The 115+ Best R-Rated Gangster Movies

Ranker Film
Updated August 26, 2023 2.1K votes 193 voters
Over 100 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The 115+ Best R-Rated Gangster Movies
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List of R-Rated gangster movies, ranked from best to worst with movie trailers when available. This list takes the best R-Rated gangster movies and pits them against each other to see once and for all what the greatest R-Rated Gangster movie of all time is. This list of popular R-Rated gangster movies includes information like who directed the film, when it was released and which actors starred in the movie. If you think the top R-Rated Gangster movie isn't as high as it should be then be sure to vote it up so it can take its rightful place among the other great R-Rated Gangster films on this list. If you're trying to find a specific R-Rated Gangster Film film you can search this list and filter to find what you're looking for.

List includes The Godfather Part II, No Country for Old Men and more.

If you're trying to find out "What are the best R-Rated gangster movies?" and "What are the most famous R-Rated gangster movies?" then this list is the perfect resource for you.

Use this list if you're looking for some new gangster movies that are rated R. Between Netflix, Hulu and other services there are thousands of great gangster movies rated R, so get out there and start watching.

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Woody Allen and Robert De Niro are among the directors that have worked on a R Gangster Film film.

Most divisive: John Henry
Ranked by
  • The Godfather
    1

    The Godfather

    Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan
    49 votes
    • Released: 1972
    • Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola
    The Godfather, a celebrated crime-drama, presents an intimate study of the Corleone family. At its core is Michael Corleone (Al Pacino), initially an outsider, who gets reluctantly drawn into the family's criminal enterprises. His father, Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando), is the patriarch, whose power and influence cast long shadows over his family's affairs. The movie paints a vivid tableau of post-war New York's underworld, riddled with betrayal and power struggles. This cinematic masterpiece, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, swept the 1973 Academy Awards winning Best Picture amongst others.

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  • The Godfather Part II
    2

    The Godfather Part II

    Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton
    47 votes
    • Released: 1974
    • Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola
    In the mesmerizing sequel, The Godfather Part II, we plunge deeper into the Corleone saga. This time, the narrative oscillates between two compelling timelines. In one, we follow a young Vito Corleone (Robert De Niro) as he navigates the gritty underworld of early 20th century New York. The parallel story presents an older Michael Corleone (Al Pacino), grappling with the family business's expanding empire and his own moral quandaries. A crime drama masterpiece, this film bagged six Academy Awards including Best Picture, affirming its cinematic legacy.

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  • Casino
    3

    Casino

    Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, Joe Pesci
    37 votes
    • Released: 1995
    • Directed by: Martin Scorsese
    In the heart of Las Vegas's glitz and glamour, Casino unfolds. Directed by Martin Scorsese, this crime drama features Sam Ace Rothstein (Robert De Niro), a meticulous casino operator with ties to the mob. Alongside him is Nicky Santoro (Joe Pesci), an impulsive enforcer whose volatile nature threatens their empire. Ginger McKenna (Sharon Stone) completes the trio as Ace's opportunistic wife, her loyalty wavering between love and greed. This gritty portrayal of ambition, power, and downfall won Stone a Golden Globe for Best Actress in 1996. As an exploration of corruption within the neon glow of Las Vegas, Casino remains a significant entry in Scorsese's filmography.

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  • Heat
    4

    Heat

    Burt Reynolds, Diana Scarwid, Howard Hesseman
    36 votes
    • Released: 1986
    • Directed by: Dick Richards, Jerry Jameson
    Heat is a 1986 action-thriller film about an ex-mercenary working as a bodyguard in Las Vegas. The film was written by William Goldman, based on his 1985 novel of the same name. It was directed by Dick Richards and Jerry Jameson, and stars Burt Reynolds, Karen Young and Peter MacNicol.
  • Mean Streets
    5

    Mean Streets

    Robert De Niro, Harvey Keitel, Richard Romanus
    20 votes
    • Released: 1973
    • Directed by: Martin Scorsese
    A slice of street life in Little Italy among lower echelon Mafiosos, unbalanced punks, and petty criminals. A small-time hood gets in over his head with a vicious loan shark. In an attempt to free himself from the dangers of his debt, he gets help from a friend who is also involved in criminal activities.

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  • American Gangster
    6

    American Gangster

    Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Chiwetel Ejiofor
    28 votes
    • Released: 2007
    • Directed by: Ridley Scott
    American Gangster is a gritty crime drama that tells the real-life story of Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington), a heroin kingpin from Manhattan. Lucas, an ordinary driver and bodyguard for Bumpy Johnson, builds his own drug empire after Johnson's death. In parallel, we encounter Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe), an honest detective in a corrupt police force who makes it his mission to bring Lucas down. The movie, directed by Ridley Scott, masterfully intertwines these two narratives, offering an unflinching look at crime and corruption in 1970s America. It received two Oscar nominations for its authentic portrayal of this intense period in American history.

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