upon the seeds the film planted and casts a group of actors to head up the show.Theo James and Kaya Scodelario have excellent chemistry within their unlikely partnershipin the series.
Now thatThe Gentlemenseason 2 has been confirmed, audiences can start getting their hopes up about what Ritchie has in store for the upcoming installment of the story.James' character, Eddie, might be the heir to a line of traditional English aristocracy, but he turns out to be well-suited to a life of crimewhen he gets involved with Susie (Scodelario) and her family’s criminal empire. By bringing together their separate resources, money, and power, the pair find themselves to be quite an unstoppable force.
Sons of Anarchy
Sons of Anarchy is centered around the Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club Redwood Original (SAMCRO), exploring the tensions between President Clay and Vice President Jax in the town of Charming. The narrative focuses on their differing visions for the club’s operations, blending legal and illegal enterprises.
Sons of Anarchyonly increased in popularity and notoriety across its seven seasons. Audiences were riveted by the morality and politics of the titular motorcycle gang and the relevant social topics that the series took on. The role of vigilantism within a community and where the line of violence is for those in the gang are central issues across the show.Charlie Hunnam plays Jax, the protagonist and son of one of the gang’s founding memberswho can’t fight his moral qualms that pop up at the other men’s behavior.
Sons of Anarchyis at its best when it doesn’t shy away from the real-world topics that color the series' exploration of the gang and its members.The performances are some of the most memorable parts ofSons of Anarchy,as the interconnecting relationships between characters become more fraught with each passing season. UnlikeThe Sopranos,Sons of Anarchytakes place in the Western half of the U.S. and is in conversation with the road genre as well as the crime thriller.
Godfather of Harlem
Godfather of Harlem is a crime drama series starring Forest Whitaker as real-life crime boss Bumpy Johnson. Set in the early 1960s, the show chronicles Johnson’s return to Harlem after a decade in prison and his bid to regain control. The series intricately weaves historical and fictional events, showcasing his strategic alliances and confrontations, including his partnership with civil rights leader Malcolm X.
Forest Whitaker takes on the role of the iconic crime boss Bumpy Johnson inGodfather of Harlem, which tracks a fictionalized account of Bumpy’s time in Harlem after his release from prison.
Forest Whitaker takes on the role of the iconic crime boss Bumpy Johnson inGodfather of Harlem, which tracks a fictionalized account of Bumpy’s time in Harlem after his release from prison.The real people and rival gangs he interacted with are present in the historical fiction series,which heightens the stakes and tension of an already tumultuous time. Malcolm X plays a key role in the series as an ally of Bumpy in his quest to take back Harlem from the invading Italian mob families who are threatening his territory.
Whitaker is consistently a standout inGodfather of Harlemand balances the many sides of Bumpy, as he must be a feared boss while simultaneously looking out for his loved ones and watching the world change.Even though it’s a period piece, the audience understands Bumpy’s reaction to the changing timesand transformed neighborhood when he gets out of prison. Watching the world shift and seeing new figures challenge his authority is a large part of what drives him in the series.
Ozark
Ozark is a crime drama series released in 2017, focusing on a financial adviser who relocates his family from Chicago to the Missouri Ozarks. He must launder $500 million within five years to satisfy a drug boss, navigating the challenges and dangers of his new environment.
For audiences who are most familiar with Jason Bateman and Laura Linney in their comedic roles, their characters inOzarkcome as quite a surprise.Both actors shine as the married couple Marty and Wendy,who bite off more than they can chew after becoming involved in a money laundering scheme for a Mexican drug cartel. It seems impossible that they will be able to evade the authorities and their enemies while setting up some semblance of a normal life for their family. However, Marty and Wendy prove more resourceful than audiences realize.
The inciting incident of the series isMarty and Wendy moving from the Chicago suburbs to the Ozarks in Missouri,but the rural community has its fair share of secrets. They’re soon involved in plots not only with their cartel but with other local crime families who get wind of their operation. Since money and financial crime are such a large part of the series, a lot of time is spent on the logistics of these activities. However, this doesn’t makeOzarkboring or forego any of the action sequences expected for a series like this.
Boardwalk Empire
Based on Atlantic City in the 1920s and 1930s, Boardwalk Empire follows political heavyweight “Nucky” Thompson as he battles mobsters, politicians, government agents, and the common folk who look to take him on. Now, with the federal government cracking down on bootlegging and other illegal activities, and everyone looking to take over control of the city, Nucky’s lavish lifestyle is in danger of collapsing.
Buscemi leads the cast as Enoch Thompson, a corrupt political figure in Atlantic City who uses his position of power to make money off of selling bootleg liquor with various crime families.
Steve Buscemi returns to his crime drama roots inBoardwalk Empireafter playing a pivotal role inThe Sopranosa few years prior. However, inBoardwalk Empire, Buscemi leads the cast as Enoch Thompson, a corrupt political figure in Atlantic City who uses his position of power to make money off of selling bootleg liquor with various crime families. AsMartin Scorsese was heavily involved in the early production ofBoardwalk Empire,the show drips with the classic mafia style that Scorsese’s movies helped to establish.
In other crime thrillers, the audience often sees the politicians who are in the back pocket of the organizations as secondary characters who are being used because of their greed. While Enoch is inarguably driven by greed, he’s also a criminal mastermind who has no intention of being used by others.Prohibition was a pivotal time in U.S. history, and the foundation of many criminal empires took rootduring this time.Boardwalk Empiresteeps itself in this rich history while taking liberties with the historical period to great stylistic effect.
10 Great Crime TV Shows With A-List Actors
More and more top-level talents have been attracted to crime shows in recent years, creating some classics of the genre which showcase great acting.
Peaky Blinders
Peaky Blinders is a historical crime drama created and written by Steven Knight and starring Cillian Murphy, Sam Neill, and Helen McCrory. The television show is based on the gang, Peaky Blinders, a group that banded together after the end of World War I.
Before Cillian Murphy won his Oscar for playing J. Robert Oppenheimer in Christopher Nolan’sOppenheimer, he played the iconic protagonist Tommy Shelby inPeaky Blinders. As the head of the titular crime family,the viewer watches Tommy systematically expand his empireand attempt to transform into a legitimate businessman while pulling his family out of poverty in the wake of the First World War. The series spans decades and sees Tommy nearly lose everything in his pursuit of power and money.
Manycharacters will return in the upcomingPeaky Blindersmovie alongside Murphy, who will reprise his role as Tommy in the film that will conclude the story of the Shelby family. While the supporting characters are just as vital to the story’s development, the audience sticks withPeaky Blindersfor Tommy the same way viewers kept up withThe Sopranosto see how Tony’s story would end.The backdrop ofPeaky Blindersfeatures many of the social and political movements that transformed Englandduring this period.
