Iconic gangster films featuring the best mob executions

List Hai Toh Hit Hai

Gangster films have often intrigued audiences for their compelling narratives and larger-than-life characters. It gives its viewers a sneak-peek into the lives of made men and the mafioso. These films also feature some brutal execution orchestrated by the mob to vanquish those who stand in their way. On today’s List hai toh hit hai podcast, we take a look at some of the most well-crafted mob executions portrayed on film.

Tony Montana

“Scarface” (1983) - (Google Play, YouTube, Apple TV, Amazon rental)

Al Pacino’s portrayal of Tony Montana in the 1983 film Scarface is one of the most iconic in cinema history. The machine gun-wielding Tony is also one of the most significant pop-culture moments from the 80s. Tony’s demise in the film comes at the hands of a gang of hitmen who try to gun him down. The cocaine-fuelled Tony makes a last stand by opening fire with an M16 at his would-be assassins. But he is eventually outnumbered and outgunned as his lifeless body falls from the balcony to the pool below, in what could be described as one of the most visceral scenes ever produced on film.

Sonny Red

“Donnie Brasco” (1997) - (Netflix, Google Play, YouTube, Apple TV)

The 1997 gangster film Donnie Brasco features one of the most authentic mob hits created for television. In this brutally violent scene, it is the hitmen who are on the receiving end of bullets. Three made men walk into a basement poking fun at the fact that their victims would be taken by surprise at the sight of them. But in an ironic turn of events, the supposed victims were in fact lying in wait with guns of their own. What ensues is absolute chaos as Sonny Red and his men are gunned down in a messy gunfight.

Nicky & Dominick Santoro

“Casino” (1995) - (Google Play, YouTube, Apple TV)

The most disturbing mob-hit scene is arguably from the 1995 film Casino. The primary antagonist of the film Nicky Santoro, played by the iconic Joe Pesci, meets a brutal comeuppance at the hands of his enemies. Nicky is forced to watch his brother Dominick bludgeoned to death by his own crew and he is then beaten to a pulp and buried alive alongside his dead brother.

Tommy DeVito

“GoodFellas” (1990) - (Google Play, YouTube, Apple TV, Amazon rental, Hungama Play)

Goodfellas is widely regarded as one of the best gangster films ever made. And it should come as no surprise that it also features one of the unexpected and carefully executed mob hits in cinema. Joe Pesci’s character Tommy DeVito, infamous for his short temper and his trigger-happy persona, gets a taste of his own medicine when he is shot in the head. The scene is particularly shocking because he was lured into the ambush under the guise of being a made man in the mafia.

1. The Untouchables (1987) - Jimmy Malone (Google Play, YouTube, Apple TV, Amazon rental)

While most of the names on this list are certainly not known for being respected members of society, Jimmy Malone from the 1987 film The Untouchables was certainly on the right side of the moral compass. Essayed by former James Bond Sean Connery, Malone’s crusade against organized crime in 1930s Chicago eventually led to his tragic demise at the hands of a mob enforcer at his own house.

6. Sonny Corleone

“The Godfather” (1972) - (Amazon Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube, Apple TV, Amazon rental)

The greatest gangster film, if not the greatest film of all time, is Francis Ford Copolla’s The Godfather. James Caan, who passed away earlier this week, essayed the role of Sonny Corleone in the film. As the eldest of the Corleone crime family, Sonny becomes an obvious target for his family’s enemies. Sonny is baited by his own brother-in-law and is brutally gunned down at an empty toll plaza. Sonny’s death sets off a chain of events which ultimately results in Al Pacino’s Micheal Corleone, Sonny’s youngest brother, becoming the Godfather.

Well thats the theme special episode of OTTplay List hai toh hit hai for today, until the next time it's your host Nikhil signing out.

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• Written by Ryan Gomez