Top 10 Favorite Movie Mobsters

A tribute to those characters of organized crime that despite their cruel, selfish, and criminal behavior, we just can't help but love them.

10. Danny Vermin - Johnny Dangerously. "It's an .88 Magnum. It shoot's through schools." The bully of the neighborhood has grown up and fulfilled peoples predictions. He became a real scumbag. In this more light-hearted spin on the Mob Movie Genre, Danny Vermin is the arch-typical mob villain. complete with a toadie, a big gun, and a thirst for power. Plus, he has more one-liners than Henny Youngman.

9. Al Capone - The Untouchables. "I want you to find this nancy boy Elliot Ness, I want him DEAD! His family DEAD!" Hey, who's badder than Al Capone? Here's a guy who murders, runs numbers, bootlegs, gambles, and extorts people. And all the Feds can get him on is tax evasion? 

8. Sonny LoSpecchio - A Bronx Tale. (locking the door) "Now yous can't leave." The made man with a heart. Sonny is the neighborhood hero and guardian. He's surrounded by yes men. Yet he takes a young boy under his wing, and watches over him insuring he doesn't get involved in the troubled life that befalls other hoods from the block. A Godfather figure, if you will. His blend of bad ass and compassion makes him a favorite movie mobster.

7. Sonny Corleone - The Godfather. "There's a lot of money in that white powder." The oldest son of Vito Corleone, Sonny was a hot-headed gangster who's passions finally caught up with him. But he did have merit, including being very protective of his siblings. 

6. Vito Corleone - The Godfather 2. "I'll make him an offer he can't refuse." In the Godfather, we see Vito at the height of his power and influence. In the Godfather II, we see how he came to power, from an immigrant orphan, to killing a local Capo, to becoming a boss himself, and returning to the old country and exacting revenge for the murders of his father, mother, and brother. 

5. Sam Rothstein - Casino. "In the casino, the cardinal rule is to keep them playing and to keep them coming back. The more they play, the more they lose, and in the end, we get it all." Sam ate, slept, and breathed gambling. As a result, the bosses put him in charge of the Tangiers, one of the largest hotel/casinos in Las Vegas. And in charge he was. He oversaw everything from innovations in casino management to putting an equal amount of blueberries in each muffin. There was nothing that this guy didn't control with an iron hand, except for his wife, who was born and bred a hustler.

4. Nicky Santoro - Casino. "Listen to me, you Jew motherf*&@er you. You only exist out here because of ME!" Nicky Santoro was a made guy who was to keep an eye on Sam Rothstein. But being so far away from the bosses "back home" he took to becoming the new muscle in Las Vegas. This puts him at odds against Sam and the bosses who were out there to skim Las Vegas in the first place. Nicky's ruthlessness and quick temper made him a favorite character of mob films.

3. Tony Montana - Scarface. "All I have in this world is my balls and my word, and I don't break them for no one." The true rags to riches story of a poor Cuban refugee who seized the American dream, at gunpoint. Tony Montana grew in wealth and power so quickly, it ended up consuming him.

2. Michael Corleone - The Godfather Trilogy. "You're my brother, and I love you. But don't ever go against the family again." A war hero and the apple of his Father's eye. He was the son that was supposed to be legit. He was the one that wasn't supposed to get involved. But after Sonny died, and the Godfather's health failing, Michael took over as head of the family. He's calculating and ruthless, even towards members of "the family."

1. Tommy DeVito - Goodfellas. "Ya motherf@#er! I almost had him, I almost had him. Ya stuttering prick, ya. Frankie, was he shaking? I wonder about you, Henry. You might fold under questioning." Without a doubt, Tommy DeVito was absolutely lovable. Sure, he killed people and had a mouth dirtier than a truck stop toilet, but he had us laughing. He's the kind of criminal you'd want to hang out with. Just don't call him funny.