The mob movie is one of the most beloved genres in cinema history, having produced countless classics over the past century of film. Most mafia films are dramas with dark and violent themes, some more realistic, and some hyper-stylized. Less common is the mob comedy. These are films that lampoon the underworld using dark humor.
While there aren't as many classics in the mob comedy genre as there are in the dramatic category, there are still a number of great titles to choose from when seeking out a few devious laughs. Here are 10 of the best mob comedies, ranked according to IMDb.
10 My Blue Heaven (1990) - 6.3
1990's My Blue Heaven is, rather literally, the light-hearted version of Goodfellas. The two films were released one month apart from each other, and both were based on the life of Henry Hill. Nicholas Pileggi wrote Goodfellas, and his wife, Nora Ephron, wrote My Blue Heaven.
In the latter, Steve Martin plays Vincent Antonelli, a former mobster in the Witness Protection Program. He's being looked after by Barney Coopersmith, played by Rick Moranis, who must prepare him for testimony against his former mob associates. It's a fitting comic accompaniment to Scorsese's timeless masterpiece.
9 Oscar (1991) - 6.6
In 1991's Oscar, Sylvester Stallone plays Angelo "Snaps" Provolone, a mobster who promises his dying father that he will retire from his life of crime and live out the rest of his days as an honest law-abiding citizen. His resolve is put to the test by a variety of factors, not the least of which being that his daughter is pregnant with a child who she says is Oscar's, a chauffeur who's currently serving overseas in the army.
This is one of Stallone's rare comedic performances, and he's supported by a great cast including Marisa Tomei, Tim Curry, and Chazz Palminteri.
8 Johnny Dangerously (1984) - 6.6
Michael Keaton plays the title role in 1984's Johnny Dangerously, a dark comedy about an honest man driven to a life of crime in order to pay his mother's medical bills. The film takes place mostly in the 1930s, so it takes advantage of the opportunity to lampoon some common tropes in more serious gangster period dramas.
The film received mixed reviews but was generally appreciated by audiences. Nowadays, it feels a bit dated, but it's still worth the watch for Keaton's performance.
7 Analyze This (1999) - 6.7
Acclaimed writer Kenneth Lonergan penned the script for Analyze This, directed by the great Harold Ramis and starring Robert De Niro and Billy Crystal as a mafioso named Paul, and his therapist, Ben, respectively. Their professional relationship becomes complicated when Paul follows Ben to his wedding in Florida, and chaos ensues.
The film was a hit with critics and audiences alike, so much so that it spawned a sequel, Analyze That, which was less impressive, but still serviceable. Ironically, this film came out just months after the premiere of The Sopranos, which was also about a mobster seeking psychological treatment.
6 The Whole Nine Yards (2000) - 6.7
In The Whole Nine Yards, Matthew Perry plays a dentist named Oz who has fallen on hard times. When he discovers that his new next-door neighbor is a hitman-turned-FBI informant named Jimmy "The Tulip" Tudeski, played by Bruce Willis, he learns of the opportunity to turn him in to the mob for a handsome financial reward. Willis and Perry make for an entertaining duo, and the script is funny enough to make the film worth the watch.
Despite its lack of critical praise, the film was a big enough hit at the box office to warrant a sequel, predictably titled The Whole Ten Yards, released in 2004.
5 Prizzi's Honor (1985) - 6.7
1985's Prizzi's Honor is a dark comedy starring Jack Nicholson and Kathleen Turner as two assassins from opposite sides of the country who fall in love. The film is famous for its cynicism and the emotional sincerity with which the farcical premise is executed. It's certainly a comedy, but the darkness of the material is played perfectly straight, making for a truly unique and memorable viewing experience. 36 years since its release, Prizzi's Honor remains a film unlike any other. Some audiences found it too tonally complex to be accessible, but it certainly has its fans among critics and moviegoers alike.
4 Get Shorty (1995) - 6.9
1995's Get Shorty is a fun and stylish mob comedy starring John Travolta as Chili Palmer who travels to Hollywood to collect an outstanding debt from movie producer Harry Zimm, played by Gene Hackman. He ends up falling in love with an actress played by Rene Russo, and he becomes intrigued by the idea of putting his mobster skills to use as a movie producer.
Get Shorty was a hit at the time, and it's held up well over the years as a minor genre classic. Based on the novel by Elmore Leonard, its script is witty and clever, and its cast brings the material to life with charm and heart.
3 Bullets Over Broadway (1994) - 7.4
Whereas Get Shorty combines the criminal underworld with the world of Hollywood, Woody Allen's Bullets Over Broadway is about the collision of the mafia with the New York City theater scene. John Cusack plays David Shayne, a down-on-his-luck playwright who makes a deal with the devil when he agrees to let a mob boss finance his next play. As is always the case when dealing with the mafia, there are quite a few strings attached.
The crime family becomes overly involved with the production, insisting upon casting decisions and script adjustments. The result is a delightfully black comedy that delivers big laughs, but also surprisingly dark plot developments.
2 Mafioso (1962) - 7.7
Mafioso is a terrific Italian comedy made in 1962 and was introduced to contemporary American audiences when it was released on DVD as part of the Criterion collection. The film plays on the cultural differences between northern and southern Italy to great comic effect. The main character is Antonio, who lives in northern Italy with his beautiful blonde wife. When they visit his family in Sicily, he gets roped into doing a special "favor" for the local mob boss, which involved a trip around the world to New York City. The film is one of several greats by the prolific Italian director Alberto Lattuada.
1 Some Like It Hot (1959) - 8.2
1959's Some Like It Hot stars Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon as jazz musicians who witness a mob hit and leave town to avoid being killed themselves. They end up taking a job in an all-girl band by disguising themselves as women. Chaos ensues when Spats Colombo, the mobster responsible for the aforementioned murder, arrives in town for a meeting with his fellow criminal kingpins.
Directed by Billy Wilder and boasting a terrific ensemble cast including Curtis, Lemmon, and Marilyn Monroe, Some Like it Hot is a bonafide classic, and perhaps the best mob-related comedy ever made.
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