Films like Scarface
15 picks with a similar feel
What defines Scarface, going by its Boxlist taste profile: A serious crime thriller that is morally murky, raw and smart. Best if you like depth over escapism. Its strongest markers on Boxlist are themes of rags to riches, self-destruction and injustice and vengeance, plus tags such as cuba, rise and fall and prohibition era.
Here are 15 films with a similar feel, ranked by how closely they match that profile. Treat them as picks to try, not a definitive list.
Based on Scarface (1983).
- 1
Miller's Crossing (1990)
Film7.5Slower burn
Why it's like Scarface: Also weighty and dark, with themes of injustice and vengeance and deep rivalry. Common ground: prohibition era, corruption, gangster.
- 2
Suburra (2015)
Film7.3
Why it's like Scarface: Also weighty and dark, with themes of deep rivalry. Common ground: mafia.
- 3
The Godfather (1972)
Film8.7Slower burn
Why it's like Scarface: Also weighty and gritty, with themes of rags to riches and injustice and vengeance. Common ground: mafia, gangster, loss of loved one.
- 4
Casino (1995)
Film8.0Slower burn
Why it's like Scarface: Also weighty and dark, with themes of rags to riches and self-destruction. Common ground: rise and fall, mafia.
- 5
Blow (2001)
Film7.4
Why it's like Scarface: Also weighty and gritty, with themes of rags to riches and self-destruction. Common ground: rise and fall.
- 6
American Gangster (2007)
Film7.6Slower burn
Why it's like Scarface: Also intricate and weighty, with themes of rags to riches and self-destruction. Common ground: rise and fall, gangster.
- 7
True Romance (1993)
Film7.6Easier to follow
Why it's like Scarface: Also weighty and dark, with themes of injustice and vengeance and deep rivalry. Common ground: cocaine, mafia, loss of loved one.
- 8
Cop Land (1997)
Film6.7
Why it's like Scarface: Also weighty and dark, with themes of injustice and vengeance and deep rivalry. Common ground: corruption.
- 9
Layer Cake (2004)
Film7.0
Why it's like Scarface: Also weighty and dark, with themes of deep rivalry and resilience and survival. Common ground: cocaine, gangster.
- 10
The Departed (2006)
Film8.2
Why it's like Scarface: Also weighty and dark, with themes of deep rivalry. Common ground: mafia, gangster.
- 11
The Untouchables (1987)
Film7.8
Why it's like Scarface: Also weighty and gritty, with themes of deep rivalry. Common ground: prohibition era, gangster.
- 12
The Equalizer (2014)
Film7.2Faster-paced
Why it's like Scarface: Also dark and weighty, with themes of injustice and vengeance and deep rivalry. Common ground: corruption, gangster.
- 13
No Country for Old Men (2007)
Film7.9
Why it's like Scarface: Also weighty and dark, with themes of injustice and vengeance and deep rivalry.
- 14
Donnie Brasco (1997)
Film7.5
Why it's like Scarface: Also weighty and dark, with themes of deep rivalry. Common ground: mafia, gangster.
- 15
The Killing (1956)
Film7.7
Why it's like Scarface: Also weighty and dark, with themes of injustice and vengeance and deep rivalry. Common ground: corruption, gangster.
Boxlist compares Scarface with every film in its catalogue on ten taste scores (pace, tone, weight, realism and more), story themes, genres and TMDB keywords, and ranks the closest. Every pick has a TMDB rating of 6.7 or more from at least 1,000 votes, new releases wait until their ratings settle, and only one title per franchise makes the list. It is an approximation of feel, so treat it as a starting point. Ratings are TMDB audience scores out of 10.
Which of these suit you?
Take the taste test and every pick shows how well it matches you.
Take the taste testQuestions
- What should I watch if I like Scarface?
- Picks with a similar feel include Miller's Crossing, Suburra, The Godfather and Casino. Each shares part of Scarface's taste profile, themes or tags; the full list has 15 films.
- How are these films like Scarface chosen?
- Boxlist compares Scarface with every film in its catalogue on ten taste scores (pace, tone, weight, realism and more), story themes, genres and TMDB keywords, and ranks the closest. Every pick has a TMDB rating of 6.7 or more from at least 1,000 votes, new releases wait until their ratings settle, and only one title per franchise makes the list. It is an approximation of feel, so treat it as a starting point.