The Mafia is an Italian gang, part of organized crime. It started in Sicily and was a major force in the United States during the early to mid-20th century. A member of the Mafia is called a mafioso (plural mafiosi). They are also sometimes referred to as the mob.
The Mafia has been a popular subject for many American film directors, in particular the Italian-American directors Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Scorsese, who directed the films The Godfather (Parts I, II, and III) and Goodfellas, respectively.