Although the mafia is something that one wouldn’t want to associate with, there’s much curiosity among people to learn about some of the biggest mob crimes. There’s no shortage of movies and TV shows based on criminal organizations negatively affecting the world around them. Titles such as Goodfellas, The Godfather, The Sopranos, and Scarface give an idea about how these mafias work. However, viewers are now inclined towards documentaries based on the aforementioned subject to know about things that never came out.
Documentaries not only depend on firsthand accounts from those involved but also include real-life footage to convey the history as truthfully as possible. If anyone enjoys documentaries based on the mafia but is still deciding which titles they should add to their watchlist, continue reading to discover the best mafia documentaries that are currently available to watch.
The Making of the Mob
The staggering AMC documentary series tells the story of how the American Mafia came into existence in the early part of the 20th century. The first season of the series primarily focuses on the five families in New York. Meanwhile, the second edition shows the Chicago faction of Al Capone, which was known as ‘The Outfit’. Most of the scenes in the documentary series are reenacted by actors, making The Making of the Mob an interesting watch.
The docuseries is narrated by Ray Liotta, who has starred in some of the greatest gangster films. Although it received mixed reviews from critics, audiences seem to be fascinated with how this series shows the MAFIA and its operations. Truly, it is one of the best Mafia documentaries out there.
The series is available for streaming on AMC+.
Al Capone: The Untouchable Legend
Not many people know, but most movies based on Al Capone flopped at the box office. However, Al Capone: The Untouchable Legend is one of the few titles that became popular and intrigued everyone. The all-inclusive documentary unravels the life of one of the most notorious crime bosses and the people around him.
However, apart from talking about his crimes, the documentary also glorifies his personality. Although that is not new in this genre, it might be triggering for some people. Nevertheless, this 53-minute documentary gives a comprehensive look at Al Capone’s illegal business and how he became a larger-than-life figure.
The documentary is available for streaming on Tubi and YouTube.
Danny Greene: The Rise and Fall of the Irishman
Danny Greene, one of the most popular gangsters in the US, has been the subject of several projects. He has always been a fascinating person, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation always protected him. Why? He wanted to take control of Cleveland from the Italians, and the authorities helped him.
The documentary also presents in-depth stories from the people closely associated with the gangster. Another aspect that makes this series thrilling is how Greene achieved such extraordinary things as an Irish immigrant. He dominated the underworld at the time and wanted to move the Italians away.
Undoubtedly, it is one of the best mafia documentaries ever made. The documentary is available for streaming on Prime Video.
Momo: The Sam Giancana Story
One of the best mafia documentaries of this century, Momo: The Sam Giancana Story should always be on everyone’s watchlist. When one hears the name of Chicago, people always seem to remember Al Capone. However, another person who ruled Chicago for a long time is Sam Giancana. The gangster was a big threat during his time, and people even connected him with the deaths of John F. Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe.
The documentary has come forward with his story in an interesting manner. Another reason that makes this documentary so fascinating is how it uses conspiracy theories to make Giancana a menacing figure. One of the theories claims that the CIA recruited him to help assassinate Fidel Castro.
The documentary is available for streaming on Tubi.
