20 Best Irish Gangster Movies & Series

20 Best Irish Gangster Movies & Series

Originally published by Purity in April 2023 and updated by Faith in May 2024

If crime movies are anything to go by, then no gangster does it quite like an Irishman. Several exciting stories have been told about them, almost turning them into a genre. They have been represented in movies, which are short but satisfying. Others are much longer, and there are fans of those as well. The following list is an ensemble of differently-rated movies and series featuring Irish gangsters. Ratings aside, we believe that these are the best 20 to watch in your free time, at least for the next few weeks. Enjoy!

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1. The Departed

Jack Nicholson by Georges Biard. Wikimedia Commons.

Frank Costello is a seasoned Irish gangster leading a gang of thugs in South Boston in this 2006 movie. The character is introduced as he extorts money out of a scared shopkeeper while in the presence of another main character, Colin Sullivan. Costello (played by Jack Nicholson) makes a speech in which he blames African Americans for expecting things to be given to them. Costello is a man who believes he can get whatever he wants.

The plot gets interesting when he recruits young Sullivan (whose adult version is portrayed by Matt Damon) and raises him to be a member of his gang, but one who infiltrates the police force. Sullivan does well, and quickly rises through the ranks. Unbeknownst to them, the police have also assigned another brilliant cop a mission to infiltrate Costello’s gang. Billy Costigan, the police mole played by Leonardo DiCaprio also gains Costello’s trust. One mole must find the other’s identity first while also embroiled in a steamy love triangle. The plot is interesting but the characters are its major attraction. The movie is rated 8.5 on IMDb.

See trailer on YouTube: The Departed.

2. Love/ Hate (2010 – 2014)

Love/Hate is an Irish crime drama series that was featured on RTE Television from October 2010 to 2014. Set in Dublin’s criminal underworld, the plot is rich with violence, crime, and the treachery we all like to see in crime films. When Darren Treacy (played by Robert Sheehan) returns to Dublin, he is in a bind as the Irish Garda tries to nub him for illegal possession of firearms even though all he wants to do is relax. His efforts to stay under the rudder are foiled when upon release from prison his brother Robbie is shot and killed before he is even picked up. Chaos ensues with several catastrophic events sparking tension between the gang of drug dealers and the community, forcing families and friends to survive the consequences. The series quickly captured the hearts of crime series fans and the love has remained throughout its four seasons. The series has an IMDb rating of 8.5.

Watch trailer.

3. The Black Donnellys ( February – May 2007)

The 2007 TV Show released by NBC features four Irish American brothers living in New York’s hell’s Kitchen. The brothers, who are also very staunch Roman Catholics, get mixed up in the activities of the Irish mob that specializes in both petty and organized crime. Of the four brothers, Jimmy, who is also the oldest, is the troublemaker involved in crime and foolish decisions. Tommy is the second oldest brother always cleaning his older brother’s mess while stepping up as the leader in the family.

He is also deeply involved with the Irish mob and has a complicated relationship troubling him on the side. Kevin, the second youngest of the Donnelly brothers is the family’s gambler who believes he has extremely good instincts, even though he has a massive gambling debt.  Sean (Seanny) is the youngest and is very popular with the ladies. He tries to help his brothers but they just will not allow it. The series is beloved for its milieu of characters and plot twists. Its IMDb rating is 8.1 and a well-deserved one at that. The key themes include Irish American history and related themes. The hate between them and the Italians are highlighted and enriches its plot further.

Watch trailer here,

4. The Boondock Saints (1999)

Image by Gerd Altmann-Pixabay.

The film involves Irish Catholic twin brothers Conner (Flanery) and Murphy (Reedus) driven by their faith to rid their hometown of evil with their unique brand of zealous vigilante justice. They hunt down and execute several gangsters thus becoming controversial folk heroes in their community. They come to the radar of FBI agent Paul Smecker who, after following their trace of bloodshed, surprisingly admits that they are doing exactly what he would have wished to happen. The movie is written and directed by Troy Duffy. It stars, among others, Willem Dafoe, Sean Patrick Flannery, and Norman Reedus. It has over 988 reviews and is rated 7.7 by IMDb.

Watch trailer here.

5. Kin (2021- )

Image by Sander Sammy-Unsplash.

The Irish television crime drama series, Kin, revolves around a fictional Dublin family involved in a gangland war. It stars Aiden Gillen, Ciarán Hinds, Frank Kinsella, and Eamonn Cunningham. It premiered in September 2021 on RTE and is currently ongoing with episode one of the second season already out. In season one, we saw the conflict between two crime bosses Eamon Cunningham and Frank Kinsella intensify when Eric who is Frank’s son tried to eliminate one of Eamon’s underlings. In the end, we see Angela’s plan to take down Eamon. The feud continues into season two and fans are following keenly to see if she succeeds. The series is a must-watch and has a 7.6/10 IMDb rating.

Check out Season one’s  trailer here.

6. Peaky Blinders

Cillian Murphy as Thomas Shelby in Peaky Blinders. Photo by Mike BlockU. Wikimedia Commons.

Peaky Blinders could well be the most popular on the list with an IMDb rating of 8.8. Set in Birmingham, the crime TV Show depicts a gang led by a family of mixed Irish and Romani origins known as the Shelbys. At the head of the family is a ruthless and cunning crime boss named Tommy Shelby who tries to lead his family up the social and economic ladder and will stop at nothing to realize his goal. Tommy, played by Irish actor Cillian Murphy, is involved in a wide range of intriguing deals where the slightest hesitation could mean death or serious losses.

The family members have their share of interesting escapades beginning with Arthur Shelby, the drunkard older brother who only wants to be a good man; their aunt Polly (Helen McCrory) is a superstitious woman who wishes to protect her brother’s children and often advises Tommy; Actor Joe Cole appears as the third brother Johnny, who is always loyal; while their only sister, Ada, is played by Sophie Rundle. Ada’s wish to find love in a world of violence and treachery is only rivaled by Tommy’s ambition and the series features an ensemble of legendary characters including actor Tom Hardy as ‘Alfie’.

Have a sneak peak of the opening scene here.

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7. State of Grace (1990)

The movie takes us yet again to New York’s Hell’s Kitchen where the character Terry Noonan reunites with his childhood best friend Jackie Flannery. The Irish American policeman is soon drawn into the activities of an Irish crime organization led by Jackie’s older brother Frank who has Terry’s best friend entangled in the gang’s affairs. The famed Irish- Italian rivalry features heavily in this film as two gangs from each of these nationalities compete for power and control. The movie stars Sean Penn, Gary Oldman, and Ed Harris and was well received by critics, even though at the time of its release it became overshadowed by the Goodfellas, a movie with similar themes. State of Grace is rated 7.1/10 by the IMDb.

Check out the trailer.

8. I Went Down (1997)

Directed by Paddy Breathnach, the movie is an Irish action comedy that features an ex-con (Git Hynes) who is forced into taking on a dangerous task by a merciless crime boss (Tom French). Git is sent to Cork with his partner Bunny Kelly to find a guy named Frank Grogan and take him to a man with a friendly face at a shack across a bog. The tough assignment is made tougher by Git’s inexperience and Bunnys’ tendency to act rashly. When they find Frank Grogan, they realize he has no money and there is a real possibility of him being killed by Tom French. Coupled with the long-ago disappearance of Sonny Mulligan, Git is thrown into a moral dilemma. What is he to do? The movie has an approval rating of 84% based on 19 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. It has a rating of 6.8 on IMDb.

9. Gangs of New York (2002)

Leonardo Dicaprio (2019) by Georges Biard. Wikimedia Commons.

The 2002 American Historical drama film is written by Jay Cocks, Steven Zaillian, and Kenneth Lonergan, and directed by Martin Scorsese. It is based on Herbert Asbury’s 1927 book The Gangs of New York and stars one of the best actors, Leonardo DiCaprio. A young Irish immigrant, Amsterdam Vallon, returns after years of incarceration seeking revenge against a gang leader who killed his father, William Cutting aka ‘Bill the Butcher’. ‘Bill’ believes that America belongs to native-born Americans and is against the waves of Irish immigrants entering the city. It is a difficult task for Amsterdam as gangs roam the corrupt New York City, with Bill Cutting being their top crime boss. Young Vallon tries to establish himself in the area while seeking revenge for his father’s death amid the violence and corruption. The question remains whether young Vallon will eventually succeed. The movie is rated 7.5 by IDMb.

Check out the trailer.

Have a look at the 10 Most Notorious New York Gangsters.

10. Miller’s Crossing (1990)

Gabriel Byrne plays Tom Reagan in this Irish crime drama. In the film, Tom comments that nobody knows anybody and the plot itself reveals just that. Tom is the chief advisor and right-hand man to gang leader Leo (played by Albert Finney). Meanwhile, a rival gang leader, Johnny Caspar (Jon Polito), and Leo are in disagreement over a bookie named Bernie Bernbaum and they just cannot agree on how to deal with him. Amid all these is Tom’s forbidden relationship with Leo’s girlfriend, Verna who is also Bernie’s sister. As the plot unfolds, Tom is cast out of the gang and right in the middle of this feud. The movie is rich in twists and explores love, betrayal, and the little bit of violence that keeps a watcher at the edge of their seat. It has a 7.7/10 rating on IMDb.

See the trailer on YouTube.

11. The Road to Perdition

The crime drama film, directed by Sam Mendes, is set in 1931 Chicago State. It is the period of the Great Depression and the plot follows a mob enforcer who sets out with his son to get vengeance against a gangster who killed their entire family. The cinematography captures the viewers’ emotions with its sharp imagery while minimizing dialogue. The effect, which enables cinematographer Conrad C. Hall to win the Academy Award for Best Cinematography, accounts for much of this movie’s success. It is packed with plot twists, secrets, and painful revelations for which we must see blood in this revenge-themed film. Follow the struggles of Michael Sullivan (played by Tom Hanks) and his son Michael Sullivan Jr in this crime thriller as they try to find justice against the Irish Mob.

Check out the trailer.

12. Black Mass (2015)

Johnny Depp (2019) by Georges Biard. Wikimedia Commons.

This 2015 film, released by Warner Bros is a biographical crime drama about a mobster named Whitey Bulger. It is also an adaptation of the 2001 novel Black Mass: The True Story of an Unholy Alliance between the FBI and the Irish Mob. Johnny Depp stars here as Bulger who is introduced as the leader of the Irish Winter Hill Gang, and controls most of the organized crimes in South Boston. Assisted by his right-hand man Flemmi (Rory Cochrane), all goes well for them until they are challenged by their rivals the Angiulo Brothers, a gang based in the North end.

Along comes FBI agent Connolly who grew up in the same area and is a friend of Bulger. Connolly requests his old friend to help him infiltrate Winter Hill, and even though Bulger detests the idea of being a ‘rat’, he obliges since it affords him protection for his family. Catch this thrilling story of an unholy alliance and be steeped so deep in Irish treachery. Its IMDb rating is 6.9/10.

Have a look at the trailer here.

4 Must-Watch Johnny Depp Mob Movies.

13. Vendetta: No Conscience, No Mercy

The movie explores the complicated relationship of two Irish-American brothers, Thomas and Sean Phelan, who was born to immigrant parents and brought up in a rough, crime-riddled neighborhood in Boston. Having witnessed the death of their father’s death at the hands of gangsters, the boys grow up with the experience fresh in their minds. Thomas, the studious and disciplined brother, becomes a successful US Attorney. Sean follows a rebellious path and gets into crime, eventually managing to rise to the top rank of the Irish mob. The film departs from its simple theme of family relationships and crime and explores politics as well. It is a fascinating watch that will thrill, excite and probably educate you a bit.

14. Ray Donovan (2013-2020)

Liev Schreiber by Martin Kraft. Wikimedia Commons.

The Donovans are an Irish-American family who relocated to Los Angeles and started a boxing business that they run alongside an eye/protective service for celebrities. The show has 7 seasons in which Liev Schreiber, playing the title role, depicts the life of a professional ‘fixer’ for the rich. Ray Donovan is good at his job, which also involves several illegal activities including arranging bribes, payoffs, threats, and cleaning up crime scenes. Other complications arise, especially when his father and family patriarch is released from prison. The series is packed with action and sizzling drama that will keep you on the edge of your seat. When it first premiered, the pilot episode beat previous records in viewership. Its IMDb rating is 8.3.

Check out Season One’s trailer on YouTube.

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15. Hope Street (2021 – )

The Irish crime drama was filmed in Northern Ireland’s Donaghadee. It stars a cast of native actors like Amara Karan, Kerri Quinn, Ciarán McMenamin, and Niall Wright. The story is based in Port Devine, a fictional Irish Town where the plot begins with the arrival of DC Leila Hussain (Played by Amara Karan). The townsfolk grow suspicious of her arrival, the reasons for which are kept secret by Inspector Finn O’Hare. All she can tell them is that her reason for being there is a matter of life or death. The rest of the series reveals the busy life of the local police department’s officers as they strive to solve the town’s crimes. The series is highly entertaining for fans of crime drama and the Irish feel makes it just worth watching. It has an IMDb rating of 6.7.

Check out the trailer on YouTube.

16 Intermission (2003)

John Crowley wrote and directed the dark comedy crime film released in 2003. The story follows a series of interconnected storylines between working-class residents and petty criminals in Dublin. Kelly Macdonald, Colm Meaney, Cillian Murphy, and Colin Farrell are among the film’s outstanding ensemble of cast members. “Intermission” presents a distinct and captivating perspective on the Irish gangster genre with its gritty urban backdrop and razor-sharp wit.

The movie received an astounding 7.2/10 on IMDb. Its dark humour, powerful performances, and beautifully woven plots won accolades from critics. For lovers of indie crime films, “Intermission” is something of a cult classic.

17 Calvary (2014)

The critically acclaimed Irish black comedy film released in 2014 was written and directed by John Michael McDonagh. The film “Calvary” features Brendan Gleeson as Father James Lavelle, a kind-hearted priest who receives a death threat from an unseen parishioner during confession. As Father Lavelle goes about his week ministering to the morally corrupt residents of his small town, he tries to determine who issued the threat.

“Calvary” has an impressive rating of 7.3/10 on IMDb, based on over 76,000 user votes. Critics praised Gleeson’s powerful lead performance and the film’s blend of dark humour with profound moral themes. The Hollywood Reporter called it “a blacker-than-black comedy that somehow manages to be sublime,” while The Guardian hailed it as “a rich, tersely poetic tragi-comic drama.”

18 Quirke (2014)

The Irish crime drama TV series is an adaptation of novels by Benjamin Black, the pseudonym for the critically acclaimed author John Banville. The plot features Quirke, starred by Gabriel Byrne who works as a pathologist as well as an amateur private investigator. Each episode features the character trying to solve dark and complicated mysteries in the streets of Dublin.

The show which was produced by BBC received a lot of praise for its strong performances, moody atmosphere and literary source material that hooks the audience to it. The supporting cast that brought the character to the television series includes Nick Dunning, Brian Gleeson, Michael Gambon and Sarah Greene.

19 Dublin Murders (2019)

The psychological crime television series is based on the Dublin Murder Squad novels by Tana French. The series centres on two murder investigations in Dublin that are investigated by detectives Rob Reilly (Killian Scott) and Cassie Maddox (Sarah Greene). In one case, a young dancer is murdered; in the other, Reilly has been haunted by the history of a dead family since she was a small girl.

Dublin Murders explores issues of memory, psychological trauma, and how the past can leave lasting effects by fusing cold case investigations with current events.

20 Jack Taylor (2010-2016)

This crime drama television series is based on novels written by Ken Bruen. The series stars Jack Taylor played by Iain Glen as a former police officer turned private investigator in Galway. The show follows Glen as he solves various crimes while battling his own issues as a struggling alcoholic. The show gained a lot of following with its audience praising the main character’s gruff and talent. The show got a rating of 7.6/10 on IMDb showing that it had a great following.

Well, there’s our 15 best picks for Irish Gangster Series and Movies! There will always be more no doubt, as movie producers continue to release great works on this ‘genre’. We do hope you enjoy them, and perhaps save a few for your next binge session!