36 Years Later, Goodfellas Still Has The Greatest Death Scene In Gangster Movie History

Published Sep 16, 2026, 8:58 AM EDT

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To date, Goodfellas still holds the record for the greatest death scene ever to feature in a gangster movie. Arguably Martin Scorsese's best movie, Goodfellas is held in high esteem for its stark, unromantic look at organized crime in a technically brilliant film full of tension, high stakes, and some of the most relentless pacing ever seen in cinema.

Plus, the cast of Goodfellas is incredible. Drawing from real-life gangsters, the film does a powerful job with its performances, featuring Ray Liotta as Henry Hill, Robert De Niro as James Conway, and Joe Pesci as Tommy DeVito. The strong cast is rounded out by Paul Sorvino, Lorraine Bracco, Samuel L. Jackson, and many, many more.

Released in 1990, the film is still hailed by many, including ScreenRant's review of Goodfellas, as the greatest gangster movie ever made. Considering the legacy of the genre, which has featured films as strong and beloved as The Godfather and its impeccable sequel, this is incredibly high praise, and it is not at all without merit.

Goodfellas is also a relentlessly bloody film. While there are not actually as many on-screen deaths as one might expect in the movie, the ones that are seen are incredibly tense, gruesome, and impactful. All of this goes into crafting a uniquely memorable scene, with an especially satisfying death.

Billy Batts' Death Pays Off One Of The Most Iconic Gangster Movie Quotes

One of the best scenes in Goodfellas revolves around the death of Billy Batts. A "made man" who is considered more or less untouchable, things become a little tense when Billy, fresh from prison, sees Joe Pesci's Tommy DeVito for the first time in years.

The rift between the men is immediately apparent, but Billy seems to at least be trying to be friendly. He refers to Tommy's past work shining shoes, calling him "Spitshine Tommy."

While this reference seems to wrinkle Pesci's character, he is mostly able to get past it, until Batts' jeering becomes clearer in its intent. "Now go home and get your f***in' shine box," he berates, causing Tommy to leave the bar.

Coming back at the end of the night, however, the tenor changes. Batts is alone with Jimmy and does not see Tommy approaching, with his new shine box clutched between his fingers: a pistol.

He hits the old man over the side of the head with the weapon, and when Batts falls to the ground, Tommy and Jimmy beat him nearly to death, leading to the beginning of the end for the character.

Goodfellas' Billy Batts Scene Is A Perfect Gangster Movie Death

Joe Pesci is fantastic at riding the line between frightening and comic, which made his role in Home Alone so effective. Pesci carries an unusual presence that is a unique match with the terrifying and frantic energy he brings to many of his roles.

His presence is also what makes the Goodfellas scene so effective. Tommy is such a wildcard of a character, and his loose cannon nature feels like something not to be trifled with.

This is made especially clear after Batts is thrown in the trunk and driven out to be buried. Still barely alive in the trunk, Tommy comes at him with a knife, stabbing frantically and finding sick pleasure in it.

Jimmy joins in with gunshots, while Henry narrates. The framing is unique, and the contrast between the actions and the calm voice in this perfect gangster movie makes these events feel commonplace and necessary. "Sometimes even if people didn't get out of line, they got whacked," Henry says, highlighting the cruel chaos of the world these characters inhabit.

Goodfellas is a stunning film, filled with great characters, fantastic drama, and a few very memorable death scenes. Drawing from real life, but colored in with a fantastic script and incredible direction, it is hard to deny that it is one of the greatest gangster movies that has ever been produced.