When it comes to the basics, it’s hard to argue against the fact that no one does crime movies quite like the Italians. Unlike most Hollywood productions, Italian crime movies do not really care about glossing up their characters. For the most part, their characters live fast, fall hard, and bleed for loyalty that doesn’t always pay off.
With so many great choices out there, some incredible Italian crime films probably slipped under your radar, but they absolutely shouldn’t have. When Italians do crime, they do it with style, blood, and heartbreak, so expect tense shootouts, messy family feuds, street politics, and betrayals that cut deep. These are the 10 best Italian crime movies, perfect for anyone who loves raw, gritty stories that make you question who you’d trust when the bullets start flying.
1. Gomorrah (2008)
Gomorrah is a movie inspired by a non-fiction book of the same name, written by Roberto Saviano. At its core, it tells the story of the Casalesi clan, a crime syndicate within the Camorra. The majority of the plot, though, shows what life is like for the relatively ordinary people whose lives are affected in one way or another by the ongoing feud within the organized crime world. Among these is Pasquale (Salvatore Cantalupo), a tailor who’s more or less playing both sides. Also, you have Marco (Marco Macor) and Ciro (Ciro Petrone), two wannabe-tough guys who learn (or not) the hard way about what life is like for a gangster.
Directed by Matteo Garrone, Gomorrah is considered one of the best Italian crime movies ever made due to its relatability. This is solidified by the fact that Garrone shot the bulk of the film in actual mafia neighborhoods with real people, who make you get that “this is actually what it looks like” feeling from every scene. As a result, there’s no glamour here, just nasty people doing ugly things to survive.
2. Romanzo Criminale (2005)
Directed by Michele Placido, Romanzo Criminale follows a bunch of friends who are small-time crooks, focusing on their sudden decision to become the main guys in Rome’s underworld during the 1970s. To achieve their nefarious goals, they pull off some crazy jobs, which include kidnapping and robbery. However, what follows the actualization of their dreams is chaos simply because they couldn’t stop fighting each other.
The fact that this film won so many awards speaks volumes about why it’s one of the best Italian crime movies. Beyond that, you can also factor in the smooth storytelling and the depiction of the criminal characters not just as ruthless but as humans, too. That human element makes you empathize with them despite their actions. Additionally, their impressive attire and the incredible vibe make the crew seem attractive… until you see how it all ends for them. It’s like watching a car crash in slow motion; you can’t look away.
3. Suburra (2015)
The premise of Suburra paints a simple picture of the connection between organized crime and politics in Rome in 2011. Everyone, including priests, gangsters, and politicians, wants their share of the spoils that would come from turning Rome into another Vegas. Now here’s where things get dicey: they have one week to either work together or kill each other. The option they chose is anyone’s guess.
Despite a few criticisms about its “shallow and stereotypical characterizations,” this film did more than enough to guarantee its place on this list. For one, director Stefano Sollima used most of the film’s sequences to completely describe how corruption works in this day and age. Not in dark alleys, but in fancy government offices and nice hotels.
4. Black Souls (2014)
Black Souls tells the story of three brothers and their connection to the ‘Ndrangheta criminal organization. The oldest, Luciano (Fabrizio Ferracane), seemingly wants nothing to do with the family’s criminal enterprise and chooses to be a goat herder. That is, until his own son Leo (Giuseppe Fumo) gets involved and is killed for attempting and failing to kill a rival boss. Before that, the youngest, Luigi (Marco Leonardi), is murdered after refusing to supply drugs to the same rival clan that later kills his nephew. Of course, this starts a feud that prompts the middle brother, Rocco (Peppino Mazzotta), a construction businessman in Milan, to return to their hometown. He returns, not just to seek revenge for his brother’s murder, but also to get a handle on the true power dynamics of their family and their rivals.
While Black Souls doesn’t have all the hallmarks of a gritty crime film, its fresh and original take on the Italian organized crime scene makes it one of the best. Furthermore, cast performances make it stand out, and ultimately, it’s hands-down the kind of film that gets viewers feeling the tension that seeps out of every quiet moment. All in all, Francesco Munzi’s Black Souls is proof that a crime movie doesn’t have to be full of chaotic spectacle.
5. Angel of Evil (2010)
Angel of Evil is based on the true-life story of Milan’s most notorious gangster, Renato Vallanzasca, who instilled terror in the hearts of Italy and its residents during the 1970s. Directed by Michele Placido, Angel of Evil depicts an older Vallanzasca (played by Kim Rossi Stuart), serving a life sentence for his crimes, as he reflects on his criminal career. Through flashbacks, Placido chronicles how he rose from a rebellious kid to become the head of a criminal organization known as Banda Della Comasina.
One of the major reasons why this film stands out is how Stuart does a terrific job of portraying a main character you just can’t stop watching, even though you know he is pure evil. Ultimately, Angel of Evil is the kind of movie that might trick you into rooting for the bad guy. Also, you can’t help but admire several elements of the movie that truly capture the ‘70s swagger, taking viewers down memory lane.
6. ACAB: All Cops Are Bastards (2012)
At its core, ACAB: All Cops Are Bastards is about a group of riot cops who not only have to deal with street violence and politics, but also face the mess in their own personal lives. While most of the crime movies on this list feature the criminals in the main roles, ACAB rather shines the spotlight on the activities of the people who are supposed to rein them in. In real life, the riot cops are supposed to control the chaos to ensure that normalcy is restored without getting overwhelmed. In this movie, however, they’re completely swallowed by it.
One of the biggest assets of ACAB, as one of Italy’s best crime movies, is highlighting the complicated and messy state of the justice system in real life. In fact, director Stefano Sollima shows no interest in separating the good guys from the bad guys. Mazinga (Marco Giallini) and the other members of his squad are not depicted as the smartly dressed, unbothered heroes who swoop in to save the day. Similarly, the Ultras, the immigrants, and the fascists are not depicted as saints who are agitating for social change. Instead, everyone is just stuck in a cycle of violence that threatens to overrun civilization as they know it.
7. The Ruthless (2019)
Netflix’s The Ruthless tells the story of Santo Russo (Riccardo Scamarcio) and his journey from a small petty thief to becoming one of the most ambitious drug lords in Milan. The timeline especially covers the 1980s when the ‘Ndrangheta mafia was at its peak strength. His ambitious rise ultimately comes to an end when he chooses to cooperate with law enforcement.
This film features elements that a crime drama should possess. There’s no dull moment. It also leverages the ’80s style, which depicts director Renato De Maria’s desire to make the scenes more realistic. However, its biggest strength lies in how much it demonstrates the rather clichéd truth that power corrupts. Overall, watching Russo go from a young teenager to a mature monster makes The Ruthless quite gripping.
8. The Ice Forest (2014)
The Ice Forest (or La foresta di ghiaccio) is a movie about dark secrets and the chaos that is unleashed when they’re uncovered unwittingly. It starts harmlessly with Pietro (Domenico Diele), a young specialized technician who arrives at a snowy town near the Italian-Slovenian border to fix some power lines. In the course of his duty, he accidentally uncovers a whole mess of smuggling, murder, and secrets that appear frozen in time. This discovery does not sit well with the locals, including Lorenzo (Adriano Giannini) and his brother Secondo (Emir Kusturica).
More than a decade after its release, The Ice Forest is still one of Italy’s best crime movie exports for solid reasons. The movie manages to grab the attention of viewers without the usual loud and chaotic elements associated with average crime thrillers. Its slow-burn nature gets under the skin (in a good way) and perfectly suits anyone who enjoys watching crime movies where the tension builds slowly.
9. Street Law (1974)
Street Law is a unique Italian crime thriller for the ages. It explores the story of Carlo Antonelli (Franco Nero), an engineer from Genoa who is robbed, kidnapped, and beaten in a bank robbery. When he notices that the police have dropped their investigation, he enlists the help of (more blackmailing than enlisting) a criminal to track down and mete out justice to his assailants. The problem, however, is that he’s hilariously bad at it. He takes more beatings and basically fails his way through the criminal underworld.
The appeal of Street Law is how relatable it feels, emphasising that revenge is not as sleek or as pretty as Jason Statham makes it to be when you’re just some regular dude like Nero’s Antonelli. The actions are awkward, and the mistakes hurt too much to watch. Nevertheless, director Enzo G. Castellari succeeded in conveying the message that sometimes payback is more about survival and less about serving justice.
10. Caliber 9 (1972)
In Caliber 9 (or Milano Calibro 9), Ugo Piazza (Gastone Moschin) is an ex-con who has just gotten out of prison. His attempts to stay on the straight and narrow are vehemently disrupted by old associates who believe he’s hiding $300,000 of stolen money. He swears he isn’t, but finds it difficult to convince all the paranoid gangsters and crooked cops who are after him.
For many Italian crime movie purists, Caliber 9 is the OG Italian crime movie. Watching the film now, you feel that every subsequent Italian crime movie owes it a thing or two. It has everything from sharp suits to thrilling sequences that leave audiences on the edge of their seats, and should definitely be considered a must-watch for fans of the genre.
Overall, Italian crime movies do more than just tell stories. If you want to know more about the realities of crime in Italy, watch these movies and tell us your experiences in the comments.
