With over 100,000 titles, CinemaParadiso.co.uk offers more choice than all the streaming services combined. That being said, this supreme choice can be difficult for some subscribers, as they’re at a loss for what to watch first. Luckily, you can get multiple discs sent out at a time, but there are still customers who prefer to not make the tough decisions for themselves or the household, particularly when there’s some harsh critics or film buffs present (we’re looking at you, dad).
Sure, you can look at reviews and what other members have been watching together, but if you want something more straightforward and decisive, it’s a film collection guide you need. It’s true, our preexisting CinemaParadiso.co.uk collections give you all the information you need to choose films by topic, series, actor, director, location, language, sexuality, length, age and pretty much any other attribute you can think of, but we haven’t done a collections about collections. Without further ado, here’s a list of collections any budding film buff should rent. From gangsters and hidden gems to Zom-Coms and Oscar snubs, here’s our guide to getting the most out of your CinemaParadiso.co.uk film subscription.
Okay, let’s start with some wise guy whacking. We’re breaking omerta, the sacred code of mafia silence, to compile a selection of must-watch gangster films.
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Once Upon a Time in America (1984)
Play trailer3h 40minPlay trailer3h 40minWe’re starting with Once Upon A Time In America (1984). Although it shares an epoch with Francis Ford Coppola’s Godfather: Part 2, OUTIA was made ten years after, in 1984. Sergio Leone uses his experience of the western epic to chronicle the lives of four childhood friends, as they separately experience a changing America, and the sovereignty and criminal workings of the mafia at the start and middle of the organisation's golden era. Beautifully shot and narrated, the almost 4-hour runtime works well for a 2-part watch for maximum absorption.
- Director:
- Sergio Leone
- Cast:
- Robert De Niro, James Woods, Elizabeth McGovern
- Genre:
- Drama, Classics
- Formats:
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The Godfather (1972) aka: Mario Puzo's The Godfather
Play trailer2h 50minPlay trailer2h 50minGodfather: Part 2 takes the second spot, and we recommend watching it before Part 1, as it takes place in the early adulthood of the Godfather protagonist, omnipotent mafioso boss Don Corleone. The Godfather should come next, it perfectly captures the change in organised crime as America modernised itself. It’s a masterpiece of family, bonds, betrayal, and sovereignty. Iconic.
- Director:
- Francis Ford Coppola
- Cast:
- Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan
- Genre:
- Drama, Classics
- Formats:
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Goodfellas (1990)
Play trailer2h 19minPlay trailer2h 19minSkipping ahead a few years, we enter a world where organised crime is fading, with the loss of fear-induced influence over police and politicians, improved surveillance equipment, and more snitches. We can probably owe this to boss leaders decimating their ranks in a rat-induced frenzy. If the films are anything to go by, criminal genocide is normally the beginning of the end. We’ll start then, with Goodfellas. Martin Scorsese’s narration of Henry Hill, the mobster turned FBI informant, is the Creme de la creme of gangster films. Ray Liotta and Joe Pesci (who won the best-supporting actor Oscar) steal the show. With a swinging soundtrack and little Italy love, Goodfellas is, for many, the magnum opus of the great director.
- Director:
- Martin Scorsese
- Cast:
- Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci
- Genre:
- Drama
- Formats:
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Casino (1995)
Play trailer2h 58minPlay trailer2h 58minCasino (1995), made five years after Goodfellas in 1990, is a more underrated, but nevertheless intriguing examination of the gangster. Essentially a war between two friends, Ace (Robert De Niro) blurs the lines between gangster and businessmen, with a yearning for the latter. Nicky Santoro (Pesci) also falls into these categories, with a taste for the violence and power of mafioso gone by. When Nicky’s behaviour starts drawing unwanted attention slots take a back seat for survival. Casino gets shunned by the list of great gangster films, but there's a lot of good stuff to unpack and Casino definitely benefits from multiple viewing.
- Director:
- Martin Scorsese
- Cast:
- Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, Joe Pesci
- Genre:
- Drama, Thrillers
- Formats:
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The Irishman (2019) aka: I Heard You Paint Houses
Play trailer3h 29minPlay trailer3h 29minAfter Casino, Scorsese’s most recent effort, The Irishman (2020), should be next on your list. Firstly, it completes a trilogy of Scorsese gangster films placed in a similar era. Second, The Irishman is a true story of mob employee Frank Sheeran, who is said to have killed over 100 people while serving the ‘family’. Stellar performances from the twilight years of Pesci, De Niro, Pacino and Keitel make the film feel like a much-needed reunion. The story reminds you that the romanticism, brotherhood, and glamour of the mob is largely exaggerated, and good old Marty is dragging you back to the reality of the situation in this picture. The pacing might be off, but it’s once more an original look into a vital cog in criminal organisations.
- Director:
- Martin Scorsese
- Cast:
- Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci
- Genre:
- Drama, Thrillers
- Formats:
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Carlito's Way (1993)
Play trailer2h 18minPlay trailer2h 18minAfter Casino, Scorsese’s most recent effort, The Irishman (2020), should be next on your list. Firstly, it completes a trilogy of Scorsese gangster films placed in a similar era. Second, The Irishman is a true story of mob employee Frank Sheeran, who is said to have killed over 100 people while serving the ‘family’. Stellar performances from the twilight years of Pesci, De Niro, Pacino and Keitel make the film feel like a much-needed reunion. The story reminds you that the romanticism, brotherhood, and glamour of the mob is largely exaggerated, and good old Marty is dragging you back to the reality of the situation in this picture. The pacing might be off, but it’s once more an original look into a vital cog in criminal organisations.
- Director:
- Brian De Palma
- Cast:
- Al Pacino, Sean Penn, Penelope Ann Miller
- Genre:
- Thrillers, Drama
- Formats:
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Donnie Brasco (1997)
Play trailer2h 0minPlay trailer2h 0minWe’ll end with Donnie Brasco (1997), another underrated gem. Telling the true story of Joe Pistone, Donnie Brasco recounts the FBI agents inception into a mob organisation. As his cover gets deeper and deeper, Pistone finds defining himself from his alias Donnie, more and more challenging. The story is crazy, and the film is fantastically produced, with great pacing and chemistry between Pacino and Depp. Donnie Brasco is a less familiar look at the mob, through the eyes of an informant who helped destabilise it. The gravity of Brasco’s actions is dastardly awarded by the US government, who showed their gratitude with a measly $10,000 dollar bonus. Watch the film and you’ll understand that as just plain offensive. Made for a great movie, though.
- Director:
- Mike Newell
- Cast:
- Al Pacino, Johnny Depp, Michael Madsen
- Genre:
- Drama
- Formats:
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Back to the Future (1985) aka: Back to the Future: Part I
Play trailer1h 51minPlay trailer1h 51minIs there a more iconic trilogy of films? We doubt it. The Nike Mags, the Dolorean, Marty Mcfly and Doc Brown, Back to the Future puts the science in Sci-Fi. The premise of the film is pretty poor, a meandering late-teen and a wacky doctor travel back in time. But what starts as basic Sci-Fi soon evolves into a gadget-fuelled thrill-ride that makes you wish it was real life.
Not only is the narrative great, but director Robert Zemeckis handles the trilogy with all the expertise of his other, equally celebrated films (Forrest Gump, Castaway). It’s clear that, if the script had fallen into the wrong hands, the movie could have been a laughable, forgettable debacle, particularly the second. Realistically, the components within the trilogy shouldn’t work, but somehow they do, excellently. It is true, the third takes a small dive, but it’s a worthwhile inclusion to round the story off. The Back To The Future franchise has also been remastered in stunning 4K this year, so now’s the perfect time to give it a go, or a nostalgic rewatch.
- Director:
- Robert Zemeckis
- Cast:
- Michael J. Fox, Charles L. Campbell, Christopher Lloyd
- Genre:
- Children & Family, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Comedy
- Formats:
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Honourable mentions
There is a plethora of great gangster films but not all of them can go on this list, besides, there is plenty of other film collections to start! In no particular order; The Untouchables, American Gangster, A Bronx Tale, Legend and The Departed can continue the gangster spree should you so desire!
Trilogies
The list for those that love binging TV series, but may have over-binged. We all have different watching habits, and this selection will suit those who like to explore a whole cinematic universe without committing to another multi-season epic. Trilogies traditionally start well, with incremental disappointments letting the saga down as it continues. We’ve chosen these trilogies based on their overall production, selecting them based on the quality of the complete works.
The Lord Of The Rings
Both casual and passionate film watchers will understand the sheer success of Tolkien's masterpiece, told diligently by Peter Jackson. The Lord of The Rings is the unwavering pinnacle of swords and spears fantasy. It starts brilliantly, with the green pastures of the Shire juxtaposing the dark, twisted quest to come. The character depth is accomplished (although not as deep as the books, naturally) and a whimsical score by Howard Leslie Shore accentuates the dips and dives of a narrative so wrought with the levels of tension and immersion that other fantasy franchises could only dream of.
The saga’s success is evident with the still-running debate of which film is the best. The critics believe it’s the third, Return of the King (2003), as it became only the third film ever to take home 11 Academy Awards. We might disagree, favouring Fellowship of the Ring and Two Towers. But the CP staff are split, watch them all and decide for yourselves. Even if fantasy is not your thing, we promise there’s a tonne of enjoyment to be found. Just don’t start with the post-trilogy The Hobbit trilogy, its poor CGI, horrible pacing, and flimsy characterisation totally contrast the triumphs of Jackson’s original trilogy.
The Lord of the Rings trilogy is an achievement of filmmaking, plain and simple. The marriage of fantasy, war and human struggle permeate through the narrative with serious impact. Despite some slight pacing issues, particularly in Frodo and Sam's journey to Mordor, this is how a trilogy should be done. Studio's originally only wanted to make the story if it was one film. We should all feel lucky that Jackson fought for three. For those wanting to give the trilogy the respect it deserves, CinemaParadiso.co.uk has all three Lord of the Rings extended editions available to rent in DVD, Blu-Ray and 4K!
Alien
Now, Alien (1979) isn’t a pure trilogy, in fact, there are technically 8 films in the franchise. But, the core Alien storyline takes place over Alien, Aliens (1986), and Alien 3 (1992) (Let’s ignore Alien Resurrection (1997), although if you particularly enjoy the franchise give it a go). Horror Sci-Fi is a popular genre and has been since the inception of special effects and a more contemporary studio system. The genre normally entices sizable audiences and attention, and it can be a great way to make some profit. Often easy-watchers, it’s proved both very rare and difficult to produce some true, top-grade cinema within the genre. The most notable is Alien.
Warning, it has a very slow first act, and it can feel akin to the hubbub of poor contemporary efforts seen today. The truth is, it’s getting you ready. Stick through the first hour and what you’ll get is terrifying and deadly, with the agility of a cat, cunning of a wolf, and toxic spittle. Alien proves a worthy foe for the rarest of 1980’s protagonists, a woman. Ripley (played by Sigourney Weaver with more testosterone than Rambo) is unequivocally the best thing about the franchise, with her grit and determination against insurmountable odds turning the science-fiction into a simpler battle of human will. Thankfully, the script also recognises this, and some great scenes with epic dialogue just make the franchise that much better. While Aliens and Alien 3 are worthy editions, it’s the first that deserves its iconic status. Even 42 years later, there hasn’t been a horror-Sci Fi that has come anywhere close.
If you realise you love the franchise, give Aliens Vs Predator (2004) a chance, it’s surprisingly okay, and it’ll give you a more complete backstory around the monster itself.
The Dark Knight
Comic book films had traditionally stayed in their lane. Superman knew its place, previous Batman attempts were largely farcical, and Spiderman was certainly still a teen drama (despite breaking the box office opening week record on its first attempt). It was Batman Begins (2005), directed by a then junior Christopher Nolan, that turned the tide. The initial film is darker, more rooted within the subcontext of the hero and the presence of his adversaries. It is this more brutal examination of the hero universe that makes Batman feel, for the first time, accessibly human. That being said, Nolan’s first suffers from some of the cliche’s and over-characterisation that plagues the franchise.
The second, The Dark Knight (2008), and the third, The Dark Knight Rises (2012), suffer from none of the minute mistakes of the first. The Dark Knight ramps up the darkness, absorbing the film with real depth and grit. Christian Bale’s Batman is more likeable in this venture, but of course, Marvel and DC universes are still firmly in the shadow of Ledger’s Joker. The performance is one of the best committed to film, and his acting legacy is even more poignant given that his untimely passing made Heath unable to collect his well deserved Oscar. The penultimate edition to the trilogy is beautifully cinematic, and adept in a way that can only be garnered from working with the source material before, and even then the film is a rare achievement.
The Dark Knight Rises had a very tough act to follow. It retains cinematic excellence by sprinkling more ‘Blockbuster moments’ into the picture. Fortunately, they work very well. The saga does miss the presence of the joker, with Police Detective Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman) and Villain Bane (Tom Hardy) carrying a lot of the character weight. There are also some excellent female performances, with Marian Cotillard and Anne Hathaway providing some freshness to the finale. Overall The Dark Knight Trilogy are the best films that the ‘Supes’ have had so far and therefore well worth a first watch or revisit. They look stunning in Blu-Ray and 4K too.
The Cornetto Trilogy
Something slightly different to round trilogies up. Edgar Wright’s Cornetto Trilogy (the name is prescribed by fans of the three films) examines three different types of threat to humanity. The directors styling blends accomplished directing, meticulous screenplays and an impressive use of soundtrack to deliver black comedy gold. The general consensus is that the trilogy goes from excellent to average, with Shaun of the Dead (2004) a resounding first, Hot Fuzz (2007) a welcome 2nd, and The World’s End (2013) a slightly disappointing first. We disagree.
True, Shaun of the Dead is a fantastically fun film that truly reinvigorated the black comedy and sparked the Zom-com, but we think it’s Hot Fuzz that is the flake on top of the ice cream. Hot Fuzz is extraordinarily layered, with the dispersed sediment of gags, jokes, and hints unable to be fully appreciated even on a third rewatch. The screenplay, in terms of detail, is masterful, and the characters and plot blend thrilling and fun superbly.
This doesn’t depreciate Shaun of the Dead, it will always be synonymous with excellent contemporary cinema, for pure originality alone. But Hot Fuzz is a real surprise, with so much going on behind the scenes it’s difficult to believe the level of under-appreciation it receives. The World’s End is an unfortunately disappointing finale for most fans. The trilogy needed an end, but there’s a lot of things wrong with the crescendo. The monsters are dull, the characters less guided, the soundtrack worse, and the passion flails. Oh well, the first two more than make up for it. Anything from the shop?
That concludes our first CinemaParadiso.co.uk recommends! We hope you enjoyed the first installment, they’ll be coming thick and fast, giving you loads of great suggestions to add to your list!
