Top 10 Gritty British Gangster Movies

Our first entry chronicles the rise of Paul Bettany’s Young Gangster character, who after following in his mentor's footsteps for a while, decides he wants a bigger slice of the cake. Whether it’s his calm and collected persona or the fact that he could snap at any minute, there is something intoxicating about Bettany’s performance throughout. There’s also other magnificent performances from Malcolm McDowell, David Thewlis, Jamie Foreman and Eddie Marsan. Although “Gangster No. 1” was released in the year 2000, there’s something incredibly visceral about this gangster flick that makes it feel like a 70’s classic. And its close-quarters camerawork makes it rather uncomfortably, yet undeniably endearing to watch.

A film that blurs the lines between cinema and reality, “Rise of the Footsoldier” tells the true story of the Rettendon Murders aka the Essex Murders, from the mid-90s. Football hooligans and top-tier gangsters come together for drug deals, brutal violence and tense showdowns. Unlike many other British gangster films, there is almost an unparalleled realism to the way it is filmed, almost as if the whole thing has been caught by a bystander on a camera phone. Combine that with Craig Fairbrass’ spine-chillingly terrifying portrayal of Pat Tate and torture scenes that give “Casino” a run for its money, and you have one of the murkiest, most realistic crime films ever.

Another gangster epic based on a true story, “The Krays” tells of the infamous empire built up by brothers Ronnie and Reggie Kray in the East End of London in the 1950s. Although remade in 2015 featuring Tom Hardy and retitled “Legend”, the 1990 version, which featured real-life brothers Gary and Martin Kemp, shines as being the more eerie, and therefore the more true-to-life adaptation, of the gangster’s lives. Whether it's watching psychopathic Ronnie give someone a chelsea grin, or Reggie try to claw together what he can of a normal life, this unique tale is as much about crime as it is about the complex relationship between two brothers.

Pre-James Bond Daniel Craig playing a drug mastermind… what’s not to like. Largely regarded as one of the best gangster films of the noughties, “Layer Cake” helped put Daniel Craig and then first-time director Matthew Vaughn on the map. Highly stylised, it nicely bridges the gap between grit and glamour when it comes to gangster flicks, with a perfect concoction of violence and sophistication. Whether it’s watching someone get baptised with a teapot, hung off a building or have awkward phone sex, there’s humour, action and drugs, drugs, drugs. Plus you get to see Q and 007 go clubbing together.

You knew it was coming - and for a very good reason. Many British writers and directors try to toe the line between violence and humour, but nobody does it with quite the same finesse as Guy Ritchie. “RocknRolla” and “Snatch” are amazing example of his writer/director prowess, but we feel that Lock Stock encapsulates the swagger of British gangsters better than anything he’s ever penned. Crammed with memorable quotes, personas and put downs, Lock Stock has so much texture to its world that each of its plot lines and colourful characters could easily have their own spin-offs. And just look at that cast; Jason Statham, Vinnie Jones, Lenny McLean. Even bloody Sting is in it.

It’s easy to forget what this film is actually about, given its cultural significance, funky Mini Coopers, kick-ass soundtrack and, well, Michael Caine spitting out timeless, quotable gold. But at its core it is about a gang of thieves and gangsters getting together to pull off an elaborate heist. Watching the film’s eclectic personalities slowly piece together the perfect scam is wildy entertaining to watch and you can’t help but feel like part of the crew by the end. And speaking of the end, the film builds to one of the most iconic getaway scenes in cinema history. Not to mention its quite literal cliffhanger.

This is one of those films where you remeber the individual performances rather than the actual plot. Starring the brilliant Ben Kingsley and iconic Ray Winstone as two ex-criminal associates, the film revolves around Kingsley’s character trying to convince Winstone’s to return to a life of crime. What follows is a series of heated encounters between the two, where we get to see some volatile chemistry between two criminal heavyweights. What’s most entertaining is Kingsley’s unpredictable portrayal of Logan, a man whose temper can boil like mercury in a matter of seconds. Think Ben Kingsley is a reserved thespian? Well, watch “Sexy Beast” and get back to us.

Onto another surprisingly dastardly performance now with a young Richard Attenborough portraying unhinged small-time gangster Pinkie Brown, a man constantly trying to cover his tracks after committing a murder. “Brighton Rock” is as engrossing as it is controversial. Essentially helping build what is now the unglamorous framework for classic British gangster films, it helped push previously unknown horrors of the criminal game into the spotlight - which at the time were met with distaste, but were revolutionary all the same. A blank-faced, trilby-wearing Attenborough rampaging like a man possessed makes for one of the best gangsters to ever grace the silver screen.

Want to see Michael Caine portray an unstoppable, vengeful, Terminator-like cockney? You’re in luck. Kicking down doors and taking names, Michael Caine’s Jack Carter will do whatever it takes to find his brother's killer. It’s a fairly simple revenge story, but the way in which Caine topples each pawn in a network of hoodlums makes for brilliant cinema - be it throwing them off a balcony, forcing them to down a bottle of scotch at gunpoint or chasing them down and knifing them in an alleyway. If you ever had doubts of Michael Caine’s acting chops when it comes to being a hard man, then just watch “Get Carter”.

Before we reveal our top pick, here are a few honourable mentions

“Down Terrace” (2009)

“In Bruges” (2008)

“The Business” (2005)

Yes, the film that solidified Bob Hoskins’ name in the annals of gangster history. Hoskins’ Harold Shand is a man trying to build a property empire when an unexpected attack from the IRA slows things down. This transforms Hoskins into a hungry rottweiler. Watching Hoskins’ fired-up Harold refusing to back down from anyone is entertaining in itself, but the real charm of “The Long Good Friday” is just how effortlessly it manages to tackle so many issues - be it the IRA, the free market or the property boom - and still make for an entertaining crime epic. And this is all narrated by an electrifying soundtrack, reminiscent of Tubular Bells on acid.