Some of the best movies ever made can be considered crime films: from The Godfather (1972) by Francis Ford Coppola and Scarface (1983) by Brian De Palma to Goodfellas (1990) by Martin Scorsese and Pulp Fiction (1994) by Quentin Tarantino.
All of those films feature impressive performances, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll make the list just based on the quality of the movie. This list will analyze the greatest performances from individual actors in crime films. Some of the featured characters have provided cinema with iconic quotes, memorable scenes, and moments of strong poignancy.
And, to make it fun, this list will be consolidated to one entry per movie, but not actor. Anyone is welcome to place more than once. All that said, these are the ten finest performances in American crime films.
10 Pam Grier in Jackie Brown
Upon release, Pam Grier’s role as the titular character in Jackie Brown (1997) wasn’t exactly well-received. Not to say it was dogged by critics, or anything, but it was almost viewed as adequate. Robert Forster’s supporting role in the film at hand was arguably more well-received, and Jackie Brown had plenty of other memorable performances from Samuel L. Jackson, Bridget Fonda, and Robert De Niro.
But this was a resurgence for Grier and her illustrious filmography of action and blaxploitation. She received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress thanks to her portrayal of Jackie, who’s actually based on character by novelist Elmore Leonard. It’s one of the very few Tarantino characters that he didn’t create himself, but still, it’d have been criminal to leave her off the list.
9 Al Pacino in Dog Day Afternoon
Based on a feature called “The Boys in the Bank” from Life Magazine, Dog Day Afternoon (1975) follows two bank robbers named John Wojtowicz and Salvatore Naturile. Their plans go awry during the heist, and they’re forced to initiate a hostage situation. Wojtowicz was played by Al Pacino, except in the film, his full name was Sonny Wortzik. Maybe it was slightly easier for audiences to pronounce.
But name changing aside, many consider this the quintessential movie of Al Pacino’s catalog. It was his second time working with director Sidney Lumet, and their chemistry was tangible until the end. Pacino truly humanized a caricature of criminal activity in Wojtowicz, and the quality of his performance was matched by that of the film itself. It holds an impressive 96% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, made great money in theaters, and it’s currently preserved in the National Film Registry. Now that’s a legacy.
8 Samuel L. Jackson in Pulp Fiction
Filled to the brim with memorable performances, numerous thespians could have made this spot for their work in Pulp Fiction (1994) — Uma Thurman as Mia Wallace and John Travolta as Vincent Vega, for example. They were nominated at the Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actress and Best Actor respectively, though they both came up just short.
However, Samuel L. Jackson was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor thanks to his efforts as Jules Winnfield. It remains the only Oscar nomination of his entire career, and frankly, he probably should’ve won. This is the definitive Sam Jackson character, and that will likely be the case for the rest of time.
7 Don Cheadle in Devil in a Blue Dress
This is easily among the more underrated performances of its decade, and perhaps of all time. It’s the highlight of Devil in a Blue Dress (1995), which is undoubtedly saying something when considering the movie’s other stars: Denzel Washington and Tom Sizemore, for example.
Now known for high profile roles like War Machine from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Don Cheadle doesn’t get the credit he deserves for his earlier work like Boogie Nights (1997), Traffic (2000), and of course Devil in a Blue Dress. His role therein as Mouse Alexander remains his best performance nearly three decades down the line, and it will forever live on through Hollywood’s criminal archives.
6 Benicio del Toro in Traffic
Directed by Steven Soderbergh, Traffic (2000) is one of the more revered films of the 21st century, and none of its performers stood out quite like Benicio del Toro. This was his second major film role after The Usual Suspects (1995) by Bryan Singer, but here with Traffic, he was honored with the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
And again, the film itself was equally well-received. In fact, it won Best Director for Soderbergh. It remains the best entry from the filmmaker, and the same could easily be said for del Toro. His career has seen a resurgence in recent years thanks to franchises like Sicario, Star Wars, and even the MCU. But his performance as Officer Javier Rodriguez in Traffic triumphs over all.
5 Joe Pesci in Goodfellas
Upon merely seeing this actor’s name, whether you also saw the title of the film or not, everyone reading this likely thought of Joe Pesci’s famous scene from Goodfellas (1990). His ridiculing Ray Liotta’s character Henry Hill for simply laughing is nothing short of legendary, running the gamut of human emotion. He invoked humor in one minute and induced fear in another.
And he just had tremendous chemistry with everyone he shared the screen with. His performance propelled the movie forward, driving Robert De Niro and Ray Liotta to try holding even the tiniest of candles to Pesci. And although he provided stellar supporting roles in multiple other Martin Scorsese crime films — Casino (1995) and The Irishman (2019), for example — there’s no denying that Tommy DeVito remains the standout role of Pesci's appearances in the big screen.
4 Marlon Brando in The Godfather
Although he declined the Academy Award for Best Actor, Marlon Brando’s efforts as Don Vito Corleone received enough widespread acclaim that he’ll forever be the face of The Godfather (1972).
“I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse,” remains one of the more recognizable quotes in the history of cinema, and that is in large part due to Brando’s delivery, his perfect vocal intonations and focused facial expressions. Known for his overt styles of method acting, Brando's presence in The Godfather commanded the utmost attention from both the audience and his fellow actors. He can sell the role of crime lord any day of the week, and he'll forever be the epitome thereof.
3 Frances McDormand in Fargo
Now considered among the greatest actresses to ever live, Frances McDormand put herself on the map by starring in Fargo (1996). Of course, it was co-written and directed by her husband, Joel Coen, and his brother Ethan. The three are longtime collaborators, and this was by far their most important project.
As a pregnant Minnesotan police chief, Marge Gunderson remains the highlight of McDormand’s career. And when it comes to original content — i.e., not adapted from other material — Marge might also be the best character the Coens have ever written. McDormand earned the Academy Award for Best Actress thanks to her work as Marge in Fargo, and once she’s done with acting and the dust has eventually settled, it’ll be the one that audiences think of when reflecting on her work.
2 Al Pacino in The Godfather: Part II
Spoiler alert for the top pick, but: this entry renders Al Pacino the only actor to appear twice. And frankly, he could have showed up on this list for his work in several more crime films: The Godfather (1972), for starters — the previous and inaugural entry of the franchise at hand. But there’s also Serpico (1973), Scarface (1983), Carlito’s Way (1993), and The Irishman (2019).
Here in The Godfather: Part II (1974), though, he reprised his role as Michael Corleone. In retrospect, it’s been commonly cited by critics as one of the best performances of the twentieth century. And it’s likely the finest of Pacino’s entire career.
1 Javier Bardem in No Country for Old Men
In one of the most stone-cold performances ever filmed, Javier Bardem embodied everything that Anton Chigurh stood for in No Country for Old Men (2007). If Marge Gunderson was the best original character the Coen Brothers ever created, Anton could very well be the best character they’ve directed, period. And, for what it’s worth: the difference is that Chigurh was taken from a book of the same name by legendary American novelist Cormac McCarthy.
But Bardem took the character to new heights. He transcended the expectations of the Coens, McCarthy, and every audience member who visited a theater in the fall of 2007. What would have been a great film regardless of casting was rendered a modern classic thanks to Bardem’s performance therein. His work defined a generation of American crime films, and it will forever be the psychopathic standard for Hollywood.