American Godfathers: The Five Families

1 season available

An account of the founding and history of the Gambino, Genovese, Lucchese, Bonanno and Colombo families -- also known as the famed five crime families of New York.
Death of the Old Rules
S1 E1

Follows the American Mafia from their early development in New York City neighborhoods; how public violence, involvement in the drug trade, and appearances at government hearings affect their operations and conflict with their code of honor.

Rise of the New Dons
S1 E2

Focusing on the conflict between the families' old guard and a new generation of younger, American-born, mobsters willing to defy the authority of the bosses and the long-established rules in order to fulfill their own ambitions.

The Last Don
S1 E3

How a more aggressive commitment by law enforcement to eradicate the mafia forces the families to find creative ways to stay in business and out of jail; it's not as easy as it's been in the past and some are willing to throw it all away.