Top 10 Best Movies Like Goodfellas
Henry Hill’s intoxicating journey through the mob’s glittering underbelly in Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas (1990) remains a benchmark for crime cinema. With its kinetic editing, voiceover narration that pulls you into the chaos, and unflinching gaze at the rise and inevitable fall of wise guys, the film captures the seductive pull of organised crime like few others. But what if you crave more of that rush—the mix of glamour, brutality, loyalty, and betrayal?
This list curates the top 10 films that echo Goodfellas‘ essence: gritty tales of mobsters, hustlers, and undercover operators, prioritising stylistic flair, authentic underworld dialogue, ensemble energy, and narratives that humanise criminals without romanticising them. Rankings consider narrative similarity, directorial verve, cultural resonance, and rewatchability, drawing from Scorsese’s orbit and beyond. These aren’t just gangster flicks; they’re visceral portraits of ambition’s dark side.
From neon-lit Vegas heists to shadowy Irish gangs, these movies deliver the same adrenaline hit, often with voiceovers that confide secrets and freeze-frames that immortalise the highs. Whether you’re revisiting Scorsese’s own masterpieces or discovering hidden gems, prepare for a descent into worlds where “as far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster” feels like a universal truth.
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Casino (1995)
Scorsese’s neon-drenched follow-up to Goodfellas transplants the mob ethos to Las Vegas, where Sam “Ace” Rothstein (Robert De Niro) builds an empire from the tangiers casino, only for greed and infidelity to unravel it. Like Henry Hill’s tale, it’s propelled by dual voiceovers—Ace’s calculated narration and Nicky Santoro’s (Joe Pesci) explosive rants—mirroring the film’s dual tracks of control and chaos.
The stylistic parallels are uncanny: lavish tracking shots through casinos evoke the Copacabana sequence, while the brutal violence escalates with baseball bats and vice grips. Sharon Stone’s Oscar-winning turn as Ginger adds emotional depth akin to Lorraine Bracco’s Karen, exploring how the mob’s allure corrupts everyone nearby. Produced with input from real Vegas mobsters, Casino analyses the corporatisation of crime in the ’70s and ’80s, making it a spiritual sequel that tops this list for its sheer operatic scale.
Critic Roger Ebert praised its “energy and ferocity,” noting how it “lays bare the soul of a culture.”[1] If Goodfellas is the blueprint, Casino is the masterpiece remix.
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The Irishman (2019)
Martin Scorsese reunites De Niro, Pesci, and Al Pacino for this epic three-and-a-half-hour meditation on loyalty and regret. Hitman Frank Sheeran (De Niro) navigates the Bufalino crime family and union boss Jimmy Hoffa (Pacino), with voiceover confessions framing decades of service and silence.
Echoing Goodfellas‘ fall-from-grace arc, The Irishman slows the pace for reflection, using de-ageing tech to chart ageing gangsters’ isolation. Pesci’s understated Russell Bufalino contrasts his volatile Tommy DeVito, yet the film’s tension builds through quiet betrayals. Its digital innovation sparked debate, but the core—Irish outsider in an Italian world—mirrors Hill’s journey.
Scorsese called it a “mob elegy,” and its Netflix scale amplifies Goodfellas‘ intimate betrayals into historical tragedy.[2] A contemplative second place for patient fans.
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The Departed (2006)
Scorsese’s Oscar-sweeping Boston thriller flips the script: undercover cop Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) infiltrates Frank Costello’s (Jack Nicholson) Irish mob, while rat Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon) climbs police ranks. Dual identities and escalating paranoia recall Goodfellas‘ trust fractures, with rapid-fire dialogue and rooftop chases substituting for Lufthansa heists.
Voiceover is sparse but potent, underscoring the “no one gives it to you; you have to take it” ethos. Nicholson’s unhinged Costello channels Pesci’s menace, while the ensemble (Vera Farmiga, Mark Wahlberg) buzzes like the Copacabana crew. Remade from Hong Kong’s Infernal Affairs, it won Best Picture, proving Scorsese’s mastery endures.
Its taut cat-and-mouse elevates it here, blending Goodfellas‘ street smarts with Hitchcockian suspense.
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Donnie Brasco (1997)
Johnny Depp’s FBI agent infiltrates the Bonanno family as jewel thief Donnie Brasco, befriending ageing wise guy Lefty Ruggiero (Al Pacino). The bond’s authenticity—mentorship turning to peril—mirrors Henry Hill’s loyalty tests, with voiceover revealing the emotional toll of deception.
Based on the real Brasco’s memoir, it prioritises character over spectacle: no glitzy scores, just pinball games and diner meets. Pacino’s weary Lefty humanises the mob like De Niro’s Jimmy Conway, while Depp’s quiet intensity grounds the rising tension. Director Mike Newell captures ’70s New York grit without Scorsese’s flash.
A poignant fourth spot for its focus on the human cost, as Brasco reflected: “Undercover work changes you forever.”[3]
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Mean Streets (1973)
Scorsese’s raw debut features Charlie (Harvey Keitel) navigating Little Italy debts and his volatile cousin Johnny Boy (De Niro), prefiguring Goodfellas‘ confessional style with handheld chaos and jukebox rock.
Voiceover introspection and Catholic guilt infuse the small-time hustles, while the pool hall brawl foreshadows Tommy’s antics. Made on a shoestring, it launched Scorsese’s career, blending documentary realism with expressionist flair. Its influence on Goodfellas is direct—Keitel’s Charlie is Henry Hill’s prototype.
Fifth for its foundational grit, a must for tracing Scorsese’s evolution.
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Scarface (1983)
Brian De Palma’s cocaine-fueled remake stars Al Pacino as Tony Montana, a Cuban refugee clawing to Miami kingpin status. The “say hello to my little friend” excess parallels Goodfellas‘ hedonism, with voiceover charting ambition’s overdose.
Oscar-winning script by Oliver Stone analyses immigrant drive turning monstrous, much like Hill’s Queens ascent. Stylish slow-mo shootouts and chainsaw horror amp the violence, influencing hip-hop culture profoundly. De Palma’s operatic lens makes it a neon-soaked counterpart.
Ranks mid-list for its hyperbolic scale, yet undeniably addictive.
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American Gangster (2007)
Ridley Scott pits Denzel Washington’s meticulous Harlem heroin lord Frank Lucas against Russell Crowe’s rogue detective Richie Roberts. Rise-and-fall structure, family loyalties, and ’70s authenticity evoke Goodfellas, with no voiceover but sharp montages of empire-building.
Based on Lucas’ real exploits, it contrasts Italian mob sterility with Black underworld vibrancy. Washington’s cool precision mirrors De Niro’s Ace, while production design nails the era’s polyester sheen. Nominated for two Oscars, it’s a prestige take on the genre.
Seventh for its cop-gangster symmetry and moral complexity.
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The Godfather (1972)
Francis Ford Coppola’s epic elevates mob sagas with operatic tragedy: Michael Corleone (Pacino) reluctantly inherits the family business. Patriarchal codes and betrayals underpin Goodfellas‘ street-level view, influencing its power dynamics.
Gordon Willis’ shadowy cinematography and Nino Rota’s score set the blueprint, with Brando’s Don Vito as the ultimate mentor figure. Though more stately, its cultural impact is unmatched—Goodfellas nods to it via horse-head echoes.
Eighth as the godfather of all, timeless yet grander in scope.
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Carlito’s Way (1993)
De Palma and Pacino reunite for ex-con Charlie’s (Pacino) parole bid thwarted by sleazy lawyer Benny (Sean Penn). Flashback structure and voiceover regrets parallel Hill’s prison coda, set against ’70s-’80s New York decay.
Pacino’s weary charm humanises the hustler, with escalator climax rivaling Goodfellas‘ body dumps. David Koepp’s script dissects redemption’s futility, blending salsa clubs and courtroom tension.
A solid ninth for its brooding intensity and Pacino fire.
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Eastern Promises (2007)
David Cronenberg ventures into London’s Russian mob via midwife Anna (Naomi Watts) uncovering a diary’s horrors. Viggo Mortensen’s enigmatic driver Nikolai echoes undercover ambiguity, with bathhouse brawl as visceral as any Pesci beatdown.
No voiceover, but tattoo symbolism reveals hierarchies like Goodfellas‘ pinches. Mortensen’s Oscar-nodded performance layers vulnerability under menace, expanding the genre globally.
Closes the list for its fresh, brutal outsider perspective.
Conclusion
These films orbit Goodfellas like satellites in a criminal solar system, each amplifying its themes of fleeting glory and moral compromise. From Scorsese’s self-referential oeuvre to international twists, they remind us why mob movies endure: they reflect society’s fascination with outlaws who live larger than life, only to crash spectacularly. Whether chasing Vegas highs or London shadows, dive in—the house always wins, but the ride is unforgettable. Which one hooks you next?
References
- Ebert, R. (1995). Casino review. RogerEbert.com.
- Scorsese, M. (2019). Interview, The Irishman press kit.
- Brasco, J. (1988). Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the Mafia. Signet.
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