Thanks to gangster movies, viewers can enjoy some of the most thrillingvillain origin storiesinspired by real-life mobsters and the criminal organizations they work for. While many of these vile characters are based on real stories, some were inspired by literature and even iconic comic book villains who all found great pleasure in causing mayhem and agony in the world.
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These brilliantly crafted characters are also some of the mostcharismatic movie villainswho often overshadowed the heroes in these unforgettable stories. Movie lovers can enjoy darkly entertaining action and noir movies as well as celebrated classics with ruthless and ingenious gangsters who outsmarted not only their rivals but cops too.
7Ernst Stavro Blofeld - James Bond
Ernst Stavro Blofeld is theJames Bondfranchise’s iconic mastermind who planned on dominating the world. He is the most popular Bond villain who appeared in several of Ian Fleming’s novels as well as multipleJames Bondmovies. Most notably, he starred in theJames BondmovieYou Only Live Twice, in which Donald Pleasence portrayed this genius movie gangster.
His unforgettable version of this influential gangster inspired many other characters includingAustin Powers’s Dr. Evil. He was eventually taken down by one of thegreatest movie heroes, James Bond, but not before doing some serious damage. He single-handedly organized and planned some of the world’s most horrific crimes while also leading his enormous criminal organization.
6Joker - The Dark Knight
There isn’t a more beloved gangster in movies than the Joker.The Dark Knight’s Joker was based on DC Comics' supervillain and thanks to Heath Ledger’s phenomenal performance, it immediately became this iconic fictional character’s most celebrated version.
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Heath Ledger was one of the most unforgettableactors who became unrecognizable in their rolesand turned this superhero movie into an instant classic. Joker was a psychopathic and sadistic criminal mastermind who not only taunted Gotham residents, cops, and Batman but even the gangsters who worked in his organization. Joker wasn’t doing these acts because he wanted money but because he enjoyed causing chaos and misery.
5Brick Top - Snatch
Snatchis one of the funniestBrad Pitt movieswith a twisty crime story and one of the most despicable gangsters in movies, Brick Top aka Mr. Pulford. This ruthless gangster didn’t care about anyone and committed some of the vilest acts ever captured on film.
However, thanks to this darkly brilliant character, movie fans got to enjoy a truly one-of-a-kind gangster story that was as funny as it was violent. WhileSnatchhad multiple gangsters, Brick Top was its best as he viciously managed his criminal organization while murdering anyone who stood in his way.
4Marsellus Wallace - Pulp Fiction
Marsellus Wallace isPulp Fiction’s infamous gang leader and the husband of Mia. While he prefers to keep only a few people around himself, he does manage and lead a big crime organization while mostly doing business in his strip club.
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He rarely takes matters into his own hands and prefers to send his most trusted men on important jobs including two mob hitmen, Vincent and Jules.Pulp Fictionis one of the most belovedQuentin Tarantino movieswith many hilarious and deadly gangsters and an inventive and entertaining mob story.
3Nicky Santoro - Casino
Casino’s Nicky Santoro is one of the most iconic gangsters in movies who was based on a real-life Chicago gangster Anthony John aka The Ant. Thanks to Joe Pesci’s incredible performance, Nicky quickly became one of the most widely recognized and quoted movie gangsters of all time.
Nicky was the most terrifying gangster in the movie and worked for the Mafia boss Remo Gaggi. He was feared by everyone who knew him because of his uncontrollable temper and homicidal behavior.Casinois one of the most iconicMartin Scorsese movieswith a thrilling and realistic mafia story set in Las Vegas.
2Tony Montana - Scarface
Tony Montana is the single most quoted movie gangster, who, thanks toAl Pacino’s electric performance, became one of the most iconic movie gangsters of all time.Scarfaceis a violent and dark crime movie that follows Tony’s journey after he arrives in Miami and becomes a powerful drug lord.
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Tony’s a scary and homicidal gangster who is feared by his rivals because of his fearlessness and well-documented brutality. Even though Tony arrived in Miami as a refugee, thanks to his intelligence and brutal methods, he quickly became an infamous crime lord. His character as well asScarface’s story were loosely based on Armitage Trail’s novel of the same title.
1Michael Corleone - The Godfather
The Godfatheris widely regarded as one ofthe best movie trilogies of all timeand its main character Michael Corleone is the single most recognized gangster in movies. This iconic mob drama was based on Mario Puzo’s novel and follows Michael’s journey from a young war veteran to a ruthless mafia boss. Al Pacino’s most popular gangster role is his most acknowledged one too.
Michael’s heartbreaking story takes viewers on an emotional ride. While Michael originally didn’t want to join his family’s business or become a Don, he eventually decided that he loved his family more than his country and started his journey in the family business after the attempted assassination of his father, Vito Corleone. Michael eventually became an even more powerful and merciless gangster than his father ever was.
