In your opinion, what are the best gangster films or television series ever? And why do you think so?

Soprano is the best Gangster TV series no question about it.

Godfather & GF II best movies IMHO. Goodfellas probably next.

Tv shows, geez, I could go way back to shows like The Untouchables, and later "Crime Story", which I regularly watched. HOWEVER, hands down The Sopranos is the best in my opinion. I enjoy Boardwalk Empire but it's nowhere near as good as Sopranos as far as I'm concerned.



TIS

I wholeheartedly agree. Have you found any other television series that you've enjoyed since the Sopranos ended?

I loved the original Godfather and Godfather pt. II was equally enthralling but I'd have to say my favorite gangster flicks are Goodfellas and Miller's Crossing. I agree with the Sopranos being arguably the best television series. Since it's ended, I've re-watched it at least three times. I tried getting into the Boardwalk Empire series but just can't stop thinking of Steve Buscemi as Tony Blundetto. Haha

I'd probably have to say The Sopranos with The Shield and Sons of Anarchy not far behind.

With regards to the best Gangster Film, in my opinion GF1 and GF2 then Goodfellas.

Once Upon A Time In America
Casino
Bronx Tale

since the sopranos have ended i gotta say my favorite tv show is breaking bad hands down. but other good ones(in the gangster genre) are boardwalk empire, sons of anarchy, justified, and the new show low winter sun looks pretty good so far.

TV shows= Sopranos and older show, Crime story starring Dennis Farina who sadly recently passed away before his time. I also like the current series "Mobsters" ans Sons of Anarchy although it is about bikers and not mobsters.
As for movies. Goodfellas, Bronx Tale, and Godfather 1 and 2.

I believe GF and II are the greatest movies ever made in America. But I don't count them as gangster or Mafia movies per se. I count them as a saga about a family with the Mafia as the defining milieu. Put another way: "Gone With the Wind" isn't a Civil War movie--it's about a family with the Civil War as the defining milieu.

IMO, the all-time greatest gangster movie was "White Heat," with "Goodfellas" and "Little Caesar" in the top three.

Two the best films Little Caesar,Carlito's Way

The Godfather is No. 1 for me. Over the years, Donnie Brasco has really grown on me. Donnie's character, like Michael in GF1, is genuinely conflicted and that holds my interest to the end. GF2, Casino, and Goodfellas are all excellent films, but I can turn them off a lot easier because the appeal is mostly plot.

Bronx Tale and Broadwalk Empire

The cream of mob cinema is The Godfather, The Godfather II, Goodfellas, Casino, and The Sopranos tv series.

If you saw nothing else in that genre, that would be enough.

Godfather, Scarface, Carlito's Way, Mean Streets, and A Bronx Tale. For televison Boardwalk Empire, followed by The Sopranos. The Wire and Breaking Bad were best of tv shows, but are we only talking Mafia themed shows ? Reservoir Dogs was as great as any gangster movie except The Godfather.

The Godfather and The Sopranos definitely. Depending on what you mean by "gangster", i'll say Casino,A Bronx Tale,Reservoir Dogs and GF 2 for movies as well as Breaking Bad for tv. I watched the first 6 episodes of Boardwalk Empire before giving up on it because i didn't like it at all.

What genre is breaking bad? I would class it as crime/drama..

Since it hasn't been mentioned, I will say Magic City (top 3 mob dramas) that was recently cancelled by STARZ and Terrence Winter, the writer, is hoping it gets picked up on another network. Boardwalk is AMAZING, it truly captures the era. Soparanos...enough said. Mean Streets was a great flick and so was Raging Bull...Looking forward to the Irishman based on the book "I Heard You Paint Houses" and Legacy of Secrecy with DiCaprio and DeNiro.

It seldom gets mentioned on this Board, but among my Pantheon of great Gangster films is The Brotherhood with Kirk Douglas. It's grittiness is more indicative of the true nature of organized crime than the flamboyance of The GF.

Goodfellas is one of my favorite movies of all time....definitely the best mob movie to me (with much respect due to Godfather pt 2)

As for TV...I also LOVE the sopranos...if we're talking about mob shit, then yeah, that definitely has the crown.

if we're including crime dramas of any sub genre though...The Wire (about the modern drug organizations in Baltimore)definitely without a doubt gives sopranos a run for its money. The Wire and The Sopranos always switch back and forth with me for my favorite, depending on the day. Two top notch shows with absolutely excellent writing. Its hard to choose between the 2 for me

I couldn't agree more TIS.

However I need to add another gangster themed TV show to this :

Wiseguy starring Ken Wahl was a great series!

Goodfellas !!!!!!

You guys should check out a series called Peaky Blinders.

Best TV series has to go to The Sopranos.

Although im a big fan of the Underbelly series also.

Tom Hardy is lined up to play a role in that series. Count me in.
He's a great actor.

Peaky Blinders sounds like gay porn.

Check your pm, Alfano. It's the red blinky thing up top.

K boss.

Haha true, but no less so than the The Tanglewood Boys lol. Purple Hill Gang doesnt scream hetrosexual either

Agree it was so good. The first two seasons it was on I had a Soprano party on the opening shows. Some of my quests you people might know. My wife did not want to be around them and left.

What I learned from that party. Don't get to much Italian food and pastry and don't start eating two hours before the start of the show or you will be in the shit house while the actual show is going on

The show was so good I got rid of HBO when the show went off the air.

But, I thought the ending of the last show was shit fad to black my ass. What was wrong with his daughter never learned how to park?

What never saw them eat in a greasy spoon before this show.

Other good tv shows was Crime story as some one said. Hated the cop fuckerello, but dug Luca. I even use one of his lines in the show when I get a great gadget like the IPad I say it's the best thing since bullets.

The other show I liked was Falcone. The character Sonny and the actor that played him was great. Also liked their Old Bartender closest to the real thing on the show.

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Best movie at least for me was Public Enemy Cagney was brilliant in it.