History Main / Gangsterland

While they all derive from the movies, most versions of Gangsterland do reflect violent periods in the history of various cities -- at least if you turn your head and squint a little. UsefulNotes/NewYorkCity stand-ins will have violence courtesy of TheMafia, UsefulNotes/{{Chicago}} from the Mayor's office and Prohibition-era bootleggers, and UsefulNotes/LosAngeles from [[GangBangers ethnic street gangs]]. Note that the first is organized crime, the second is [[WhiteCollarCrime corrupt]][[DirtyCop ion]] (and organized crime), and the third is street anarchy (though the more successful street gangsters move up into organized crime, or die trying). However in terms of treatment of civilians, the first rarely fits into TotalitarianGangsterism, the second may fit into it (depending on the government) and the third is this full-on.

Compare WretchedHive and TotalitarianGangsterism (the latter is GangsterLand, but the gangsters also oppress the civilians)

* A more upscale version in the ''Film/JohnWick'' series. Every character is somehow involved in organized crime, with huge five-star hotels catering exclusively to mob hit-men, and civilians in the background take it totally in stride.

* Any "coming of age hood movie" from the early 90s, especially ''Film/{{Juice}}'', ''Film/BoyzNTheHood'', ''Film/MenaceIISociety'', and of course ''Film/DontBeAMenaceToSouthCentralWhileDrinkingYourJuiceInTheHood''. Also pretty most anything involving Mexican Americans, such as ''Film/BloodInBloodOut'', ''Film/{{Colors}}'', ''Film/AmericanMe''.

[[folder: Comic Books ]]

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]

[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
* ''TabletopGame/{{Necromunda}}'' the under hive of the planet are ruled by several gangs who are in constant war with each other over supremacy.
* Pretty much the main point of White Wolf's World of Darkness setting is that it's like this - the darkest rumours and fears are all true, and then some.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Video Games ]]

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

[[folder: Real Life ]]

* A more upscale version in the ''Film/JohnWick'' series. Every character is somehow involved in organized crime, with huge five-star hotels catering exclusively to mob hit-men, and civilians in the background don't seem to even notice.

While they all derive from the movies, most versions of Gangsterland do reflect violent periods in the history of various cities -- at least if you turn your head and squint a little. UsefulNotes/NewYorkCity stand-ins will have violence courtesy of TheMafia, UsefulNotes/{{Chicago}} from the Mayor's office and Prohibition-era bootleggers, and UsefulNotes/LosAngeles from [[GangBangers ethnic street gangs]]. Note that the first is organized crime, the second is [[WhiteCollarCrime corrupt]][[DirtyCop ion]] (and organized crime), and the third is street anarchy (though the more successful street gangsters move up into organized crime, or die trying).

Compare WretchedHive.

* UsefulNotes/{{Baltimore}} is notorious for its insanely high crime rate and has been for several decades. Drug trafficking and use run rampant thanks to the high level of gang activity across the city, including the Bloods.
* Miami was once known as the Drug Capital of the United States. It was Terrorized by drug queenpin Grizelda Blanco back in the 70s and 80s, and served as a massive distribution hub for illegal drugs that were shipped to other US cities.

--> And the pistols' red glare
--> Bombs bursting in air
--> Gave proof through the night
--> That Chicago's still there.
* Former UsefulNotes/{{Chicago}} mayor Harold Washington lampshaded the city's reputation for crime in a speech to his supporters, quoted above. The phrase immediately afterwards was "Nowadays, they say 'How's Harold?'".

->''In the old days, when you told people in other countries that you were from Chicago, they would say, "Boom-boom! Rat-a-tat-tat!"''
-->-- '''Harold Washington''', former Mayor of Chicago, 1987

-->'''Tsugumi''': A handgun!? Now that's American... in the worst possible way!

* ''Series/TheSopranos'': New Jersey is portrayed as this in the series. It's a city filled with drug dealers, loan sharks, drug cartels, contract killers, criminal organizations, illegal business, corruption, and [[TheMafia mobsters]].

* While {{UsefulNotes/Mexico}} has its fair share of safe areas, some areas and territories are under the control of bloodthirsty drug cartels.

* Much of Colombia during PabloEscobar's reign of terror.

* While UsefulNotes/Mexico has its fair share of safe areas, some areas and territories are under the control of bloodthirsty drug cartels.

* While Mexico has its fair share of safe areas, some areas and territories are under the control of bloodthirsty drug cartels.

* [[SouthOfTheBorder Mexico]] is often viewed as this from time to time. Particularly by people caught up in the current hostilities, which blur the line between a gang war and a civil war!

** Chicago, to this day, still has among the highest violent crime rates in the country due to all the gangs roaming the street. It's regaraded by many as ''The gang capital of America''. And the city that had that reputation before then was UsefulNotes/LosAngeles.

* ''[[VideoGame/{{Mother1}} Earthbound Zero]]'' has the gang-ruled city of [[UsefulNotes/LosAngeles Ellay]]. In the original Japanese version, the city is called [[UsefulNotes/AlCapone Valentine]].
* ''VideoGame/MafiaTheCityOfLostHeaven'' and ''VideoGame/MafiaII'', obviously.

* A Brooklyn newspaper back during the era gave us this poem (parodying part of "The Star-Spangled Banner"):

* Former Chicago mayor Harold Washington lampshaded the city's reputation for crime in a speech to his supporters, quoted above. The phrase immediately afterwards was "Nowadays, they say 'How's Harold?'".

* [[{{Joisey}} New Jersey]] has some Gangsterland inner cities. Newark and Camden are the most notable examples. You do ''not'' want to walk around there at night (except maybe the Ironbound neighborhood of Newark).

* Baltimore is notorious for its insanely high crime rate and has been for several decades. Drug trafficking and use run rampant thanks to the high level of gang activity across the city, including the Bloods.

** Chicago, to this day, still has among the highest violent crime rates in the country due to all the gangs roaming the street. It's regaraded by many as ''The gang capital of America''. And the city that had that reputation before then was LosAngeles.

This might be considered the urban counterpart of {{Eagleland}}, the perception (more so in other countries) of American cities as crime ridden [[ViceCity Vice Cities]]. This has much to do with the export of American films. Supposedly, you will find French people, for instance, believing that UsefulNotes/{{Chicago}} is still as it was when Al Capone was alive.

* Miami was once known as the Drug Capital of the United States. It was Terrorized by drug queenpin Grizelda Blanco back in the 70s and 80s, and served as a massive distribution hub for illegal drugs that we're shipped to other US cities.

* [[SouthOfTheBorder Mexico]] is often viewed as this from time to time. Particularly by people caught up in the current hostilities, which blur the line between a gang war and a civil war!

* Any "coming of age hood movie" from the early 90s, especially ''Film/{{Juice}}'', ''Film/BoyzNTheHood'', ''Film/Menace2Society'', and of course ''Film/DontBeAMenaceToSouthCentralWhileDrinkingYourJuiceInTheHood''. Also pretty most anything involving Mexican Americans, such as ''Film/BloodInBloodOut'', ''Film/{{Colors}}'', ''Film/AmericanMe''.

* Any "coming of age hood movie" from the early 90s, especially ''Juice'', ''Film/BoyzNTheHood'', ''Menace 2 Society'', and of course ''Film/DontBeAMenaceToSouthCentralWhileDrinkingYourJuiceInTheHood''. Also pretty most anything involving Mexican Americans, such as ''Blood In Blood Out'', ''Film/{{Colors}}'', ''American Me''.