Top 10 Detective Films on Organized Crime

Description: This gritty film follows two NYPD detectives as they track down a French heroin smuggling ring, featuring one of the most famous car chases in cinema history.

Fact: The famous car chase was filmed without permits, leading to real-life chaos on the streets of New York. Gene Hackman won an Oscar for his role as Popeye Doyle.

Description: While not strictly a detective film, it's a cornerstone of organized crime cinema, exploring the inner workings of the Corleone family and their criminal empire.

Fact: Marlon Brando famously stuffed his cheeks with cotton to create the iconic Vito Corleone look. The film was initially offered to Sergio Leone, who turned it down.

Description: This film dramatizes the efforts of Eliot Ness and his team to bring down Al Capone during the Prohibition era, showcasing the battle between law enforcement and organized crime.

Fact: The film's famous train station scene was inspired by the Odessa Steps sequence in "Battleship Potemkin." Kevin Costner was not the first choice for Eliot Ness; Harrison Ford was initially considered.

Description: Martin Scorsese's portrayal of the life of Henry Hill, a low-level gangster, offers a gritty, realistic look at the mafia world, complete with its allure and its downfall.

Fact: The film was based on the book "Wiseguy" by Nicholas Pileggi. The famous "Layla" scene was shot in one continuous take.

Description: Michael Mann's epic crime saga pits a meticulous bank robber against an equally determined detective. The film's famous diner scene is a study in tension and character interaction.

Fact: The film was inspired by real-life events involving a criminal mastermind and the detective who pursued him. The diner scene was improvised by Al Pacino and Robert De Niro.

Description: Based on a true story, this film follows an FBI agent who infiltrates the Bonanno crime family, exploring the moral dilemmas of undercover work.

Fact: Johnny Depp's character was based on the real-life FBI agent Joseph D. Pistone. The film was shot in chronological order to capture the characters' aging and changing relationships.

Description: Set in the 1950s, this neo-noir film explores corruption within the LAPD and the city's criminal underworld, with three detectives uncovering a web of deceit.

Fact: The film was adapted from James Ellroy's novel, which was inspired by real-life LAPD scandals. The character of Sid Hudgens was based on real-life gossip columnist Walter Winchell.

Description: This Hong Kong thriller about a police officer infiltrating the Triads and a Triad member infiltrating the police force inspired "The Departed."

Fact: The film was a massive hit in Asia and led to two sequels. It was remade in Hollywood as "The Departed."

Description: This film delves into the complex world of Boston's Irish mob and the police department's efforts to infiltrate it. With a double-agent twist, it's a masterclass in suspense and character development.

Fact: Martin Scorsese won his first Best Director Oscar for this film. It's a remake of the Hong Kong film "Infernal Affairs."

Description: This film tells the story of Frank Lucas, a real-life drug kingpin, and Richie Roberts, the detective determined to bring him down, set against the backdrop of 1970s Harlem.

Fact: Denzel Washington's character was based on the real-life Frank Lucas, who was known for his unique method of smuggling heroin. The film was initially planned as a biopic of both Lucas and Roberts.