Analysing Existing Crime Film Titles

Now that I have an idea for the storyline of my film, I need to decide a title as it will appear on a title card during my trailers and as the largest copy on my poster.

I have decided to look at the names of 25 existing crime films to see if their are recurring elements. I will use these, alongside the narrative of my film to help me decide a title.

1)  'Goodfellas'

2) 'City of God' 

3)  'Nobody '

4) 'The Godfather'  

5) 'Pulp Fiction' 

6) 'Taxi Driver' 

7) 'Scarface'  

8) 'Murder On the Orient Express' 

9) 'Snatch' 

10) 'Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels'

11) 'Kill Bill' 

12) 'A Bronx Tale 

13) 'Reservoir Dogs' 

14) 'Baby Driver' 

15) 'Casino' 

16) 'Carlito's Way' 

17) 'Menace to Society' 

18) 'Boyz N the Hood' 

19) 'Mean Streets'  

20) 'Miami Vice' 

21) 'Heat' 

22) 'Donnie Brasco' 

23) 'The Gentlemen' 

24)  'King of New York' 

25) 'The Usual Suspects'

A number of common conventions come in titles for crime films:

• they are often short
• they frequently mention either the name of a character, a pseudonym or a reference to them without actually name them
• they often reference a location
• they use language associated with crime
• they are mysterious enough to create enigma 

I have some ideas for the name for my film, which I will relate to the narrative of an older retired gangster being drawn back into a life of crime, but also think about the ideas above to help me.