Gangster, crime and mob movies are just about money, drugs and violence, right? Wrong! While it can’t be denied these areas certainly come with the territory, gangster and mob films are so much more. The genre is loaded with fantastic narratives of the fictional and factual, exploring large subjects like political corruption, the flaws of the judicial system, and class and racial inequality, whilst also touching on acutely personal themes of love, regret, hubris, trust and ambition. They cross cultural and international boundaries, and explore and test theories of cinema, playing with the audience’s preconceived notions of narrative and perspective.

On top of all this serious stuff, a great gangster flick is also endlessly enjoyable and quotable. If you’re looking for a crash course in one of the most important cinematic genres, here are 23 essential starting points.