Okay, I'm sure in the history of MR this has been asked before BUT ... which movie do you consider definitive when it comes to the American Mafia (any era) If you say Godfather, please tell us which movie you thought was best in the series.  AND DON'T FORGET TO TELL US WHY you think the way you do!  

Godfather 2 may be the obvious or easy answer but I'm willing to bet some of you might reference more modern movies (someone in a mobmail yesterday was pointing out that Reservoir Dogs was one of the better crime group movies in the last couple decades and I hadn't even see the whole darn thing!)

So... what should we be watching?  What is your favorite mob/crime family movies?

I think that guy that likes Reservoir Dogs is onto something. The slow, drawn out dialogue scenes mixed with action and drama, as well as the whole 'wth is going on' which slowly gets filled in make it a fav of mine. And for the record, I don't tip.

It's not exactly American Mafia, if we are talking Italian-American, but more so in terms of 'gangster' films. And if that's the case then Pulp Fiction and Scarface are a close second.

If we're talking American Mafia then I'd have to say my favorite is Goodfellas. I like the acting, the overall story of trying to become a made guy and also the outsider mentality of being associated, yet not fully in. Joe Pesci is also gold to watch.

I am gonna have to go with The Godfather series. 

This isn't a movie but I am in love with The Sopranos. I think it's excellently made and shows all aspects of mob life. The highs, the lows and so on. It's just brilliant. I am on my second round watching it. 

The Godfather.

Only movie I ever saw that is way better than the book

There are a lot of good mafia movies out there but a top of mine would be The Godfather 1-2 , Goodfellas , Gootti (1996)

Godfather 1. It captured and romanticized the Mafia life and the essence of family. I really love the way Marlon Brando portrayed the Godfather. 

I love the book as well.

Another favorite of mine is Goodfellas. The tension, thrills, acting...they'd really keep you hooked especially if you're a Mafia fan/enthusiast...which I am. haha. 

I have tons of other mob movie faves, but the aforementioned two are my top choices. 

The Goodfellas.

The Godfather books are better than the movies, in my opinion. And The Sorpranos is so amazing!

Goodfellas

also RIP Frank Vincent

I know Godfather films are the obvious choice but I quite like Goodfella's more.

How is Scarface a Mafia movie? Are you guys talking about the 1932 one or the one that came out in 1983? The 1932 Scarface movie was about the Mafia the 1983 Scarface movie was about Tony Montana starting a drug cartel in Miami and doesn't involve the Mafia at all...