Top 10 Mafia War Dramas to Watch

Description: A cornerstone of mafia cinema, this film delves into the life of Vito Corleone, the head of a powerful New York crime family, as he navigates the treacherous waters of family loyalty and business rivalry.

Fact: The film was initially offered to Sergio Leone, who turned it down because he felt it was too similar to his own work. Marlon Brando improvised the famous cat scene, picking up a stray cat on set.

Description: Sergio Leone's epic spans several decades, chronicling the lives of Jewish gangsters in New York, exploring themes of friendship, betrayal, and the American Dream.

Fact: The film was originally over six hours long, but was cut down significantly for its theatrical release. Robert De Niro and James Woods had a real-life feud during filming, which added authenticity to their on-screen tension.

Description: Martin Scorsese's masterpiece follows the rise and fall of Henry Hill, a small-time crook who becomes part of the Lucchese crime family, offering an unflinching look at the mafia lifestyle.

Fact: The film's famous "Copacabana" tracking shot took three takes to get right. Ray Liotta's mother was so disturbed by the film's violence that she walked out of the premiere.

Description: Another Scorsese classic, this film explores the mafia's control over Las Vegas casinos, focusing on the tumultuous relationship between Sam "Ace" Rothstein and his wife Ginger.

Fact: The film was based on the real-life story of Frank Rosenthal. The real-life Tangiers casino was actually the Stardust Resort and Casino.

Description: Based on a true story, this film follows an FBI agent who infiltrates the Bonanno crime family, leading to a complex relationship with his mentor, Lefty Ruggiero.

Fact: Johnny Depp learned how to pick locks for his role. The real Donnie Brasco, Joseph D. Pistone, served as a consultant on the film.

Description: This modern take on the mafia genre involves an undercover cop infiltrating the Irish mob in Boston, while a mobster infiltrates the police force, leading to a tense game of cat and mouse.

Fact: The film was a remake of the Hong Kong film "Infernal Affairs." Martin Scorsese won his first Best Director Oscar for this film.

Description: David Cronenberg's film delves into the Russian mafia in London, focusing on a midwife who becomes entangled in their world after delivering a baby to a teenage mother.

Fact: Viggo Mortensen learned Russian for his role, and his tattoos in the film were authentic to the Vory v Zakone criminal subculture.

Description: Robert De Niro's directorial debut tells the story of a young Italian-American boy torn between his honest father and a local mob boss, exploring themes of identity and morality.

Fact: The film is based on Chazz Palminteri's one-man play of the same name. De Niro was so impressed by the play that he bought the rights to turn it into a film.

Description: This Italian film offers a gritty, realistic portrayal of the Camorra, the Neapolitan mafia, through interconnected stories that expose the daily life and operations of organized crime.

Fact: The film was inspired by Roberto Saviano's non-fiction book of the same name, which led to Saviano living under police protection due to threats from the Camorra.

Description: Martin Scorsese reunites with Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci for this epic tale of Frank Sheeran, a truck driver turned hitman, exploring his involvement with the Bufalino crime family and the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa.

Fact: The film used digital de-aging technology to portray the characters at different ages. It was one of the most expensive films ever made for Netflix.