Top 10 Crime War Films You Must Watch

Description: This iconic film explores the inner workings of the Corleone family, a powerful Italian-American mafia clan, as they navigate through internal and external threats to their empire. It's a cornerstone of crime cinema, showcasing the allure and dangers of the criminal lifestyle.

Fact: The film was initially offered to Sergio Leone, who turned it down, feeling it was too American for him. Marlon Brando improvised the famous cat scene, picking up a stray cat from the studio lot.

Description: Tony Montana, a Cuban refugee, rises to power in Miami's drug trade. This film is a vivid portrayal of the American Dream gone awry, with its excesses, violence, and the ultimate downfall of its protagonist.

Fact: The film was heavily inspired by the life of Al Capone, but also by real-life drug lords like Pablo Escobar. The chainsaw scene was inspired by a real incident in Miami.

Description: Sergio Leone's epic spans several decades, following the lives of Jewish gangsters in New York City. It's a tale of friendship, betrayal, and the American Dream, set against the backdrop of Prohibition and beyond.

Fact: The film was originally over 6 hours long, but was cut down significantly for theatrical release. Robert De Niro and James Woods had to learn Yiddish for their roles.

Description: Martin Scorsese's masterpiece follows the rise and fall of Henry Hill, a small-time hoodlum who becomes part of the Lucchese crime family. The film is renowned for its portrayal of the mafia lifestyle, from the glamour to the brutal reality.

Fact: The famous "Layla" scene was filmed in one continuous shot, and the actors had to learn their lines in a very short time. Ray Liotta's mother was cast as his on-screen mother.

Description: Robert De Niro's directorial debut tells the story of Calogero, a young boy torn between his honest father and a charismatic local mobster. It's a coming-of-age story set in the backdrop of the 1960s Bronx, exploring themes of loyalty, family, and the allure of the criminal life.

Fact: The film is based on Chazz Palminteri's one-man play, which he performed for years before it was adapted into a movie. De Niro saw the play and insisted on directing it.

Description: Set in the slums of Rio de Janeiro, this Brazilian film captures the rise of a young boy named Rocket and the parallel descent of his friend Li'l Zé into the world of drug trafficking and gang warfare.

Fact: The film was shot in real locations in the City of God favela, with many non-professional actors from the area. It was nominated for four Academy Awards.

Description: In this modern take on the classic "Infernal Affairs," undercover cop Billy Costigan infiltrates an Irish mob led by Frank Costello, while a criminal, Colin Sullivan, rises through the ranks of the police department. The film is a tense cat-and-mouse game with a backdrop of Boston's criminal underworld.

Fact: The film was originally set in Hong Kong, but Scorsese adapted it to Boston. Jack Nicholson improvised many of his lines, including the famous "I'm an informant" scene.

Description: David Cronenberg's film dives into the world of the Russian mafia in London, focusing on a midwife who becomes entangled in their criminal activities after discovering a baby's Russian passport.

Fact: Viggo Mortensen learned Russian for his role, and the film includes scenes with full-frontal nudity, which was a bold choice for mainstream cinema.

Description: Based on Roberto Saviano's book, this Italian film provides a stark, realistic look at the Camorra crime syndicate in Naples, showing how crime permeates every aspect of life in the city.

Fact: The film was shot in real locations, often without permits, to capture the authentic atmosphere of Naples. It won the Grand Prix at Cannes.

Description: This Hong Kong thriller inspired "The Departed." It follows an undercover cop and a triad member who infiltrates the police force, both trying to uncover the other's identity amidst a backdrop of gang warfare.

Fact: The film was a massive hit in Asia, leading to two sequels and a prequel. It was remade in several countries, including the U.S. with "The Departed."