When an American thinks of gangster movies, they often bring to mind classics such as The Godfather trilogy or Goodfellas. Hollywood has long featured the suave and dangerous men of organized crime, and while their focus is usually the Italian mob or the Russian mafia, any type of criminal hierarchy will do. This has created a wonderful setup of romanticized criminal underworlds, making us sympathize and hate them all at once. However, this is not a uniquely American phenomenon, and "across the pond" in the UK, they have their own excellent take on the gangster movie genre, with characters and stories that rival their American counterparts.
Whether fans enjoy the gangster genre for the charismatic protagonists, exciting shootouts, or the heists and con artists, British gangster films provide it all in spades. Everyone sees pieces of themselves, whether they are rooting for the justice system or the ladder-climbing lackey, and perhaps that is why audiences find these types of movies so appealing. Regardless, if fans are looking for something new and interesting to watch within the genre, then the British gangster genre is here to give them a different approach that is unique to their part of the world. These are some of the best of the genre.
12 Snatch
A semi-comedy focused on crime, Snatch is set in London and features two plots that intertwine most interestingly: one with a boxing promoter who is dealing with a ruthless gangster, and the other focusing on the search for a diamond that has been stolen. This rollercoaster of zany characters (including a great Brad Pitt performance) from British gangster genius, Guy Ritchi, has quick pacing that makes for the perfect dark comedy, and fans all over have praised it for its entertaining sequences and snappy dialogue.
11 The Gentlemen
One of the newer movies on this list, The Gentlemen is another action-comedy created by the king of British gangster movies, Guy Ritchie. Featuring an American kingpin of the marijuana trade in England, the story follows his journey as he looks to sell his business, setting off a chain of hilarious and bloody events of blackmail and hair-brained schemes. Since its release, it has become fairly well received, a spin-off series from Guy Ritchie is coming soon.
10 Eastern Promises
Viggo Mortensen and Vincent Cassel sport their finest Russian accents in David Cronenberg’s crime thriller, Eastern Promises. Set against the backdrop of a mid-2000s London, nurse Anna (Naomi Watts) initiates her own, personal investigation after a young woman dies during childbirth under mysterious circumstances. Using the girl’s diary as a trusty reference and the help of a trained killler (an ingenious Mortensen), Anna retraces her steps leading her to shocking revelations involving an infamous Russian crime family.
9 Get Carter
Michael Caine returns to the screen again in Get Carter, this time as the dark anti-hero, Jack Carter. Intent on solving and getting revenge for his brother's untimely death, he goes on a killing spree, avenging his family in ways that get darker and more heinous as he goes. While viewers were initially shocked at the violence and cold, unremorseful presence of Carter, it became a '70s cult classic of sorts — celebrated for its excellent storytelling and more intense themes.
8 Layer Cake
Having a protagonist who is unnamed throughout the film and only identified as "XXXX" in the credits seems like a risky choice in storytelling, but Layer Cake (starring Daniel Craig) pulls it off splendidly. The story follows a cocaine dealer who, after a successful career, is looking forward to his retirement. However, his boss has other plans and sets him out to complete some tasks before he is allowed to leave. What follows is a series of betrayals, great one-liners, and calculating mobsters around every corner.
7 Sexy Beast
Sexy Beast is a dark drama with an incredible Ben Kingsley performance that evaluates the physical and psychological effects of being a retired crook. Dragged into a job by an ex-mentor with anger issues, "Gal" must complete a heist in London before he can return to his quiet, peaceful life on the sunny beaches of Spain. With twists and turns aplenty, the movie displays a comedic approach to the darker side of crime, all while bringing an enjoyable mix of humorous dialogue and epic adventure.
6 Brighton Rock
Most remakes can never live up to the reputation of their original creation, and few movies show this more poignantly than Brighton Rock, a noir gangster film from 1948. This monochrome picture, also known as Young Scarface, tells the story of a teenage gang leader named Pinkie Brown who ends up committing horrific acts of violence throughout the seaside town.
Banned in various areas at the time for its violent scenes, the film based on Graham Greene's story has since become a noir classic of the genre, and the 2010 version was just an unfortunate mistake despite a great cast,
5 Legend
Twins provide double the thrills, as seen in the biographical gangster film from 2015, Legend. The film is based on the true story of the identical Kray twins (played by Tom Hardy), Reggie and Ronnie Kray, who terrorized London in the 1960s — one a former boxer and the other a paranoid person with schizophrenia.
They rise through the ranks of London's criminal underbelly, a fierce and unstoppable duo who also run a nightclub. Through a series of misfortune and arrests, they soon find themselves consumed by the lifestyle of crime and murder, with no way out.
4 In Bruges
It's more Irish than British, it's true, but Martin McDonagh is a mix of the two and has taken his filmmaking to multiple countries by now. His first feature film, In Bruges, may just be his greatest, though. Those of a devout religious standpoint may condemn Martin McDonagh to a hellish afterlife due to the English-Irish playwright-turned-director's blasphemous irreverence when dealing with sensitive topics.
Unfortunately for them, the Banshees of Inisherin director taps into our inner yearning for comical profanity and has fashioned some truly unforgettable screenplays over the years, arguably, none more so than 2008’s In Bruges. The film that saw the winning combination of Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson star together for the first time, finds the two Irishmen portraying hitmen employed by the unforgiving, foul-mouthed gangster, Harry (Ralph Fiennes), who sends them to the medieval Belgian town of Bruges on an unrevealed mission. Over the course of their two-week stay, the pair battle with boredom, existentialism, dwarf abuse, guilt and regret, before it transpires why Harry has ordered them there.
3 The Italian Job
“This is the self-preservation society!” blares the Quincy Jones-composed soundtrack that spoke to the eagerness of both the British public and the film’s inherent desire to safeguard what makes Britain great in the aftermath of the Second World War. The Italian Job is one gigantic splurge of red, white, and blue — the colors of the Union Jack — and provided an accurate distillation of the attitudes of the time.
Capturing Michael Caine at his career-defining best, the Peter Collinson-directed all-out action crime-drama follows Charlie Croker (Caine), and his assembly of criminal roustabouts who set their sights on a gold bullion heist in Turin, Italy. After a series of comically catastrophic failings, mafia run-ins, and the small matter of evading police reprimand, the seasoned British gangsters audaciously chance their arm, with the help of the iconic getaway car of choice, the mini.
2 The Long Good Friday
John Mackenzie’s British gangland epic, The Long Good Friday saw Dame Helen Mirren announce herself to the film industry in the breakthrough role of Victoria. Named by many critics as the best British gangster movie of all time, the crime drama places Bob Hoskins‘ Harold at the film’s epicenter, as the feared godfather gangster of London’s criminal underworld.
A charming man, with a thunderous ardor for bloodshed, dodgy deals, and eliminating threatening rivals, Harold is the undisputed kingpin, until his criminal empire is tested by up-and-comers, forcing him to come out all guns blazing. A timeless gem of a film, with a classic ensemble cast and a killer plot, The Long Good Friday is unfortunately underrated but utterly brilliant, and features a very young Pierce Brosnan.
1 Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels
Most people know better than to enter into a game against a crime boss, while others learn the hard way. Another Guy Ritchie film, the exciting dark comedy Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels follows a group of friends as they try to pay back a gambling debt by robbing their small-time gangster neighbors, setting off a chain of deadly and hilarious events. The level of violence reminds audiences of Quentin Tarantino movies, but the cocky punch-ups of the gangsters helps balance the movie in a way that is enjoyable and unique, and distinctly British.