Top 20 British Gangster Movies

Does the UK have the best gangster flicks? For this list, WatchMojoUK counts down the Top 20 British Gangster Movies. We're looking at all the greatest mafia and mob films to come from the British Isles, with films like Legend, Layer Cake, many Guy Ritchie joints, and more. Let us know who your favourite fictional mobster is in the comments!
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WatchMojoUK is your source for British Top 10s, covering popular shows like Doctor Who, Strictly Come Dancing, Great British Bake Off, Coronation Street, This Morning, Good Morning Britain, The Graham Norton Show, Sherlock, and more! We also cover the latest in British Movies, Music and Pop Culture - We Top 10 it all!
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[@thomasheuer1916]

Long good Friday is peak British cinema

[@andyanderson3567]

My all time fav and Get Carter, is my number 2 !

[@BozaCukuranovic3223]

Peak world cinema !

[@welcometothemovies9157]

Greatest acting all with facial expressions

[@DaveSCameron]

Quadrophenia. 1979.🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿👍

[@BozaCukuranovic3223]

@@DaveSCameron what about it?

[@etherealcarlos]

Gangster Number 1 is deserving of Top 20 - Paul Bettany is terrifying in it.

[@lostquantity445]

yup

[@duncanwilson2392]

Top 5 in my book.

[@josephduffy9802]

THANK YOU

[@michaelharrison3602]

Villain is highly underated

[@michaelharrison3602]

Brick topic snatch is one of the greatest characters ever I know it's a comedy but it works 😅

[@user-lo5qm5tu8m]

Harold Shand is the most authentic and frightening characters even to grace our screens, every word Bob Hoskins says is pure gold 😮

[@davidmundowyahoo7839]

My Dad was in the Met Police in the 70s & 80s and didn't like this film as he thought it glorified villains who he had direct experience of and who he knew to be pretty evil characters. I always took that to mean the film got its representation of real villains accurate. I don't think it glorifies them but you do have to make the characters sympathetic to a degree otherwise you won't care what happens to them. Bob Hoskins did an amazing job in this film. Ultimately Shand is a frightening monster who no right minded person would want to have to deal with in real life but Hoskins manages to evince some sympathy for him nonetheless

[@Rumpelstyltskin]

Harold was a division two gangster playing in the Champions League.

[@H4CK61]

@@Rumpelstyltskin Go back asleep for another 20 years ffs.

[@markrskinner]

The final scene in "The Long Good Friday" has got to be the best final scene ever.

[@onastick2411]

But it was actually the first scene filmed, I believe.

[@stevemonaghan7445]

Robbery (1967) and The League of Gentlemen (1960) deserve honorable mentions, IMHO.

[@danabrahams7892]

Robbery is class

[@timpedder6046]

'Payroll' 1961 is excellent too.

[@davidboyce8683]

Classics, the cinematography in Robbery stunning for it's age . And , of course the car chase ..

[@garryfield5319]

get carter would be my number one ,but all solid here!

[@helipeek2736]

Love Honour And Obey if only for the Ray Winston line “FIX BAYONETS!”

[@Monkeyspankerelite]

I`m suprised Gangster number 1 wasn`t mentioned. A very good film imo.

[@bgorski6937]

Agree. Paul Bettany was so good.

[@sambo7499]

100% agree👍

[@vordman]

You got the top 2 right. Brilliant, both of them.

[@richardscanlan3419]

Sexy Beast is just superb.Ben Kingsley owned it.

[@peterrenn6341]

The Long Good Friday was on TV recently. First time I'd seen it in decades. Utterly transfixed. Worthy number 1. Well done for including The Italian Job! It's too often dismissed as a bit of swinging sixties fun, when it's extremely well made.

[@Blitzwing83]

Nice one, my old china. Can you remember which channel it was on plz?

[@albundy774]

And to think at one point Bob Hoskins was dubbed by David Daker but that version never got released because Bob Hoskins threatened to sue.

[@dough740]

Can't disagree with number 1 - been my favourite film from the first time I saw it

[@philiprice7875]

i kept my old sony ericson k800i for 18 years when i had the closing scene music as my ringtone. started a job and during training it goes off and my trainer went for his phone as also had same ringtone

[@beatonthebrat3112]

1997's Face with Robert Carlyle should be there

[@namesake-mx9nl]

I'd forgotten just how many superb British gangster movies there are . The whole list brought back memories of how great British cinema can be . Get Carter is one of my favourites , but in Legend , i thought Ronnie Kray was more like a cartoon character , which was disappointing .

[@ChubbyChecker182]

Good List overrall. Long Good Friday is awesome, great ending.

[@David-ft7xz]

Great list - thoroughly enjoyed this. I'd have had Get Carter at 1 though; it's the Citizen Kane of British gangster movies.

[@davidwood6581]

I have to disagree, that last scene in The Long Good Friday is a masterpiece in everyway

[@David-ft7xz]

@@davidwood6581 Won't argue with that David.

[@Fontsman-14]

Get Carter is definitely number 1. Caine at his peak within a film so cold and relentlessly bleak, yet utterly brilliant.

[@madenny326]

Was waiting to see if The Long Good Friday would be on the list. Totally gratified that it was number one.

[@colinbaker3916]

It was just which films were at 1 and 2. Personally, I just prefer the Long Good Friday, as Harold Shand is like an unexploded bomb that could go off at any moment, whereas Jack Carter is more calculating. Also, the final scene of Long Good Friday is a tour de force by Bob Hoskins, which should have got him an Oscar nomination.

[@philiprice7875]

also Pierce Brosnan debut film was not meant to get a credit but as he spoke "hi" to harold in the car the union rules say he deserves a credit

[@friggedickinson7214]

Hm, talking about heist films I think "The Bank Job" (2008) is a cool masterpiece! Also, I think Guy Ritchie's "RocknRolla" and "The Gentlemen" should've earned honourable mentions imo.

[@OCGangsta]

Rise of the Footsoldier 🤣

[@scottmochinski5447]

Even British gangsters are so quaint. So polite. It’s so charming.

[@user-hs2fv8jz9e]

Being rude doesn't mean you're a gangster

[@octaviusfooks7194]

16:33 When I think of The Italian Job, I think of the quote “You’re only supposed to blow THE BLOODY DOORS OFF!!”

[@michaelharrison3602]

The original Brighton rock was brilliant 😂

[@butterflyKiss604]

Oh and Dead Mans Shoes Nearly forgot

[@MikeGaughan-jq4eq]

Get Carter then The Long Good Friday - and 'Then' Caine & Hoskins in Mona Lisa. Can't think whoever thought of putting them together in a Brit Gangster Movie. Genius or obvious?

[@RodericSpode]

Mona Lisa was great. I'd put it in the top five. Caine would be in 3 of my top 5, and Bob Hoskins in 2. Pretty impressive from two of the best.

[@tyroneball269]

Long good Friday perfect number 1

[@falksi3182]

How TF have they missed Gangster Number 1 off?!?

[@BaronMorte]

Holy crap you are right; that was such a quintessential British gangster noir film and prolly Paul Bettany's best film role ever

[@stephenclarke2206]

It's a pretty stupid list "Layer Cake" & "Legend" shouldn't be on it at all

[@andyanderson3567]

@@stephenclarke2206 Layer cake shouldn't be on the list ? I guess everyone is entitled to their opinion ? 🙄🙄🙄

[@stephenclarke2060]

​@@andyanderson3567I know it's quite well thought & has a stellar cast but I found the plot a bit naff

[@andyanderson3567]

@@stephenclarke2060 All about opinions i guess ? Certainly i thought Get Carter, was a very good film even over fifty years on it is still very watchable. Nevertheless The Long Good Friday will always be my number one film.

[@Juohmaru79]

Great list, although i would 've reversed #1 and #2. I think you missed #5 by the way. I believe The Hit (1984) deserved at least an honourable mention.

[@lionelplummer]

Great list! I’ve seen all of the ones made after 1990 and they’re some of my favorite films ever. Time for me to go old school mate!

[@davidbowie2046]

Yep, Long Good Friday is the greatest, British gangster movie. Followed by Villain then Get Carter. Nice to see Sitting target in the list too👍

[@ozzie-sk9dh]

Good list. The Hit and Dead Man’s Shoes

[@denisvermeirre1024]

The Cook... is one of the most visually amazing movies ever. Greenaway is a master in the use of colour and textures. You can almost feel the velvet curtains and the warmth of the chicken feathers. It must absolutely be seen on a large cinema screen to be truly appreciated.

[@geraintdavies5407]

The Hit - british gangster road movie.

[@J2daP2010]

“Number 6: snatch” shows #5?

[@frankpinmtl]

"Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! YES! YES!" - one word and you know the movie

[@leedixon9832]

Sexy Beast

[@alanhill857]

Great list. Top 2 spots are interchangable, but I agree that Long Good maybe edges ahead because it's classic setting... Know wat a mean? Like other geezers 'ave said here, honourable mentions need to go to Mona Lisa, The Gentlemen and Love, Honour & Obey. LH&O has some of the most quotable, hilarious dialogue. Now stop mackin' me off like a two bob, and get yer strides on and get orf my mannar!

[@rickewilde]

Pretty good list actually. All movies worth watching for sure.

[@kevincarter2020]

Gangster Number One is missing

[@bgorski6937]

Agree

[@bgorski6937]

Agree

[@SonnyK248]

Rocknrolla was a bit of a snub. That was a great movie. Up there with Lock Stock and Snatch for me.

[@rodneyquqgliqtq9765]

Three of my favorites.

[@tecdesigns8183]

I like rock n rolla still hoping they'll make the wild bunch return.

[@samanthab1923]

The best! Waiting patiently for the return of Johnny Boy, Archy, One Two, Mumbles & Handsome Bob ❤

[@stevehill4615]

I would add Revolver with Rocknrolla, although not about British gangsters per se' Guy Ritchie fingerprints are all over it.

[@SonnyK248]

@@stevehill4615 didn’t like Revolver but each to their own

[@nigelbennington4565]

So many great films, which I now have to go and rewatch.

[@mew888]

Number "6" snatch. Classic watch mojo.

[@tecdesigns8183]

I agree with long good Friday too long has this film been forgotten. Very of its time and alot of what shand was trying to do was done with docklands and the olpimics. It's great cast too seeing the two villains from Snatch and Lock stock in the crew. I think I would of had layer cake abit higher up though.

[@youngian]

Stephen Frears's The Hit deserves an entry.

[@michaelharrison3602]

Roth and Stamp were brilliant in the hit😊

[@gavinhalil1821]

Mona Lisa should be included, it’s a masterpiece

[@kennethrouse7942]

True, but I may tend to put it in the Noir category rather than strictly gangster. But, yes, still great!

[@leespiderpod]

It should’ve been here for sure

[@carlosdeno]

I recently revisited The Long Good Friday & Mona Lisa, (HandMade Films) Bob Hoskins was superb in both. Thank you for this there are a couple here that I’ve not seen. 👍🏼

[@butterflyKiss604]

No Mona Lisa was a surprise to me but I enjoyed this

[@MrEmbryonic]

The Krays?

[@michaelharrison3602]

Biggest load of crap ever 😂

[@mitchellkitts6444]

Great to see Villain on the list.

[@SoylentGreenIsPeople68]

Cannot disagree with the top three at all, but i believe Going off Big Time, the scouse gangster comedy deserves a mention, gritty, funny, good cast, top soundtrack, its on youtube and prime.

[@tomhaskett5161]

How about 'The Bank Job' or '44 Inch Chest' or 'Harry Brown'?

[@boum62]

Bank job was a great watch. The post script referring us that it was based on actual events made it even better.

[@user-hs2fv8jz9e]

Harry brown is shit

[@joannebarber4845]

The best British gangster film I have seen to date is Lock Stock and two smoking barrels. Not only did it have great fight scenes but it had some cheek to it. I love that Richie had to give us Yanks subtitles when the character was speaking cockney. Thanks for creating this great video. I made my list of must sees. Like you said , I will watch the Long Good Friday first. Cheers!

[@terrycurzon1318]

I would have put Harry Brown in there…fantastic film

[@thatstephenwelch4474]

Sweeney 2 is a far, far better film than the original. Regan and Carter were out of place in a political conspiracy but Sweeney 2 puts them on home ground against a band of well organised, extremely violent bank robbers.

[@leespiderpod]

Yeah definitely! The main bank robber villain Ken Hutchison (1948 ‑ 2021) is totally underrated

[@wojtek1765]

One of my favourite genres so I’ve probably seen all these films I haven’t watched the video yet so if there isn’t any I’m definitely adding them to the watchlist

[@firewalkwithme2539]

Get Carter is rhe greatest British gangster movie ever. No debate.

[@gdhukLONDON]

Not a Gangster film but a great British film for anyone who has not seen it - ID

[@krashd]

Football hooliganism? Yeah, that and Football Factory are the top dogs in that genre.

[@gdhukLONDON]

@@krashd - McVicar 🤔

[@ryleighloughty3307]

'The 51st State'. The shooting scene featuring Emily Mortimer's character is absolutely fantastic.

[@mollboy]

Agree with No 1 but wheres Mona Lisa ?

[@SlackerBabel]

Mona Lisa is worth an honorable mention.

[@leespiderpod]

Yeah, definitely

[@edzombie78]

For a second i thought you weren't gonna put in the long good Friday 😅

[@rnm1978]

Great list! two more: I'll Sleep When I'm Dead, 2003, dir. Mike Hodges, with Clive Owen, Malcolm McDowell & Jonathan Rhys Meyers. The Krays, 1990, dir. Peter Medak, with Gary and Martin Kemp.

[@samanthab1923]

Yes! Both good picks ⭐️

[@mauricegarvey4631]

The Krays (1990) was disturbing, but a moving piece of work

[@mikewoodman7700]

Hoskins speech at the end is a timeless classic. An ending parodied brilliantly by the comedy "Brian Pern"

[@hippomancy]

I will leave it to you to define "best British gangster film", but a coupla my fave films are here. Lock, Stock..., Eastern Promises, and The Cook The thief... a great list of suggestions- I'll get started on my homework right away

[@schodgson]

All great movies but missing a few I felt. Glad to see Kill List here although 'Hyena' should have made the top 5 for me, and London to Brighton in the top 15.

[@user-fs6sl2er1x]

The Italian Job gets Carter and the long good Friday just classics

[@NPA1001]

Dead Man’s Shoes should be on this list.

[@alexweeks3359]

The Long Good Friday definitely deserves top spot. Perfect film… from the start to that unforgettable finish.

[@michaelharrison3602]

Get Carter was the first modern British gangster film

[@RamZar50]

Personally, I’d rank *Sexy Beast (2000)* much higher. It has great acting and very stylish. Another one I’d include is *A Prize of Arms (1962)* which is a terrific heist movie. I haven’t watched *The Long Good Friday (1980)* in ages. Will do next time I’m on Max streaming.

[@roscoebeach5658]

Perfect casting. Drop dead cinematography. Awesome flick. One of my all time favorites.

[@lionelplummer]

My best 10 American Gangster Films: 1) Godfather trilogy remastered 2) Miller’s Crossing 3) Donnie Brasco 4) American Gangster 5) HEAT 6) Goodfellas 7) Road to Perdition 8) A Most Violent Year 9) Menace II Society 10) Pulp Fiction

[@MrA5htaroth]

Revolver and Rock n Rolla. Still, can't have too many of Ritchie on one short list!

[@KevinDunne-zc4or]

I prefer the krays film with the kemp twins,

[@bgorski6937]

Agree. Legend was disappointing. I had high expectations for that one.

[@millzey100]

Some good picks on here but missing some of the best! Where’s The Gentlemen, Rise of the Footsoldier, The Business, Kidulthood/Adulthood, Green Street, Rock N Rolla and Harry Brown

[@rtjay6770]

Haven’t finished the vid. But green street and kid/adulthood were the ones I was looking forward to seeing😭😭🤣

[@SoylentGreenIsPeople68]

Green street is a hooligan movie technically it's a different genre, apart from the fact it's bobbins.. come on its Frodo in the ICF, and should be in the ten worst hooligan movies list along with all the footsoldier films, and id.

[@skillarchy81]

Since when was kidulthood a gangster movie?

[@millzey100]

@@skillarchy81 yeah I’d say that’s a fair point, maybe more crime than gangster, but it’s a subjective line between them. In the same respect you could argue the Italian Job is really a heist film or the Sweeney is really a police movie?

[@tecdesigns8183]

Trouble with kid/adulthood they were gang not gangster films and green streets is just holligans. Harry Brown was an awesome film but it's gang not gangster.

[@bgorski6937]

In Bruges was so good! I remember seeing it in the theater with an ex girlfriend. She hated it, and just really didn't get it. I knew it wasn't going to last much longer after that.

[@iomarian13]

how about : The Business The Gentlemen The Bank Job

[@roscoebeach5658]

Thank God you mentioned The Bank Job! Was expecting that one to be in the top 10.

[@Rayfaedundee]

Fantastic video clip with some fabulous films. Only thing I noticed was the film No.5 Snatch was announced as film No.6 but it’s a little mistake

[@robertarmsby5059]

Love, Honour and Obey, you missed this gem.

[@philmellor4885]

Honourable mention to 1977 flick The Sqeeze, Stacy Keach crushing it in an unsung gem.

[@robch4414]

The Limey has its moments, even though it's set in the US

[@dtfoel1230]

he was a British Gangster

[@olafruckelshausen5911]

"Pwighton Wock?" - "No, no, Brighton Rock" (...SMACK!...EAW!...) "The little rascal has spewit"🤣

[@satyb]

Great choices, Down Terrace is a must watch. Did not enjoy Kill List but it has the most horrific ending ever. The Cook .... is a good film but over stylised for the genre, I would have had Mona Lisa instead. Highly recommend the Big Audio Dynamite song E=MC2, gives a precis of every film Nicholas Roeg had been a part of and includes dialogue from Performance.

[@uditfonseka]

Gangster Number One------should be on the list

[@pgs1796]

Off the top of my head before running this video I just immediately came up with three they been 'Get Carter, 'The Long Good Friday' and 'Sexy Beast'. Though lots of other good films mentioned here.

[@seanblack9929]

Gangster No1 would be up there on my list

[@synthdude]

I'm surprised you missed that classic Geordie cop flick "Wey Aye Five-0"

[@ChrisM-fz6xx]

McVicar , Roger Daltrey . Clockwork Orange , Malcom MacDowell .

[@anzsolo1025]

McVicar should of been a shoo in.

[@albundy774]

The Squeeze released in 1977 starring Stacy Keach (with a flawless English accent) Edward Fox, David Hemmings, Carol White, Stephen Boyd in his final film before his death and Freddie Starr, Michael Apted's hugely underrated and underappreciated crime thriller deserved to be on this list. Trivia Steve Jones from the Sex Pistols makes a blink or you will miss appearance in a scene in Notting Hill Market.

[@SkinnyEMedia]

For me, Guy Ritchie's LOCK, STOCK and SNATCH and Nick Love's filmography (particularly FOOTBALL FACTORY, GOODBYE CHARLIE BRIGHT, and OUTLAW) are much better than any Scorsese or Tarantino film I can think of. British crime comedies and crime dramas are absolutely hilarious and better written. Don't forget LAYER CAKE, LEGEND (2015), GET CARTER (1971), ILL MANORS, and spoofs like ANUVAHOOD and THE HOOLIGAN FACTORY.

[@56postoffice]

RIP Bernard Hill, of *"Bellman and True."* Also, the ending of *"Kill List":* never expected THAT.

[@iandann8788]

great vid but there are a couple missing

[@mrmortimer710]

I am surprised that The Krays did not get their mentions

[@andrewdurie5186]

The long good Friday

[@bgorski6937]

Is it just me or was Rockn Rolla an underrated Guy Ritchie film? I personally loved it. I thought Mark Strong was so good in it. Tom Hardy was really good as handsome Bob as well.🤷‍♂️

[@grunt22]

Great list but what about "Bull"? Quirky, violent and with a huge dash of the occult

[@ashroskell]

A choice selection for the true connoisseur.

[@Leon-oz2ho]

Gangster No. 1 The Hit Mona Lisa Face (A Big Underrated British Gangster Film) All Top 20 worthy

[@jbeattie1244]

I qgree 110% that the long good Friday is the top brittish gangster flick for I loved it and the soundtrack since I saw it for the 1st time My top gangster films are The long good Friday Lock stock an 2 smoking barrels Snatch Get Carter Layer cake

[@professormcclaine5738]

I can't help looking at Bob Hoskins and thinking he's immortal.

[@Rhythmattica]

I cant get my head around it that Gangster #1 isnt on the list.

[@jamie1944]

Why don’t you do a series of Ken Loach or Peter McDougall movies ?

[@Jazzman874]

Get Carter in 1971 with it's gritty picture of Newcastle and uncompromising villainy and corruption, follows the lead character as he finds out who killed his brother and and deals out his own brand of justice.

[@mj99a]

Night and the City A small-time grifter and nightclub tout takes advantage of some fortuitous circumstances and tries to become a big-time player as a wrestling promoter.