It’s not often a movie reveals itself as a true masterpiece in its opening minutes, yet all these gangster films hooked audiences in right from the get-go. As a genre that lays the brutal nature of life and death out for all to see, these harrowing depictions of organized crime stand as some of the best movies of all time.

Whether it’s from legends like Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Scorsese or international filmmakers shining a light on crime around the world, gangster movies highlight the violent realities of existence and those willing to break the law to get ahead. While all these movies were great throughout, their opening scenes immediately showcased their power.

The Departed (2006)

Few directors understand the gangster genre quite like Martin Scorsese, who finally got the recognition he deserved from the Academy when he won Best Picture and Best Director for The Departed. As an epic tale of deceit and moles, it was clear from the opening scene that this would be one of Scorsese’s most impactful releases.

The Departed begins with a street fight and Jack Nicholson’s voiceover narration, which gives context for the Irish mob in Boston as his character, Frank Costello, sets the scene for a young Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon) to enter a life of crime. With elements of what made Goodfellas such a masterpiece, The Departed got the tone right immediately.

Miller’s Crossing (1990)

It’s not often that filmmakers have managed to produce so many masterpieces as they traverse different genres, yet the Coen brothers have done this several times over. One of their most underappreciated releases was Miller’s Crossing, a neo-noir gangster story set in 1929 that tackled themes of loyalty, self-interest, and friendship.

From its opening monologue, where Johnny Caspar declares, “I’m talking about ethics,” Miller’s Crossing establishes itself as a layered crime drama. Paying homage to classic noirs and The Godfather, the film blends sharp dialogue and looming tension in its opening minutes, as fast-talking gangsters debate the ethics of mob wars, with every word hinting that violence is inevitable.

Mean Streets (1973)

Mean Streets was Martin Scorsese’s breakout, and its first ten minutes brilliantly establish themes he’d revisit for decades. With Harvey Keitel’s Charlie torn between faith and crime, set to The Ronettes’ “Be My Baby,” the opening perfectly captures Scorsese’s signature focus on morality, guilt, and the collision of religious values with the criminal underworld.

The opening of Mean Streets signaled the arrival of the New Hollywood era, where modern storytelling and pop music replaced old studio conventions. Scorsese sets this tone immediately, cutting from The Ronettes’ “Be My Baby” to Charlie in church, already torn between his Catholic guilt and his mafia ties, a conflict that defines both his character and Scorsese’s career.

City Of God (2002)

While English-language releases often dominate the conversation around gangster movies, the masterful impact of City of God is undeniable. This Brazilian epic crime story catalogued the rise of organized crime in the Cidade de Deus suburb of Rio de Janeiro through the eyes of the young boy Rocket (Alexandre Rodrigues), who dreams of breaking free and becoming a pH๏τographer.

The opening scene highlights the juxtaposition between crime and culture, as Brazilian music plays while young, disenfranchised kids run rampant through the streets. With gunsH๏τs echoing through suburban surroundings, it’s clear right from the get-go that these children have few options as the groundwork is laid for their lives of crime in the opening minutes.

Eastern Promises (2007)

Following an incredible collaboration on A History of Violence from two years before, director David Cronenberg and actor Viggo Mortensen reunited for yet another crime story with Eastern Promises. This time, Mortensen portrayed the ruthless Russian gangster Nikolai Luzhin, who is embroiled in a tale of human trafficking and murder.

With the film’s first murder occurring just two mere minutes into the runtime, Eastern Promises immediately revealed itself as a brutal crime story where nobody is safe. This fearsome trajectory continued as a British midwife attempted to uncover the truth behind a 14-year-old mother’s death in childbirth. As a bleak crime tale, Eastern Promises made for powerful viewing.

Once Upon A Time In America (1984)

Having already crafted the Clint Eastwood Dollars Trilogy, Sergio Leone earned the freedom to deliver his near-four-hour masterpiece, Once Upon a Time in America. Despite its daunting runtime, things open strongly with gangsters interrogating a terrified man in an opium den, setting the tone for a tale of memory, betrayal, and the violent rise of Jewish gangsters in New York.

Once Upon a Time in America was a critical and commercial flop at the time of its release, as Leone was forced to shorten the film to appease his distributors. However, once the original movie was restored, it was reappraised and earned its reputation as a masterpiece of the gangster genre.

The Godfather (1972)

The Godfather stands as perhaps the defining gangster movie and has earned its reputation as one of the best films ever produced. As an early masterpiece from Francis Ford Coppola, this dark exploration of the pitfalls of the American Dream encapsulates the tension between family loyalty and ruthless ambition at the heart of organized crime.

These core themes were on full display in The Godfather’s iconic opening scene as men visit the mob boss Don Vito (Marlon Brando) on the day of his daughter’s wedding to ask for favors. In his interactions with Amerigo Bonasera, who is seeking vengeance against the men who ᴀssaulted his daughter, Vito ᴀsserts his authority through words alone.

Goodfellas (1990)

Goodfellas opens on a brutal note, as Joe Pesci’s Tommy DeVito stabs a man in a trunk while Robert De Niro’s Jimmy Conway shoots him for good measure, dropping viewers into the violent world of organized crime. This was followed by Ray Liotta’s iconic refrain of, “As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster.”

With a mix of terrifying violence and lighthearted comedy, it was clear from the beginning that Goodfellas was going to be a different kind of gangster movie as Scorsese perfected his take on this genre. Scorsese was depicting a world where violence and charm coexist, and right from its opening minutes, it was clear he had produced a masterpiece.