Gang Movies That Avoid Tragic Endings

Gangster films typically follow a rise and fall structure that leaves the protagonist dead or imprisoned. Audiences often expect these stories to serve as cautionary tales about the consequences of a life of crime. However, there are several movies in this genre that break the mold by offering redemption or successful escapes. These films allow their characters to outsmart their enemies or leave the criminal lifestyle behind with their lives intact. The following list highlights twenty movies about gangs and criminals that conclude on a positive note.

‘The Warriors’ (1979)

A street gang known as the Warriors travels from the Bronx to Coney Island after being framed for the murder of a powerful leader. They encounter various themed gangs that attempt to stop their journey home through the subway system. The group fights for survival through the night while trying to prove their innocence to the rest of the city. The film ends with them successfully reaching their territory and clearing their names on the beach.

‘Snatch’ (2000)

Boxing promoters Turkish and Tommy get pulled into the dangerous world of illegal fighting and stolen diamonds. Several intersecting groups of criminals chase a valuable stone across London while dealing with a ruthless Russian gangster. The story weaves together narratives involving amateur robbers and a bare-knuckle boxing champion. Turkish eventually manages to secure a victory for his fighter and escape the chaos unharmed.

‘Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels’ (1998)

Four friends accumulate a massive debt to a local crime boss after a rigged card game goes wrong. They devise a desperate plan to rob their neighbors to pay off the money they owe within a week. The plot involves a series of misunderstandings and violent encounters between rival gangs and debt collectors. The friends ultimately walk away with their lives and a chance at keeping the money.

‘Ocean’s Eleven’ (2001)

Danny Ocean gathers a team of eleven specialists to rob three major casinos in Las Vegas simultaneously. The crew meticulously plans the heist to steal millions from owner Terry Benedict during a boxing match. They use deception and advanced technology to bypass the sophisticated security systems without hurting anyone. The group succeeds in their mission and disperses with their shares of the fortune.

‘The Sting’ (1973)

Two grifters team up to pull off the ultimate con on a mob boss who killed their friend. They create a fake gambling operation to trick their target into betting a large sum of money on a horse race. The intricate plot relies on perfect timing and convincing acting from the entire crew to sell the deception. The duo successfully takes the money and disappears before the police can arrest them.

‘Kung Fu Hustle’ (2004)

A wannabe gangster named Sing tries to join the notorious Axe Gang but causes trouble for a housing complex instead. The residents of Pig Sty Alley reveal themselves to be martial arts masters who defend their home. Sing eventually unlocks his true potential to defeat the Axe Gang leader in a massive battle. He finds peace and opens a candy shop instead of pursuing a life of crime.

‘Bugsy Malone’ (1976)

This musical features a cast entirely made up of children playing mobsters in the prohibition era. Rival gangs fight for control of the city using splurge guns that shoot cream instead of bullets. The conflict escalates until a massive food fight breaks out at the Grand Slam Speakeasy. The characters reconcile their differences and end the film with a song about friendship.

‘Guys and Dolls’ (1955)

Gambler Nathan Detroit tries to find a location for his illegal craps game while dealing with pressure from the police. He bets fellow gambler Sky Masterson that he cannot take a missionary woman to Havana for dinner. The story resolves with both men deciding to leave the criminal life to marry the women they love. The criminal elements are played for laughs and end in romance rather than violence.

‘Analyze This’ (1999)

Mob boss Paul Vitti begins suffering from panic attacks and seeks help from a reluctant psychiatrist. The doctor tries to treat the gangster while dealing with the stress of his own impending wedding. Vitti eventually comes to terms with his past trauma and decides to leave the mob life. The film concludes with the two men becoming friends and Vitti starting a new chapter.

‘My Blue Heaven’ (1990)

A former mobster enters the witness protection program and relocates to a quiet suburb in California under a new name. He struggles to adjust to normal life while an uptight FBI agent tries to keep him safe from hitmen. The two men form an unlikely bond as they navigate their cultural differences and local challenges. The story ends on a positive note with the mobster finding happiness in his new environment.

‘RocknRolla’ (2008)

A London mob boss navigates a complex real estate scam involving a Russian billionaire and a valuable painting. The Wild Bunch gang gets caught in the middle of the deal and tries to play both sides for profit. Several factions collide as they attempt to secure the money and the artwork before the authorities intervene. The main characters manage to outsmart their enemies and survive the ordeal with their freedom.

‘The Gentlemen’ (2019)

American expat Mickey Pearson looks to sell his highly profitable marijuana empire in London to retire. Various criminal organizations scheme to take over his business and undervalue the price through blackmail and sabotage. Pearson uses his resources and connections to outmaneuver those trying to undermine him. He ultimately retains his power and eliminates the threats to his domain while keeping his wife safe.

‘Get Shorty’ (1995)

Loan shark Chili Palmer travels to Hollywood to collect a debt and discovers he has a talent for producing movies. He uses his street smarts to navigate the film industry and deal with rival criminals who follow him. Palmer manages to manipulate the situation to produce a hit film based on his own experiences. He successfully transitions from organized crime to the entertainment business.

‘The Whole Nine Yards’ (2000)

A mild-mannered dentist discovers that his new neighbor is a notorious hitman hiding from the mob. The dentist gets drawn into a plot involving a predetermined hit and a hefty life insurance policy. Complications arise when the hitman’s wife and former associates arrive in town to settle old scores. The protagonist finds love and wealth after the dust settles on the criminal schemes.

‘Friday’ (1995)

Craig and Smokey spend a Friday sitting on their porch while dealing with neighborhood issues in South Central Los Angeles. They face pressure from a local drug dealer named Big Worm and a neighborhood bully named Deebo. The day involves various comedic interactions with the eclectic residents of their street. Craig stands up for himself in a fistfight and successfully resolves the conflict without using a gun.

‘Dope’ (2015)

A high school geek named Malcolm accidentally ends up with a backpack full of drugs after a party. He and his friends must figure out how to sell the product to an online marketplace to avoid getting killed. The group uses their intelligence and technology skills to outsmart the local dealers and the police. Malcolm eventually gets into his dream college after laundering the money through Bitcoin.

‘Barbershop’ (2002)

Calvin Palmer inherits a barbershop on the South Side of Chicago and considers selling it to a loan shark. He realizes the shop is a cornerstone of the community and tries to get it back before it is too late. The film explores the lives of the barbers and their interactions with local street elements. Calvin successfully saves the business and preserves the safe haven for the neighborhood.

‘Gone in Sixty Seconds’ (2000)

Memphis Raines returns to his life of car theft to save his younger brother from a crime lord. He assembles his old crew to steal fifty specific cars in one night to pay off the debt. The team works against the clock and the police to complete the impossible list of vehicles. Memphis saves his brother and the crew celebrates a successful job with a barbecue.

‘A Fish Called Wanda’ (1988)

A gang of jewel thieves betrays one another to keep the loot from a successful heist. The barrister defending one of the criminals gets seduced and pulled into the scheme to find the diamonds. Misunderstandings and double-crosses lead to a series of chaotic events involving the police and the gang members. The film ends with two characters escaping with the diamonds to a tropical paradise.

‘The Italian Job’ (2003)

A team of thieves plans a complex heist to steal gold bullion from a former associate who betrayed them. They modify Mini Coopers to navigate the subway tunnels and streets of Los Angeles during traffic. The crew executes the plan perfectly and retrieves the gold while evading their enemy. They divide the wealth and move on to live their dream lives across the globe.

Let us know in the comments which upbeat gang movie is your favorite.