The popularity of the gangster genre originated in the early 1930s, and countless undisputed crime classics were produced in the following decades. As the period just after the Prohibition era and proliferating crime due to the Wall Street Crash of 1929, it made sense that gangster movies took hold of the popular imagination as real-life crime bosses like Al Capone and John Dillinger were fresh in viewers’ minds. With acclaimed directors like William Keighley, Raoul Walsh, and Howard Hawks making revolutionary crime films, it’s a testament to this era’s appeal that so many remain beloved to this day.
Many of the best gangster movies of all time were released during the 1930s and 1940s, as major movie stars like Humphrey Bogart and James Cagney dominated the genre with powerful portrayals of crooked cops, gun-wielding gangsters, and treacherous thieves. Through a mix of film noir, heist classics, and intense crime-based melodramas, the influence of many gangster movies from this time can still be felt today. Looking back on the best gangster movies from the ‘30s and ‘40s, what’s most striking was how well they held up as iconic Hollywood stars gave some of the all-time great performances.
15 The Glass Key (1942)
Directed by Stuart Heisler
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The Glass Key (1942) Not RatedThrillerCrimeMystery
Director Stuart Heisler Release Date October 2, 1942 Writers Dashiell Hammett , Jonathan Latimer Cast Brian Donlevy , Veronica Lake , Alan Ladd , Bonita Granville , Richard Denning , Joseph Calleia , William Bendix , Frances Gifford , Donald MacBride , Margaret Hayes , Moroni Olsen , Eddie Marr , Arthur Loft , George Meader , William Benedict , Dane Clark , Tom Fadden , Bess Flowers , Chuck Hamilton , James Millican , Bert Moorhouse , Lillian Randolph , Norma Varden , Brooks Benedict Character(s) Paul Madvig , Janet Henry , Ed Beaumont , Opal ‘Snip’ Madvig , Taylor Henry , Nick Varna , Jeff , Nurse , Farr , Eloise Matthews , Ralph Henry , Rusty , Clyde Matthews , Farr’s Receptionist , Henry Sloss , Basement Club Waiter , Henrys’ Dinner Guest , Policeman , Politician , Man at Campaign Headquarters , Basement Club Entertainer Runtime 85 Minutes Main Genre Thriller Expand
The classic film noir The Glass Key mixed a murder mystery with action, romance, and gangsters and was a revised and updated version of a previous 1935 release of the same name. With political corruption and a brewing romance between Veronica Lake and Alan Ladd’s characters, in many ways, The Glass Key could be seen as a forerunner to themes and ideas better explored in Howard Hawks’ The Big Sleep just four years later. As the story of a corrupt politician accused of murder by a gangster during his election campaign, this complex story melded noir and hard crime drama.
14 Bullets Or Ballots (1936)
Directed by William Keighley
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Bullets or Ballots (1936) CrimeDrama
Director William Keighley Release Date June 6, 1936 Writers Seton I. Miller , Martin Mooney Cast Edward G. Robinson , Joan Blondell , Barton MacLane , Humphrey Bogart , Frank McHugh , Joe King , Dick Purcell , George E. Stone , Joseph Crehan , Henry O’Neill , Henry Kolker , Gilbert Emery , Herbert Rawlinson , Louise Beavers , Norman Willis , Russell Beach , Wilda Bennett , George Beranger , Tom Brower , Raymond Brown , Eddie Butler , Vance Carroll Character(s) Johnny Blake , Lee Morgan , Al Kruger , Bugs Fenner , Herman , Dan ‘Mac’ McLaren , Ed Driscoll , Wires Kagel , Grand Jury Spokesman , Ward Bryant , Mr. Hollister , Mr. Thorndyke , Mr. Caldwell , Nellie LaFleur , Louie Vinci , Prizefighter , Grand Jury Woman , Waiter , Police Captain , Proprietor in Newsreel , Garber , Policeman Runtime 82 Minutes Main Genre Crime Expand
Bullets or Ballots was an early crime thriller in Humphrey Bogart’s career, fresh off his breakout success in The Petrified Forest. With Edward G. Robinson as a crusading crime-buster modeled after true-life cop Johnny Broderick and Bogart as an articulate and calculating killer, Bullets or Ballots saw the detective go undercover and try to infiltrate Bogart’s gang to bring him down. With solid performances, Bullets or Ballots steadily built towards its blazing climatic showdown.
13 Each Dawn I Die (1939)
Directed by William Keighley
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Each Dawn I Die (1939) Not RatedCrimeDramaThriller
Director William Keighley Release Date August 19, 1939 Writers Jerome Odlum , Norman Reilly Raine , Warren Duff Cast James Cagney , George Raft , Jane Bryan , George Bancroft , Maxie Rosenbloom , Stanley Ridges , Alan Baxter , Victor Jory , John Wray , Edward Pawley , Willard Robertson , Emma Dunn , Paul Hurst , Louis Jean Heydt , Joe Downing , Thurston Hall , William B. Davidson , Clay Clement , Charles Trowbridge , Harry Cording , Abner Biberman , Martin Cichy , John Conte Character(s) Frank Ross , Hood Stacey , Joyce Connover , Prison Warden John Armstrong , Fargo Red , Mueller , Pole Cat Carlisle , W.J. Grayce , Pete Kassock , Dale , Lang , Mrs. Ross , Garsky , Lassiter , Limpy Julien , Hanley , Bill Mason , Stacey’s Attorney Lockhart , Judge , Temple , Shake Edwards , Convict , Narrator Runtime 92 Minutes Main Genre Crime Expand
James Cagney and George Raft come together for William Keighley’s iconic gangster movie Each Dawn I Die. Telling the story of an investigative journalist who befriends a notorious gangster after being unjustly thrown in jail, this fascinating story based on a novel by Jerome Odlum was packed with twists and turns. Each Dawn I Die worked primarily due to the excellent chemistry between Cagney and Raft, who helped elevate this far-fetched prison story with solid performances.
12 G Men (1935)
Directed by William Keighley
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G Men (1935) Not RatedCrimeActionDrama
Director William Keighley Release Date May 4, 1935 Writers Seton I. Miller , Darryl F. Zanuck Cast James Cagney , Margaret Lindsay , Ann Dvorak , Robert Armstrong , Barton MacLane , Lloyd Nolan , William Harrigan , Russell Hopton , Edward Pawley , Noel Madison , Monte Blue , Regis Toomey , Addison Richards , Harold Huber , Raymond Hatton , Marie Astaire , Brooks Benedict , Stanley Blystone , Ward Bond , Frank Bull , Glen Cavender , Nick Copeland , George Daly , Joe De Stefani , Don Downen Character(s) Brick Davis , Kay McCord , Jean Morgan , Jeff McCord , Collins , Hugh Farrell , Mac McKay , Gerard , Danny Leggett , Durfee , Fingerprint Expert , Eddie Buchanan , Bruce J. Gregory , Venke , Gangsters Messenger with Warning , Gerard’s Moll , Man , Cop , Gunman at Train Station , Last Police Broadcaster , Headwaiter , G-Man with Farrell , Machine Gunner , J.E. Glattner – the Florist , Joe – the Second Fingerprint Clerk Runtime 83 Minutes Main Genre Crime Expand
Director William Keighley was responsible for some of the greatest gangster movies of the 1930s, particularly when he was paired with Hollywood icon James Cagney. This was certainly the case for G Men, a movie that consciously tried to go against the idea that movies glorified gangsters as they showcased their lives of freedom, luxury, and power. Rather than feature a revered gangster as the protagonist, G Men shifted its focus to the noble lawmen who tirelessly work to bring them down. With Cagney as a lawyer turned federal agent, G Men showcased him rising through the ranks.
11 Dead End (1937)
Directed by William Wyler
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Dead End (1937) Not RatedCrimeDrama
Director William Wyler Release Date August 27, 1937 Writers Lillian Hellman Cast Sylvia Sidney , Joel McCrea , Humphrey Bogart , Wendy Barrie , Claire Trevor , Allen Jenkins , Marjorie Main , Billy Halop , Huntz Hall , Bobby Jordan , Leo Gorcey , Gabriel Dell , Bernard Punsly , Charles Peck , Minor Watson , James Burke , Elisabeth Risdon , Esther Dale Character(s) Drina Gordon , Dave , Baby Face Martin , Kay , Francey , Hunk , Mrs. Martin , Tommy Gordon , Dippy , Angel , Spit , T.B. , Milty , Philip , Mr. Griswald , Police Officer Mulligan , Mrs. Connell , Mrs. Fenner Runtime 93 Minutes Main Genre Crime Expand
Dead End was a hugely underrated Humphrey Bogart gangster movie that showcased how the lives of men, women, and streets all converge on one volatile day in New York City. Based on the Broadway play by Sidney Kingsley, Dead End was a melodramatic gangster film whose child stars were so impressive that they went on to make over 60 movies, initially under the name ‘Dead End Kids.’ With a complex story told using just one set, the tightly constructed narrative of Dead End could be seen as a forerunner to the single location triumphs of Alfred Hitchcock in later movies like Rope and Rear Window.
10 The Petrified Forest (1936)
Directed by Archie Mayo
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The Petrified Forest ApprovedDramaThriller
The Petrified Forest, directed by Archie Mayo and released in 1936, follows waitress Gabby, who dreams of a better life, as she encounters intellectual Alan at an Arizona diner. Their interaction is interrupted when Duke Mantee, a notorious killer, takes the diner’s occupants hostage, forcing them into a tense standoff.
Director Archie Mayo Release Date February 8, 1936 Writers Charles Kenyon , Delmer Daves , Robert E. Sherwood Cast Leslie Howard , Humphrey Bogart , Bette Davis , Genevieve Tobin , Dick Foran , Joe Sawyer , Porter Hall , Charley Grapewin Runtime 82 Minutes Main Genre Drama Expand
As just one of several movies starring Humphrey Bogart and Bette Davis, The Petrified Forest was a definitive release for Bogart as the role of the notorious gangster Duke Mantee would encapsulate the kinds of characters he’d play for the rest of his career. As a no-nonsense criminal who takes a group hostage in a diner while fleeing a police pursuit, The Petrified Forest was a tightly constructed Depression-era narrative filled with engaging characters. From the engaging criminality of Bogart to the slow-building love story of Davis and co-star Leslie Howard, The Petrified Forest was a true 1930s classic.
Humphrey Bogart and Bette Davis appeared in several movies together:
Bad Sister
(1931),
Three on a Match
(1932),
The Petrified Forest
(1936),
Kid Galahad
(1937),
Marked Woman
(1937),
Dark Victory
(1939), and
Thank Your Lucky Stars
(1943).
9 High Sierra (1941)
Directed by Raoul Walsh
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High Sierra ApprovedCrimeAdventureDrama
High Sierra is a 1941 film directed by Raoul Walsh, starring Humphrey Bogart as ex-convict Roy Earle. Newly paroled, Earle is drawn back into a life of crime, planning a mountainous heist with a ragtag crew. The film, which also features Ida Lupino’s portrayal of Marie, is a gritty exploration of desperation and redemption set against the poignant backdrop of the Sierra Nevada mountains.
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*Availability in US Director Raoul Walsh Release Date January 25, 1941 Writers John Huston , W.R. Burnett Cast Ida Lupino , Humphrey Bogart , Alan Curtis , Arthur Kennedy , Joan Leslie , Henry Hull Runtime 100 minutes Main Genre Crime Expand
High Sierra was an extraordinary film noir that saw Humphrey Bogart perfecting his hardboiled persona as Roy Earle, a notorious thief helping his boss carry out a major robbery in California. With plenty of action, suspense, and car chases, High Sierra was a gangster movie triumph that paired Bogart with Ida Lupino, one of the few female co-stars who could rival his acclaimed partnership with Lauren Bacall. High Sierra co-writer John Huston would even use the success of this film as leverage to make the jump to director and reunite with Humphrey Bogart for The Maltese Falcon later in 1941.
8 Key Largo (1948)
Directed by John Huston
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Key Largo Not RatedCrimeThriller
Key Largo is a 1948 film noir directed by John Huston, featuring Humphrey Bogart as war veteran Frank McCloud. He visits a Florida hotel to honor the family of a fallen comrade but finds himself ensnared in a tense standoff with gangster Johnny Rocco, played by Edward G. Robinson. The film explores themes of courage and redemption against the backdrop of a brewing hurricane.
Director John Huston Release Date July 16, 1948 Writers John Huston , Richard Brooks Cast Humphrey Bogart , Edward G. Robinson , Lauren Bacall , Thomas Gomez , Lionel Barrymore , Harry Lewis , Dan Seymour , Claire Trevor Runtime 100 Minutes Main Genre Crime Expand
As the fourth and final pairing between husband-and-wife duo Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, Key Largo also featured Bogart’s frequent co-star Edward G. Robinson in a villainous role, taking people hostage in the titular hotel. With a storm brewing outside and a confined location, Key Largo was a fast-paced story of a sinister gangster made all the more compelling by the compelling romance of Bogart and Bacall’s characters. With love, action, and stellar performances, Key Largo has aged incredibly well and is a must-watch for lovers of 1940s gangster pictures.
7 Little Caesar (1931)
Directed by Mervyn LeRoy
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Little Caesar Not RatedDramaCrime
Little Caesar is a 1931 crime drama film directed by Mervyn LeRoy, starring Edward G. Robinson as Caesar Enrico Bandello. The plot follows the rise of Bandello from a small-time hoodlum to a notorious crime boss, highlighting the ruthless ambition and downfall typical of the gangster genre. The movie is a significant early example of the genre and cemented Robinson’s status as a leading actor in Hollywood crime films.
Director Mervyn LeRoy Release Date January 25, 1931 Writers W.R. Burnett , Francis Edward Faragoh , Robert N. Lee Cast Edward G. Robinson , Douglas Fairbanks Jr. , Glenda Farrell , William Collier Jr. , Sidney Blackmer , Ralph Ince , Thomas E. Jackson , Stanley Fields , Maurice Black , George E. Stone , Armand Kaliz , Nicholas Bela Character(s) Caesar Enrico ‘Rico’ Bandello aka ‘Little Caesar’ , Joe Massara , Olga Stassoff , Tony Passa , Big Boy , Pete Montana , Sergeant Flaherty , Sam Vettori , Little Arnie Lorch , Otero , De Voss , Ritz Colonna Main Genre Drama Expand
Based on the story of the real-life Mafia boss Salvatore Maranzano, Little Caesar was a thrilling crime story that showcased how a low-level hoodlum rose up the ranks of organized crime to become a big-time gangster. Along with The Public Enemy and Scarface, Little Caesar helped solidify the gangster genre during the early 1930s and was a major influence on everything that came after it. A hit at the box office, Little Caesar was a major release for director Mervyn LeRoyand was a definitive role for its star, Edward G. Robinson, who quickly became associated with playing tough-guy roles.
6 Dillinger (1945)
Directed by Max Nosseck
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Dillinger (1945) Not RatedCrimeDramaActionThriller
Director Max Nosseck Release Date April 25, 1945 Writers Philip Yordan , William Castle Cast Lawrence Tierney , Edmund Lowe , Anne Jeffreys , Eduardo Ciannelli , Marc Lawrence , Elisha Cook Jr. , Elsa Janssen , Ludwig Stössel , Constance Worth , Ralph Lewis , Jack Mulhall Character(s) John Dillinger , Specs Green , Helen Rogers , Marco Minelli , Doc Madison , Kirk Otto , Mrs. Otto , Mr. Otto , Blonde , Tony , Police Officer Runtime 70 Minutes Main Genre Crime Expand
Dillinger told the story of John Dillinger, one of the most notorious real-life gangsters of the 1920s and 1930s. Showing Dillinger’s beginnings in petty crime to fast becoming the mastermind behind several daring robberies, Dillinger was a fast-paced, influential, and highly engaging gangster movie made when its notorious lead character’s legacy was still part of the audience’s living memory. While Dillinger was one of Lawrence Tierney’s definitive roles, it’s a testament to his legacy that he still excelled playing gangster right up to the 1990s as Joe Cabot in Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs.
5 The Roaring Twenties (1939)
Directed by Raoul Walsh
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The Roaring Twenties (1939) GCrimeDramaThriller
Director Raoul Walsh Release Date October 28, 1939 Writers Jerry Wald , Robert Rossen , Richard Macaulay , Mark Hellinger Cast James Cagney , Priscilla Lane , Humphrey Bogart , Gladys George , Jeffrey Lynn , Frank McHugh , Paul Kelly , Elisabeth Risdon , Edward Keane , Joe Sawyer , Joseph Crehan , George Meeker , John Hamilton , Robert Elliott , Eddy Chandler , Abner Biberman , Vera Lewis , John Deering , Eddie Acuff , Ernie Alexander , Murray Alper Character(s) Eddie Bartlett , Jean Sherman , George Hally , Panama Smith , Lloyd Hart , Danny Green , Nick Brown , Mrs. Sherman , Henderson , The Sergeant , Michaels , Masters , Judge , First Detective , Second Detective , Henchman , Mrs. Gray , Narrator , Cabbie , Bootleg Customer , Fletcher’s Mechanic Runtime 104 Minutes Main Genre Crime Expand
The Roaring Twenties was produced as a homage to classic gangster movies of the early 1930s. With a star-studded cast including James Cagney, Priscilla Lane, and Humphrey Bogart, The Roaring Twenties explored three men’s experiences during major events in the 1920s, including Prohibition and the Wall Street Crash. With an impressive 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, The Roaring Twenties was a forerunner to later acclaimed gangster movie greats by the 1970s New Hollywood Movement directors such as Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola.
4 Angels With Dirty Faces (1938)
Directed by Michael Curtiz
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Angels with Dirty Faces (1938) Not RatedCrimeDrama
Director Michael Curtiz Release Date November 26, 1938 Writers John Wexley , Warren Duff , Rowland Brown , Ben Hecht , Charles MacArthur Cast James Cagney , Pat O’Brien , Humphrey Bogart , Ann Sheridan , George Bancroft , Billy Halop , Bobby Jordan , Leo Gorcey , Gabriel Dell , Huntz Hall , Bernard Punsly , Joe Downing , Edward Pawley , Adrian Morris , Frankie Burke , William Tracy , Marilyn Knowlden , Poppy Wilde , Michael Stark Character(s) Rocky Sullivan , Jerry Connolly , James Frazier , Laury Ferguson , Mac Keefer , Soapy , Swing , Bim , Pasty , Crab , Hunky , Steve , Edwards , Blackie , Rocky – as a Boy , Jerry – as a Boy , Laury – as a Child , Girl at Gaming Table Runtime 97 Minutes Main Genre Crime Expand
Starring James Cagney, Pat O’Brien, Humphrey Bogart, and The Dead End Kids, Angels with Dirty Faces was truly a who’s who of 1930s gangster movies. Cagney played a notorious gangster trying to corrupt a gang of street kids, while O’Brien played his childhood friend and local priest trying to halt the degradation of young minds. As a savage melodrama that featured Cagney in one of his best roles, Angels with Dirty Faces was so influential that it even served as the basis for the fake movie Angels With Filthy Souls that Kevin McCallister watches in Home Alone.
3 The Public Enemy (1931)
Directed by William A. Wellman
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The Public Enemy Not RatedCrimeDrama
Director William A. Wellman Release Date April 23, 1931 Writers Kubec Glasmon , John Bright Cast James Cagney , Jean Harlow , Edward Woods , Joan Blondell , Donald Cook , Leslie Fenton , Beryl Mercer , Robert Emmett O’Connor , Murray Kinnell , Clark Burroughs , Mae Clarke , Frank Coghlan Jr. , George Daly , Frankie Darro , Snitz Edwards , Rita Flynn , Dorothy Gee , Douglas Gerrard Character(s) Tom Powers , Gwen Allen , Matt Doyle , Mamie , Mike Powers , Samuel Nails Nathan , Ma Powers , Paddy Ryan , Putty Nose , Dutch , Kitty , Tom as a Boy , Machine Gunner , Matt as a Boy , Miller , Molly Doyle , Nails’ Girl , Assistant Tailor Runtime 84 Minutes Main Genre Crime Expand
The Public Enemy was a pre-Code gangster movie classic starring James Cagney as Tom Powers, a young gangster who rose through the ranks of the Prohibition-era criminal underworld. Inspired by Al Capone’s murderous gang rivalries in Chicago, The Public Enemy was a hugely influential film that laid the groundwork for many of the themes and ideas explored in the gangster genre right up to this day. Although The Public Enemy only received mixed reviews when it was released, in retrospect, it’s been hailed as a true classic of the genre.
2 White Heat (1949)
Directed by Raoul Walsh
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White Heat Not RatedActionCrimeDrama
White Heat is a 1949 crime film directed by Raoul Walsh. James Cagney stars as Cody Jarrett, a ruthless and psychotic gangster with a fierce attachment to his mother. The film explores Jarrett’s brutal criminal activities, his complex psychological issues, and his eventual downfall. Virginia Mayo and Edmond O’Brien co-star in this gritty portrayal of crime and its consequences.
Director Raoul Walsh Release Date September 3, 1949 Writers Ivan Goff , Ben Roberts , Virginia Kellogg Cast James Cagney , Virginia Mayo , Edmond O’Brien , Margaret Wycherly , Steve Cochran , John Archer , Wally Cassell , Fred Clark Runtime 114 Minutes Main Genre Crime Expand
White Heat has rightfully earned a reputation among the best gangster movies of all time as it anticipated later heist classics of the 1950s while utilizing a semi-documentary style and pushing the psychology of gangsters further than any film before it. As the pinnacle of acclaimed director Raoul Walsh’s career, White Heat saw James Cagney play a tragic and volatile antihero to absolute perfection. As a major influence on the gangster genre itself, White Heat has gained a place among the all-time greats, regardless of the era it was released.
1 Scarface (1932)
Directed by Howard Hawks
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Scarface (1932) CrimeDrama
Scarface is a 1932 film directed by Howard Hawks, depicting the rise of Italian immigrant Tony Camonte in 1920s Chicago. As he ascends the criminal hierarchy, Tony faces challenges within the mob and struggles to shield his sister from the violent world he inhabits.
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*Availability in US Director Howard Hawks Release Date April 9, 1932 Writers Armitage Trail , Ben Hecht Cast Paul Muni , Ann Dvorak , Karen Morley , Osgood Perkins , C. Henry Gordon , George Raft , Vince Barnett , Boris Karloff , Purnell Pratt , Tully Marshall , Inez Palange , Edwin Maxwell , Jean Harlow , Henry Armetta , Gus Arnheim , Eugenie Besserer , Maurice Black , James Conaty , Gino Corrado , Virginia Dabney , William B. Davidson , James Durkin , Bill Elliott Character(s) Antonio Tony Camonte , Francesca Cesca Camonte , Poppy , John Johnny Lovo , Insp. Ben Guarino , Guino Rinaldo , Angelo , Gaffney , Mr. Garston , Managing Editor , Mrs. Camonte , Chief of Detectives , Blonde at Paradise Club , Pietro / the Barber , Orchestra Leader , Citizens Committee Member , Jim / the Headwaiter , Nightclub Patron , Waiter at Columbia Cafe , Mabel , Newspaper Man , Man Outside Theatre Runtime 93 Minutes Main Genre Crime Expand
Although most viewers will be more familiar with Brian De Palma’s 1983 remake starring Al Pacino, Howard Hawks’ 1930s Scarface revolutionized the gangster genre. As a timeless story about an Italian immigrant’s extraordinary rise to power, Scarface brought together themes of excess, the American Dream, and the destructive consequences of power better than anything else seen during this era of filmmaking. As the quintessential gangster movie of the 1930s and 1940s, Scarface set the visual template for the genre for decades to come and boasts a legacy almost unmatched among Hollywood productions.