Best Robert De Niro Gangster Movies, Ranked

In the cinematic landscape of gangsters, guns, and sheer gravitas, one name stands out, and it’s Robert De Niro. Whether he’s orchestrating a casino empire in the neon-lit Las Vegas, pulling the strings from the backrooms of Brooklyn, or delivering monologues in Sicilian, De Niro does not just play gangsters, he redefines them.

Before he became synonymous with the gangster genre, De Niro was just another New York-born actor grinding away in off-Broadway plays and low-budget indies. His breakout came with Martin Scorsese’s Mean Streets in 1973, and in many ways, his character of Johnny Boy became the cornerstone of his future persona. From there on, he carved a legacy, sometimes leading with precision, other times, lurking in the margins.

The gangster genre anyway thrives on tension, code, paranoia, and betrayal, and De Niro brings it all to the table. That’s why so many movies are quickly identifiable with the legendary actor. Even when the spotlight isn’t his to keep, he makes the drama more intense with his lived-in, unpredictable energy.

This list celebrates and ranks every Robert De Niro gangster movie.

12

‘The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight’ (1971)

The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight is an offbeat mob comedy that follows Kid Sally Palumbo, a small-time criminal who wants to prove himself to his boss, Baccala. When he’s tasked with organizing a bicycle race as a front for the mob business, things spiral out of control and Mario Trantino, a naive Italian cyclist, stumbles into New York City’s criminal underworld.

De Niro’s First Foray Into Mob Dramas

Though it’s far from one of Robert De Niro’s most acclaimed roles, it earns a place on the list as his earliest foray into gangster territory. His Mario masquerading as a priest and falling for Sally’s sister and his interventions cause the gang a lot of trouble. The movie’s overall tone swings between broad comedy and mob drama, but De Niro’s earnest outsider is still a standout. As a matter of fact, Al Pacino was originally cast in the role, but he dropped out to star in The Godfather, and the role was given to De Niro instead.

11

‘Analyze That’ (2002)

Analyze That

Release Date

December 6, 2002

Runtime

96 minutes

A sequel to the 1999 classic, Analyze That follows mob boss Paul Vitti, who begins exhibiting erratic behavior after a stint in Sing Sing, which secures him an early release from prison. Worried about his condition, the FBI places him under the care of his old therapist, Dr. Ben Sobel, who turns out to be grappling with his own grief and identity crisis.

A Rare Comedic Turn

Reuniting with his Analyze This co-star Billy Crystal, Robert De Niro leans into parody and pokes fun at his own mobster personality through a chaotic blend of therapy sessions, gangster politics, and reluctant attempts at going straight. The movie is clearly not as sharp and funny as its predecessor, but it offers a self-aware take on the genre, thanks to Harold Ramis, who keeps the little bit of action buzzing throughout.

10

‘The Alto Knights’ (2025)

The Alto Knights

3.5
/5

Release Date

April 21, 2025

Runtime

120 Minutes

Writers

Nicholas Pileggi

Producers

Irwin Winkler, Jason Sosnoff, Charles Winkler, David Winkler, Mike Drake, Barry Levinson

Set in 1950s New York, The Alto Knights chronicles the bitter rivalries between two real-life gangsters – Frank Costello and Vito Genovese. Interestingly enough, they are both played by Robert De Niro. The story begins with an attempted hit on Costello, orchestrated by Genovese, which sets off a chain reaction, and as Genovese claws his way to the top, Costello plots a quieter but more cunning revenge.

Two Gangsters, One De Niro

The film forges ahead through betrayals, courtroom drama, and backroom deals, while leaning into themes of power and paranoia. The period detail and deliberate pacing are synonymous with the genre, and it echoes Goodfellas and Casino with a more introspective lens. De Niro makes sure there is a contrast between both his characters, but the movie bombed because it failed to reinvent the genre in a fitting manner.

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9

‘Mean Streets’ (1973)

Mean Streets

Release Date

October 14, 1973

Runtime

112 Minutes

Mean Streets takes place in the back alleys of New York’s Little Italy and revolves around Charlie, a young man torn between his Catholic guilt, his ambition to rise in the local mob, and his loyalty to his best friend Johnny Boy. Charlie works for his uncle, who is a respected mafioso, but his personal life is messed up because he’s dating his epileptic cousin Teresa and constantly bailing out Johnny Boy, a gambler who owes money all over town.

An Influential Gangster Drama

Mean Streets marked a turning point not just for Robert De Niro, but for the entire crime genre. As the unpredictable, hot-headed Johnny Boy, who refuses to take anything seriously, he delivers a performance that crackles with an almost feral energy, stealing the spotlight from even Harvey Keitel. Martin Scorsese’s immersive direction perfectly complements his self-destructive character, and the role earned him the National Society of Film Critics and New York Film Critics Circle awards for Best Supporting Actor.

8

‘A Bronx Tale’ (1993)

A Bronx Tale

Release Date

October 1, 1993

Runtime

121 Minutes

This coming-of-age centers on Calogero, a young Italian-American boy growing up in the radically charged Bronx of the 1960s, as he finds himself torn between looking up to two father figures. One is his honest, working-class dad Lorenzo, and the other is a charismatic local gangster named Sonny. Things get more complicated when Calogero falls for Jane, an African-American girl from his school, igniting tensions in the neighborhood.

Robert De Niro Behind the Camera

A Bronx Tale is ostensibly Calogero’s story, but it is Robert De Niro who leaves an indelible mark as Lorenzo, the loving but no-nonsense father desperate to prevent his son from getting sucked into the allure and glamor of mafia life. It’s also the actor’s directorial debut, and it is a deeply personal and surprisingly tender entry in his gangster filmography because he draws from his background and experiences and plays against type.

7

‘Analyze This’ (1999)

Directed by Harold Ramis, Analyze This follows mob boss Paul Vitti, who suffers a nervous breakdown in the middle of a hit and starts feeling a creeping sense that he’s losing his edge. A major mafia summit is around the corner, so he strong-arms a neurotic New York psychiatrist named Dr. Ben Sobel into becoming his therapist. As Vitti opens up about his childhood trauma and anxiety, Sobel gets entangled in mob affairs and dodges FBI agents.

Wiseguys Also Need Emotional Support

Robert De Niro flips the gangster archetype on its head in this hilarious drama. His portrayal of Vitti is a parody of and a tribute to the mobsters he has played before. His chemistry with Billy Crystal is perfect, with the two combining deadpan delivery with manic dialogue. Analyze This was a box office hit, earning over $170 million worldwide and paving the way for a sequel.

6

‘Once Upon A Time In America’ (1984)

Spanning over five decades, Once Upon a Time in America is a gangster epic that follows the life of David “Noodles” Aaronson, a Jewish gangster from New York’s Lower East Side. In a non-linear fashion, the story drifts between Noodles’ childhood in the 1920s, his rise through Prohibition-era crime with his friends Max, Patsy, and Cockeye, and his return to New York in the 1960s as a man haunted by regret.

The Ghosts Left Behind By Gangsters

De Niro’s performance as Noodles is exceptionally restrained and layered with emotions. He plays the character across decades as he navigates a world of bootlegging, political corruption, and personal loss. The narrative reveals the devastating choices he makes, while De Niro captures the youthful ambition, middle-aged ruthlessness, and elderly sorrow with precision. Initially butchered, the restored version of the movie is hailed as a masterpiece.

5

‘The Untouchables’ (1987)

Set in Prohibition-era Chicago, The Untouchables is directed by Brian De Palma, and it finds federal agent Eliot Ness trying to take down the city’s most notorious crime lord, Al Capone. But he cannot do it alone, so he assembles a small team, including the grizzled cop Malone, rookie sharpshooter George Stone, and accountant Oscar Wallace. When they gain traction, Capone retaliates.

A Classic Gangster Thriller

Transforming himself into the iconic Al Capone, Robert De Niro is a pure theatrical menace. He’s charismatic, brutal, magnetic, and larger than life. He reportedly studies Capone’s mannerisms obsessively to completely dissolve into the role. De Palma’s direction is stylish and bold, with David Mamet’s script crackling with clever dialogue and moral ambiguity. The movie also stars Kevin Costner, Sean Connery (who won an Oscar), Andy García, and Charles Martin Smith.

4

‘The Irishman’ (2019)

The Irishman

Release Date

November 27, 2019

Runtime

210 minutes

• 

An adaptation of the book I Heard You Paint Houses by Charles Brandt, The Irishman is told through the perspective of Frank Sheeran, a truck driver in the 1950s who gets drawn into the orbit of mob boss Russell Bufalino and eventually becomes the trusted enforcer for union leader Jimmy Hoffa. As he rises through the ranks, Frank is forced to choose between the two.

De Niro’s Gangster Swan Song

The movie unfolds like a confession, with Frank reflecting on the days of past and recounting the choices that led to Hoffa’s disappearances as well as the emotional toll that the life of violence took on him. De Niro reunites with his longtime collaborator Martin Scorsese and delivers one of the most nuanced performances of his career. He lets go of the manic energy that defined his most iconic gangster roles and instead imbues Frank with a heavy, regretful, and resigned vibe.

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3

‘The Godfather Part II’ (1974)

Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather Part II plays out in two parallel timelines. One takes place in early 20th-century New York, where young Vito Corleone escapes Sicilian tragedy and slowly builds his career through manipulation and violence, eventually avenging his family. The other takes place in the 1950s, and follows Michael, now head of the Corleone family, as he battles betrayal from within, deals with an assassination attempt, and heartbreak.

A Revered Film In The Genre

The sequel’s structure is clever and operatic, its tone elegant, and its final image is absolutely devastating. De Niro portrays young Vito as a soft-spoken and observant man who is lethal when necessary. He speaks almost entirely in Sicilian (which he devoted himself to learning to be authentic), and yet his presence alone earned him an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Of course, it wouldn’t all be accomplished without Coppola’s ambitious direction. Overall, The Godfather Part II won six Oscars, including Best Picture.