The Godfather is a quick answer for anyone asked to name a Marlon Brando gangster movie. However, it isn’t the only one. The rest of the actor’s gangster movies might be obscure to audiences in 2024, but they are just as intriguing. From time to time, Brando immersed himself in stories about lawbreakers and the results were spectacular. And he seemed to enjoy this kind of work because he could somehow relate to the characters.
Like the gangsters, Brando had a reputation for being a bad boy. Whether it was breaking a paparazzo’s jaw or refusing to work until specific conditions were met, he always made headlines and didn’t care.
So, how do Marlon Brando’s gangster movies rank against each other? The Godfather easily comes first, and the rest follow closely. The legendary actor never had a flop in this particular genre, so there is little to criticize. However, audiences who only care about the highest quality would be advised to prioritize them in the following order while crafting their viewing list.
6 The Freshman (1990)
While not overtly allegorical, The Freshman depicts the get-rich-quick attitude which certainly resonates in today's society. When Clark, a college student, is introduced to the mob boss, Carmine Sabatini (Marlon Brando), he is thrilled, especially when he is informed that the crime figure is so cool that Vito Corleone from The Godfather is based on him. He is happy to be in the same space as the man, but then he learns that his first gig is transporting a Komodo dragon from JFK to a specified address. Before he has time to ponder the wisdom of this obligation, he finds himself trapped in the sticky net of New York’s underworld.
Numerous Nods to the Godfather
This rugged yet beautifully photographed story of desperation, deception, and gullibility gracefully combines parody elements with the chaos of illegality. Bruno Kirby (who had played a young Clemenza in The Godfather Part II), Penelope Anne Miller, and Matthew Broderick, as Clark offer affecting performances under the keen direction of Andre Bergman, who'd go on to have a great career in the comedy space. However, it’s Brando who impresses more, and his character has something that makes him stand out from other gangsters.
Carmine looks exactly like Vito from The Godfather, but his business ventures are more complex. He runs the Fabulous Gourmet Club, where, for a million dollars, endangered animals are served as the main course. And one of the film's twists cements his status as one of the greatest movie con artists. Be sure to check out Brando at his goofy best.
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5 The Chase (1966)
Marlon Brando is Sheriff Calder in The Chase, and his job is harder than that of the average law-in-chief of a small town. This time, he is informed that the gangster, Bubber Reeves (Robert Redford), has just escaped from prison, and he is set to arrive in town any moment. Calder intends to capture Reeves alive, but the residents want mob justice. Businessman Val Rogers (E.G. Marshall) also wants Reeves arrested because he fears the criminal will harm Rogers’ son, Jake, who is having an affair with Reeves' wife (Jane Fonda).
Brando on the Good Side of the Law
Having Marlon Brando, Robert Redford, and Jane Fonda in the same movie is a cheat code. The Chase was never going to fail, especially because it was directed by Arthur Penn. The filmmaker brilliantly used this set as a training ground for his more popular film, Bonnie & Clyde, which came out a year later.
Brando is fascinating, especially because his character is more human. The town's tycoon controls Sheriff Calder, and we are reminded that he has no choice. Any defiance might result in job loss. He also isn’t the stereotypical kill-em-all lawman of the ‘60s either. At one point, he gets brutally beaten up by one of the gangsters, leaving him as an ICU candidate, though he miraculously walks again.
Beyond that, the script is generally rich. There are traces of High Noon in the plot, but Penn tries to create an identity. Audiences will be impressed by how the film handles the themes of immorality, justice, and small-town corruption.
4 The Night of the Following Day (1969)
The Night of the Following Day’singenious tale tells of Bud (Marlon Brando), a chauffeur of a three-man team planning to kidnap the daughter of a kahuna, hoping her daddy will cough up millions. Halfway through the mission, Bud starts having second thoughts. Things get worse when one of the criminals opts to betray the others so that he can keep all the money. Thankfully, Bud is alert, so he counters every threat.
No Kubrick… No Problem
Based on The Snatchers by Lionel White, The Night of the Following Daywas reserved for the great Stanley Kubrick, who dropped the project due to strict regulations about depicting kidnapping on screen in the '60s. Thankfully, Hubert Cornfield did just fine. Belonging to the crime-gone-wrong category, the movie shows how easily things can crumble when greed gets in the way.
Brando’s character, Bud, reminds us how important it is to change your mind before things get too late. His frantic efforts to sabotage his colleagues make for great viewing, while the characters’ fashion choices offer a tip or two regarding what to buy if you intend to look like a movie star. Filmed in Le Touquet, the movie has some of the most stunning cinematography out of any Brando production.
3 The Score (2001)
It’s perhaps the fear of jail or the fear of a bullet, but gangsters always try to go legitimate at some point. Nick Wells (Robert De Niro) tries to do that in The Score. After years of taking what didn’t belong to him, he decides to retire and run his Montreal jazz club, but just when he thinks he is out, they pull him back in. His elder buddy, Max (Brando), persuades him to return for the typical one-last-gig, and he does so, with perplexing consequences.
The Score
Star-Studded and Twist-Packed
This was Marlon Brando’s final role, and it was a nice way to say goodbye. On set, Brando was the most Brando he had ever been. According to The Guardian, he repeatedly clashed with director Frank Oz, referring to him as "Miss Piggy", the Muppet whom Oz portrayed from 1976 to 2001. Watching Brando and De Niro on screen together was also euphoric, since they are both legends of the gangster genre. Despite the tension, Frank Oz did a great job.
This infectious, tense gangster tale has a simple, familiar set-up, but doesn't shy away from tragedy or depicting the realities of life in the underworld. Everyone gives a strong performance and audiences will love the twist ending even more.
2 The Wild One (1953)
As fascinating as outlaw biker movies are, they never get made as often as fans would like. Thankfully, the few existing ones are quite the gem. Take The Wild One where Johnny (Marlon Brando) and his gang, The Black Rebels Motorcycle Club (BRMC), ride into Carbonville, California, during a motorcycle race only to start causing trouble. Things get more heated when Chino (Lee Larvin), a rival gang leader, arrives, and Johnny falls for the sheriff’s daughter.
It Left a Huge Cultural Impact
Decades after it was released, The Wild One remains a multi-layered, spellbinding work, and Brando is, as always, exquisite. So good is the actor here that Johnny became a cultural icon of the ‘50s. In his autobiography, Songs My Mother Taught Me, Brando reveals that he had the time of his life playing the character.
"More than most parts I've played in the movies or onstage, I related to Johnny, and because of this, I believe I played him as more sensitive and sympathetic than the script envisioned. There's a line where he snarls, 'Nobody tells me what to do'. That's exactly how I've felt all my life."
The fabulous Mary Murpher also registers as the siren who makes Johnny more human because he is eager to please her. Much credit also goes to the costume design team. Johnny’s Perfecto-style motorcycle jacket. tilted cap and haircut are all stunning. The latter even helped to inspire a national craze for sideburns. In summary, this is Sons of Anarchy… for its era.
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1 The Godfather (1972)
Based on Mario Puzo's best-selling novel of the same name, The Godfather centers around the powerful New York-based Italian-American crime family led by Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando). Initially, Vito’s youngest son, Michael (Al Pacino), vows never to join the Mafia, but when an attempt is made on his father’s life, he changes his mind and seeks vengeance. Soon, he becomes the head of the organization, contrary to what everyone expected.
- Release Date
- March 14, 1972
- Runtime
- 175
The Greatest Gangster Movie of All Time
Enough has been said about The Godfather, but much more can still be said. One of Paramount's most revered widescreen spectacles, this massive production gave headaches to every person involved in the production process. But the payoff was equally majestic. Brando's Academy-winning performance and a weighty box-office gross validated the decision to push on despite the chaos.
It is also ambitious filmmaking at its best, featuring unforgettable mumbled remarks from Brando, and the most terrifying, heart-poundingly authentic assassination scene ever seen in the movies. Majestic in gauge, yet sensitive in its portrayal of reasonable mobsters dealing with unreasonable ones, The Godfather is a colossal entertainment filmed with unwavering commitment and impeccable taste by Francis Ford Coppola.
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