5. Heat (1995) 

Possibly the best cops-n-robbers movie ever made. That's because in Michael Mann's world, cops and robbers battle like Gods. The coffee-shop scene between screen deities De Niro and Pacino makes epic drama of tiny silences. Guns sound like thunder. LA becomes a doomy Valhalla. It's slick, stunning and still rivals any other gangster flick to emerge in recent years.Heat works so effectively, because of the dynamic between De💦 Niro's master robber and Pacino's brilliant detective. Each holds tight to their private lives, never wanting to let their powerful facades fall. It's a densely-plotted thriller, an actioner, and a drama, all rolled into one. 

4. The Godfather (1972) 

"I felt that I should quit," said Steven Spielberg of the first time he saw The Godfather. "That there was no reason to continue directing because I would never reach that level of confidence." That's quite a write-up.Even if you've never seen Francis Ford Coppola's blistering gangster epic, the saga of Don Vito Corleone's youngest son Michael's ascent from shiftless Ivy Leaguer to ruthless Capo di Capi is so seared into the public consciousness - you'll think you have. Shot in dark, mahogany tones, it's an el꧅egant tale of gentlemanly corruption and honor among crooks, charting the Corleone family's shifting hierarchy. There's so many moments that have gone on to become truly iconic emblems for the wiseguy lifestyle, but it's probably the horse head in the bed you'll remember above all.

3. Reservoir Dogs (1991) 

Decades after it first rocked the US indie scene, Tarantino's energetic, tightly-plotted debut still feels fresher than noughties nostalgia trips like Kill Bill and Death Proof. Tarantino never shows the botched diamond-store heist on which the film hinges. This is all about the fallout, as a gang of colourfully-named crooks try🧸 to root out the mole in their midst. Confidently laying down the Tarantino template that he's used again and again, Dogs still leaves an indelible impression. "For some people, the violence isn't their cup of tea," said the director, "Thats OK. I wanted it to be disturbing."

, following Henry and Kare💫n Hill through the restaurant. Beautifu🧜l.