10 rise-and-fall gangster films that hit like ‘Scarface’

Al Pacino recently celebrated his birthday! As the legendary actor turns 85, he's shown no signs of slowing down — he’s already busy shooting for Academy Award nominee Gus Van Sant’s much-anticipated hostage thriller Dead Man’s Wire, whose release date is yet to be announced.

Al Pacino has delivered some of the most memorable and iconic performances in cinema history in his almost 60-year-long career, particularly in gangster roles. One such film is Scarface, the classic American crime drama which is focused on a Cuban refugee Tony Montana moving to Miami where he climbs to be one of the biggest drug dealers – though this leads to his inevitable demise when he becomes addicted to the very drugs that fuel his business.

The film became a major pop culture phenomenon throughout the 80s and 90s, and continues to have a lasting impact even today - having inspired several movies, TV shows, music, artwork, and even fashion. Scarface has truly become a timeless classic, and it’s not the only one. Several other rise-and-fall gangster films have also stood the test of time, earning their place alongside it in cinematic history.

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10 Rise-and-Fall Gangster Films like Scarface

1) Goodfellas (1990)

If you're yet to watch this film, then let's put it this way - Goodfellas serves as the perfect starting place. Don’t be misled by the title, because it might say Goodfellas, but it’s definitely not about a bunch of nice guys! The 1990 film, directed by the ingenious Martin Scorsese, featuring the legendary Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci, who assumed significant roles in the film - is considered one of the best gangster films to ever be created.

What’s more, it’s based on a true story - serving as an adaptation of Nicholas Pileggi’s book Wiseguy, which narrates the life of mafia henchman Henry Hill and his family from 1955 to 1980.

2) The Godfather Part II (1974)

What do you get when you put Al Pacino and Robert De Niro in one film? Well, you get a masterclass in acting and portraying complex characters, and this film is exactly that. It serves as both a prequel and a sequel to the first Godfather, presenting a dual narrative of rise and fall: young Vito Corleone’s ascent and Michael’s moral collapse. Director Francis Ford Coppola truly broke the stereotype with this one that sequels to classics are always bad.

3) Casino (1995)

A Martin Scorsese film? Check. Starring De Niro and Pesci? Check. A mobster story set in Las Vegas? Check. Think Scarface in the neon-lit desert - greed, power, and backstabbing in Vegas, told through the story of a mob-controlled casino operator. This tale of the rise and fall of a mobster in the Las Vegas casino world is definitely one worth watching!

4) American Gangster (2007)

Directed by the great Ridley Scott, the film is loosely based on Harlem drug kingpin Frank Lucas, played by Denzel Washington, whose rise in the heroin trade is as slick as his fall is brutal. Also starring Russell Crowe, this is one film you must watch if you’re into rise-and-fall gangster stories. It’s gritty, immersive, and packed with a great story and powerful performances.

5) Donnie Brasco (1997)

It’s hard to talk about the best rise-and-fall gangster movies without mentioning one of the GOATs of on-screen gangsters himself - Al Pacino. Add Johnny Depp to the mix, and you have a dish ready to be devoured with delight. Based on a true story, Donnie Brasco follows the story of an undercover FBI agent Joseph D. Pistone (Depp) climbs the mob ranks, earning the confidence of aging Mafia hitman Lefty Ruggiero (Pacino), but nearly loses himself in the process as he begins to identify more with the Mafia life. Need more be said to give you an idea of just how morally challenging and perplexing this film gets?

6) The Departed (2006)

Boasting an ensemble cast featuring some of the greatest actors of our time such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Jack Nicholson, Matt Damon, and many more - The Departed captures the story of two men living double lives in Boston’s underworld, a tense game of deception where everyone’s rise is someone else’s downfall. Directed by the legend Martin Scorsese himself, the film won him his first Academy Award for Best Director. So you can imagine just how amazing this film must be!

7) The Irishman (2019)

Whoever said Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, and Joe Pesci were too old to star in a gangster film, or that Martin Scorsese was too old to direct one - was proven spectacularly wrong, as they all come together for one rollercoaster ride of a film. The Irishman is a crime drama film based on the real-life narrative of Frank Sheeran (De Niro) and accounts of his exploits with the Italian American Mafia, concentrating on his relationships with mob boss Russell Bufalino (Pesci) and the infamous Teamster powerful boss Jimmy Hoffa (Pacino). The film captures the cost of a life in organized crime - loyalty, aging, and the quiet terror of being forgotten - making it a must-watch.

8) Public Enemies (2009)

Starring behemoth talents Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, and Marion Cotillard - Public Enemies is a biographical crime drama set during the Great Depression of the 1930s, and follows infamous bank robber John Dillinger (Depp) - who is loved by the public, hunted by the FBI, and doomed by fame. Let’s just say this film’s got style, making it a fun watch!

9) Once Upon a Time in America (1984)

Another classic gangster film featuring the man himself, Robert De Niro. This story follows a former Prohibition-era Jewish gangster who returns to the Lower East Side of Manhattan 35 years later, unfolding an epic tale of friendship, betrayal, and organized crime - stretching from childhood dreams to adult regrets. Slow, but powerful!

10) Carlito’s Way (1993)

Well, since we started with a Pacino gangster movie, it’s only fair that we end with one too. This film is a unique one - a poetic and tragic flip side to Scarface. It follows the story of a former gangster trying to leave drugs and violence behind to live a better life. A rise-and-fall gangster film where the gangster himself chooses to fall!

And there you have it, folks! These 10 must-watch rise-and-fall gangster films are sure to give you a thrilling glimpse into the ambition, power, and inevitable downfall of the underworld. So, what are you waiting for? It’s binge-time!