Pulp Fiction? Goodfellas? Scarface?

My favorite is Scarface, but my vote would go to Goodfellas

1) Pulp Fiction
2) Goodfellas
3) Mean Streets
4) Casino/Scarface

Earlier I said Goodfellas was best but I forgot Pulp Fiction.

Once Upon A Time In America

i see a couple of people put pulp fiction first. but you have to give goodfellas it's props. in all honesty there is nothing can come close to the godfather the way goodfellas does. and when you think of great mob movies and what not you think godfather then goodfellas. but pulp would definatly be in the top 5. i think snatch would be up there as well.

Strictly speaking, "Goodfellas" is the best gangster movie ever--if you define "gangster" movie as one that focuses almost exclusively on gangster activities. "White Heat" would be second, IMO.
I rate "Mean Streets" (marginally) higher than "Goodfellas," but "Mean Streets" isn't strictly a gangster movie--it's more about friends and morals under pressure from a gangster environment.
The GF Trilogy isn't a gangster epic per se. It's about a family, with the Mafia as the defining milieu, but it's not a Mafia movie. I make an analogy with "Gone With The Wind": it's a movie about a family with the Civil War as the defining milieu. But it's not a Civil War movie.

Scarface
Goodfellas
Casino

Carlito's Way

I understand what you're saying. My definition of a gangster movie is one that involves crime, or any type of dealings with the mafia. It doesn't have to be the main story, it just has to be involved.

I wasn't a huge fan of Casino or Goodfellas...I know that I'm probably alone on that one. Once Upon a Time in America is better than Goodfellas, Casino, AND Scarface IMO. I haven't seen Pulp Fiction, Mean Streets, or On the Waterfront yet though.

Goodfellas for me. However, if you were to include ones that dont strictly deal with the Mafia the I would add Mean Streets, Raging Bull, and On the Waterfront.

What the hell? Raging Bull is not a mob movie, at all.

No, of course not. But POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNINGJake did have to eventually resort to using the local mob's power to get a title fight.

I think that is a bad definition of it. Raging Bull didn't even focus, or even detail it at all, it was only thought of considering local thugs would socialize with Jake and his brother, and betting on them. That is hardly a mob movie IMO. It's not main story, it's hardly a setting IMO.

Well, Scarface is a gangsta movie, so I can't go with that. I'll go with Goodfellas. -Pat

he said what's the best gangster film so I pick
Scarface

What about Donnie Brasco? I loved that flick.

Everybody says that. I've seen it twice & haven't found it enjoyable at all really. Not bad but nothing great like people would lead me to believe.

Carlito's way, mostly.

Then Pulp fiction, Scarface, Once upon a time in America and Road to perdition (am I the only one???)

I would go with Once Upon a time in America.

Probably goodfellas

I have to say Reservoir Dogs.

Hands-down, it is Goodfellas.

Some lesser watched oldies are:
White Heat (1949)
Touchez pas au grisbi (1954)
Le Clan des Siciliens [The Sicilian Clan] (1969)

They are all O.K. for their day and still enjoyable.

Hands down

Goodfellas

followed by

Casino
Bronx Tale
Scarface
On the water front
Mean Streets

Well, after watching as many gangster flicks as I possibly could since starting this thread, I must conclude that it's a tie between Goodfellas and Donnie Brasco.

I still have yet to see Carlito's Way and Mean Streets though.

I wouldn't really say Mean Streets is a gangster movie, it's a premise.

Goodfellas and Pulp Fiction are my picks.

Although I haven't seen it for years and years, I seem to recall that "The Valachi Papers" had something to do with the mafia and was quite good. But, like I said, it was many years ago and I don't remember much about the movie except that Charles Bronson was in it.

~~ Lollie

The Valachi Papers was good.

Does nobody watch any of the older movies, like Public Enemy, Scarface (orig), Little Caesar, The Last Gangster, Angels with Dirty Faces, etc...? White Heat was good but my favorite Cagney has to be either Angels... or Shake Hands with the Devil.

Overall my favorite is Goodfellas. Once watched it at least twice a weekend for over a year straight.

Other good ones not mentioned (no particular order):

Blood In Blood Out
Superfly
Hoodlum

Welcome to the boards, IL.

We have a small, but dedicated group here who love the classics (myself included). I find it exciting that many of our younger members are now being exposed to these "oldies" and they're enjoying them!

Warner Bros. just released a 6 DVD set of Gangster Classics ("White Heat", "The Petrified Forest", "Angels with Dirty Faces", "Little Caesar", "The Roaring Twenties" and "Public Enemy") a few weeks ago here in the U.S.