10 Best British Gangster Movies Ever

3. Eastern Promises (2007)

David Cronenberg probably isn't the first filmmaker you think of when envisioning a gangster film, but with a career focused on character psychology and the grotesque dismantling of the human body, he turned out to be an inspired choice to helm this unforgettable crime thriller.

The main reason it leaves a lasting impression, however, is Viggo Mortensen's entrancing, Oscar-nominated performance as mob "cleaner" Nikolai, a seemingly straight-forward lackey whose motivations are ultimately far more intriguing and unexpected than they first appear.

If the central crime narrative is fairly familiar, Cronenberg's direction helps Mortensen take things to the next level, refusing to flinch away from stomach-churning ultra-violence, especially during a masterpiece of a fight scene set in a sauna.

With a keen sense for London in ways you've never seen it and bolstered by an immaculate supporting cast (especially Naomi Watts, Vincent Cassel and Armin Mueller-Stahl), Eastern Promises is must-see cinema, gangster film or not.