Since the Golden Age of Hollywood, gangster movies have had a lasting impact on film buffs.

They’re one of the most exciting and iconic genres of filmmaking in cinema.

FromLeandro FirminoinCity of GodtoAl PacinoinThe Godfather, here are ten of the most compelling performances from gangster movies.

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Image by Federico Napoli

But the biggest standout wasHoward Hawks’Scarface, starring Academy Award winnerPaul Muni.

This version of Tony is colder, ruthless, and harder to predict.

No matter how old this version gets, Tony Camote and the talented performer playing him will remain timeless.

Still of Leandro Firmino as Ze Pequeno or Li’l Ze from City of God

Image via Miramax Films

The always magnificentJack Nicholson gives arguably the most riveting performanceof his career in the 21st century as Frank Costello.

Michael Corleone expands his crime empire while dealing with personal betrayal and loss.

The narrative intertwines their stories, exploring themes of power, family, and the consequences of ambition.

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In the slums of Rio, two kids' paths diverge as one struggles to become a photographer and the other a kingpin.

Cody Jarrett is a truly captivating antagonist who steals the spotlight at every chance.

Cagney quickly makes the audience feel intimidated by this cold-hearted criminal.

He is technically a villain but far more reasonable and understandable than the average gangster.

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However, his decision unintentionally puts the lives of his loved ones in grave danger.

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NEXT:The 10 Best R-Rated Gangster Movies, Ranked

Ginger McKenna smiles widely in a fancy dress on a casino floor in Casino (1995)

Image via Universal Pictures

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In Las Vegas, two best friends — a casino executive and a mafia enforcer — compete for a gambling empire and a fast-living, fast-loving socialite.

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Image via United Artists

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In 1920s Chicago, ambitious Italian immigrant Tony Camonte, known as Scarface, ascends the ranks of organized crime with ruthless determination. As he gains power and wealth, he struggles to shield his sister from the criminal underworld, leading to tensions and conflicts that threaten his empire.

Jack Nicholson as Frank Costello pointing his gun at a person offscreen in The Departed

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

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An undercover cop and a mole in the police attempt to identify each other while infiltrating an Irish gang in South Boston.

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close-up of Daniel Day Lewis as Bill the Butcher in Gangs of New York

Image via Miramax

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In 1862, Amsterdam Vallon returns to the Five Points area of New York City seeking revenge against Bill the Butcher, his father’s killer.

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Robert De Niro as a young Vito Corleone, walking down the street in The Godfather Part II

Image via Paramount Pictures

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Michael Corleone expands his crime empire while dealing with personal betrayal and loss. Simultaneously, flashbacks reveal the rise of his father, Vito Corleone, from a Sicilian immigrant to a powerful mob boss in New York. The narrative intertwines their stories, exploring themes of power, family, and the consequences of ambition.

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Cody Jarrett spreading his arms while an explosion rages behind him in ‘White Heat’

Image via Warner Bros.

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Don Vito Corleone, played by actor Marlon Brando, crying in The Godfather.

Image via Paramount Pictures

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Don Vito Corleone, head of a mafia family, decides to hand over his empire to his youngest son, Michael. However, his decision unintentionally puts the lives of his loved ones in grave danger.

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Tommy DeVito laughing in a bar in ‘Goodfellas’

Image via Warner Bros.

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The story of Henry Hill and his life in the mafia, covering his relationship with his wife Karen and his mob partners Jimmy Conway and Tommy DeVito.

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Al Pacino as Michael Corleone sitting in a chair, looking up in The Godfather Part II

Image via Paramount Pictures

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Goodfellas