Few TV shows have been as revolutionary asThe Sopranos. Created by David Chase, this ground-breaking series followsTony Soprano (played to perfection by James Gandolfini), as he tries to balance his family’s upper class, suburban lifestyle with his role as New Jersey’s Mafia boss. Its unique story, exceptional writing, colorful characters, and phenomenal acting madeThe Sopranosmust-watch television. The show also benefited from featuring endless graphic content and profanity, courtesy of its network, HBO. Millions of viewers became hooked as they rode the New Jersey Turnpike with Tony Soprano puffing on his cigar, as the show’s iconic opening theme song “Woke Up This Morning” by Alabama 3 plays in the background.
The Sopranos
Since its premiere in 1999,The Sopranoshas enjoyed critical acclaim and numerous accolades. Itstremendous success turned HBO into a pioneer of TV and launched the careers of several cast members. It ushered in the age of modern television, which shifted its focus to flawed anti-heroes. Acclaimed shows likeMad Men, Breaking Bad, Peaky Blinders,andNarcosall owe a little something to Tony Soprano. You just couldn’t help but love and root for him, even though Tony was undoubtedly a bad guy. Although it ended in 2007,The Sopranosremains in the discussion ofthe greatest TV shows of all time— and it’s often ranked as number one. Even its polarizing series finale continues to be discussed, analyzed, debated, and remembered almost 20 years later.
The Sopranosis a significant milestone in the gangster genre. Although it had existed since the early days of Hollywood and had churned out countless movies, the gangster genre had never seen anything likeThe Sopranos.It was a breath of fresh air that resonated with millions of American families. But despite its familial drama,The Sopranosnever forgot its gangster roots. Its six seasons are littered with references and Easter eggs to the iconic gangster films that helped inspire its creation.
10"It’s a F***ing Comedy!" – Analyze This (1999)
Most of the films on this list are violent dramas.Analyze This,however, is a comedy, though it’s still regarded as a classic gangster movie. It follows a reluctant psychiatrist (Billy Crystal), who takes on a Mafia boss (Robert De Niro) as a new patient. Sound familiar? Even for a comedy, one directed by Harold Ramis no less,Analyze Thispacks plenty of heat — and also plenty of laughs.
Guy Walks Into a Psychiatrist’s Office…
Some modern viewers may interpretAnalyze Thisas a spoof ofThe Sopranos,but it’s actually not.Analyze ThisandThe Sopranoswere released the same year, just two months apart (The Sopranosdebuted first). It’s one of those strange instances where similar stories are released at the same time, likeThe PrestigeandThe Illusionist, orAntzandA Bug’s Life.
In a comedic twist,The Sopranosreferences the gangster comedy during Season 2. In the episode “Guy Walks into a Psychiatrist’s Office…”, Tony is looking for a new psychiatrist to replace Dr. Melfi (Lorraine Bracco). One of the therapists he meets with claims that he can’t treat Tony because:
I watch the news like everyone else. I know who you are, and I sawAnalyze Thisand I don’t need the ramifications of treating someone like yourself.
Tony, of course, scoffs at this: “Come on, it’s a f*ckin' comedy!” It’s a funny, introspective moment that nods at the similarities betweenThe SopranosandAnalyze This.RentAnalyze Thison Prime Video
9"Mother of mercy, could this be the end of Rico?" – Little Caesar (1931)
Little Caesaris a classic gangster movie anda pre-Code American film. Inspired by real-life Mafia boss Salvatore Maranzano, who shares the same nickname as the film’s title character,Little Caesarfollows the rise of Caesar “Rico” Bandello (Edward G. Robinson) from being a small-time crook to a powerful underworld criminal in Chicago.Little Caesarwas a huge influence on the gangster genre. It made Robinson a star of classic Hollywood, who would go on to appear in numerous gangster films throughout his career, includingKey LargoandThe Woman in the Window.
The Most Famous Line from Little Caesar
One of the most famous lines fromLittle Caesaris: “Mother of mercy, could this be the end of Rico?” Paulie (Tony Sirico), one of Tony’s closest and most loyal associates, repeats this line after the crew lands a big score in Season 1. This line is later repeated in the episode “House Arrest” by Uncle Junior (Dominic Chianese), Tony’s uncle and the former crime boss of New Jersey.StreamLittle Caesaron Tubi
8"Say hello to my little friend!" – Scarface (1983)
Scarfaceis actually a remake of the 1932 gangster film of the same name, which, much like the aforementionedLittle Caesar,was a huge influence on the gangster genre. This 1983 reboot put a fresh spin on the original movie by being set in the 1980s Miami drug scene and focusing on Cuban gang lords. Although his casting may be questionable today, Al Pacino delivered an iconic performance as the violent Tony Montana.Scarfacewas negatively received upon its release but is now regarded as a staple of the gangster genre, as well as being one of director Brian De Palma’s best films.
The Most Iconic Scarface Quote
Scarfaceis stacked with famous quotes, but no line is more iconic or quotable than Tony Montana’s signature phrase, “Say hello to my little friend!” Even the characters fromThe Sopranosquote this line.In the Season 1 episode “Meadowlands,” Tony’s nephew Christopher (Michael Imperioli) is enraged by his good friend’s murder at the hands of Uncle Junior. He storms over to his uncle, as angry and bloodthirsty as Tony Montana, and references the famous shootout from the ending ofScarface.“This ain’t negotiation time!” he shouts. “This isScarface, final scene, f***in' bazookas under each arm, ‘Say hello to my little friend!'”
It’s also worth noting that Robert Loggia, who played Frank Lopez inScarface, also played a semi-prominent role in the penultimate season ofThe Sopranos. Loggia played Feech La Manna, a crotchety member of the mob who, after being released from prison decades after his inital arrest, quickly stirs up trouble when he begins to butt heads with Tony.StreamScarfaceon Hulu
25 Best Quotes from The Sopranos
The Sopranos has some of the best quotes on television and these ones stand out more than the others.
7Two Different References – The Public Enemy (1931)
Edgar G. Robinson wasn’t the only Hollywood star born out of 1930s gangster movies. With his cocky smirk and tough guy persona, James Cagney perfectly encapsulated the mobster archetype. He starred in several classic gangster movies during the 1930s, butThe Public Enemyis what Cagney is best known for. It captures the rise and fall of Irish-American gangster Tom Powers (Cagney)during America’s Prohibition era.The Public Enemyis a milestone in the gangster genre and has inspired every mob movie that’s followed, includingThe Sopranos.
A Parallel to Tony’s Mother
The Public Enemyis referenced twice duringThe Sopranos.One of the film’s most famous scenes is when Powers aggressively smashes a grapefruit into his girlfriend’s face. During Season 1, Uncle Junior smashes a pie into his girlfriend’s face for gossiping about their sex life, a callback to this iconic scene fromThe Public Enemy.
Later in Season 3, we actually see Tony watching this black-and-white classic. We’re even treated to the grapefruit scene, which, of course, draws a laugh out of Tony. But the laughs stop when Tony watches Powers’ mother become excited about her son’s return from the hospital — who, unbeknownst to her, shows up dead at her doorstep. Tony, overcome with emotion as the mother obliviously and eagerly prepares a bed for her dead son, begins to weep.
Tony had a conflicting relationship with his own mother, Livia (Nancy Marchand), who passed away earlier in the season. This scene likely reminded Tony of his mother — and of the loving and endearing relationship they never shared.StreamThe Public Enemyon Tubi
6"Just when I thought I was out…" – The Godfather: Part III (1990)
The Godfather Part III
The Godfather: Part IIIwas the lackluster finale toThe Godfathersaga, the conclusion that nobody wanted or needed. Several members of the original cast reprised their roles for the film, like Al Pacino as Michael Corleone, Diane Keaton as Kay Adams, and Talia Shire as Connie Corleone. Though some consider it to be the weakest of the original trilogy,The Godfather: Part IIIdid go on to gross more than double its budget at the box office, while also securing several Academy Award nominations, including nominations for Best Picture and Best Director.
Silvio Dante’s Impressive Impersonation
The Godfather: Part IIImay be known as a polarizing film, but that still didn’t stop the characters fromThe Sopranosfrom enjoying and referencing it. One of the best references toThe Godfather: Part III —and one of the best gangster movie references in the entire show — is when Tony’s crew member, Silvio (played by Steven Van Zandt from Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band), does an impersonation of an aging Michael Corleone.
“Just when I thought I was out… they pull me back in,” growls Silvio, mimicking Pacino’s voice and hand gestures in the scene. This impersonation always draws laughs from Tony’s crew, and from the audience at home.RentThe Godfather: Part IIIon Prime Video
5Legends of Gangster Culture
In the pilot episode ofThe Sopranos,Christopher commits his very first murder. He lures a Czech-American rival into the back of Satriale’s, the iconic butcher shop where Tony and his crew always hangs out. While distracting his target with cocaine, Christopher whips out a gun and shoots the criminal in the back of the head. With each blaring gunshot, the camera cuts to a stone-faced photograph hanging on the wall.
Portraits of Famed Gangster Icons Witness a Murder
We see Humphrey Bogart, Dean Martin, and Edward G. Robinson, all of whom are legends in gangster culture. Before he became a leading man in Hollywood,Humphrey Bogart was known for playing villainous gangster rolesin films likeDead EndandAngels with Dirty Faces.Dean Martin is an icon in the Italian-American community who was close with Frank Sinatra, who had ties to the Mafia himself. And Edward G. Robinson, as we’ve already established, was the leading man in numerous gangster films. It’s like all three men are watching Christopher commit his first murder, welcoming him into gangster culture.
4A Painful Shot to the Foot – Goodfellas (1990)
Goodfellas
No film during the 1990s impacted the gangster genre more thanGoodfellas.Adapted from the true-crime bookWiseguy,Goodfellaschronicles Henry Hill’s (Ray Liotta) involvement with the local Mafia. It takes a different approach from other gangster films, focusing on mid-level thugs rather than bosses. It also mentions elements that we now see all the time in the gangster genre, such as wire-tapping and the witness protection program — elements that were very much a part ofThe Sopranos.
Many Cast Members Appeared in Goodfellas
Goodfellasfeatures an all-star ensemble. But many ofits supporting cast members later landed big roles inThe Sopranos,such as Lorraine Bracco (who plays Tony’s therapist Dr. Melfi), Tony Sirico (who plays Tony’s crew member Paulie), Vincent Pastore (who plays Tony’s crew member Big Pussy), Frank Vincent (who plays Tony’s rival Phil Leotardo), and many others.
Every Goodfellas Actor Who Was Also on The Sopranos
With over 25 actors appearing in both, it is as if Goodfellas and The Sopranos are two parts of the same crime saga, connected by great performances.
Michael Imperioli, who portrays Christopher inThe Sopranos,also has an iconic appearance inGoodfellas.He plays poor Spider, a young bartender – and a real-life person – who was serving drinks to Henry’s crew during a card game. Spider is shot in the foot and then later viciously killed by the psychotic Tommy (the role that won Joe Pesci his well-deserved Oscar) inGoodfellas.This unforgettable chain of events is referenced inThe Sopranosby none other than Michael Imperioli himself. At one point, Christopher shoots someone in the foot at a bakery shop. “You shot my foot!” the victim exclaims. “It happens,” Christopher humorously tells him.RentGoodfellason Amazon Prime Video
3Tony’s Morning Newspaper Routine – Goodfellas (1990)
The references toGoodfellasdon’t end with the cast ofThe Sopranos.One of the most iconic images of the series is Tony Soprano walking down his driveway in the morning — dressed in only a robe, boxers, and a sleeveless white shirt — to collect the morning newspaper. This reoccuring visual throughout the series helped cement the stark contrast between Tony’s two different lives, even though, according to Carmine Lupertazzi Sr. (Tony Lip), “a don doesn’t wear shorts.”
A Subtle Homage to Goodfellas
This actually pays homage to the final shot ofGoodfellas.Here,Henry Hill is living in the witness protection programas an ordinary Joe in suburbia. Dressed in the same way as Tony, Henry walks down his driveway to collect the morning newspaper, pausing at the end of it to reminisce fondly about his days as a gangster. It’s an interesting contrast: Henry seems to despise his ordinary lifestyle, while Tony embraces the niceties of suburban dad life.
2Too Many References to Count – The Godfather (1972)
The Godfather
You knew this one was coming. Well, here it is — the most significant milestone of the gangster genre, the masterpiece that’s inspired every gangster movie, and every non-gangster movie that’s followed.The Godfatheris considered to be amongthe greatest films ever made. Itfollows the powerful Corleone crime family, particularly its patriarch Vito (Marlon Brando) and his youngest son and protege, Michael (Al Pacino). The film is packed with iconic moments, like the murderous baptism sequence, and features one of the most famous lines in cinema: “I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse.”
More References Than We Can Count
There are many, many references toThe GodfatherthroughoutThe Sopranos’six seasons, more than we can possibly track. But here are some of the most notable ones.
Paulie’s car plays the iconicGodfathertheme song, “Speak Softly, Love,” whenever he honks the horn. Meadow’s (Jamie-Lynn Sigler) soccer coach jokingly refers tothe film’s most famous quote, “They made me an offer I couldn’t refuse”, when explaining to Tony why he accepted a coaching job at another school. An undertaker tells Tony that he will use “all his powers, all his skills” to make his deceased mother look beautiful, a reference toThe Godfatherwhen Vito asks the undertaker to do the same to clean up his dead son. Tony’s reaction during this scene, however, is very different from Vito’s. “Don’t go crazy,” Tony tells the undertaker.
But one of the bestGodfatherreferences happens when Christopher explains to Tony and his crew what happened to his murdered friend, Brendan. “Message job – through the eye,” says Christopher. “Moe Greene special,” chimes in Pussy. This refers to one of the most iconic hits in The Godfather, when gangster Moe Greene (Alex Rocco) is shot through the eye and murdered during the movie’s famous baptism scene.
1Oranges as Symbolism – The Godfather (1972)
But the bestGodfatherreference inThe Sopranosdeserves its own entry. ThroughoutThe Godfatherfilms, oranges are used as a motif that foreshadows death or imminent danger. In the first film, Vito is casually shopping for oranges when an attempt is made on his life. The scene ends with Vito lying in the street, oranges scattered around his unconscious body. And later, Vito inserts an orange into his mouth to frighten his grandson and play with him, just before collapsing and dying in his garden.
The Sopranos Borrows the Orange Motif from The Godfather
The Sopranospays homage toThe Godfather’sorange motif in Season 1. A depressed Tony is walking to his car, holding a jug of orange juice, when an attempt is made on his life. The bullet whizzes through the bottle, splashing orange juice everywhere, alerting Tony to the danger. It’s a cool yet subtle way of paying homage to the greatest masterpiece of the gangster genre.you’re able to currently streamThe Sopranosin its entirety exclusively onMax.
Why The Sopranos is the Best Mafia Drama of All Time
No series has come close to replicating the success of The Sopranos. Here’s 10 reasons why the HBO show can’t be copied.
