The movie begins as the two-year term expires, and all the elders of the Wo Shing society are in the process of electing a new chairman, with some last-minute "campaigning" from both Lok, and Big D a few days prior to the election. Lok is shown to be calm, patient and even-tempered, while Big D, who attempts to buy the election, is boisterous, impatient and quick tempered. After bitter arguments from supporters of both candidates in the likes of Uncle Cocky and Uncle Monk, Lok is elected as the new chairman. However, Big D is dismayed by the result and proceeds to punish two men responsible for his loss by kidnapping them and rolling them down a hill in boxes, prompting ex-chairman Whistle to ask his lieutenant Four-Eye to hide the dragon head baton, which is a symbol of power for the leader.
In a filthy kitchen of an underground abortionist, an unkempt former medical doctor puts on surgical gloves and quickly downs a full glass of cheap whiskey. Face down on the kitchen table is a barely conscious Porter (Mel Gibson), severely wounded with two large bullet wounds in his back. The doctor pours whiskey on Porter's back to sterilize the area and digs out the bullets. Porter spends five months recuperating. Porter narrates that he had $70,000 taken from him and that is what he was going to get back.
Ralph Cotter is a career criminal who escapes from prison, then murders his partner-in-crime. Along the way he attempts to woo his ex-partner's sister (Barbara Payton) by threatening to expose her role in his escape.
One year after graduation, New York lawyer James "Brick" Davis (James Cagney) has no clients because he refuses to compromise with his ideals and integrity. His friend Eddie Buchanan (Regis Toomey) tries to recruit him as a federal agent or "G Man" (government man), but Davis is unsure. However, when Buchanan is killed while trying to arrest a gangster, Davis changes his mind, determined to bring the killer to justice. He bids farewell to his mentor, "Mac" MacKay (William Harrigan), a mob boss who financed his education to keep Davis on the right side of the law. He bids farewell to Jean Morgan (Ann Dvorak), the star of MacKay's nightclub who has feelings for Davis.
À New-York, Ruidosa, un ancien mafieux reconverti dans les affaires, fait l'objet d'une enquête et craint le témoignage d'un de ses anciens associés de Marseille, Rudy Hamberg. Par sécurité, il décide de faire liquider ce témoin gênant. Mais la situation évolue, Ruidosa est blanchi, et il décide de tout arrêter, alors que les tueurs à Marseille sont déjà en chasse.
In 1960, Danny Greene is a union worker at the Cleveland docks. Despite union rules, the workers are exploited by their boss, Jerry. As a result of gambling, Art owes a large amount of money to John Nardi. He asks Greene for help, so Greene visits Nardi and makes him an offer to deal with the debt. Nardi accepts the deal. Jerry warns Greene not to oppose him in the union's upcoming election, and demands half of what Greene has earned from his deal with Nardi. After failing to kill Greene, Jerry loses the union's election. As the new president, Greene improves the working conditions at the docks. He also marries his girlfriend Joan.
After killing Charles Floyd (Channing Tatum), FBI agent Melvin Purvis (Bale) is promoted by J. Edgar Hoover (Crudup) to lead the hunt for bank robber John Dillinger (Depp). Purvis shares Hoover's belief in using scientific methods to battle crime, ranging from cataloging fingerprints to tapping telephone lines.
South Korea, 13 October 1990. Following President Roh Tae-woo's declaration of a crackdown on organized crime, Busan businessman Choi Ik-hyun (Choi Min-sik) is arrested for embezzling billions of won from hotel construction companies, and is also charged with intimidation, kidnapping and assault. Busan public prosecutor Jo Beom-seok (Kwak Do-won) is in charge of the investigation, and especially the murder of hotel owner Heo Sam-shik (Kwon Tae-won) by mobster Kim Pan-ho (Cho Jin-woong), with whom Ik-hyun allegedly was connected. Back in March 1982, Choi was a Busan customs officer who, along with colleagues, was already taking bribes and pilfering goods. After discovering 10 kilograms of hiropon (crystal meth) in a warehouse one night, he and colleague Mr. Jang (Kim Jong-soo) approach a friend of Jang's, gangster Choi Hyung-bae (Ha Jung-woo), to sell it to Japan's yakuza, with whom Hyung-bae has ties. Ik-hyun discovers that the younger Hyung-bae is also a member of the same Choi family clan from Gyeongju and the two form a close relationship. Ik-hyun leaves his customs job and becomes a full-time businessman, with Hyung-bae taking care of the underworld side and Ik-hyun protecting him with his high-level contacts. In the mid-'80s the two forcibly take over a nightclub run by Miss Yeo (Kim Hye-eun) that is on the turf of Pan-ho. Following his humiliation, Pan-ho has the club raided by the police and Hyung-bae arrested, though Ik-hyun gets Hyung-bae released by using the Choi clan connection with Seoul public prosecutor Choi Joo-dong (Kim Eung-soo). In May 1987, Ik-hyun and Hyung-bae take their business to the next level, formally linking up with Japan's yakuza and having a connection with a hotel-casino, the Daedong, that is also on Pan-ho's turf. Pan-ho threatens a gang war with Hyung-bae, and Ik-hyun is forced to decide where his loyalties and self-survival lie.
Bowie, a youthful convicted murderer, and bank robbers Chicamaw and T-Dub escape from a Mississippi chain gang in the 1930s. They hole up with a gas station attendant and continue robbing banks.
The character of Max disappears in the film adaptation of the work of Simonin, but the plot of this story and the central characters of "the Dabe" and "the Cave" remain the same.
Lee Rock (Andy Lau), un immigré à peine alphabétisé venu de Chine continentale, survit à Hong Kong, fréquentant autant des membres de triades que des policiers. Il décide de devenir lui-même policier dans le but premier d'acquérir du pouvoir et non pas de servir et protéger. Les pots-de-vin et les dessous de table sont alors monnaie courante dans la police et le fait de rester intègre condamne irrémédiablement un policier à l'isolement et la pauvreté. Lee Rock essaie tant bien que mal de s'en tenir à ses idéaux personnels mais sa droiture lui vaut la dérision de ses collègues et lui fait même perdre sa fiancée Rose (Chingmy Yau). Il finit par se décider à devenir chef de la police pour influer un changement de l'intérieur malgré les obstacles énormes. Son supérieur corrompu (Paul Chun ) cherche à le mettre hors d'état de nuire, et sa nouvelle fiancée, Grace (Sharla Cheung), se trouve être la fille d'un parrain de triade.
Chili Palmer, a loan shark based in Miami, clashes with mobster, Ray "Bones" Barboni over a leather jacket borrowed from Palmer at a restaurant without permission by Mr. Barboni. They have two confrontations, the first of which leaves Barboni with a broken nose. Barboni then wants his boss Jimmy Capp to go after Palmer, but he refuses, as Palmer has done nothing wrong. Barboni took the jacket without permission, and Chili's car keys were in the jacket. Jimmy also tells Bones that Chili works for another mafioso named Momo and Capp has no power over him. But soon after Palmer's boss, Momo, dies of a heart attack, Chili finds himself working for Barboni, whose first order is for Palmer to collect a loan shark debt owed by dry cleaner Leo Devoe. Devoe was believed to have been killed in a commercial airliner crash, but in truth had actually gotten off the plane, and failed to re-board because he was getting drunk in the airport bar. After the plane crash, Devoe's wife identified his personal effects, and the airline quickly offers her an insurance check for $300,000. Faye carelessly gives Leo the insurance money, and he heads out of Miami. When Chili visits Leo's "widow" Faye, she reveals to Palmer that Leo is still alive, has left Miami, and is partying and winning money in Las Vegas, Nevada.
In 1975, James "Whitey" Bulger (Johnny Depp), leader of the Irish-American Winter Hill Gang, controls almost all of organized crime within South Boston, along with his right-hand man Stephen Flemmi (Rory Cochrane), newcomer Kevin Weeks (Jesse Plemons), and cold and calculative hitman, Johnny Martorano (W. Earl Brown). Bulger's hold over South Boston is challenged by the northern Angiulo Brothers, who head the Boston branch of the New England Mafia family.