In the 1950s, young Henry Hill is captivated by the allure of the Mafia presence in his working-class Italian-American neighborhood in Brooklyn. Enchanted by the wealth, power, and respect of the gangsters around him, he takes his first steps into organized crime under the guidance of Paulie Cicero, a local caporegime. Through Paulie, Henry is introduced to Jimmy Conway, an Irish-American truck hijacker with a penchant for high-stakes theft, and Tommy DeVito, a hot-tempered juvenile delinquent. Starting as a fence for Jimmy’s stolen goods, Henry quickly proves his worth, graduating from small-time hustles to more significant criminal operations.
By the 1960s, Henry, Jimmy, and Tommy have become a formidable trio, engaging in carjackings and large-scale thefts, including raiding cargo trucks at JFK Airport. Their growing reputation earns them access to New York’s exclusive nightlife, where they frequent the Copacabana nightclub, indulging in endless drinking, partying, and mingling with influential figures. During this time, Henry meets Karen Friedman, a young Jewish woman who is both intrigued and alarmed by his lifestyle. Though initially skeptical, she finds herself drawn to Henry’s charm and the opulent world he introduces her to. Defying her parents’ wishes, she marries him, immersing herself in the life of a mobster’s wife.
Tensions escalate in 1970 when Billy Batts, a made man in the Gambino crime family, is released from prison. During a celebratory gathering at a nightclub owned by Henry, Billy openly insults Tommy, provoking his explosive temper. Fueled by rage, Tommy, with the aid of Jimmy, beats and kills Billy in an unsanctioned act of violence. Knowing that murdering a made man without permission is a death sentence, Henry helps them dispose of the body in an isolated wooded area. Six months later, the burial site is scheduled for development, forcing them to exhume and relocate the rapidly decaying corpse—a grim reminder of the consequences of their reckless actions.
In 1974, Henry’s double life begins to unravel. Karen, furious over his infidelity, confronts him about his mistress, Janice, and even threatens him with a gun. Despite his attempts to escape the chaos, Paulie pressures him to mend his marriage, reminding him of the importance of family. Shortly after, Henry and Jimmy travel to Tampa to collect a debt, but their strong-arm tactics backfire when the debtor’s sister, an FBI typist, turns them in. Both men receive ten-year prison sentences. Determined to support Karen and his children, Henry capitalizes on an illicit opportunity—smuggling drugs into prison and building a small cocaine distribution network with his Pittsburgh connections.
After serving four years, Henry is paroled and returns to the streets, but his ambitions have shifted. Ignoring Paulie’s warning against drug dealing, he expands his cocaine business with Jimmy and Tommy, using his growing connections to establish a lucrative operation. Meanwhile, Jimmy orchestrates one of the most ambitious heists in history—the Lufthansa vault robbery at JFK Airport, netting six million dollars in cash and jewelry. However, when members of the crew flaunt their newfound wealth, attracting law enforcement attention, Jimmy eliminates them one by one to cover his tracks. As paranoia sets in, the gang’s once-unshakable loyalty begins to crumble.
In 1979, Tommy receives an invitation to be officially inducted into the Mafia, a prestigious milestone granting him untouchable status. However, upon arriving at the ceremony, he is ambushed and executed—his murder a long-delayed reprisal for the unauthorized killing of Billy Batts. The loss shakes Henry and Jimmy, reinforcing the reality that in their world, death is inevitable, and trust is fleeting.
By 1980, Henry’s life is spiraling out of control. Paranoid and addicted to cocaine, he orchestrates another major drug deal, unaware that he is under FBI surveillance. The inevitable collapse occurs when federal agents raid his home, arresting him on narcotics charges. Desperate, Karen bails him out, but not before revealing that she had flushed their remaining $60,000 worth of drugs down the toilet to avoid evidence seizure, leaving them destitute. Seeking help, Henry turns to Paulie, only to be met with a cold dismissal. Paulie hands him $3,200—a pittance compared to their past earnings—and severs ties with him. Henry is left with nowhere to turn.
With his back against the wall, Henry meets Jimmy at a diner, where Jimmy suggests he carry out an unspecified hit job. However, the vague nature of the task sets off alarm bells—Henry realizes that Jimmy is plotting his murder. Understanding that his time is up, Henry makes the ultimate decision: he enters the witness protection program and agrees to testify against his former associates.
Henry’s courtroom testimony provides enough evidence to convict both Paulie and Jimmy, bringing an end to his criminal career. Now living under federal protection, Henry finds himself stripped of the power, influence, and excitement that once defined his existence. The rush of the Mafia life is gone, replaced by the dull routine of an average, anonymous existence. Reflecting on his journey, Henry laments his fate—he is no longer the feared and respected gangster of his youth but just another nameless figure in society, condemned to live out his days as an ordinary “schnook.”
